lewis elizabeth top from domahoka.

have you seen jen's pop-up shop?

photo by shari altman.

* * *

the martha stewart show is focusing on brooklyn and the sustainable food movement today, and will feature the brooklyn flea, marlow & sons, red hook ball field papusas, and others. here's more info.

thanks bird & banner, for introducing me to the work of marlene reidel. these are from the 1960s and 70s. i wish i could read more about her here, but unfortunately can't since the site is german.

some photos from maria's show at chelliswilson, come darkness.

my project is in the 2nd & 3rd photos, a bleach screen print handkerchief.

i love every piece in the exhibit, making it hard to even choose a few to show here. i highly recommend clicking on the images on the site to see all the artwork up close!

jill of today i saw sent me this postcard and i loved it... there's a drawing of the fresh fruit cake she made from my recipe. she sent it a couple months ago and i've been meaning to post since then. she has such a nice drawing style and i really like the whole idea of her blog. thanks jill!

* * * *

new november sellers at the flea design co-op

* * * *

a couple of the wonderful october designers are continuing this month, and there are many new folks joining... here's the list (photos from top to bottom):

virginia sin ceramics

christopher david ryan

deadly squire

claudia pearson (special one-day seller, nov 7th)

moontree letterpress

wayne pate / good shape design

maptote

lena corwin / lines & shapes

and there will be several other one-day sellers, to be announced.

brooklyn flea

saturday, 10am-5pm (through november 21st)

176 lafayette avenue, fort greene

come by!!

we had some lunch and then cut a lot of paper... working on our new calendar.

tamar mogendorff has been adding some new images to her website. i love the large cage especially.

i have a piece in an art show curated by maria vettese, at the shop chelliswilson in portland, maine. maria is the best curator i know... so i can't wait to see photos of her installation. the opening reception is this friday, 5-8m.

i was more than happy to do a trade recently with one of my favorite designers, virginia johnson. i had a hard time choosing which shawl i wanted (i've had my eye on the camels forever), but i made the right choice with the shark pattern... i love it. when the shawl/scarf is worn the sharks aren't really visible, so it's not too much. it really makes me smile.

... one more class for november!

EMBROIDERY AND APPLIQUE WORKSHOP WITH CAL PATCH

Open Level

One 5-hour workshop

11am – 4pm

Saturday November 14th

$90 + supplies

vegetarian lunch included!

Cal Patch will be in town briefly and we've decided to switch up our usual sewing class schedule and instead offer an embroidery and applique workshop. Cal will teach all of her favorite embroidery stitches and applique techniques, which can be used to update, embellish and customize clothing, home items, and gifts. The class will begin by stitching a sampler of 12 classic embroidery stitches, then we will explore some applique techniques, and finally begin a project using your own fabric, or a finished item (tea towel, tote bag, clothing).

to sign up, email: info (at) lenacorwin.com

(the image above is from a vintage book called the stitches of creative embroidery, by jacqueline enthoven / reinhold)

TIE DYE WORKSHOP WITH SHABD SIMON-ALEXANDER

Two 2-hour classes

6pm – 8pm

Mondays Nov 9th & 16th

Fort Greene, Brooklyn

$150

Shabd creates extraordinary tie dyed textiles, and in this workshop she will be sharing her secrets and techniques! She will demonstrate how she mixes dyes and chemicals, and several methods for tie dyeing to create different patterns. You will need to bring clothing for dyeing (cotton works best, but also silk and rayon), including tee shirts, scarves, socks, etc. Shabd is a multimedia artist also works with embroidery, photography, sculpture, performance, and other methods of storytellying. Her products can be seen on her website, here: shabdismyname.com.

to sign up, email: info (at) lenacorwin.com

what i got from mociun fall 09... i L-O-V-E every piece. see more here...

i've been thinking about this class ever since clothing designer jenny gordy wrote that she was moving to nyc. i ordered a shirt from jenny's clothing line wiksten a couple years ago, and its one of my favorites. she's an impeccable designer and sewer, and seeing her work has been a big inspiration for me to want to learn to sew clothes.

