Try Handmade

Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

Souther Salazar

by

Souther Salazar was born in 1978 in Hayward, CA. As a teenager in the early 1990’s, Salazar made photocopied cut-and-paste minicomics and ‘zines in his bedroom in rural Oakdale. After graduating from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Salazar moved to Los Angeles where he currently lives and works. His artwork reinterprets the world, making it into a mythical place full of carnivals, lost cities, giant insects, dinosaurs, and a variety of other creatures. He mixes media, adding layers of storytelling to create his imagery, which can be explored for hours. Salazar exhibits his collages, paintings, drawings, and sculptures in dense and frenzied installations that encourage exploration and participation by the viewer. His work has been exhibited in galleries and Museums in cities around the world including: New York, Los Angeles, Portland, Tokyo, and São Paulo, Brazil. via

Curiology

by

Curiology is a little funky company founded by visual artist Alie Ward. Originally from San Francisco, Ms. Ward reluctantly relocated to Los Angeles five years ago, and has become known for both her apparel line and her paintings.

Interview with Jacqueline Rose, Lamixx

by

JR_5

Jacqueline Rose lives in Orange County, CA. She says, “I’m all around from San Diego to Los Angeles, California. I have lived here my whole life. It’s home and has such a mixture of all kinds of people and food, and the weather is truly unbeatable.” Jacqueline loves living simplistically and is purposefully driven. She loves coffee and tea, fabrics and candles, travel and food. Her favorite saying is “douceur de vivre” which means “sweetness of life.” You can find all her lovely clothing designs for sale at her store, Lamixx. For sneak peaks, take a look at her blog and you can also follow her at twitter/lovelamixx.

[Read more…]

Liza Rietz

by

Previously featured in 2008, I recently caught up with Liza Rietz again, and wow!

il_fullxfull.100032491

Liza Rietz began designing and sewing custom and retail pieces in 2001. She has been a part of Portland’s artistic clothing community from the beginning of her career, participating in multiple group and independent fashion shows. Her designs have been available nationally in high-end boutiques in Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles and Washington D.C.

il_fullxfull.98643672

Rietz’s modern designs are structured yet feminine, detailed yet wearable, and are created individually, not mass-produced. Rietz designs two small lines annually, producing small batches of each design. Though her collections adhere to the seasons, her lines are not season-specific. Instead, Rietz focuses on designing clothes that are versatile and that easily translate to any time of year. Rietz’s designs are made out of all natural fabrics including cottons, linens, silks, and bamboos. With a small production run of each line, the individuality of each piece exemplifies how clothing can be artisitc and expressionistic.

il_fullxfull.98513389

13threads

by

13threads: Although born and raised in Scotland, I have also been incredibly lucky to have lived, worked and studied in Los Angeles, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco and Zurich. Now back living in Edinburgh I have the opportunity to focus my passion for sewing and design into a full-time job. (Ok I need to revise this bit. As a mother of two, my ‘passion for design and sewing’ are moments grabbed between the school run, their social life and my need to have the occasional morning coffee with friends).

Lots of things inspire me but I am especially interested in the history and design of fashion, traditional costumes and textiles. I like to mix the old with the new to create something a little bit different and special. Many of my pieces are one-of-a-kind or limited editions and are all designed, cut and stitched by me in my room with a beautiful view of the castle.