Meet... Fujita Minako

I was having one of those lucky online surfing mornings last Saturday, where every single link I clicked on led me to ten more amazing links and it just kept going and going - until I had to peel myself off my computer. I discovered the works of Fujita Minako via Emma Cassi. The colors, the intricate tiny details, and overall mood of her work reminds me of a quiet winter's morning, looking out the window and watching the snow gently falling to the ground as the world sits still. I'd love to own one of these pieces below.

Meet... Brie Ruais

Although Brie Ruais is new to me, she's by no means a newbie. Quite the contrary! She's been exhibiting her work at numerous galleries since 2002. What struck me in particular about her work was her use of embroidery. If you've been reading HH for a while, you know I'm a huge fan of the works of Cathy Cullis, Joetta Maue and Michelle Moode - whose work for the most part is heavily based on the art of embroidery.

I love how Brie is a self-proclaimed collector of nature. She explains on her site that her home is filled to the brim with jars of shells, stones, dried vegetation, sticks, plants, driftwood and branches. When the time comes, she calls onto these objects and gives them new life by combining them with embroidery, carved wood, wax casts and other sculptural elements.

I certainly don't consider myself an artist but I do find comfort in knowing that I have something in common with Brie - whether I'm at a garage sale, antique shop, even in a Michaels Craft store, I'm always picking up random items. Most of my friends and family will often ask what are you going to do with that? My answer is always I'm not sure yet, I guess I'll figure it out. It may take me two weeks or two years, but for the most part I do eventually figure it out. I guess I'm referring to the ability to see the potential in things, something I hope I never lose.

Well I hope you enjoy browsing through Brie's work - this one is one of my personal favorites...




Images: Brie Ruais

Meet...

Can I tell you an embarrassing secret? When I was a kid, I thought it was SO cool to be a lefty and I'm not sure how it got into my head that lefties were more creative. I can't really explain it, but I was absolutely OBsessed with the curved hook of the wrist/hand that was required of a lefty. So there I sat with a no.2 pencil for weeks, struggling to train my left hand to write... Long story short, I'm currently a righty and can't write with my left hand to save my life. I did however manage to ruin my eyes by sitting 2 inches away from the television in an attempt to get glasses... but that's another post.

Anyway, I share this story because Marcela is a lefty and proves the theory of a silly 6 year old. Her work is amazing and she's no stranger to commissioned work - you've probably spotted her illustrations if you read Good Weekend Magazine (Sydney Morning Herald), Notebook, INSIDEout, Bon Appétit... the list goes on and on. And like she mentions below, I think this sort of say it like you see it attitude in her work and the way she captures and interprets everyday living is why I love her style so much. Now where's that no. 2...




A bit more about Marcela...

1. I have a degree in Graphic Design from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Colombia but only started to do illustrations about a year ago after I did some short courses at COFA in Sydney and fell in love with this type of work.

2. A year ago I was receiving enough illustration commissions and realized I should quit my design job and give this a go... I am so happy, I don't want to look back!

3. I believe the main element in my drawings is the everyday life.

4. Leo Espinosa, an illustrator/designer I admire very much said my illustrations were delicate with a melancholic equilibrium between the nostalgia for the past and the contemporary. I like that perception!

5. When asked What did you want to be when you grew up? Marcela answered... I only knew that I didn't want to have long nails and I achieved it.

6. I eat chocolate like crazy when I find myself stuck (creatively)!

7. I can't live without good old pencils and a nice clean eraser.

8. I have been living in Australia for five years now. I first came after my husband (then boyfriend) who was doing a masters degree. What I miss the most is my family, fruits varieties and the mountains.

9. When I am alone at home I often do exotic bird's noises and I have a great mime show.

Links: www.leftyhand.com, www.leftyhand.bigcartel.com
Images: Marcela Restrepo

Meet...

>> I have a degree in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute (2003). I learned the basics of abstract form development and spatial relationships through three dimensionally sketching. I applied these exercises to fabric and it evolved over time.

>> I am still in the process of trying to do what I love. I say this because I still I have to freelance as a product designer. Until I can do this full time then I haven't reached that goal.

>> Every design is just as important as the next, sometimes the failures and the quiet pieces turn out more sophisticated than the pieces I originally thought were amazing... In terms of media success... the monster skin rug.




>> I got into sculpting back in college. For the love of creation.

>> I describe my work as frequent , obsessive, slow, intuitive.

>> Abstract two and three dimensionally sketching and material selection. The process. Are the most important elements of my design.

>> I want people to feel what I feel when I make these things. The simplest answer love and joy.

>> When I find myself in a rut, I turn things upside down. I go outside, I cook a grand meal, I write some music.

>> I was pretty sure I would never grow up, but with that said... I wanted to be a paleontologist.... an adventurer.

Link: www.longoland.com

Meet...

>> As a teenager in New Zealand I supplied our local craft store with fabric handbags patterned with all kinds of fabric dying effects. It was the mid 80's, and now fashion has come full circle (and so have I). I started designing accessories again recently as I wanted see my print designs through to a final product.

>> I think the best way to describe my work is that it has a retro influence that is updated by using a variety of hand-drawn and hand-cut techniques (which bring in my own style). Most important is adding an unexpected element, either in color, scale, process or by combining different genres of textile design.

>> When I find myself in a rut, I tidy and sort. My brain works in a chaotic way when I'm designing, so organizing my work space and reference materials helps to put my head in order.

>> The idea of the organic roll up bag was developed over time. I knew I needed to do more about my environmental concerns - especially the issue of plastics in the ocean. So I spent a lot of time working out how to merge that with my textile design work. I wanted to be involved in something that was putting environmental and social integrity first.

>> Growing up I wanted to be an archeologist, because I'm fascinated by history and travel, or an architect - I spent a lot of playtime designing imagery houses, huts and forts while my sister waited patiently (or impatiently) for the the "real" game to start.

>> I played rugby league in New Zealand - I'm a very unlikely rugby player. I just used to run as a hard as I could because I was afraid of getting tackled.

Goodship’s latest Summer ’09 Roll-Up Tote line is now available for purchase at thegoodship.myshopify.com! It's a reusable tote bag that rolls up and fastens with a snap. It even has an open interior pocket comfortably fits a bottle of wine. Lots of beautiful prints to choose from including unisex friendly solids (each one is handprinted in Brooklyn).

Meet...

>> My work is directly influenced by my aesthetic obsessions, currently lichens and zebra stripes.

>> Right now, silver is my number one favorite material to work with. I might enjoy using blowtorches and power tools a bit too much. I also like mica powders and the faint shimmer they add to silver.

>> I've had an entrepreneurial mindset since fourth grade, a friend and I sold origami trinkets in class. At fifteen another friend and I sold "I hate metallica" shirts online. Then I went to school for jewelry design, and bumblesea was born.

>> It's really important to me to continue having fun with my work, to continue to be inspired and to inspire others.

>> I want bumblesea to be perceived as a playful brand. I'm still incredibly young and I run my own business, why not have fun with it?

>> When I find myself in a creative rut, I have to force myself to doodle on a few pages of my sketchbooks, even if I have absolutely no inspiration. I'll usually draw at least one decent thing.

>> I had the typical insolent dreams of a teenage girl: vocalist/fashion designer/photographer. I often have to remind myself I'm not off course, I just imagined my life more glamorous and with less paperwork.

Links:
bumblesea.com
bumblesea.wordpress.com