* * *

SEWING WITH JENNY GORDY

intermediate level

this class will focus on two versatile patterns; a skirt and a top/dress, from designer jenny gordy of wiksten. jenny first learned to sew from her grandmother, and then at FIT. she works primarilty in natural linen and cotton, and has an eye for delicate gingham, stripes, plaids, and droll floral prints that she then crafts into clean and classic silhouettes. each student will receive patterns in their size (to keep), and classes will focus on completing 2-3 garments. the photos above show the styles that we will be working with (created by jenny just for this class). basic sewing knowledge required. machines will be available for students to use, or you can bring your own machine.

four 1-1/2 hour classes

thursday evenings 11/5, 11/12, 11/19, 12/3

6:00- 7:30pm

$250 + supplies (approx. $40)

email: info (at) lenacorwin.com to sign up. space is limited!

we went to boston for a wedding over the weekend, and stayed at our friend's beautiful house.

more of the paper chandeliers... they look so nice from the below.

anyone who wrote asking about buying them-- i haven't decided yet if i'll make them beyond the flea, but i'll send an email if i do. thanks!

...and gus in the corner while i'm working hard.

* * *

dates...

i'm really excited about upcoming november classes in my studio... here's are the dates so you can mark your calendar if you're interested, and i'll have full details soon. i wanted to get these up here, since i'm late for announcing them already.

+ embroidery and applique workshop with cal!

saturday nov 14th, 11am - 4pm

+ sewing with jenny gordy of wikstenmade!

(a top, dress, and skirt), thursdays 11/5, 11/12, 11/19 & 12/3

+ tie dye with shabd!

two evening workshop, dates tba.

textiles in mieke willems new online shop.

* * *

* * *

: : news!

the books we debuted at the ny art book fair are now on the lines & shapes website.

i love these three books!

there's volume 9 of our artists series. this is our japanese volume, featuring work by himaa, takashi iwasaki, tomo kohsaka, mistubako, izumi shiokawa, justin waldron and yuko yamamoto. each artist's work is very different from the rest, but there is a subtle common thread of japanese aesthetic, something that maria and i have always been drawn to.

and there's mociun fall 2009, journal of a collection. this book is filled with images of designer caitlin mociun's inspiration, prints, and process for creating her fall clothing and jewelry line. we are printing a special limited run of just 75 books, so don't wait too long to purchase!

and lastly, there's a small book of polaroids by steven harrington. maria and i are both big admirers of steven's work... and we were so excited when steven first sent us his scanned polaroids. many of the polaroids are of steven's paper sculptures. i love this little book.

we decided to extend our special book fair prices to the website for just two weeks. all books (except journal of a collection) are $20 until nov 1st. check them out here.

sometimes i wish i had no interest in fashion... because i hate wanting things.

i want these so badly!

oops, i forgot to say-- these are from opening ceremony!

some new things...

top: thrifted vera neumann napkins from my mom

middle: a sweet present from julia of jewelweeds

bottom: virginia johnson scarf

* * *

UPDATE: the design co-op at the brookyln flea is cancelled tomorrow because of weather! it will resume next saturday. thanks for all the nice comments about the paper chandelier!

* * *

this is why i needed the straw straws (i ended up using real straw!)

i'll be selling a couple of these paper chandeliers/mobiles at the flea on saturday. i wanted to make something to decorate the empty ceiling of the tent. the idea came from this post on laura normandin's blog. thank you for the inspiration laura! these are quite labor intensive, but a lot of fun too.

it's a dreary day here... but cozy!

beautiful new textiles from shabd.

she might be teaching a tie dye workshop in my studio soon... i cant wait!!

here are some photos from saturday's flea (taken by rebecca kutys). it was great! aren't all the colors nice?

we're just getting warmed up... and will be offering special gifts and new items every weekend-- so come by!

i'm looking for straws made of a natural material for a project, and i came across these straw straws from muji that are perfect, but i can't find them for sale! has anyone seen them in a store, or something similar?

goodbye summer.

also, elisabeth's interview with renilde depeuter.

