Erin Dollar

Linen, beautiful linen.

August 21, 2012

This is the last of the linen fabric I’ll be printing for the 2011/2012 line of patterned textiles. Sad to see some of these colors go, but excited to start printing on the next batch of colorful linen. Hoping to have these last ones printed this week, I’ll be sure to post photos of the finished products.

I love linen for so many reasons (durability, how it gets softer with age…) but the beauty of woven linen fabric always makes me swoon at this magnification. So rustic, yet comfortable at the same time. It’s a joy to work with such wonderful materials.

Snail Mail Saturday – Intellectual Snail Mail

August 18, 2012

I’m not ashamed to admit it: I’m a bit of a nerd. I forgo watching most TV shows to sit around and read about strange neurological phenomena, or to fall down an internet rabbit hole trying to figure out what exactly the Higgs Boson Particle is. This week, I’ve gathered up a few favorite snail mail items to send to your most nerdy, intellectual friends; whether they’re interested in literature, science, or just random factoids.

1. American Scientists Stamps 2. Know It All Pencil Set 3. Postcards from Penguin: 100 Book Covers in One Box 4. Medical Women: Vintage Postage Stamps

Print of the Week – Lithograph by Vija Celmins

August 17, 2012

Vija Celmins‘ lithographs are absolutely captivating in person. I was lucky to see a solo show of her work a while back (in London, if I remember correctly), and seeing her meticulously detailed drawings of the ocean, views of the sky, and rocky landscapes left quite an impression on me.

The three prints I’ve featured this week are all lithographic prints of her drawings, which perfectly captures the incredible detail of her images. My favorite is “Ocean,” the first image above, which I’ve seen in person recently at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena. The image feels so vast, but when I was able to look at it up close, I was completely entranced by the intricacies of her drawing. I couldn’t help but imagine the artist in her workspace, diligently hunched over her drawing, completely absorbed by her task.

Cotton & Flax visits the LA Fashion District

August 16, 2012

I made another trip to the Los Angeles fashion district, where there are blocks and blocks of fabric stores overflowing with things to delight even the most seasoned crafter. I was just picking up some small samples of some of the fabrics I’ll be using for my Fall/Winter line for Cotton & Flax, but I took a few shots of beautifully patterned fabrics with my phone to share here.

Most of the bolts of fabric were not identified by brand, but hopefully I will find some time to track down the makers of these fabrics soon.

These ones I do know… Liberty of London!

Snail Mail Saturday – Bold Shapes

August 11, 2012

Nothing complicated about this collection, I’m just loving the bold patterns and shapes in these awesome snail mail supplies. Talk about making a statement, right?!

1. Semicircle Pattern Card from Sixpenny Letterpress 2. Primary Card Set from Present and Correct 3. TO/FROM Mailing Labels from Krank Press 4. Thank You card from Yellow Owl Workshop 5. Scallop Notecards from Dozi 6. Thank You card from Type A Press

Print of the Week – Lithograph by David Hockney

August 10, 2012

David Hockney is one of my favorite artists, and his series of prints and paintings of Los Angeles, especially the ones featuring pools, are particularly delightful. I love his use of line in the lithograph above, which has the long title, “Lithographic Water Made of Lines, Crayon and Two Blue Washes Without Green Wash.” I found this print while browsing the Tate Museum archive, which is full of great works that I’ll be featuring in the future.