Rina Matea: Lucia

Severina and Matea are the names of my grandmothers, and I'm naming my little collection of handmade pieces Rina Matea -- after these two wonderful women. I only have the sweetest memories of my mama and lola, and each piece I make carries with it a little joyful thought inspired by these amazing women.

Four Years Later: Ibbie

In 2004 I took a trip to Tokyo, and after Mika Kato, Yayoi Kusama, Hina dolls, Muji, and Puroland, it's no wonder I came back to New York telling everyone who cared to listen that I was going to start making dolls and toys. Since then I have been making dolls for friends.

Friends, meet Ibbie (named after one of my favorite people in the world, Isabel Consuelo T.):

And since she's everything like Isabel, Ibbie has a big, generous, and kind heart.

Inspiration for Play

I've been working on a few projects when I am able (late at night, crack of dawn). I know, I've promised to post some pictures of some completed projects. But not yet. In the meantime, take a look at some sources of inspiration:

English artist, Julie Arkell. Available at John Derian.

Jess Brown. Available at Twig.

Apolline a Paris. Available at Orfeo.

Herzenart.

Muslin

I promised I would post more projects here. So here is a project I am doing with a friend. Just playing around right now, and we'll be ready to show the finished pieces in a few weeks - still waiting for our fabric vendor to come through for us. Hmmm, looking at muslin this closely makes me think of buttercream. I must be hungry.

D-in-Beantown's Shopping Diary

Saturday - Boston's Newbury Street.

Newbury Street, arraying off the Southwest corner of the Boston Public Gardens, is Boston's Fifth Avenue, where you can walk through Chanel, Burberry, Intermix, and see high-end glitz and glamour. It's where the high-end hairstylists and expensive perfumeries line up and hawk their offerings.

12:30pm: Hopped the T, walked from Chinatown, across the Commons, through the Public Gardens...a couple of thoughts in my head.

I was in need of updating my jeans. I checked out some of the fancier styles, but I'm an unusual petite, so these ultra-long pant leg things for $250 bucks isn't going to work for me.

1:30: I always find myself at the Gap, and ran away with a couple pairs of their higher-end dark-rinsed straight legs with stretch denim. Rules: lowrise, slim fit, straight leg opening, indigo-grey with faded leg.

2:00: Cole Haan's. DEFINITELY HIT THAT BI-ANNUAL SALE! I mean it.

The Air Genie Ballet...mine, mine, mine. Ballet flat with NIKE AIR Technolgy in metallic kidskin with brass ornamental buckle. Fully leather lined. Fully padded leather-wrapped sock lining. Flexible, lightweight rubber sole.

2:30: Picked up soap from Sabon, they were giving some samples that smelled like.... I don't know, they make the smoothest, creamiest soap...you almost want to eat it.

Went home satisfied.

Sunday - Boutique hunting in JP.

10:30: Breakfast on Center Street in my own J.P. My neighborhood in Southwest Boston is full of historic mansions, and surrounded by green parklands designed by America's first urban landscape artist, Frederick Law Olmstead (1822–1903), who defined the Boston landscape when he designed the Emerald Necklace, the park system that runs through Boston. He is also responsible for the grandeur of Central Park in Manhattan.

Center Street is lined with antique stores, casual restaurants, and amazing boutiques. Like Berkeley, Park Slope Brooklyn and Sausalito, the offerings are artisan - jewelery, hats, scarves, purses, t-shirts....

11:30: Tried to get a haircut and touch up the golden tresses, but it was closed. My stylist at Fresh Hair on South Street was a wizard at the long layers, and evening out my thin-crown, clumpy locks at the end thing that is going on. I was bummed.

11:45: Street hat shopping at Salmagundi, an indie hat-shop 2 blocks away. A great young couple opened the place on my street in October, and have been hailed as the best in the city, greatest selection, knowledgeable in the urban headgear industry, and a pleasure to chat with. They're throwing a little party for the new restaurant that is opening next door.

Love the scarfs, the gloves, the belts, and clutches.... The owners tipped me that the new 2008 Spring purses will be in stock in 2 weeks. The fact that they are 2 blocks from my house may mean I need to start bartending to make some extra cash.

Left today with a Grace Hat, in white, red and green, to go with my new winter down coat. There is a storm hitting the Boston area tomorrow after all! Another foot of snow? I needed a new hat.

12:00: Fire Opal. What can you call Fire Opal...I guess it's like those California boutiques that sell artisan creations: housewares, jewelry, clothing, scarves, accessories....

I kept something behind the counter 2 days ago, and Steve, the owner, called me with a reminder that it was time I came and got it.

Sigh.

