An Entrepreneur is Born!

Ever since she was little, Nikki has shown an entrepreneurial spirit.  When she was 10, she began making really cute hairbows and posted them on my fledgling Etsy site.  While having a big time with all kinds of fabulous ribbons, she made herself a little profit while getting a taste of what you can do with energy,  artistic talent and drive. After making the bows for our school cheer squad for 2 years, and making a killing off her no longer adored American Girl dolls, Nikki continued to hone her artistic skills by drawing and excelling at school projects.


Fast forward to 13 and Nikki is at it again. From her broadcast news position at school, she brought in different coffee mugs to enhance the set.  With a revised look for the set, the cups came home and Nikki had an upcycling inspiration------playful pincushions made from the cups.  After all, why should all pincushions be red, stuffed with hard sand material and made in China?

She started by deciding on a name- Corky Red Curls- and creating the logo above.  Perfect for her and the whimsical nature of her creations.  She procured an new email address and began working on her Etsy website, so she would have a venue to sell her fun items.  One of the first cups---cows paired with a fabulous checkerboard silk topper-- is shown at left.  Wouldn't this pincushion make you smile?

She soon moved past the cups that had once adorned the broadcast studio to other objects like this strawberry bowl.  A larger pincushion could hold more and might work better for a serious seamstress.
















The next one she made- I Like Mike- is my favorite.  Made from a baby food monster bowl, it is my favorite color palette. (Not to mention that it's black and white pin part looks like Jef's hair from the Bachelorette!)

And finally, a few more.  A sly fox (called Swiper after Dora the Explorer), a wise old owl and a steaming cup of espresso joined the group.  She's had a lot of fun being original and artistic.

With some imagination, careful thrifting and a lot of rummaging in my studio for leftover material, Nikki struck gold----and created some cool pincushions.

Career Collage for Girls

For years, when I meet new people, they eventually get around to asking what I do for a living.  I typically begin to list the jobs I've had--- accountant, acquisitions coordinator, analyst, asset manager, author, now artist and apparel designer/upcycler-- and conclude by telling them I haven't yet made it out of the "A's".  So, it seems a natural evolution that I've had an epiphany as I have been talking to my daughter about what careers she might choose someday.  With a variety of interests and abilities, who says she has to pick just one?  As I began brainstorming, my Serendipity series flashed in my mind and blended right into the mix.  Why couldn't I write a book, illustrated with my Paper Doll series, that offered suggestions to savvy girls about what they might consider? Over the span of a week, my kids and I started writing down all the careers/callings we could think of alphabetically and the idea started to come to life.

To take the concept "out for a spin",  I started with Gigi (on left), one of my initial Serendipity pieces, now pictured as a costume designer.  With photoshop, I removed a little of this and that and then started adding words to the piece-- in varying fonts.  I love the fun of reading them all the choices and think they must be defined- maybe in a glossary.  Perhaps some may even used in a poem for opposite pages.  The idea is still percolating in my mind.  Your thoughts are welcome.

If you enjoyed this post, I humbly invite you to follow me on Twitter at braitzatl.  You can see other art pieces at www.bridgetteraitz.etsy.com, and the real fashions at www.echoclothingcompany.etsy.com

Latest Paper Doll? Meet Casey in the Aspens

I am going to confess.  I love aspen trees- especially as they turn yellow and "twinkle" in the fall.  It's a magical combination against a western sky---and nothing along the East coast, except maybe for a flaming red maple, comes close.  So, as I continued my Serendipity series of grown-up paper dolls, I added Casey in the Aspens.

Working on this piece allowed me to literally peel the paper bark off the trees and put it back on again using various archival handmade papers from my flat file.  So fun!  And Casey watches it all, in her boots with skirt, hair and bow blowing in the breeze. (Gave me a momentary memory of Marlo Thomas in That Girl throwing her hat up in the air.) So much fun.  Can't wait to start another and really wish I could just snap my fingers and borrow that skirt tomorrow......

I humbly invite you to follow me on Twitter at braitzatl

Grown Up Paper Dolls

Is anyone out there old enough to remember playing with paper dolls?  When I was growing up, I would play with them from time to time before Barbie and all her clothes came along.  It was fun to play fashion   on paper and kind of funny that I am now doing it again- this time on canvas- years later.

When I began the fashion collages with the girls in my studio class, it was just to give them a little practice in designing and preparing a background with a focal point in mind, as well as to use some different mediums--paint, paper, oil crayon, etc.- to create their subject.  What was a practical exercise for them has become a new series for me.



This happy accident led led me to title my new series "Serendipity" which is defined as: the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way such as "a fortunate stroke of serendipity".

