OMG! Heart

OMG! Heart these photo-realistic sweaters by Mr. Gugu & Miss Go. It’s not knit but it’s great inspiration. They make t-shirts and leggings too. Soo many wonderful things. Aughghgh. From reading their website, it looks like they’re based in Bielsko-Biala, Poland.

Where To Buy
http://eu.fab.com/sale/4873
http://mrgugumissgo.bigcartel.com/
Via http://boingboing.net/2013/01/29/photorealistic-full-screen-swe.html

Happy 2013! Here’s PANTONE Emerald 17-5641, Pantone’s Color of the Year. Last year was a bad year. From Colorado to Sandy Hook; Hurricane Sandy to Typhoon Boha; Syria to Pakistan; Collapsing of countries, governments, societies; Leading many to believe it was indeed the Apocalypse.

But Dec 21, 2012 came and went. The world did not end as predicted by the Mayan Calendar yet it sure seemed like dark days. Making it officially: The. Worst. Apocalypse. Ever. Not so much in magnitude but in substance…

It wasn’t all bad though. The 2012 Elections here in the U.S. rang in another “Four More Years” for President Barack Obama; Fiscal cliffs were averted; The apocalypse did NOT happen; Etc. Etc. So this year’s a new year. And new hope means new beginnings! Verdant, Prosperous, Rejuvenating, Healing, Energizing, Inspiring. Making this year’s Pantone Color of the Year especially fitting.

“Emerald, a vivid verdant green, enhances our sense of well-being further by inspiring insight as well as promoting balance and harmony.” – Pantone.com

Photos on this Post
Earrings, Zhush
Lights, We Heart It
Glasses, Lives Less Ordinary
Dress, Naeem Khan
See my Pinterest Gallery for more Pantone Emerald!

Via http://www.pantone.com/pages/index.aspx?pg=21055
Via http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/pantone.aspx?pg=21056&ca=10

And ZOMG! My personal fave – knitted shorts and pants?! WIN!

Check out these 80s-inspired geometrics a la Saved By The Bell. But better! The designs have an 8-bit slant IMHO that can appeal to anyone from the Brooklyn hipster to the 80′s throwback lover to the video game nards. Either way it’s a fresh take on knitwear that has a younger edgier vibe yet still classic enough to have a wide appeal. Move over Dwayne Wayne (sunglasses) and Lisa Bonet circa Cosby Show and A Different World! Go Knitwear Today!

I first saw these in an L Mag I picked up while trolling Prospect Heights… We just finished watching Jiro Dreams of Sushi (corny music but cool film about sushi as a craft). So, guess what? Sushi time! We went to eat at Taro, then Sky Ice (homemade ice cream slash thai home cooking eatery…), then sampled a few spoonfuls of gelato at Caramello where we learned that gelato is less fattening than traditional ice cream. No egg and less air makes a rich, dense, smooth confection with less calories! The sorbet (Limetta!!) was seriously decadent too with zero dairy yet all the rich and creamy mouth feel! Passed by the Barclays Center all blacked out, the new home of the Brooklyn Nets… Then while walking back to the train, we spied this flyer on ye olde stereotypical stoop and snapped one up to read on the train ride.

Annie Larson is a knitwear designer based in Bushwick, Brooklyn by way of Minneapolis, MN and originally from Seoul, Korea and Wisconsin. From reading her bio it looks like she’s a machine knitter who “bought a 1980s sweater-creating contraption in January of 2009″ (a Brother KH-965i to be exact) and never looked back. A former clothing designer for Target, Annie quit her job to pursue knitwear and what is now ALL Knitwear, her clothing line.

You can shop online for her designs at ALL for Everyone. Or at Madewell here on Broadway. Tops are around $260.

Via
http://www.allforeveryone.com/
http://ofakind.com/designers/7–all-knitwear
http://www.thelmagazine.com/

Woman and child sewing together in a yurt in the Kyrgyz lands.
Wakhan Corridor, Afghanistan.

Above is the winning picture for the National Geographic Traveler – 2012 Photo Contest by Cedric Houin. This captivating photo first drew me in by its strong sense of place. A snap in a moment of time, present day, yet so far away as to seem ancient. Then I noticed the remarkable textiles and cultural garb and then the antique sewing machine. And then best of all – she’s sewing!!! A fellow modern day sewer worlds away in a completely different context yet not so different. Novel!

This image was shot in the Kyrgyz lands of the Wakhan Corridor. The intimacy of this everyday life moment, shot inside of a family yurt, is in total contrast with the harsh environment these nomadic tribes live in. On the right we notice a television and a sound console. These tribes live weeks away from any village by foot. In spite of being located at an altitude of 4,300 meters in one of the most remote areas of Afghanistan they are equipped with solar panels, satellite dishes and cellphones. Ancestral ways of living, with touches of modernity. –Photo and Caption by Cedric Houin

National Geographic contributing photographer Alexandra Avakian, one of this year’s judges, shares her thoughts on the first place winner:

I’ve slept in the guest yurt of Kyrgyz nomads in remote mountains while on assignment for Elle magazine; the location is hard to reach and off the beaten path for most travelers, and therefore of educational as well as aesthetic value.