* * *

the flea design co-op starts this saturday!

* * *

i'm helping organize/curate a new booth at the fort greene brooklyn flea, which will sell products by some of my favorite designers. the section will be run by rebecca kutys of moontree letterpress, and for october we have these talented makers: (photos from top to bottom) marcie mcgoldrick, maptote, lotta jansdotter, moontree letterpress, wayne pate/good shape design, laura normandin, sesame letterpress and my work/lines & shapes.

and there will be some special guest sellers, yet to be announced...

the first saturday, october 10th, lotta jansdotter will be giving away a free goodie with each purchase.

the flea design co-op poster was designed by wayne pate, and will be for sale at the flea for $15 (email me if you are interested in ordering it online and i might be able to arrange it).

hope to see you at the flea!

176 lafayette ave. (btw. vanderbilt + clermont ave.)

every saturday, 10am-5pm

i always look forward to seeing christopher silas neal's illustration for the modern love column in the new york times 'sunday styles' section. i loved this week's, since i'm partial to dachshunds. the story was very sweet too (if you're a dog person).

the book fair was a success... we met lots of nice people, of all sorts, felt inspired by the abundance of amazing books being made by other independent publishers, and actually had fun sitting in one spot for 3 1/2 days straight. thanks to everyone who came by to say hello. and thanks anne, for bringing me homemade pumpkin cupcakes!

i didn't take enough photos to capture the really incredible work shown at the other tables, so these are some more mundane views of the fair, mostly taken from behind our table. julia did a great write up of the fair here.

* * *

cal patch's new book on patternmaking just came out!

i first met cal about 10 years ago when i took a crochet class in her shop on the lower east side. she is such a good teacher, and i'm lucky that she's recently been teaching sewing classes in my studio. she has a very gentle, calm way of explaining things, that i'm sure translates into written form. the book shows you how to design your own clothes, whether you're an aspiring clothing designer or you want to make clothes that fit your body perfectly.

in our most recent sewing class, cal helped me make some changes to the built by wendy pattern we were using, since i had already done it twice. i wanted to try a gathered sleeve and bias binding. it was so fun to make something just how i wanted it (last photo above).

congrats cal! click here to buy her book.

come see us this weekend at the ny art book fair!

i went last year and bought great books from some of my favorite small publishers-- nieves, hassla and ooga booga.

the photos above are a peek at our three brand new books... volume 9 of our artist series, a special book of polaroids by steven harrington, and a journal of the mociun fall 09 collection. we're debuting them at the fair, and then adding them to the shop next week. i love all these of these books.... i'll post more photos of them next week.

* * *

LOCATION
P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center
22-25 Jackson Ave at the intersection of 46th Ave
Long Island City, NY 11101 (map)

FAIR HOURS
Friday/Saturday, October 2 & 3, 2009, 11am - 7pm
Sunday, October 4, 2009, 11am - 5pm

The NY Art Book Fair is FREE and open to the public.

darn! my recipe was featured on design*sponge last week, and it has an error. i'm sorry to anyone who made it and it didn't turn out so great. the recipe will be corrected soon-- it should call for baking POWDER instead of soda. please try making it again!

more patterns for spring '10 that have caught my eye...

(top to bottom)

eley kishimoto

marc by marc jacobs

anna sui

a detacher

great pattern on pattern and color palette from rebecca taylor, spr '10...

there are even patterned shoes!

saturday...

first brunch here with c and a, then stopping in the always incredible erie basin, and then the beautiful new saipua location.

(photo above from sew fussy)

there's one spot left in the sept sewing workshop with cal patch this coming weekend, sat the 19th!

my favorites from vena cava...

patterns and pattern layering from rachel comey spr '10.

the september desktop wallpaper/calendar that i made for design*sponge is now available for downloading. this was a fun project! i made a scattering of illustrations similar to my travel designs, but made up of things you see around the house rather than things you see traveling.

you can download the wallpaper with or without a calendar, and in either blue or beige.