ErinElsie: Made in Brooklyn

Showing posts with label Made in Brooklyn. Show all posts

Thursday, October 27, 2016

ErinElsie, Lately....

Happy fall ya'll!

The ErinElsie blog has sat idle for a couple months, but everything else in my world has certainly not been so. As a busy holiday season approaches, I'm taking a little moment of reflection. Here's what's been going on with ErinElsie and I lately.

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I've moved!

I really loved our little studio apartment and felt a little sad when we decided to make the move. But despite the sentiments, we needed this! We were busting at the seams; and for our lives and businesses to grow, we needed more space and storage. After living in a tiny place, this new place feels like a mansion! As crazy as moving is, it can be a great cleansing process. I feel like at this point in our lives, my husband and I don't really have junk. Everything we own is something we need and/or it has value to us - and I love that. Also, we have a gem of an outdoor space now! Yay!

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Markets, Markets, Markets!

One of my goals for this year was to really start getting ErinElsie out there, especially in person! Since June I've been in several markets. Meeting customers in person and getting feedback about my work has been super meaningful. Also, meeting so many other artists and entrepreneurs has really motivated me. It's comforting being in an environment of people that understand this hustle!

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Orders, Orders, and Reviews!

I get orders from all over the world and I love it. What's even better, is when those customers take the time to write 5 star reviews. I care a lot about the quality and details of the pieces I make. The genuine and positive feedback gives me life!

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Family time!

Lastly, this month I headed to my hometown Thibodaux, Louisiana for 10 days. It was a much overdue visit full of fishing, eating, relaxing, and visiting with family over pots of coffee. It's good to check out of your everyday life and get back to your roots sometimes! I love my family, cherish it, and never take it for granted.

You just can't beat the comforting foods of your homeland. Mom's crab stew, Dad's fried shrimp, our freshly caught fried catfish - you can't get that in New York City!

I also did some thrift shopping and bargain hunting with my mom. It's become a ritual of our visits, and per usual I had some great finds. Some great potential ErinElsie materials, and a few items just for myself :)

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Alright, all these new ErinElsie items are not going to make themselves- I've got to get back to work! Stay tuned fore more updates and blog posts. I'm going to try and keep this somewhat regular- we'll see. Thanks for taking the time to catch up with me!

xo,

Erin

Follow along the journey of ErinElsie and *Textile*Repurposed*Style.* Subscribe by email in the sidebar of my blog or sign up for Bloglovin!

Shop one of a kind items in the ErinElsie shop!

Monday, April 11, 2016

ErinElsie, Lately

ErinElsie, Lately.

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Hi Friends!

I hope your Monday is starting off okay. I got myself some uplifting $5 flowers from the bodega around the corner to brighter mine! (I love that about NYC, even the funniest little convenience stores always have fresh flowers). Just sharing a little ditty about about what's going on with ErinElsie and I lately.

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This weekend I finally watched the documentary, Dior and I. This one is definitely staying on repeat for whenever I need a little maker inspiration. To my detriment, I really love hand sewing. It's not fast or practical always, but it's those details which truly make a garment special. If you want to appreciate or even just understand true couture craftsmanship, check it out! Every single person working behind the scenes crafting these garments is truly an artist and technician.

written, directed, and produced by Frederic Tcheng

Sewing and going in the ErinElsie home studio.

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I was asked to participate in an upcoming Brooklyn market called f.a.d. weekend. It is taking place in a beautiful venue in a beautiful neighborhood. As I still sell most of my items online, it's wonderful to get out and sell items in person!

A little more about f.a.d. courtesy of their website:

f.a.d. weekend is a pop-up fashion, art and design indoor makers’ market & flea that is held weekly on Sundays in Brooklyn. We will begin our journey on May 1st at 22 Boerum Place, a McKim, Mead & White 1926 Renaissance revival style theater. f.a.d. weekend will move around in its first year to awesome neighborhoods and unique venues in Brooklyn.

f.a.d. is an acronym for fashion, art and design and we at f.a.d. weekend aim to create a curated collective space that brings together a pool of emerging and mid-career artists and designers from all backgrounds, representing the talent of the city and beyond, together with vintage, antique and collectibles.

If you live in the greater NYC area, come check out my booth on Sunday, May 1, where I will have some new ErinElsie items for sale! More info and flyers you can share below!

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I'm so grateful to be featured with my design work in the latest April issue of InRegister magazine. InRegister is a lovely publication from my home state, Louisiana! The opening photo of me in the article is not the most glamorous (eek); but much like the article, it is a very real portrayal of about my life as an artist and entrepreneur. It's always great to be recognized for my hard work, but this was extra special coming from my homeland! I am a Louisiana girl at heart and aim to sell more of my work there in the future. Pick up the April issue in person if you are in the Baton Rouge area or check the article online by clicking here.

My parents, because they are awesome, headed to Baton Rouge as soon as they were released and picked up some copies. They sent me this one with a sweet note. Even for the smallest of things, hearing your parents say they are proud of you never gets old.

Alright, back to work for me. Thanks for reading along and have a super week!

xo,

Erin

Shop one of a kind items in the ErinElsie shop!

