Pattern Pulp

Textile Inspiration & Knitted Illustrations




I find when I’m searching for inspiration for patterns or textiles I often start by looking at objects rather than the actual patterns on things. I love to find a collection of objects with a similar purpose or hand that I can group together to discover a new shape or texture. Here’s one of my recent inspirational collections:

Knitted Illustrations:

This is a great group, all from the NYPL digital gallery which is a great resource for research. These knit accessories speak so much of the shape of the body they make me feel very focussed on designing for a real person as opposed to just thinking about pattern in a 2 dimensional way, as on paper or a fabric ground. Of course, they also make me want to peel away the winter layers and get ready for spring.

Coverage by Kimberly Hall

 

April 20, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Twitter Influencer: Callen Thompson




Callen Thompson is an artist and textile designer living in Austin. Before Texas, though, she was raised in Melrose, Florida as a 6th generation Floridian. She grew up in a house built by her parents in the woods. It was here that her grandmother taught her to always respect the land, especially in a state that cedes often to the interests of development. This ingrained love for the land is apparent in Callen’s lush body of work that includes abstracted desert spaces, mountains, and biomorphic patterning.

Her paintings have garnered the attention and acclaim of many, frequently popping up on the blogosphere and gaining increasing attention after being featured in West Elm’s catalog as a featured Etsy artist. She has 18 works currently displayed at West Elm’s Emeryville, CA location through mid-May and is currently featured on Buy Some Damn Art.

We also adore her branching out into textiles with her line, BEAM. Pouring through her twitter feed, it’s apparent that the artist herself is just as charming and lovely as the work she creates. Friendly and inquisitive, she utilizes twitter like a pro, sharing her work, conversing with others and passing along and commenting on interesting bits from the many creative people within the twitterverse.

 

April 20, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Budget Buy: Richard Ginori Porcelain




If I had a need for new plates, I wouldn’t think twice and would scoop these Richard Ginori beauties up. On sale today at One Kings Lane, these mix-and-match salad and dinner plates are adorned with unique blue and white patterns, reminiscent of wood block prints.

Since 1735, the work of Richard Ginori has been the epitome of classic Italian aesthetic values. Inspired by the search for beauty and perfection, and embodying the harmony of pattern and shape, these handcrafted Italian objets d’art borrow from various artistic movements throughout history to express a unique and universal design vernacular, while exemplifying the rich heritage and timeless elegance of Richard Ginori.

 

April 20, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

How to Set Up and Run a Fashion Label




We’ve been promoting a lot of how-to books lately – from being an independent designer to window dresser to freelance illustrator. But what if you want to be a different kind of designer – a fashion designer – and you want to start your own line. What then? No matter how talented you are, if you’re going to run a successful label you’ll need to know about business – from marketing and PR to manufacturing and where to find the money to finance it all.

In How to Set Up and Run a Fashion Label, Toby Meadows presents a no-nonsense guide to running your own business. Packed with tips, case studies and tasks to help you analyze your skills, your market and your product. The book is designed for anyone looking to jump head first into the crazy field of fashion.

 

April 19, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Styling Inspiration & Crochet Combos




Remember when you’d find crochet items in your grandmother’s house- doilies under trinkets and antiques? Just like the floral pastel trend that’s been sweeping department stores this Spring, textures reminiscent of decades past are popping up in stores everywhere. Grandma’s making her mark once again, reminding us that everything’s cyclical. There are crochet dresses, skirts, shorts, tops, gloves, socks and even shoes!

I have a few crochet sweaters that I typically pair with silk tops just to add texture. I love how the color from the blouse peeks through the loops. Recently, with this slightly chilly NYC weather, I paired one of my crochet sweaters with a green silk dress. It was perfect for the chill and added a touch of texture.

 *            *            *

1. Motorcycle Gloves | 2.Isabel Marant Cilla Crochet Sweater | 3. Girl. Band of Outsiders Cleo Shorts | 4. Opening Ceremony Crocheted Pointed Collar Dress | 5. Me (!)

Coverage by Chelsa Skees

 

April 19, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Color Studies from Europe




Here’s an interesting study (and promo) of a realtime color study conducted by the forecasting company, Pimkie. Have a watch, they’ve set up an honest, playful approach to observing European streetwear. The colors are then plugged into infographics for easy consumption.

 

April 18, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Tracking Repetitive + Awesome.
On Instagram.