Whew!

Well, I have more to say than I ever could have the patience to type out I'm sure, but I will say that I learned an absolutely ridiculous amount of information about the world of print and pattern/licensing/trade shows. It was the best experience I could have ever asked for to be able to attend Surtex, see what I saw, and meet who I met. Here is a picture of Katie's and my booth, and also of the other girls that were finalists from San Fransisco Academy of Art:






I have a stack of business cards and leave behinds that I am planning on going through another day... so then I can tell you who were stand outs to me in the show. And I can talk more about it.. haha I'm just so exhausted!

Today I got to walk around NYC one last time before my flight leaves.. I took the subway to Chealsea and walked on The High Line, which is an old rail line that has been converted into an above ground walkway... it was really neat. I also got my last street vendor hotdog for a while, haha! love hotdogs. I'm just in love with NYC, its overwhelming to think about going back to Savannah! I'm gonna be dropped back into the real world with finals and exams! Then In a week from Monday I'm moving to Nashville, what the heck! But here's the thing, I know Jesus has got me, and things are going to be great. Ty and Beck are going to come to Sav on Monday and I'm pumped!!

more from the big apple...

So, the second day was just as great as the first. Today we went to the Javits center to see the trade show floor. We met the Surtex Show Management staff, and they were so friendly even in the midst of all the vendors coming in and setting up and the confusion that comes with that. It was so incredible to see everyone setting up for the print and especially the stationary show! Everyone was decorating and re-working their booths to become their own enviornment. I wish I could have taken pictures (no pics allowed in the show room), it was just an incredible process to see happen. I also got to connect with a sweet sweet woman that I have been in contact with prior to the show. Her name is Caroline (owner/creator of company Multiple Blessings. This is her blog. She is great and so talented!) I saw that she was featured on the Surtex website and from her prints and blog found out that we shared the same faith in Jesus. It was so encouraging to meet her and to encourage each other that we can cast all of our anxieties about the show onto the Lord.

Not only did we see both the National Stationery Show and Surtex show room floors, we also got to see the ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) that was happening in the downstairs of the convention center. It was absolutely breath taking. There were companies from all over the world displaying their innovative and beautiful textile products including these: Amy Helfand, Bennett Bean, malene b, Rug Art, Rough and Perfect,and Jonathan Adler. There are so many more, and I'll keep posting more. Needless to say, I could have spent a lot more time down there than I did. Katie and I just kept pointing to booth's and saying "Oh! Lets go there!". I am so inspired by everything I have seen today and I know it will just get better.

As for Katie and I, we set up our booth and then had the rest of the day to ourselves. We decided that we wanted to check out Soho, so we traveled there via Subway (how exciting!) and then walked around and shopped for a bit. We went into Anthropologie, and as always the display was beautiful: It is a dress made from dyed coffee filters.

We then walked through Little Italy, which was, as everything is to me, so surreal. I feel so small town :) Everything is like the movies to me here, its just so fun. But we ate at a funny restaurant and had some funny waiters... and the food was wonderful.


We then got back on the subway- saw some interesting characters and are calling it a night at the hotel. I just can't explain how incredible this all is. I just know that the Lord is showing me that He is absolutely in control. I love this! More to come...

New York!!

I'm here in NYC getting ready for the show! Today was a blast, I've just been exploring the city by myself. I just love it! I wen to Whole Foods (my new favorite place) and found this company: Green Baby that makes the sweetest 100% organic baby products.



My friend Katie who is presenting with me got here later during the day and we walked to Time Square and had Chipotle, so delicious. Tomorrow we are having orientation at the Javis center and then setting up our booths. Its going to be so incredible to be able to meet so many designers. I'm so excited!

More to come...

Journal

This is a journal I made for my friend Lara. It is bound with a button-hole stitch and a button to close it. Its a mini journal, a lot smaller than it looks in this picture.

Roommates

These are the profiles of my lovely roommates and I, propped on our mantle. I screen printed these images onto stained wooden plaques. This created a rustic look that I thought was interesting.

Ukrop's

This is a journal set made from recycled paper Ukrop's bags. Ukrop's is a grocery store in Virginia, and according to my roomie is going out of business... too bad, they have pretty bags.

Burlap Bags

These are clutch bags I made for my friends for Christmas. They are double sided with different fabrics on the front and back. I LOVE burlap, and I found some for cheap so I bought a lot and have been making lots of things from burlap.

Journal Set

This is a book set of four designed with a container. The container is the shape of an envelope, and there are four journals that are contained. The journals are bound with Japanese Stab Binding, and covered with beautiful textured paper that I love! This journal set is beautiful and elegant, perfect for a wedding present: includes guest book, a photo album or two, and a gift registry.

Indian Summer

This is one of my favorite projects I have worked on. It is a quilt that has been completely hand dyed using fiber reactive dyes using immersion dying techniques with various beaded details. It is made from different types of silk and cotton. The quilt is titled Indian Summer, and reflects deep and beautiful colors taken from beautiful Indian dye work.

Mapped Designs

These are some more of my designs that I mapped onto home furnishing surfaces.

A Fresh Start

These are designs that I designed for home furnishing surfaces. I entered them into a Surtex Surface Design competition. I got news recently that I am a finalist! so I get to attend this competition in NYC soon to present my designs. Exciting!

Light In Our Hearts

This is a sculpture I created to be a light source. The maroon pieces were created by crocheting in a circular hyperbolic curve. There are wholes in the middle of the structures in which are placed small lights, all attached to a recycled piece of wood from a local construction site. I was inspired by the scripture in which Jesus says "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12). When knowing Christ, we have the light of Christ in our hearts which exposes all.

Travels

This is a travel journal I made for my friend Kathleen, it is made with mixed papers.

This is a book I created from hand dyed felt, fabric, and then beaded and embroidered detail.

Beach Balls

These are stuffed "beach" balls made out of hand dyed fabric, and nuno felting with hand dyed wool.




Here is a closer shot of the detail: