The Natural Dye.

While doing research the last few days for design ideas and inspiration I recently discovered India Flint. She is an amazing artist from, as she states on her blog, the big island west of New Zealand. She works with natural dyes on fabric and her work is amazing. Well I am in love at least.
She has a book called Eco colour: botanical dyes for beautiful textiles. I found a nice write up about her book here. This is definitely going on my 'wish list' for Christmas.

Here are a few more amazing examples of her work that I found on her web site.

I have a few books that I got last year that are all about plant dye and what plants to grow in your garden to get what colors. Unfortunately I do not have a good place to grow plants but as I write this I feel like it is a poor excuse. I just need to do it. You never know unless you try, right. Look how much fun this would be!image from window on white

There is something about natural dyes and the look of the colors and fabric that makes me happy. Also being able to take a plain piece of fabric and make it come alive through the work of your own hands and the uncertainty of not knowing exactly what you are going to get. Amazing.

Fall.

While perusing some of my favorite designers sites today I went and had a look through Burfitt and her Fall'08 collection. I love the fotography! it is dark but something about it really intrigues me and draws me in. I like foto shoots that tell a story and that are a little dark and aged in look and feel. It is so fitting for fall. I love fall!


I love fall cause it is the change of seasons, the change of light, and cooler weather. In the fall season I just get so happy. Some people love heat, I like cold, some like spring and the new flowers, I like changing leaves and fall harvest... Though living in LA you do not get the full effect of fall... it is just another sun filled day no cloud in sight same same same. Blaaa.... well, even here you can feel there is a different energy and the light it is different. That is what has kept me sane while being 'stuck' here. *SIGH*

One day I do hope that my back yard looks like this in the fall.... one day.

something like this would be awesom! Dreams....(image found on terragalleria.com)

The Hand In Earnest.

I have not visited the Earnest Cut & Sewn site in a long time and was pleased to find that it had been updated. (probably way back in January, I said I have not been there in a while) I love the shop and the look and feel of the goods found within the walls. If I open a shop one day I hope that it has the same look and feel as this, one of an old general & dry goods store. A place were you want to not only visit but linger.

They recently opened a shop here in LA that I have not gone to visit yet and I guess another one just opened in August in Malibu... I really need to get out. There are so many new shops that I have not visited as well as the regulars that I have not been to in such a long time. Next week I will try and get out, we will see.
Along with the shops look and feel I also really strongly believe in the same aesthetics as the founder, Scott Morrison. (watch this video on Martha about his company and the process)The focus on vintage Americana and Japanese Wabi-Sabi (perfection is found in the imperfect) Each of his garments are made by one person on a single needle sewing machine to show the imperfections of the human hand. There is something truly beautiful about that imperfection. This is what also drew me to Margaret Kilgallen and her work, that love and focus of the imperfect human hand. No matter how hard we try, anything we do by hand will not be perfect.

Here is a video from PBS's Art:21 with Margaret. There is just something about her work...

Put Your Foot Down.

It has been a while since I have had a chance to sit down at the ol' computer as of late cause we have been up in Utah visiting my parents. While here they sold their home of 14 years so we decided to stay and help move... 14 years is a lot of stuff to move! I will share more about our trip once I have time to sit down and go through all of the fotografs and what not.

While checking my email today I got an update from PagesOnline, an online fashion mag from Australia, and they had a nice article about Marsu. Marsu is a custom and high fashion shoe maker for men. I love good shoes! Take a peek at their goods.

Legendary Tailor Martin Greenfield

While spending a few minutes this morning looking threw my daily and weekly reads on-line I found this video of New York Master Tailor, Marting Greenfield.
He has made suits for Presidents and Famous men as well as ready to wear goods for Neiman Marcus, Brooks Brothers and Freemans Sporting Club. This is a very well made video. Please enjoy.


Martin the Tailor from Ed David on Vimeo.

Chronicles of Never

I am on this Auz fashion trip right now... well today at least. Anyway, the Chronicles of Never has their new line up for S/S'09. It is a very dark line, but the grafx are really good. You can go to their site and actualy download their latest season look book which is fun to have. But more than their clothing I have to say that their shoes are amazing! I love the unstructured hand crafted work they do. To bad I do not have the funds to run around in a pair. If I made shoes this is how I would make them.



these would have to say these below are may favorite.

Paper Folds.