Baobab Trees, Morondava, Madagascar. Photo by Ken Thorne

This year the National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest had over 12,000 entries of daily life from 152 countries and the photos are always breathtakingly stunning. From a moment in time at the ends of the earth to extraordinary landscapes, the transportive images are unforgettable. Winners receive awards from trips to prize money and of course get to share a slice of their beautiful culture, land, or just a snapshot of their travels. National Geographic also provides these awesomely beautiful photos in high-resolution wallpapers for your desktop, iphone, or ipad!

Via http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2189479/National-Geographic-reveal-winners-2012-Photo-Contest.html
Via http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/traveler-magazine/photo-contest/2012/

Look at these wall to wall gorgeous quilts by Thimble Blossoms!!! ❤ ❤ ❤

I love the designs, textures, color schemes… And especially the unique modern vintage style of each. It’s quaint and nostalgic but fresh and contemporary. Borderline hipstery, folk hipstery!

And very “decoratable”! The designs are unique yet versatile enough to fit a variety of home decorating and interior styles! Hooray!

Left: Quilts shown Flower Girl, Spool, Dilly Dally, Hopscotch at the Thimble Blossoms booth, Quilt Market 2012.

Thimble Blossoms is designed by Camille Roskelley who is a 5th generation quilter. I discovered her mom’s a quilt designer too and I can see where Thimble Blossoms got their design chops! I also love her fabric range that she designs with her mother, Bonnie, for Moda! (Love Moda!) Here are just a few of my fave quilt patterns from both Thimble Blossoms and Cotton Way, Camille’s mom’s pattern designs.

Swoon, Dilly Dally, & Hopscotch
Quilt Pattern Designs by Camille Roskelley
All patterns $7.95

Sweet Pea, Peppermint Pizzaz, & Sherbet Stars
Quilt Pattern Designs by Bonnie Olaveson
All patterns $9.00

Camille also has a cute quilt pattern book out! I checked it out on Amazon and it has a lot of quilting basics and tips and tricks for quilting! It includes patterns for quilts and pillows and according to the reviews is great for beginner quilters! It uses pre-cut fabric packs like jelly rolls etc which takes a lot of the cutting out from the quilting process.

Book $15.85

Where To Buy
Thimble Blossoms Shop http://thimbleblossoms.bigcartel.com/
Cotton Way Shop http://www.cottonway.com/zencart/
Bonnie & Camille’s Fabric @ Fat Quarter Shop http://www.fatquartershop.com/
Book by Camille Roskelley on Amazon Simplify: Quilts for the Modern Home

“Swoon” and “Spools“, my two fave patterns!

Yarn covered stairs for International Yarn Bombing Day, Sydney, Australia (CC by JAM Project) – From BBC.com

Jun, 9th, 2012 – Today is the 2nd Annual International Yarn Bombing Day ever! That’s right, although yarn bombing has been around for awhile, a day to celebrate it (worldwide) only started last year! I remember when the first yarn bombing day came around last year and I’d never heard of it. Only to discover that it was just created and by accident! The event, created by Canadian yarn bomber Joann Matvichuk, was conceived as a way to unite guerrilla knitters and crocheters the world over. Read more about IYBD and Joann at the below links!

Instagram has a featured page all about International Yarn Bombing Day!. You can also search Instagram using hashtag #yarnbombing to see a treasure trove of yarn bombing pics from around the globe.

Yarn bombing pics from around the world – From Instagram

Via http://www.bbc.com/travel/blog/20120604-worldwide-weird-international-yarn-bombing-day
http://blog.instagram.com/post/24695471236/international-yarn-bombing-day
http://www.omgheart.com/?s=yarn+bombing

A giant pin-board of knit and crochet from heaven! Before there was Pinterest! I don’t know who Wunderknit is but they ROCK!! It’s a great collection of knit and crochet designs. Possibly for their own designing inspiration and aspirations! I did a quick check on Pinterest for Wunderknit and Voila! Perhaps this is Wunderknit on Pinterest?!

Via http://wunderknit.tumblr.com/

It’s Tangerine Tango!! PANTONE Tangerine Tango 17-1463 to be exact.

If you have a project featuring Tangerine Tango send it over to Pantone! They will include it in their 2012 COLOR OF THE YEAR photo album.

Guidelines: The photo must be taken by you, and by sending it you authorize non-exclusive use of it on Facebook and on the Pantone Blog. Please include a name you wish to be used as a photo credit; plus you may include one link to your website or online photo gallery. There are two ways to send a photo: 1) Post a link to it their comment box; or 2) Email it to tones@pantone.com with the words “Tangerine Tango” in the subject line.

Via http://blog.pantone.com/2011/12/pantone-17-1463-tangerine-tango-the-2012-color-of-the-year/

Via http://owlivianatasha.tumblr.com/
Via http://ivsmanifiesto.tumblr.com/post/19725645608/knitted-pattern-sweater-we-love-it-by-21
Via http://vintage-russh.tumblr.com/post/20057881102/tranquility-island-want

Here are just a few of the wonderful textile artisans featured on Boticca! From Knit Necklaces to Felted Handbags to Shibori Textiles to Macrame Jewelry. Yes, exquisite macrame jewelry no less. All handmade!

Boticca is a high-end marketplace for handmades. Like an Etsy but with a sophisticated eye for fashion and design. The carefully curated Boticca artists and designers can join the marketplace through an application process or by invitation only. Headquartered in London and officially launched in October 2010, its founders were inspired by the souks of Marrakech and decided to bring their interpretation of the bazaars of Morocco to the web.

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