Interview with Janelle of Fold to Center

Janelle Rebel & Fold to Center

Specialty

All things paper.

What inspired you to create these items?

Many reasons. Namely, my own amusement.

What do you create that you don't sell?

I like taking color slides when I travel. I have yet to subject the general public to pay for my summer vacation slide shows.

What is your studio like?

Divided. One half is filled with neat stacks of paper, paper samples and a cutting table. The other side houses the messy stuff--paints, canvases and my trusty easel. I have a few color studies tacked up on the wall and a felt & pleather Fold to Center sign.

Who is your favorite Indie Artist?

Cat Chow is a favorite working artist.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I'd like to start designing and making more items for your home!

3 Products from Fold to Center NOW IN STOCK at The Pear Project!

Interview with Mixed Plate Blog

Check out our interview with Mixed Plate Blog!
http://www.mixedplateblog.com/

Interview with Karin of Better Than Jam

New in stock today 5 hip bags by Karin of Better Than Jam!




We asked Karin a few questions & here is what she said :

 Name--Karin Elizabeth Persan "Better Than Jam"

Specialty--Designing and screen printing fabric, making patterns, sewing

What inspired you to create these items?-- Well i've always been obsessed
with patterns since i was a kid, got lost in them a lot, found printing at school
of the art institute of chicago & history, it goes right along with my obsessive
compulsive tendencies.

What do you create that you don't sell?--my hoods, i dont think i display them
well enough, i think they're awesome so cozy and comforting.

What is your studio like?--me and my moom both moved to brooklyn at the same
time, she is starting up a photo career and i'm trying to get mine up and running,
so we shared a loft space, it's nice getting to know my mom again and as an
actual person

Who is your favorite Indie Artist?--Dolan Geiman, meet at shows sometimes,
i love but cant afford his pieces, his girl friend bought a dress a long time ago
and we are still in contact
http://www.dolangeiman.com/

What can we expect from you in the future?--more fabric, always printing,
but my "dream" is to find a dinner to convert into a retail, gallery, coffee
space have a friend bake some goodies maybe,  but make the back kitchen into
usable show area, i am a waitress when i'm not making stuff, and i have always
wanted to be that old bitchy dinner waitress at the end of my life, this would
combine my two "life goals", dreaming big!

Industrial Image

I am an avid reader of the New York Times most emailed articles section, and moments ago I clicked on an article with this image :


Nate Howard for The New York Times

Health

A Medical Mystery Unfolds in Minnesota

By DENISE GRADY

Published: February 5, 2008

Officials are trying to figure out why workers at a meat plant were stricken with a strange neurological illness.

It is really striking to me & I wanted to share it with everyone.

Thing A Day - Item #4 - Reversible Felted Necklace

I decided to make a simple necklace tonight with a leftover bail I had from a resin project.  I made it reversible.  I'm not sure about the ball chain to go with it, but it's the best I can do for tonight.

Thing A Day - Item #3

The Thing A Day website is getting an upgrade so I'm going to put today's post here & then use the magic of copy & paste to get it on that site when it comes back up.

I wanted to work on a felt project that has been in the works for awhile, but was unable to find the frame I needed for finishing so I pushed it aside and made another bracelet for my series.  Here is a pic of all 4.  The magenta one is new today.  I have plans to sell them on The Pear Project in the future, but haven't yet decided how I want to photograph them for the listing. 



I also have plans of putting together a bracelet kit for those new to felting ... but that is still in the works in my mind.

Interview with Lesia from 144 Collection

Name-- Lesia Griffin

Specialty-- Handbags and accessories

What inspired you to create these items?-- My love of shapes, fabrics and need to express my creative side.

What do you create that you don't sell?-- pillows & the occasional apron

What is your studio like?-- My one bedroom apartment is my studio. It is filled
with samples, handbag racks and of course handbags.

Who is your favorite Indie Artist?-- There are so many it's hard to say. I meet so many artists at the flea markets and design shows.

What can we expect from you in the future?-- I really would like to continue to grow 144 Collection. Reach out to more boutiques and expand on the types fabrics I use.

Win This Bag!

Hello! My crafty mom was kind enough to donate this bag for a give-a-way on the blog. I'm going to go with the ever popular ... just leave a comment method to chose my winner. The only twist is you need to comment on 2 or more blog posts between now & 02/29/08 to win! Easy enough?

New in Stock -- Mod Bubbles Tee!

Check out our latest tee by Kimmchi -- The Mod Bubble Tee. Just in time for spring!

First Thing-A-Day Post

Here is the first post I made to Thing-A-Day ...

01 Feb 08 

Hello!  My Thing-A-Day is going to overlap some with my Photo-A-Day goal that I started last weekend (You can check out old Photo's A Day in my Blog)

On the first day I was facing one of those tired, busy days with no focus when I began to ponder what I would make.  I didn't want to dive into any of the ideas floating in my head because my focus just wasn't there.

I was thinking about ordering some bottlecap beads wholesale for my shop, and wondering if the perfect Valentines Day gift for my husband might just be a New Castle bottlecap bead necklace when I was inspired to make this :

 

It's a little Valentines day token made for a Journalist to keep on their desk that I made with a red marker, some glue, the classified section & a little bit of love.

 

I also took a photo of a little rubber chicken.

 

 

02 Feb 08

 

I made another felt bracelet this morning for a series of bracelets that I am planning on selling in my shop in the future. 

 

The Slow Movement

There is an interesting article in the New York Times about the Slow Movement that is worth a read.  It fits in well with keeping artisan goods in your everyday life in some cases, but not others.  I love to felt, but haven't yet found the time to meet the sheep that my wool comes from as Christien Meindertsma has but I'm on my way.

Herman Wouters for The New York Times / Christien Meindertsma knits rugs with wool from sheep she has met.

The multi-tasker in me has my mind in several projects all at once along with all the aspects of running The Pear Project as well as selling my own art wholesale/consignment on the side.  I'm not happy unless I'm busy, but I'm happier when I'm busy with a project that has minute details that take a long time to complete. 

One of my favorite things to do is set up a photograph for hours before pushing the shutter.  Now that Photoshop has taken over it doesn't seem as important to create a photograph that is 100% accurate and that's a disappointment to me.  The digital world takes away allot of the charm of photography for me, and it always feels good to go back to film.  My favorite slow shot is my Fork Love photograph that can be found in the paper section of the website for sale as a postcard.  It was such a good challenge to set  up the scrim, play with the lights, bend the fork slightly.  It was a great afternoon in the studio that I will never forget. 



I'm not 100% slow by any means, in fact I'm not even close.  But it's something to ponder, and even to strive for.  I love to see the slow philosophy in work submitted to the site, and am happy to do my little part to help artists prosper.