Fell hard for their Presh belts, vintage silk fabrics incased in an antiqued buckle, with soft leather hand-dyed belt. Mine is a yellow silk with small chinois flowers, and the belt is dyed a very deep brown to go with jeans and work clothes.

Went home.

Notes:

It's more fun shopping in JP, and dangerous, because you get to know the owners. It's too easy to stop in for a look and leave $300 poorer. Seriously.

You buy into the whole artistic sensibility and their casual boutique familiarity.

While you can say NO! on Newbury, or Fifth Avenue, or Market Street in San Fran, here, your defenses are lower. I mean, mine are.

Spring accessories notes: C, I am feeling that Southern California - Hollywood Glamour meets Cowgirl Soul thing. I am seeing my belt go with turquoise boots, tank tops and chunky necklaces....

More on that later.

For a peek, check out Zoey Willow's online boutique.

More Funky Chunkies...

Loved the pics from Paris!!!!! I didn't know you went...btw, am planning to see you in NYC next weekend, and can't wait.

I had a couple of pics to add to your Funky Chunkies piece from last week (oh, and the So Cold Your Ears Are Going to Fall Off commentary, don't you just love winter....)

I'll be sporting my new Mischa Lampert when I come see you in the Big Apple for pre-New Year Festivities! D-in-Beantown's pics for the winter, whilst I dash through the snow, on a one-horse open sleigh:

From NYC designer Mischa Lampert's 2007-2008 Collection:

Prorsum, by Burberry:
Chunky beanie, by Burberry:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

More holiday cheer from the winter issue of Marie Claire Idées (my new favorite magazine). Happy Holidays everyone!

Tamar Mogendorff

I'd like to live in the world of Tamar Mogendorff's creations. I was walking past ABC Carpet & Home recently, and I really should have just climbed up into that window display and settled in. Will that kind of infraction bar my visa application to Tamar world?

Image from Erica Tanov Holiday Shopping Event invite.

Asiatica by way of Kansas

Based in Kansas City, with trunk shows traveling around the country, Asiatica arrived in Brooklyn today via a mailed holiday greeting, aka, very pretty catalog. Some of my favorites:

Aoki Ryota silver lined porcelain bowl
Five Japanese papier-mache puppies
Reiko Ishiyama oxydized silver bracelet

No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace

As I have seen in one autumnal face.

From Elegy IX: The Autumnal by John Donne

Piña

Day

Night

My mom just sent me a huge stash of natural fabrics made from materials such as pineapple and banana. These are the old-school eco fibers--organically produced, and are traditionally used for Filipino formal attire for both men and women. The embroidery is amazing in its intricacy, and is usually positioned on the fabric in anticipation of how it's going to be used in a piece of clothing: butterfly sleeves on a woman's dress, the front of a man's barong? My favorite piece is the geometric one above. I've had a small collection for a while and a few ideas for their use, but mom's infusion of material is making me want to sit down and just start making.

Hat Anatomy: One in Ten Auction

Wrong side of the fabric.

The blue satin lining makes an appearance.

Hot cha cha. Well, not really, but nice 'no?

The light blue bridal satin lining wanted to say hello, but the brim was having a bad interfacing day due to the humidity and refused to be photograped alone, acquiescing only to a couple of group shots.

The Everyday Cloche is a deep crown hat made from patterned upholstery fabric, with a silver buckled self-fabric belt and a short curvy brim. It is lined in a blue bridal satin. This is size 22 1/2. As part of the One in Ten Auction, you can bid on the Everyday Cloche here. To explore other amazing handcrafted pieces, look here.

The Making Community

Photo from bara.

As a student-milliner and novice sewing enthusiast, I've turned to creative and craft blogs for inspiration and validation. The making community is a generous and supportive one—marked by a joyful nature.

Early in June, Eireann Lorsung’s mom suffered an aneurysm, which they were told only one in ten people survive. Thankfully, her mom is on her way to a full recovery. Eireann is a poet and artist, and when she decided to organize an auction of handmade pieces to raise funds for her mother’s medical costs not covered by insurance, I knew that I was going to sew a hat for the auction.

A lot of beautiful handmade pieces from a variety of artists and crafters are waiting for your bids. Please check it out here. To learn more about each piece and its maker, please peruse the main auction site at One in Ten.

Bidding will begin tomorrow, August 19th, and will continue until Friday evening (August 24th), so go, Go, GO!

Here come the babes...

I know, that sounds like the treatment for a typical beer ad.

But, hooray, suddenly everyone I know is blessed with a new addition to their family: James and Kay have Sofia, Pete and Elsa have Alisa, and Edu and Blanche have Luca Ysmael!!!

