Shaping my world

Looking back I realized that this one advertisement from 1998 was the single most influential thing that could happen to me at the time I was shaping my artistic paradigm. At a time I was annoyed by the fact my name (Isabelle) was too old fashioned sounding and not popular and cool like Kristen, Caitlin, or Kelly, I was ecstatic to see my name illuminated by sumptuous florals. It made me realize how feminine and romantic my name is. Today, flowers play a big part in my design work.

Etsy Finds February

Loving lilac and copper these days...

mickey on my mind

Lately I've kind of been obsessed with finding references to Mickey and Minnie in art and fashion. I love seeing symbols from my childhood translated by people.

john copeland

adam batchelor

Etsy

gade

lasse aberg

Jazzy pumpkin

I forgot to post these last year but since it's pumpkin season all over again I thought I'd make some new ones this year. Here's what I made for last year's Mexican theme work holiday party!

i scream for ice cream

Why did I decide to be an ice cream cone for Halloween? Because ice cream is so my color scheme. Tan with pastels and pops of neon. So much fun!

Organic Strawberry Balsamic is what I think I ended up deciding what flavor I was. SF foodie talking here.

Bias tape wrapped cotton cording

Finished sprinkles

blue, so blue!

Into wearing blue not being blue this fall.

So-En March 2011

facehunter Shanghai

Bless pants (a la Creatures of Comfort)

A Detacher Fall 2010

wabi-sabi lit

I found this book at the Japanese bookstore in Seattle while I was wandering about the town last week. Wabi Sabi! No, it's not the newest dance craze that's hitting your town. It's been around for centuries but it's totally current and fresh! Wabi Sabi, as I have been learning more and more about is a Japanese design aesthetic that embodies the ideas of impermanence, irregularity, incompleteness, and imperfection. Stuff I can relate to. I've decided it is not only a philosophy I want to hold in mind when I design but also in my everyday life. It IS life. It's the sort of thing that I am drawn to because it's a little rough around the edges. In other words, it's kind of sad and depressing. It's like the sad Leonard Cohen song or the sad Mandy Moore film you can't help but love!

(ah...reading philosophical art books in the backyard of my parent's house...so quaint)

Just today my massage therapist recommended another book to me that reminded me about my
quest for wabi sabi. It's called Women Who Run with the Wolves. I guess it's essentially a bunch of myths and fairy tales that explore the idea of the"wild woman archetype". This "wild woman" is similar to a wolf mother in that she is in touch with her primitive side and makes decisions based on her instincts. What most sparks my interest is the idea of fairy tales representing strong, powerful women! That's totally my jam! Just watch my next collection be totally wild and crazy! Ariel gets her legs and runs with wolves! Belle falls for Teenwolf!