Brush strokes

Flat bottom folded clutch. Clutch is 11” wide x 11.5” high with a 2.5” flat bottom. Fabric is 100% cotton in a soft, natural off-white. Hand printed with environmentally friendly ink in blue/gray with magnetic snap closure.

Craft copyright

I got a wake up call from a knitter a few days ago. She asked me if she can sell a hat I designed. I gave the pattern as a free gift to anyone that is interested to knit it for their personal use, and that is what I  told her. She said she is going to sell it anyway. Here is what I found on e-how: Crafts generally receive copyright protection under the "visual arts" category of copyright law. Copyright distinguishes between a useful item (such as a sweater or a clay bowl), which cannot be copyrighted, and the pattern or design of a useful craft and non-utility art pieces, which can be protected by copyright. Copyright is automatic: as soon as you design a new knitting pattern or necklace, you own the copyright. The U.S. Copyright Office offers a registration service, however, and for a fee issues official certificates of Registration that can be sold or used as stand-alone evidence of ownership in court. It means that your instructions (pattern) are protected, but not the items that are made from these instructions. I have to say that I didn't check the copyright issue before and I feel annoyed and disappointed. All my free patterns are not available for now. I'll keep you posted.

Circulars

My new circular designs. Slender pouch is 9.25” wide x 6” high. Fabric is 100% linen in a soft, natural off-white. Hand printed with environmentally friendly ink in cyan and magenta. Upcycled leather pull stitched by hand.

ink.

Ink restaurant on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles is very unique. The food, the drinks, the set up. It's a great place to catch small dishes with a twist.

Marimekko

Marimekko opened a new store in LA. I went to see it today and got a small gift for a lucky recipient. Marimekko's work is pretty amazing and very inspiring. It's worth a visit. All the photos are from her magazine.

Be linen

My latest print on linen with Permaset magenta ink.

New book

U has a new book, take a look and enjoy.

Nine circles

Maybe too ambitious, but I'm planning to print a CMYK design in my next silk printing class. The top image shows my design in all four colors together, the bottom is of every color used and the order of printing. I'll start with yellow, then blue, magenta and finish with black. I'll need to burn 4 diff screens, one for each color.

#5

Remember Lesson #4? This is the result, printing 2 colors on top of each other. Great effect, much easier in Illustrator, but so much fun hand printing it. I used fabric ink on paper with 225 mesh screen.

Stamped pouch

Stamped slender pouch on bleached fabric with this method. I used Permaset super cover white ink. Size is 9.25"w x 6"h, with a leather pull stitched by hand with waxed cotton thread.

Stamping

Stamping paper and fabric with foam and ink. Here is what you need: foam (Blick) ; plexiglass (Blick) ; any shape puncher, just make sure that the foam fits inside the puncher (paper source), or cut any shape by hand ; glue (Blick) ; brayer (Blick), fabric or paper ink (Blick).
Start by measuring the cut circles and make a template. Cut double the amount you need with your puncher. Glue 2 circles together (1 and 2) and let it dry. Place the plexiglass on top of your pattern (3) and glue the doubled circles in place. Let it dry. Add ink to the circles with a brayer (4) and stamp some paper and fabric. Enjoy.
The top photo is my stamped paper. I like the hand made look so much that I'll make a silk screen out of that. I also stamped some fabric for a new project, I hope to post it soon.

Color moves

New book: Color Moves: Art & Fashion by Sonia Delaunay. Sonia Delaunay was a Jewish-French artist who, with her husband Robert Delaunay and others, cofounded the Orphism art movement, noted for its use of strong colors and geometric shapes. Her work extends to painting, textile design and stage set design. She was the first living female artist to have a retrospective exhibition at the Louvre in 1964, and in 1975 was named an officer of the French Legion of Honor. Her work in modern design included the concepts of geometric abstraction, the integration of furniture, fabrics, wall coverings, and clothing.