Pattern Pulp

Twitter Influencer: Mary Kate McDevitt




Mary Kate McDevitt is a Portland based graphic designer and illustrator with a particular penchant for hand lettering. She was working strictly as a graphic designer for 2 years when the itch to create with her hands hit her hard. Her after hours adventures soon evolved into freelance opportunities and luckily for us, MeCevitt is now a freelance illustrator and artist, designing for many different publications.

We think her work is abundantly lovely, cheerful and positive as she divides her time between her Etsy shop and work for clients, in addition to personal labors of love such as her recently announced Handwritten Letters project. Following her on twitter is a great way to stay abreast of her projects and musings about life and art and, of course, the obligatory adorable pet picks.

 

November 17, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: Colour Forecasting




In our experiences, people are very curious about the world of forecasting. The research driving the fashion and textile industries is very complex, highly intuitive and frequently underestimated. Colour Forecasting is a great book for anyone curious about the field and looking to learn more.

The book discusses forecasting’s origins, the driving forces behind fashion and how it’s evolved in present day. Color terminology and some of the more subjective tools used by color forecasters are explained, and their strengths and weaknesses are compared. Additionally, process models are presented, revealing how forecasting methodologies are used to develop ‘color stories’.

 

November 17, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Flavio Melchiorre




“All that I see stays in my mind waiting to be unearthed during the creative process,” explains Italian artist, Flavio Melchiorre. When you get lost in Melchiorre’s mesmerizing patterns you certainly see what he means. His colorful designs draw from all elements of everyday life, particularly street art.  Seeing his bold designs, you can easily imagine him walking by a splash of graffiti and filing it in his mind for years before it manifests into works such as Tips’ n Trips, Wild Things, or his recent iPhone skin for Grove. Check out our Q&A with this colorful Italian.

November 16, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Arpana Rayamajhi




Patience, a steady hand and a magical world of psychedelic wonderment are just a few thoughts that come to mind when viewing Arpana Rayamajhi‘s intricate illustrations. Rayamajhi is originally from Kathmandu, Nepal and is currently living between New York and Philadelphia as she builds her portfolio and determines her next creative moves. Not long ago, Bill Gentle shot a striking series of Rayamajhi for his infamous photography blog, Backyard Bill. It’s nothing new for an artist to be an inspirational force in every capacity, but at only 22, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for this rising star. Check out our Q+A for a glimpse into Rayamajhi’s daily routine!

November 16, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Textile Design: Warp & Weft




The verdict is in!  Warp & Weft has announced the winners of the Contemporary Creations: A Rug Design Competition for upper division Textile/Surface Design Program students at the Fashion Institute of Technology.  The winning designs were selected from a group of 24 entries.

The results are so impressive and inspiring and a reminder of the creativity that’s brewing outside the commercial world. All the rugs in the Warp & Weft Modern Collection are made from the purest Himalayan wool and Indian mulberry silk. The wool and silk are unbleached to keep the materials as close to their original state as possible and to develop color vibrancy and depth throughout the surface.

According to Michael Mandapati, president and creative director of Warp & Weft, “To say these students are talented is an understatement.  The competition was very tough and our jury had an incredibly difficult time making their choices. The results are so impressive, in fact, that even though we had originally committed to producing one top design and showing it at ICFF 2012, we will now be producing the two top designs.”

 

November 16, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Repetition Elsewhere: Hosiery Hues




The Color Association‘s started sending a newsletter, entitled Cause for Thought. Monday’s topic covered hosiery from the 1920’s and the history behind the palette. I found it fascinating. When hemlines rose, so did the desire to wear stockings. The colors reflected society’s optimism for a brighter future following World War I.

“The Standard Hosiery Color Card of America was issued in 1927 in co-operation with the National Association of Hosiery and Underwear Manufacturers. This report consists of 88 hues that include: 12 pastel shades  such as Sky Blue, Turquoise and Apple Green, 12 brights such as Yale Blue, Golf Green adn Mandarin, countless beige; Grain, Aloma and Alesan along with taupes ranging from Gravel and Piping Rock.”

 

November 16, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Tracking Repetitive + Awesome.
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