Check out this site of Auz grafx design company Paperform. Love the paper cuts. They have a nice web site as well.

Make It Fun.

The other day I was sit'n eating my breakfast cereal when I started to think about life and this is what I came to realize, "make it fun"!
Now what this means to me is that it is up to me and only me to decide how I am going to react to life and what it throws at me. I can not rely on others to make me have a good day or to overcome some sort of stressful situation only I can do it. So make it fun, what a good way to live life, don't ya think? A lot more pro-active than just sitting around wishing something would happen but actually going and doing something and having fun along the way. Now go play.

The New Ride

This past weekend I obtained a new ride to play around on and spent most of Saturday pushing all over town on it and braking it in. The paint is a bit ruff right now from the previous owner, Mr. De Wit, but I have plans to strip her down and do little brush works in the sometime distant future.
So stoked to have a solid piece to push on and burn off the spare tire that formed while sitting idle all day....

In the Light With Scott

A nice young man that I work with every now and then here at Vans showed me his foto friends web site and now I want to share it with you.
His name is Scott Pommier he does nice work.

Black & White Style

There is something so clean and fresh about black and white and this brand False is just that. Super clean simplistic grafx that are subtle enough to be complex. They have great workwear / street style that is very appealing. Check them out on the ol web www.wearefalse.com

Touch The Future With The Past.

I am not exactly sure what to think of this site that I fell into today.
Her name is J. Morgan Puett she is an apparel designer and retail / design space designer, but she is also represented by a gallery in NYC, so I guess you could say she is an artist as well.
So why I am I sharing my find? Well it has to do with her looks and style. This is what I love. The rustic, old, worn, aged look and feel. The use of natural and earth tones and fabrics. Hand made and hand dyed.... So good. Please enjoy.

Fade Out.

Wanted to share these pics of Uda Barth. Something about a blured out picture that I find very interesting. Photography is the capture of light and I think these do an amazing job of showing light, color and shape.

Ruff Sketch

Still messing around with sum ruff sketch'n and ideas while I am up in Washington.

Things to Come.

J-Mags.

Wow what a week... it does not really seam like it was much but when you are going to bed late every night and getting up early the next day it really takes a toll. But I think it is worth it to finish a project and know that you are creating something.

I have been wanting to share my favorite Japanese magazines for a while. Japanese magazines are an addiction one that I fill once or twice a month at kinokuniya in South Coast.
I am very fortunate to have one close by.

There is something about Japanese magazines, especially for fashion, that is so great. American magazines are full of adds, so much so that I think we should not have to pay for them cause all they are is nothing but a book of advertisements.... lame. But Japanese magazines are like art and a dictionary of what to buy and how to make it work. Not only that but they fill the pages with details of most of the clothing they are covering and they have step by step how to's that are so great!

well enough of that. Here are my top 3.

Free & Easy - a men's magazine that focuses on rugged new and vintage clothing. Such a great piece of work here.

Fudge - by far my favorite womans fashion magazine. The style and looks are so great. Natural artistic and fluid.

Come Home - I think this is the bible of Zakka lifestyle. The images are so beautiful and inspiring. Plus they share so much with you on how to find the right piece to how to cook a great home made bread and the coverage of Zakka shops and artist is heaven sent, or really nice at least. I love just looking through this magazine over and over again it is so inspiring.

So those are my go to rags of choice. Though I ordered the men's version of Fudge, fudge men, and am going to pick it up tomorrow so I might have a number 4 pick as well.

I am starting a new collection of designs so I want to keep sharing my inspiration. I have a few things up my sleeve so watch out.

The Warm Glow of A Flash.

Ok so I keep posting about foto folks but I like the light capturing.... I should start posting my own work but why when I can share the works of others to inspire you to go out and do it yourself.
Anyway, so while visiting one of the most amazing well done blogs that I go to on a day to day basis, decor8. She had posted about Samantha Lamb. Her work is so great and light and fun.
I really enjoy the series she did of spools of thread, being that I like ZAKKA and tailoring and what not. Please if you have a chance go check her out and while you are at it peep her link of others she likes on flickr there are sum amazing pics out there.

Just Don't Shoot Yer Eye Out.

Just found these two kids who play with light capturing devices. I really like fotografx and I like their style, a little raw and over exposed. Good stuff. Reminds me a lot of the Nylon Magazine style. Go check out there web sites.

Nicholas Lorden.

Joe Dilworth.