Gigi- the latest piece- was really quite fun to create and came together rather quickly.  I fell in love with a certain paper from my flat file that had a steely gray background and some really happy Japanese cherry blossoms in reddish pinks and creams.  (This is kind of like choosing your socks then building your outfit around them.)  I wanted to paint a background that would bring out that particular color in a sea of black, red and grey papers, so I started with a medium pink and added some streaks of red, hotter pink and cream. Some wonderful cut out numbers gave the piece even more dimension. With the addition of one polka dotted hat and elegant black gloves,  Gigi is ready to take the town by storm----

For more musings, thoughts, and an occasional quip, follow me on braitzatl on Twitter. For real life creations, visit my website at www.echoclothingcompany.etsy.com

Serendipity Series Begins

For an artist, inspiration for various series come from different places.  Sometimes it is from an experience, maybe a memory, a color, or an idea in passing.  This time, it was the idea that all women can be strong and masterful, but still love to be special, unique, and memorable. In short, we are multi-layered and multi-faceted.  Much like mixed media- from many different things- that somehow combine into something special.

My new series is called Serendipity for the feeling of the word and optimism of the series.  I began my first- Chloe- as an exercise with my studio class.  Chloe is made of paint, newsprint, archival paper and finished off with a few sharpie swirls. Who wouldn't like more serendipity?

If you would like to follow my current musings, you can find me as braitzatl on Twitter.

Taking a jacket and tee from fun to fabulous

Most of my fashion ingenuity is focused on upcycling sweaters into new creations better than ever before.  But occasionally I come across a jacket, skirt or tee that just calls to me with possibilities.  Two such garments grabbed me this week, and I decided to share them as I hibernate from the pollen haze that has attacked the ATL.  (I put my life-and sinuses-in jeopardy just by dashing outside to snap some quick photos.)




The first was a cute tee shirt that reminded me of an English Garden.  What made it so cool was that the back, sleeves and front were all out of different, but complimentary, patterns. It was also made of a heavier weight t-shirt material that might make a better bolero.












So, with a quick cut of the trusty sewing shears, I had a better shape.  Some fun pinky-purple striped trim (from another tshirt cut up long ago) was just what it needed to take it from English frump to British funk.














The second took some courage to cut as it was quite cute before I started.  I began with a lined  t-shirt blazer that was a cute blackish-navy and cream stripe.  Great basic pieces with tons of potential.  Drawing on my reservoir of courage, I cut the lower 1/2 of it off and started rummaging around the studio for something to take it from good to great.  Enter some black and cream polka dotted material- very soft and pliable.  By doubling a row of it, I was able to pleat it around the bottom to create a new, fresh take on the original jacket.  A row of red rayon trim- stitched on the edge to give it a slight curl- made it nearly complete.  Finally, a fun polka dotted rosette (stolen from my daugher- don't tell!) completes my new look.  It's called Peppy and will be rocking my Etsy site shortly. (www.echoclothingcompany.etsy.com)

Put Me in the Zoo?

When I was growing up, I loved Dr. Seuss.  Many of his books appealed to me due to their whimsy, colors, made up words and terrific ideas.  But the one that stood out among the others for me was Put Me in the Zoo. Maybe it was the colors, the polka dots or the message of trying to fit in, but realizing you should be yourself and stand out. Whatever drew me in, I loved it and still love it all these years later.

Even though I currently drive my 2005 "Mom Minivan" nicknamed Merlin, I can't help but sigh at the sight of cute VW bugs zipping around my town and think "someday." I have gone so far as to paint polka dots on fun VW's in my art series entitled VROOM.  Blue Bug 2 is below.

So, when I woke one morning with the idea that I should just find round plain car magnets and polka dot my mini-van, I couldn't wait to start Googling. Without much effort, I found Instant Karma, collections of fun magnets that you can use to decorate your vehicle.  And though mine is not yet the Beetle I hope to have one day, I couldn't resist putting my own spin on Merlin.







Check it out.  I have a feeling it will attract quite a bit of attention in my little Conservative enclave. And though I won't fit into the sea of white, grey, silver and beige cars I drive in each day, I might add just a little whimsy to the road. (And find my car easier in the parking lot.)

Rag Pillow Reveal!

Several posts ago, I blogged about a project we had begun in Art Studio to make rag pillows from t-shirt strips (see Rag Pillows on a Rainy Day).  Well at long last, and after about 6 t-shirts worth of strips, I have finished it!  Woo hoo!