Follow along the journey of ErinElsie and *Textile*Repurposed*Style.* Subscribe by email in the sidebar of my blog or sign up for Bloglovin!

Monday, April 4, 2016

Ready, Set, Spring!

Hi friends! I'm trying to think spring, even though it's cold and rainy outside today in New York City.

At least there are still beautiful sunny moments and flowers are starting to bloom. I feel like I've been hibernating creatively during these past winter months and collecting some super vintage fabrics and ideas along the way.

I'm feeling inspired and anxious to get to work on a new ErinElsie summer collection. Here's a little preview of some of my fave fabrics.

It's all about the details. Handmade finishes and just the right buttons are part of what truly sets a special garment apart.

I love using denim. It's such a great fabric to recycle. It's become a sort of neutral that connects my pieces to one another amid all the prints and fabrics.

My current fave in my vintage fabric stash is this most unique hand-dyed and hand embroidered one.

I still have buttons from my grandmother Elsie and I love hunting around for more. I also still receive some from family and friends a I love that!

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Okay, time to get busy! New pieces coming your way!

Have a lovely Monday!

xo,

Erin

Shop one of a kind items in the ErinElsie shop!

Follow along the journey of ErinElsie and *Textile*Repurposed*Style.* Subscribe by email in the sidebar of my blog or sign up for Bloglovin!

Other Links:
✰ Website: http://www.erinelsie.com
✰ Instagram: https://instagram.com/erinelsie_official/
✰ Instagram: https://instagram.com/erinblank_designer/

✰ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/ErinElsie/360147150720430
✰ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ErinElsie_Blank

Friday, July 3, 2015

Weekend Wrap Up! A few good things...

Happy Friday friends!

My apartment/home studio has been a one-women factory this week! I got a little burned out on clothing construction so I switched gears to try something new. My friend Sarah recently sent me a box of super luscious leather scraps from her interior design world and that became my source of inspiration.

I'm incorporating a couple of other beautiful vintage fabrics with the leather.

Stay tuned for the results!

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A little Fourth of July inspiration...

My Parents!
Today they celebrate their 44th Wedding Anniversary - pretty amazing. They are inspiring to me in so many ways and I feel grateful to have them in my life. Shout out to you Mom and Dad! Love You!

Made in the U.S.A.

In the past, I would only see "Made in the USA" tags in my vintage clothes. Now I'm so thrilled to see more tags like this in new purchases! I hope this manufacturing trend, even in small batches, continues to happen here in the US and I want to be part of it.

Don't forget to tune in to support the USA Women's Soccer team in the World Cup finals Sunday! Girl Power :)

Have a great Fourth of July weekend friends! Thanks for following along!

(My fave red, white, and blue upcycling project from last year... I might be breaking it out again this weekend weather permitting!)

xo,

Erin

Follow along the journey of ErinElsie and *Textile*Repurposed*Style.* Subscribe by email in the sidebar of my blog or sign up for Bloglovin!

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Spring things are blooming in the workshop...

Greetings! Happy Weekend!

We are nearing the very end of March, and I can't believe that there are snow flurries floating past my window. At least spring is blooming inside the home studio! I have been super busy these past couple of months with freelance styling work, and day dreaming about all the spring things I want to make when I can get back to my design studio.

Finding beautiful vintage, dead-stock, and thrifted materials is really the launching point for what I create. I let the materials inspire me and go from there. I haven't had much time to dedicate to my usual materials hunt lately, and with almost perfect timing, two dear friends have given me some fabrics and items that are just filling me with all kinds of spring inspiration.

I have known my friend Jessica for years, and although we are separated by distance, we stay connected through our vintage love. We are very different, but clicked beautifully when we met, and she knows me very well. Her and her mom love to shop for antiques together and often collect items that make them think of me. It's touching to know that a distant friend thinks of you at little moments, and better than that, they send me these lovely curated boxes of fabrics and vintage bits to repurpose into new modern items. I was so excited to open my most recent box from her and my excitement was met with an awesomely curated bunch of goodies! I'm sharing my favorites with you, and a little bit of the design ideas that they invoke.

It's great to get actual mail in such a digital age, but even better when it's accompanied with a hand written note.

Put a bird on it! The print on this royal blue vintage fabric is so sweet yet modern. I foresee a simple tank, letting the beautiful print take the stage.

Blue clovers? I absolutely love this vintage fabric from the 60s and the quirkiness behind the idea of a blue clover print.

I feel like bold and basic colors bring a freshness to spring- and I'm particularly excited about this tiny, but bold geometric print.

In addition to fabrics, she also included these bits and baubles :)

I fell instantly for this embroidered piece and I wish I had more of it. I can't decide what to do with it yet...

These little vintage remnants really take me back. They remind me of the kinds of things I would get from my grandmother, Elsie. I wonder where they originated and the stories they tell.

It's hard not to like these bold necklaces. Vintage costume jewelry is such a fun and inexpensive way to revive your wardrobe options.

My friend Julia purged her closet for spring, something I wish I was better at! She sent over a bag of old fabrics that exceeded my expectations. They are screaming, "flow-y dresses"and "breezy tops"- can't wait to work with them!