Self-taught, self-described quilter extraordinaire Jenna Valoe creates textiles with the hope of helping people celebrate their homes and the lives they live in them at her shop Rain & the River. She’s inspired by other cultures, the city of Milwaukee that surrounds her, and the ways color and shapes blend together. Jenna’s work itself is primarily improvisational, which I find ballsy and bold! I love her modern take on such an heirloom quality craft.
Lina Rennell is a brand with a heavy focus on original print work that then adorns high casual women’s wear and textiles. So yeah, art for your body! Woohoo! Launched in 2009 by Angelina Rennell, a new collection is released once or twice a year by the northern California native and each one seems completely in touch with the current trends in the art and fashion worlds. (You can find Lina Rennell online at Beklina if you’d like to make a purchase!)
This morning I’m happy to be starting a new monthly feature, highlighting the goods of a few makers I’m currently carrying in The Marketplace! You might remember that a few months ago I opened a shop through Great.ly and have been keeping it stocked with the best of the best art and design ever since. I’m so happy to be able to share the work of the creators I love and now to be able to give you a fast and easy way to bring them into your own home.
One of the first pieces I added to the shop was this set of four Raindrop Napkins by Hallie Gray. Each one measures a generous 19 x 19″ and is hand-block printed with non-toxic AZO-free dyes. I’m looking forward to using them at dinner parties this fall and socking a few sets away for hostess gifts this holiday season!
I’ve been using this Expandable Pop Market Tote made by Orchid Sage for just about everything – the market, the lake, and more. Its leather handles and waxed canvas body make it feel nearly indestructible and I especially like the expandable side pockets that give me extra space for things like snacks and/or the dogs’ leashes.
The latest addition to my jewelry collection is this sweet brass cuff with cord from Meredith Peck. I’ve found it goes with just about everything and is great for layering with other pieces, it’s also large enough that I’ll be putting it over sleeves come cooler weather. The addition of the thin Chinese knotting cord takes this piece from average to extra special.
I’ve been a longtime fan of this artist, so it’s always nice to see her work gracing the “shelves” of my shop. Twenty-One by Lisa Krannichfeld is in her typical style of portraits of watercolored beauties, and for now this one is gracing my mantel alongside a boastful mermaid. (I think suspect they have some interesting conversations when I’m not looking.)
The Unsealed line of dinnerware is basically the stuff designers’ dreams are made of. Created with the thought of highlighting the porcelain instead of hiding it, the pattern is made by repeating simple shapes such as triangles or dots into solid fabric-like work of art. Designed by etc.etc. for Rosenthal, you can make it yours here.
Behold, the magic of wood and cotton thread in the hands of Julie Lansom. Each of her Sputnik Lamps is handmade in Julie’s Paris studio and varies from the others depending on the geometric shape of the form and which colors she opts for.
I always know I’ve found something especially lovely when my breath catches a bit in my chest, just like it did when I first saw the woodwork of Ariele Alasko. Though Ariele creates everything from headboards to tables with her hands, I’m especially pulled in by her kitchen goods and it would appear everyone else is as well because Ariele’s shop is entirely sold out at the moment.
The house I’ll be moving into next month has a swing on the front porch and I really can’t even explain how happy that makes me. I’d love to eventually install a more designer model, perhaps this Swinging Love Seat. Inspired by the edginess and ingenuity of Southern California’s Hot Rod Culture during the 1950’s and 60’s, it’s all sleek curves and slim profile.
I definitely have a crush on Another Country‘s contemporary craft furniture and accessories. The clean lines of their offerings are inspired by British Country kitchen style, Shaker, traditional Scandinavian, and Japanese woodwork. Clean lines, 100% functional, quality goods at a respectable price point – all of which will only make you feel better about adding any one of these pieces to your home.
I’m a big time fan of Brooklyn-based designer and artist Rebecca Atwood, so I’m over the moon about this week’s giveaway. The creation of Rebecca’s original collection of home textiles as a process starts with her sketchbook: drawing, painting, creating collages, and testing colors. Then each piece is created as part of a small batch edition with an eye towards hand dying, printing, and painting to retain the integrity of the original concept. The unpredictability of the dye is whole heartedly embraced as well as the variations that naturally occur.
Rebecca has such a keen eye for color and texture, nowhere does this show more than in her pillow collection. I was especially drawn to her shibori collection with its vast pattern variations from pillow to pillow. The fabric was created using a modified version of the traditional shibori technique which involves folding the fabric into rectangles before dying to create the gridded end result.
