bow ties!

I am slow like molasses when it comes to conceiving an idea, carrying out production, and then delivering something tangible.  But here we go- just in time for the holidays, adorable leather bow tie necklaces.  These are so adorable and colorful.  I am really happy with how they turned out.

hub and bespoke

A darling boutique style bike shop in Fremont contacted me about carrying some of my goods through etsy.  Turns out I live a mere two blocks away.  I met with the owner, who is kind as can be, and she picked up all of my bike bags to sell on consignment.  This is great!  But it also raises alot of questions about how an artist can make do selling at wholesale prices.

boiled leather

I want to play with this creepy and tactile process. 

Check out artist Simon Hasen who uses an old medieval method of scalding leather in order to form it into shapes.  Hasen encases familiar everyday objects in leather, boils them, removes the form,  then displays the molded leather pieces in vending machines.  The result is is very macabre.  I love the repetition of shapes and i would love to touch them.  I also like the idea of using a vending machine for display.  However, i doubt these gallery pieces would actually be functional. 

There is a bar in Seattle called the Hideout that used to have  a vending machine full of local artist wares.  Anyone, if they had the cash, could purchase.  Brilliant. 

My favorite part of working with clay was the building of molds and then using them to form shapes.  It's only a natural progression to go from that medium to leather. 

I am adding cur bouilli to my never ending list of projects.

bows and marigolds

Epic fail. i ordered 2,000 rivets only to find upon receipt that they are totally not what I need. borderline useless. I have been brainstorming ways to put them to use between my "woe's me's". See left. I think I can use them to bind bows to my bags. More experiments to follow.

new works

i have an old tool for clay that i have been using to print onto leather.  it is imprecise and erratic but i really like the results.  faux bois!

work in progress

I have finished several leather pouches for bicycles but I have found taking photos of them extremely difficult. Outside the light is too bright and unpredictable and the yard in background is too busy and messy. Inside there is too much glaring wall space- it's boring. I tried this screen with some marginal success, except, I don't really like it. It's too linear and doesn't fit with the rest of my photos.  I would really love to get some plywood and paint some backdrops.  I am thinking something aqua to match my tabletop with repetitive patterns of ... something.  Sigh.  I am incapable of finishing a project without starting another. 

hong kong hand press