Trade shows, typos, textiles & transformations

Hi everyone! I really hadn’t planned on this being a double post, but here it is.

This past weekend we set up at the Crafty Wonderland show here in Portland. We sold lots of our lasered goodies (pop-up cards, pop-up toys, optical toys and lamps) and some of my new lasered and ribboned jewels as well. I have these styles and more in mind, and will be putting them up on our etsy store over the next few days and weeks so check back often!

In the meanwhile I’ve gotten four fabulous New York Times Magazine covers and so am ready for a fashion show!

The Women’s Fashion Summer 2010 Style Magazine not only didn’t inspire (alas) but I found what I hope to be a disturbing typo. This image, reproduced in the magazine from Bettina Rheims’ 2007 book “Heroines” could perhaps more aptly be titled “Heroin’s”. If the title is not an error, I question the judgement of what we’re saying about women. This is as troubling as the fashion world glorifying a starving Kate Moss in the 1990’s. I remember someone going around New York putting little stickers on her posters that said, “Feed me”! My sentiments exactly.

This week’s Design and Living Style Magazine on the other hand is fabulous.

There are many wonderful images here to delight the eye and the imagination.

Miniaturists are always looking for ways to incorporate their collections into their full scale lives. This Fornasetti secretary desk brings a dollhouse to the living room in glorious high style.

There is a treasure trove of tantalizing textiles…

a couple of jazzily covered chairs…

and some designerly Swiss typography.

I didn’t have particular thoughts on what to do with the cover for The New York Times Magazine for April 23rd,

until I saw the perfect dress in this week’s Style section.

Here’s the terrific cover for May 2nd.

The aforementioned Swiss typography put me in mind of another typographic movement, Dadaism, which guided my thoughts as I collaged together this ensemble,

and other fashions from the other covers followed.

“Don’t tell me you’ve finished already and you’re still making more?”

“Yes, Tim. All these tasty fabrics were too tempting.”

“Designer, can I just say that this is looking dated to me. I would urge you to scrap it and just start over.”

“I know, I was starting to worry about it myself…”

“Oh, now this is fun. I like the typographic stockings. This is much better.”

“Thanks!”

“What is that you’re wearing?”

“Oh, just a little something I whipped up….”

“Well, that’s fun too, anything else?”

“Just one more….”

“Mmmmm nice… love those Turkish shoes… You know Designer, this is quite a collection you’ve made this week, but I think your evening gown is the real show stopper. It looks like it’s made of silk charmeuse. You’d never think you only had a budget of $6 at Food for the Sunday Seattle edition of The New York Times.”

“That’s part of the fun of it Tim, making that kind of transformation.”

“Well, I commend you on your efforts.”

“Thank you so much. That really means a lot.”