I just finished knitting this itty-bitty sweater for Shiloh to come home in. I can’t get over how small and how cute it is; and that there is going to be a little baby girl to fill it soon. It’s really enjoyable working in the miniature scale.
I am 38 weeks pregnant and was in need of a warm sweater to adjust to my ever-expanding belly. In the fall I designed a stylish white “maternity” jacket (posted on November 19, 2012) to wear throughout the winter. I wear it all the time and decided to recreate it with this incredible soft wool/cashmere blend material. It wears more like a sweater than a jacket and is just perfect. It will look great post pregnancy as well!
This past summer I made my first piece of custom clothing, for someone other than myself…for my amazing sister-in-law. She is very fashionable and loves to wear creative and unique clothes. This made it really fun to play around with different designs and styles. The final product is this zipper down shirt. Thank you Amanda for being my guinea pig!
Yesterday was a beautiful day on the Vineyard, crystal clear with a slight chill in the air. We spent the afternoon in Chilmark at a friend’s party and then documented my latest piece on their gorgeous property. My husband did an incredible job capturing the lighting, the setting, and my jacket.
I am 23 weeks pregnant and was in need of a comfortable yet stylish jacket that could be worn with my expanding belly yet wearable post pregnancy as well. Last week I finished designing and sewing my first piece of maternity wear.
Wool jacket with lining.
The jacket went perfectly with the sterling silver bracelet I made this summer.
I knitted a soft wool scarf to finish off the look for a chilly day.
Hand-etched sterling silver barnacle bracelet that I made this summer for my art show. For sale at etsy karenblackerby.
I forgot how much I loved The Killers video Mr. Brightside.
Everything from the song to the fabulous Moulin Rouge-esk theatrical cinematography. The next piece I create, be it a sketch, a piece of clothing, or a painting I am going to incorporate this wonderful mix of color and theatrics.
{image via here}
After a winter of creating artwork I am beginning to see some fruits of my labor. In May, my work was accepted into The Eisenhauer Gallery on Martha’s Vineyard for an August 9th opening. I am thrilled and have been working non stop to get ready for the show. Then a couple of weeks ago I was happily surprised to see two of my latest pieces featured on the New England Home blog. http://blog.nehomemag.com/2012/06/friday-favorites-6222012/
Below are images of the barnacle cuff. It is representation of my Away We Go eggshell mosaic, featured on my May 4th post. The cuff is a cropped section of a photo I took of the mosaic, then hand etched and shaped on brass. An interesting and fun process. These will be sold at the show alongside its side kick Away We Go.
Away we go [eggshells / found wood / steel frame 28 1/2 x 28]
“Confidence is the sexiest thing a woman can have. It’s much sexier than any body part . “Aimee Mullins.
The other day I came across an article about Aimee Mullins, the amazing Athlete /Model / Actress / Superwomen and the latest L’oreal Paris spokesperson. Listening to her story literally gave me the chills. It is absolutely remarkable what she has accomplished in her lifetime this far!
Aimee is best known for becoming the first amputee in history, male or female, to compete in the NCAA, at Georgetown’s Division I track team. She was outfitted with woven carbon-fiber prostheses that were modeled after the hind legs of a cheetah. She went on to set World Records in the 100 meter, the 200 meter, and the long jump..
Aimee became a muse to Alexander McQueen ,walking the runway in his London show using intricately carved wooden prosthetics.
And those are just to name a couple of her amazing accomplishments. I highly recommend watching the links below to learn more about this amazing woman!
{via Studio Thirsty Crow}
Sometimes I come across designs that are so inspirational to me that I literally jump for joy…my mind races and instantly I have a desire to create. Today that occurred when I happened upon the work of Stefanie Nieuwenhuyse.
The first thing that caught my eye was the title of her series, Biomimicry. I fell in love with the teachings of biomimicry at design school. My junior and senior projects were based on those principles. I designed the building and interiors for a Biomimicry Guild in Montana my junior year and a floating school in Vietnam my senior year, both incorporating biomimicry elements within the buildings’ exterior and interior design.
In turn, I immediately opened Stephanie’s website and voila…stunning, incredibly beautiful, and innovative pieces! Scroll below and see for yourself!
{via MoCo Loco}
I absolutely love seeing the process of this series…from the drawings to the final product!! Each step is so beautiful.
(images via Stefanie Nieuwenhuyse}
I think we all have pieces of clothing that we never wear but keep around for some particular reason. This green jacket is case in point. IÂ never wore it;Â it was way too big on me but for some reason it hung around. After 14 years of being idle, I dusted it off and decided to try my hand at transforming an existing piece. My first take at a “what was old IS new again” experiment.
BEFORE
AFTER
The belt front was originally around the wrists.
The back of the belt was originally the collar.
I think it was a success! That green jacket is now back in the front of my closet.
One of the many things Derek has taught me is that you can learn to do or make anything. That “do it yourself and try it out attitude” that he has shown me (through example) has gotten me mountain biking on things I never would have imagined to making my own wedding dress.
I knew wedding dress shopping was not going to be my thing so I figured why not just make it myself. I have only been sewing for a couple of years but I didn’t question this undertaking at all. With advice from a seamstress friend, I decided to take some lessons during the process. I met Donna Pirraglia from Blaine’s Sewing Machine Center who became my angel; taking lessons from her was an invaluable experience. I wanted a dress that had simple elegance and a length I was able to manipulate since I was going to be kayaking and biking in it. I am overwhelmingly happy with how it turned out. Just perfect!
Bear Cieri, a mountain biking and wedding photographer from Vermont, was our amazing photographer. I love his photojournalist style. He truly captured the feeling of our wedding!! I can’t stop looking through the pictures!
MY DRESS
My friend, Judy Callaghan, made me this gorgeous clutch out of my mother’s wedding dress.
The ceremony was at Edgartown Lighthouse.
We kayaked away from the ceremony…
…and then biked to the reception
…through town
…down country roads
…the dress was perfect!
…to the pond
…through wooded trails
…then to the reception!!!
…and I could even dance effortlessly in it!
THE FLOWER GIRL DRESS
After I finished making my dress I had leftover material so I made a flower girl dress for my niece. {I posted it on May 10}
My super cute niece, Miyako, was the flower girl.
…to be continued
karen blackerby 