Three years ago, a similar thing happened -- everyone I knew (at least it seemed that way) was welcoming a new bundle into their lives. So off I went to happily purchase some japanese pattern books with the intention of sewing a few fashionable pieces for all the new bouncing babies. However, instead of pretty and dashing baby clothes sewn by my own hands, I resorted to store-bought toys, clothes, toys, and more toys.

This time I promise to put those pattern books to good use. And take a look at some of the images from these books -- just begging to be made...

From Makie Clothier designer, Yuji Ogata (who I've already raved about --Shims + Sons just recently blogged about the same book). (Book is pictured on the left.)

2004 ISBN 4-579-10996-1

{for Luca Ysmael}

{for Sofia}

2005 ISBN 4-309-28008-0

{for Alisa}

And, of course, extra bloomers for everyone!

I know they're scary, but...

A conversation from long ago...

D-in-SanFran: "Can you get me one of those Santos dolls when you go back home to the Philippines?"

Republic of Candy: "No, they scare me."

An interesting piece, pictured below, is called the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception. On display for a time at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City, the accompanying plaque reads, Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, 18th century Hispano-Philippine Ivory, partly polychromed and gilded, with glass eyes and silver halo; H. 10 in. (15.4 cm). Gift of Loretta Hines Howard, 1964 (64.164.243). Chinese ivory carvers in the Philippines and on the mainland as well produced numerous religious figures for export to Spain and the Americas via the Manila Galleon route. Although conforming to the iconography of the Catholic church (such as the pose of this Virgin), their Asian origin is usually unmistakable in their physiognomies as well as the style of their drapery.

From Preserving Saints: Devotional Art of the Santero, by Alex Castro, Center for Kapampangan Studies (my dad's province):

Santeros are artists who carve and paint santos, images of saints, reflecting one of the oldest living traditions of religious devotion practiced by Hispanic Americans. Carving santos is an enduring Latino tradition from Central and South America, the American Southwest, the Caribbean, the Philippines, and Spain.

When Spanish missionaries came to Christianize [the Philippine islands], they brought with them religious pictures and images of saints that became potent instruments of evangelization. These artful images were used to demonstrate the power of the new religion over paganism...soon, carved "santos" were replacing primative anitos in home altars, becoming the new focus of household devotion. Thus began a tradition of santo-making in the country-and from Manila to Pampanga, local santeros practiced their craft by carving thousands of holy images copied from estampitas and styled by their imagination.

In the Philippines, Alex Castro writes, "Santo-collecting came into vogue in the 1930's, although earlier than that Trinidad Pardo de Tavera raised eyebrows when he started using santos as decorative accents for his house rather than for their originally intended purpose.... The antique trade boom in the 1960's-1970's hastened the demolition of hundreds of church altars and generated criminal syndicates, sometimes in cahoots with antique traders. Many a precious santo has been lost in this unscrupulous fashion, like the 1984 disappearance of Cavite's Soledad de Porta Vaga."

Knitting Lifestyle

I owe my greatest activities to my friends' ideas and inspirations. Just do it, like Nike says....

C mentioned a month ago that she's going to learn how to knit. She posted a few pics of design by Proenza Schouler (jazz-age-inspired coat) and Diane von Furstenberg (oversized cardigan), and wanted to bring in the pictures to her knitting circle.

I was definately inspired and checked out the scene here. To my delight, San Fran is a knitting town....

Fabulous yarn stores are easily within reach, offering hand-dyed wool, merinos, silks, mohair, cotton, and high-end thready blends that shimmer and shine on their spools, cones, and balls. Chairs are set up inside the store near windows, inviting you to start your project then and there, surrounded by other knitting enthusiasts.

If you are a knitter, you have to go to:

Artfibers (designer yarns in magnificent colours), SF Financial District, Sutter Street, for the company, and the really cheap knitting classes!

The Craft Gym, Bush between Polk and Van Ness, for their Start-to-Finish Knitting Basics series, perfect for those starting out. I was lucky, when I signed up, no one else was able to attend, and I got private lessons from Leah, originally from Maine, where parents have a designer yarn store....

The Urban Knitting Studio on Fell in Hayes Valley, for their cables and twists classes...

Jon's Knit Blog, for some fashionable projects by a hip city blogger. Check out his miles and miles of stockinette stiches entry, he is so cute....

...and so many more stores than I can count. In North Beach on my walk home, through Grant Avenue, there is an unnamed store that I encourage you all to try to find. It's a giant knitted products storefront, where I left with a turtleneck poncho and a parisian knit wrapped sweater with small flowers along the v-neck....

Delicious Offerings from Artfibers Yarn Catalog, with names like Haiku, Golden Siam, Kyoto, and Alfabeto....

A Fisherman's Cable, from DCist, my current project....to practice basic cabling technique and to combat the cold fog here on the Bay....

A basic poncho with pompons: pattern by the Craft Yarn Council.