Check out the finished product sitting pretty with other flirty pillows.  I had a ball stuffing it full of colorful patterned tee strips and matching it to my guest room. (This is totally different than matching a painting to your sofa----I promise.) My friendly little pillow is now happily ensconced on my window seat....that is until I make my bed and take a follow up pic.

It was fun and easy to make and I often worked on it while I was watching Alcatraz, Castle, Glee, Vampire Diaries, or any other treat.  Here's a close up of the materials. All recycled--- even the back which I did in a cheery black polka dot.  Try one yourself, or better yet, grab a teenager and get them started!

Neat Ninja Assemblage

Who doesn't love the cute ninjas that run around in one of Gmails' email themes?  Well, in one of our recent Art Studios, I challenged the girls to create an assemblage as a sketchbook assignment.  (see "Collage is not just for Ransom Notes").  Enter Nikki and the Ninjas.





She has recreated a ninja painting at a low table.  Love the way she used a page of writing for the face, and cool paper for under the Ninja hood.  Love the pop of red!
















To complete the page, she used other Ninja pics, cut outs from magazines and flyers, and then finished it off with complementary prismacolor markers.  This side represents his work life.

The left side of the page, below, is full of his romantic escapades.  She snagged some fun pics with his lady and continued the theme across.  Love the overall effect and the color palette.

Overall, charming and very creative.  Just what entries in a sketchbook ought to be.  Think how much fun she will have coming across these pages for years to come.

Rag Pillows On a Rainy Day

This week in Art Studio, we are going to take a run at rag pillows.  With the mounds of scraps in my studio from Echo Sweaters, I have tons of material.  So, in advance of my students, I decided to try a smidgen of the concept yesterday (see the end of my entry called "Collage is not just for ransom notes") and it appeared to work pretty well!

First, here's the picture of what inspired me in the first place.  It's a fun find from Pinterest----in great beach colors.  I was a bit concerned about not only the size, and the suggested t-shirt backing, so I've opted to try a throw pillow face instead.  (After I finish, I can face the underside into the fluff of the pillow and protect it.) Maybe a rag rug next if this goes well!

In brainstorming with my friend Pam, we thought of different backings that might give us a bit more strength and linear guide.  We wanted something with a tad more structure, that would be easier to handle and thread the t-shirt remnants through.  We couldn't find plastic canvas (used for yarn projects) with wide enough holes, and it was too hard to enlarge them.  We needed a cross between a miniature silt fence and irrigation plastic--without the nasty plastic feel.  So, when nothing emerged as the perfect dream base, I went with cross stitch canvas in Ivory- size 11.  It has the grid and it was relatively easy to cut slits into it as needed.

I selected a smattering of t-shirt remnants from the studio that would work well in our orange bedroom. (It has a black and cream toile spread with a few red accents in the room.) After cutting my canvas to a 15" x 15" area to allow me to have pillow edges to sew, I bound them with blue masking tape so they wouldn't ravel.  Then the strip making began--- cutting them roughly 1.5" wide by 6" long.  No need for perfection here.  By cutting slits about 1/2" long and about 2/3" apart, I had plenty of holes.  The first two rows came out well, but I can tell this is going to take a very long time. Perhaps the students will make 8" x 8" pillows.  Anyway, I am encouraged by the fluff that emerges from just two rows!  Here's the beginning of the pillow!

Collage is Not Just for Ransom Notes

I saw this great ad for a show at a museum in London (with the title above) and decided it was going to be our Art Studio sketchbook assignment for this week.  My students are busily working, but I finished first and wanted to share my finished page.

My assemblage is about my journey through art. I have used scans of my Beetle art pieces as the cars driving along the road and some great road package tape as the boundaries.  It was really great fun picking out all the different papers- cutting them into squares- attaching them and filling in with prismacolors. (In fact, I think I would love a quilt made out of these patterns and colors.)  It would also have been fun to make the entire background then attach 1 or 3 major figures or themes.  Hint: Nikki is playing with Ninjas from the Ninja Gmail background- can't wait to see how it comes out.)











From the beginning to the end (where you reach my newest Twitter avatar), you can see many fun mediums (symbolized by the papers/colors), twists and turns into new directions (shown by the road)-  always bounded by the tape, which are my guard rails.  It was fun and frothy and therapeutic.  Who doesn't like to color?









Coming next?  I'll share the other collages when finished, but this week, we are moving on to t-shirt rag pillows.  A great way to upcycle old tshirts and to create a really fun piece for your bed. I got the idea from a tshirt rag rug tutorial I found on Pinterest.  I'll share our inspiration with pics of what we make. To give you a clue, here's a preview of our trial rows.  Color, color, color!!