Previously featured here, Jasmine Elder of Jibri has some great new plus size fashions for Spring and Summer.
New York Marathon: Running Fashion
My friend from college is running in the New York Marathon this upcoming weekend and I couldn’t be more excited for her. She’s been training for months and I can only imagine the overwhelming sense of accomplishment she’ll feel when she finally crosses the finish line, not to mention the excitement of being around so many other runners. My longest race so far has only been 10 miles, but I felt great at the end of it and hope to one day run a marathon as well, just to prove to myself that I can.
This graphic cutoff sweatshirt by Firedaughter Clothing would be a great motivator during months of training and early morning runs or a great gift for someone’s who’s completed a marathon. With bold colors and large, graphic letters screen printed onto eco-fleece, this isn’t your typical sweatshirt. Can you think of anything else so comfortable and stylish?
When you’re training for a marathon, you spend so much time running that it can feel as if you’re living in your workout clothes. After all of your hard work, the last thing you want is to feel frumpy. This tie dye t-shirt by Tie Mee is the perfect solution for runners looking to be a bit more stylish. The horizontal dye pattern is a great twist on the typical circle tie dye, and the cotton and spandex blend is sure to stay in place during your workouts.
A great pair of running pants or shorts can be key to a comfortable run. These 7/8ths foldover workout pants by Cast Couture are perfect for jogging, yet stylish enough to be worn to the grocery store. Buyers can choose between six colors and the pants can be custom sized according to specific body measurements.
I wish I could be there to cheer my friend on over the weekend. Maybe someday we’ll be able to run one together, but for now, I’m happy to start with a half marathon and work my way up.
**The linocut print featured at the top of this post was created by AnnikaLane.
Tableware made with love in Pawtucket
With my five year wedding anniversary fast approaching I have been thinking about what fun it was to make registries. The excitement of a new life, new belongings and maybe a new place to call home. Even with all of these presents, building your life is always a work in progress. You find new objects you love more than the ones you already own, styles and aesthetics change. But there are some things which are timeless and Gleena is the perfect blend of classical and modern which will never get old.
The medley of white and blue is soothing. I love that the middle plate, being half blue and half white, brings the large plate and bowl together. Each piece has their own personality yet they are still a cohesive set.
It is in this set that you can best see where the artist draws her influence from. She grew up in Russia, summering in a country house surrounded by her grandmother’s gardens. She seems to handle these memories carefully as they are important to her. Asya displays detailed images on hand-shaped forms, showing that memories can change shape over time. I love the cheery yellow she chose. Makes for a great presentation.
These plates don’t need a special occasion. I would love to have these for everyday use. The sea inspired glaze adds a dash of color without overpowering the simple design. The typeset imprints make for a great detail.
This cup is my favorite out of all her work. The blend of color and form are just darling but the quote and stamped letter make this cup perfect. Sharing tea is most certainly a celebration, toast to something grand.
Asya does a great job of mixing her love of form and function with her passion for graphic design. This cup displays her happy union of numbers, letters, color and shape. I love her subtle introduction of color, it is never overpowering and always just right.
These bowls make for the perfect presentation. Asya makes even the simplest of pieces elegant with her attention to detail. She carefully adapts the form to better serve it’s function. In keeping these bowls white, she draws attention to her beloved form which were inspired by gourds found while traveling in French Guiana.
I think celebrating five years should call for an updated registry. My wedding was lots of fun and I would love to do it all again with Gleena’s shop at the top of my registry list. What would be on your list?
Secret Door Projects
When I spot a poster of Providence designed by hand and printed by hand, I feel like I live someplace famous.
The subject matter is clearly important to the artist. Jean took the time to study this iconic image of Providence. He learned the lines and slight curves of this cityscape by re-creating these lines on paper. His own interpretation was given to the scene in the form of composition and color. His acts are much more deliberate than a simple photograph.
Jean is passionate about his city, he cares about preserving events. His images allow one to display their celebrations, inviting the community to join in. Once the event is over it still lives on in Jean’s posters. He leaves behind mementos of fond times.
To appreciate this body of work we don’t need to have a relationship to the event. Just an appreciation for the artist’s vision, his interpretation presented in these colorful images. (As an aside, I enjoy how the event’s details are fit ever so snugly into the clapboard on the side of this house in the “Blood From A Turnip” print. It is quite impressive.)
Jean also works with his own agenda. Taking time to make work which will spread his cause, making his vision known.
No matter what the cause of subject matter is Jean is passionate about his city and his process. Speaking of process, there are some great photos of Jean’s prints in progress on his updates page.
Aside from Jean’s posters and prints for sale in his secret store there is a great portfolio of work in the posters and projects section of Secret Door Projects site. I am amazed at the array of work Jean Cozzen has to offer. His body of work ranges from political pieces, advertisements for events to wedding invitations. Take a peek and be impressed.
Meadowbrook Creations Handcrafted and Local
Please welcome Emily Anderson to Try Handmade! She is the author of three books {Eco Chic Home, Eco Chic Weddings, and What to Do When Changing a Light Bulb Just Isn’t Enough} and she also blogs at www.goodwithstyle.com. A lover of the handmade, she’ll be taking over the Shop Local column starting today. Please welcome her and let her know about any areas of the country you think have particularly great makers!
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Erika
This being my very first post for Try Handmade, since I’ll be writing the Shop Local column, I’ve spent some time rethinking what it means to me to Shop Local. It’s a very complicated issue. I mean, even if you buy from a “big box” store, aren’t you technically “shopping locally?” Don’t the people who work in that big box store live in your town, go to school with your kids (or you), shop for groceries, pump gas, get parking tickets, water their lawn, pay their mortgage, walk their dogs, and feed their families in the same general geographic area as you do? More than likely, the employees at these big box stores are your neighbors, friends, maybe even family. But what happens when those people lose their jobs (as 11,000+ Wal Mart/Sam’s Club employees just did). And worse, what happens when one of those big box stores shuts down? Julia Christensen’s book, Big Box Reuse, has more information about what happens when the big box stores shut down.
However, nurturing the local economy is dependent upon more than just the “consumers” or the employees of big business. The local economy also needs the individual producer, craftspeople who can make things like furniture, because this is how the local economy empowers itself, creates a strong foundation, and ensures self-reliance. Of course always shopping locally may not be realistic for everyone, for one thing there’s the affordability factor. If you’ve ever purchased furniture for your home, then you probably know why so many people go to Pottery Barn (or Pier One, or Ethan Allen, or any of the well-known brands out there). It’s just so convenient, right? And a lot more affordable than buying something handmade, right? Wrong! I found the most wonderful resource (online of course) for handcrafted furniture pieces, even custom if you so desire.
Meadowbrook Creations is the enterprise of Sonny and Lynne Bride. They started their business designing and making furniture in 2002. This business, based in Weare, New Hampshire, was a complete departure from what they’d been doing. Like many local businesses, it came from a combination of talent, drive, and necessity. They established Meadowbrook Creations, which is the parent company of NH Woodworking, a “Make to Order” business, specializing in Early American and Shaker style pieces. Since the business began, the Brides have doubled their sales every year. Now they work with a network of local furniture makers who produce the designs created by the Brides. The best thing is–the pieces are affordable (relatively speaking).
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