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By SUZANNE WILSON
Staff Writer
Friday, November 6, 2009
Dorian scarves [now and Zen]
PURPLE PROS … The O-woman says in the November issue of her magazine that purple is a big color this season and I am not about to argue. Besides, what’s not to like about purple – in any season, and in all its many shades?
We’ll start from the ground up. In Northampton, Synergy offers lots of ways to wear purple on your feet, as the photo here shows. Born, a shoe company known for comfort, makes a stylish cowboy-style boot in a grape color for $189. There are ever-popular Classic Tall Uggs in mulberry, for $180, and purple mocs, also by Ugg, for $100. Lined purple rain boots by Kamika, which are $69.99, would brighten up a drab, drizzly day. Continuing the footwear theme, we found Smartwool purple patterned socks for $17.95 at Mountain Goat, also in Northampton.
A little further down Main Street at Country Comfort, we came across purplecorduroy pants from Cut Loose for $78. Nearby, Cathy Cross had a dusky purple Soia & Kyo down parka for $220 (it’s pictured at top left), and a purple leather tote bag from Aoyama, roomy enough to hold just about everything you own, for $262.
For just a touch of purple, check out the work of Nancy Dorian, a local artist whose business is called Now & ZEN; a sampling is shown at left. Dorian says purple is her favorite color and she often uses it in her scarves. We saw one example – a lovely swirled design in subdued shades – at the Nashawannuck Gallery in Easthampton. It was $45. Nashawannuck Gallery also has amethyst jewelry by Suzette Alsop Jones, another Easthampton-based craftsperson; a necklace and earrings are $68 and $25, respectively.
When you’re all done shopping for everything purple, you could go home and curl up with a purple book. You don’t have one? Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple” is $14 at Broadside Bookshop in Northampton.
- Suzanne Wilson
Posted 2 years, 2 months ago at 10:23 pm. Add a comment
IF you ask her about trends in textiles, Susan Brown, an assistant curator at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, will tell you that felt is having a very big moment, finding its way into everything from fashion and product design to architectural installations and home furnishings.
It has become so ubiquitous, in fact, that Ms. Brown has organized an exhibition at the museum called “Fashioning Felt.” The show, which runs from March 6 to Sept. 7, explores the many uses of felt, from traditional pieces, like a Turkish shepherd’s cloak and an Afghan saddle pad, to contemporary objects like the “personal uniforms” designed and worn by the artist Andrea Zittel as conceptual art.
“There’s something so tactile about it,” Ms. Brown said of the fabric. “The desire to touch is strong with most textiles, but particularly so with felt.”
It differs from other fabrics, she explained, because it is made not by knitting or weaving but by matting wool fibers together using water and friction. The result, she said, “is very comforting, warm and inviting.”
This is very good news to me, since I love to felt! Check out the rest of this new york times article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/garden/05shopp.html
Her write up on the yurt exhibition is also really cool!
http://blog.cooperhewitt.org/2009/02/26/janice-arnold-sketches
Posted 2 years, 11 months ago at 8:57 pm. Add a comment
For the past month my work has adorned three display windows on the main drag in Easthampton, MA.
Nashawannuck Gallery
40 cottage street, easthampton, ma
a great place to visit … lots of really talented artisans
New England Felting Supply
84 cottage street, easthampton, ma
where my workshop is being held. All things felted can be had here. Stop in and pay them a visit. My class is full, but you can sign up for the next one!
The AwenTree
102 cottage street, easthampton, ma
the metaphysical shop in town offering magical gifts and workshops from drumming to reiki. Stop in and say hi and keep our community vibrant!
Pretty cool, huh?
Posted 2 years, 12 months ago at 7:12 pm. Add a comment
One of the most exciting thing to happen to me this year was having my work featured in Preview Massachusetts, a local magazine put out by the Valley Advocate. Every month they showcase local retail talent in the “window shopping” section and my work appeared in the October issue. The hand painted shibori dyed poncho and nuno felted string scarf are but two of the many items that emerged from the now & ZEN studio at eastworks this past year. It is in part due to the retail exposure there that has really helped my work take off. AND don’t forget to visit Snow Farm during the next 3 weekends in November to see my fiber art in person!
Posted 3 years, 2 months ago at 9:13 pm. Add a comment
I spent my last day wandering up the coast to peddle my wares. I am now coast to coast! My work is being offered at Mila in La Jolla, a very upscale boutique located next to George’s, which I’m told is the best restaurant in San Diego. I ventured on to Solana Beach where the rest of my inventory is happily at OMG Goddess. Everyone has been telling me that my stuff would be great in California … and now you can get one of my laugh in scarves the next time you’re in San Diego!
