my lucky star
Seesterne
I love Sea Stars. They may well be my favorite shape of all and I found those gorgeous red ones on DaWanda in fleecefrau’s shop. Check out the price, just out of curiosity…
my lucky star
Seesterne
J’adore les étoiles de mer. Je crois que ce sont une des formes que je préfère. J’ai trouvé celles-ci sur DaWanda dans la boutique de fleecefrau et je les trouve superbes. Allez voir le prix, juste par curiosité…
blythe fashion : elegance & style
I LOVE NY 3 piece Weekend Outfit For Blythe + Black and White Chanel type Dress by RLKATAJA.
I was not too much in the mood for writing in this blog these days, but as I was browsing through Etsy last week for Blythe stuff I entered rlkataja’s shop and the beauty and coherence of her world made me want to devote an article to her creations alone. I had already made a few of her outfits my favorites, but seeing now more of her talents it seemed obvious that what she is really doing is more than just “sewing dresses”.
The great majority of people who make doll outfits – even the talented ones – will usually have a limited number of patterns that they will decline in a variety of fabrics. Such is not the case with Robin Kataja. When we enter her shop we discover what can be called a “Collection” in the Couture or Prêt-à-Porter sense of the word. It seems as if her Blythe girls were nostalgic for those days when fashion shows took place in the cosy atmosphere of Parisian salons where someone would introduce every outfit by its number and an evocative or presumably poetic name, thoses days when women – some women I should say – would wear something different for every occasion, so that wardrobes included cocktail party dresses, afternoon dresses, evening dresses, interior gowns, outfits for the countryside and so on and so on, and “Oh my, but what shall I wear for that barbecue the Johnsons have just invited us to ?”…
Vintage Fabric Farmer Country Girl Dress 3 piece + Chevron Striped Sporty Dress
I love rlkataja’s sense of fashion. I used the word “nostalgic” because her photographs bring to my mind images of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly and those wonderful movies by Vincente Minelli and Douglas Sirk, but her creations seem to be very modern to me. She is not trying herself at the “retro” or “vintage” imitation of clothes that we so often see in the world of Blythe. Her Blythe girls clearly state their love of fashion and style and let’s be elegant no matter what but it could as well be in the way a Carrie Bradshaw does. They have learned from the past and have retained their lessons in how to be chic and stylish at all times but they are from their time.
Indeed, her choice of fabrics is outstanding and definitely modern. I was wondering whether Robin Kataja got the idea for an outfit from a particular piece of fabric or if she decided on a certain pattern and went on to find the perfect fabric for it, but the truth is every one of her creations seems to be made for one and only one fabric. Look at that “Dots Candyland Party Dress” for instance. Polka dots are a great classic among Blythe dressmakers, however hers is so very nice and so unique. And what she makes of it is divine. And the “Black and White Striped Pleated Dress” on the left is perfection itself.
Black and White Striped Pleated Dress + Dots Candyland Party Dress
You may have noticed I did put some images of “sold” items like that “Black and White Striped Pleated Dress” just above but she says she can make some of her “sold” outfits again providing she still has the fabric of course. And anyway I did want to show a fair amount of her creations so that it would be obvious to anyone how imaginative and creative she was. She has the most wonderful tee-shirts with Marimekko prints on them, a very cute Pink Lace Babydoll Mini dress, and even though lace is definitely not my thing I like the dress as well as the Celery Green Garden Party one. I particularly liked the two dresses below.
Grey Mod Mini Dress For Blythe + Red Stripe Cafe Dress For Blythe
She has very recently added some new creations that are a bit more glamorous like that Hollywood Glamour Leopard Dress Fur Shrug and that OOAK Raspberry coat with an absolutely beautiful interior lining (click on the link to see a photo of the lining) :
Brilliant Raspberry Mod Wool Ruffle Coat OOAK
Now I am not sure just how many people actually read what I write but it has been such a pleasure writing this that I know I will look forward to rlkataja’s future creations for Blythe.
brendan monroe studio visit @ fecal face
Brendan Monroe Assimilation, 2007
26×40 Inches, Acrylic on Paper
Richard Heller Gallery
With Brendan Monroe’s solo show “Insides” opening at Richard Heller Gallery, Fecal Face takes us for a visit inside his & Evah Fan’s studio in Berkeley. Besides some great shots taken around the place you can see some of Evah’s work plus of course some of Brendan’s recent work. And there’s a really nice video ending with Brendan taking us inside his giant interactive sculpture titled “Borborygmi” which “represents a giant walk through plush stomach”.
I absolutely love those peeks into artists’ studios and workplaces and I had already mentioned PROJECT S2DIO #049 – BRENDAN MONROE by www.glltn.com.
The show at Richard Heller Gallery has just opened and there are not many reviews yet but you can see some pictures of the works shown on Flickr.
brendan monroe studio visit @ fecal face
Brendan Monroe Assimilation, 2007
26×40 Inches, Acrylic on Paper
Richard Heller Gallery
Alors que l’exposition en solo de Brendan Monroe “Insides” s’ouvre à la Richard Heller Gallery, Fecal Face nous fait visiter le studio qu’il partage avec Evah Fan à Berkeley. En plus des formidables photos prises ici et là dans le studio on voit quelques travaux d’Evah Fan ainsi que certaines des oeuvres récentes de Brendan Monroe. Et il y a une très chouette vidéo qui se termine avec Brendan nous emmenant à l’intérieur de sa sculpture interactive géante appelée “Borborygmi” qui représente “une promenade à l’intérieur d’un estomac géant en peluche”.
J’adore ces visites de studios ou autres endroits où travaillent les artistes et j’avais déjà parlé du PROJECT S2DIO #049 – BRENDAN MONROE par www.glltn.com.
L’exposition à la Richard Heller Gallery vient de s’ouvrir et on ne trouve encore que peu de comptes rendus mais on peut toujours voir certaines des oeuvres exposées sur Flickr.