Mixed Plate » Get to Know Interviews

Get To Know: Scarfu.com

Liana — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:52:38 +0000

Sponsor break time! Here’s a little introduction to a new online indie clothing boutique.

Meet Scarfu.

Business Name: Scarfu.com

Where are you located?
Jersey City, we have a wonderful view of New York City from our apartment.

How did you come up with your business name?
Like any skill, we feel that style is something that takes discipline to hone. When it comes to indie clothing, it takes added discipline and time because the aesthetic is really something you have to fight for against mainstream mall “fast fashion”. With mass production, we felt that fast fashion not only dilutes individuality and cheapens style, it also hurts the environment by making clothes disposable.

We named our store Scarfu because we wanted something that combined our goals and ideals – it’s a combination of scarves, which are our favorite accessories, and a sense of fighting against an enemy through a martial art like kung-fu, hence, Scarfu!

Where/How did this all begin?
Scarfu.com began with our many trips to the Brooklyn Flea Market and endless hours of surfing the treasuries on Etsy. We fell in love with the alternative indie lifestyle and wanted to be able to share it with people outside New York. We began attending trade shows and went to endless showrooms to look for clothing items we wanted to share with everyone.

What is your favorite indie purchase or trade?
I’m torn between indie clothing and paper goods. I never stop marveling at the immense talent out there. There are too many things on my “to buy” list, but some of the stationery from Story by Mia (Etsy) and Oh Joy are way up there.

What’s on your iPod/music player right now? What’s on your “Crafting Music Playlist”?
Travis – Writing to Reach You
Andrew Bird – Fiery Crash
Delphic – Doubt
Pedro the Lion – Rapture
The Wrens – Boys You Won’t Remember

What’s your favorite food?
South Indian dosas and thalis – try Dosa Hut in Journal Square just outside of New York. Cheap, quick and extremely tasty. Also love dim sum brunches.

Coffee or tea?
Tea definitely! Barry’s Gold Blend to be specific, the number one tea in Ireland!

What store could you wander around in and be happy?
We can’t name just one! We love walking around checking things out at Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Pylones, Funusual, cookery stores like Sur La Table, Williams-Sonoma, bakeries like Buttercup, Magnolia, Beard Papa, furniture stores like CB2, Design Within Reach. Also love wandering around flea markets.

Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?
I’ve always wanted to go to Japan. The culture seems to produce some really cool and different people – dyed hair, schoolgirl kitsch and sleeping-pod businessmen in Tokyo, but also seems serene Buddhist and Shinto shrines in Nara.

Thanks so much! Japan is definitely a place on my “must travel to” list! Here’s some of what’s at the shop currently…

Pocahontas Blouse: $80.00; Ribbon Scarf in Cobalt Blue: $15.00

Pink-Pocket Army Jacket: $69.00; Kings Road Dress: $95.00

POM Skirt: $40.00; Bronzo Blouse: $35.00

Mixed Plate readers can enjoy a discount of 10% off for all new customers. Just type in coupon code “mixedplate42” at checkout. There’s also an opening sale going on right now through March 1, 2010!

want to advertise on Mixed Plate? Of course you do! Shoot me an email at liana@mixedplateblog.com to get started.

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Get To Know: Rym Jarbouai of bagatelles&co.

Liana — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:01:51 +0000

Hooray! It’s time to get to know another fun sponsor. Enjoy!

Meet Rym Jarbouai of bagatelles&co:

Name: Rym Jarbouai

Business Name: bagatelles&co

Where are you located?
London, UK

What is it that you design and create?
Colourful accessories made from brocade silk and Liberty fabrics.

Where/How did this all begin?
I have always been making things, and after sudying Textile and Fashion design in Paris, I moved to London to work as a freelance designer/tailor. bagatelles&co started last summer when I was desperately looking for a nice evening bag for a wedding I was attending. I couldn’t find anything beautiful yet affordable so I ended up making my own…! I haven’t stopped making bags since then!

Who or what inspires you?
Lots of different things! Randomly: fashion and movies from the 20’s, photography, packaging design, blooms and flowers, walking around in the city, people in the street, cute cakes…

What is your favorite part of the design process?
Looking for new fabrics, whether on internet or directly in shops or thrift stores… Designing new styles, inventing a new story… And of course, the best is when I get returning customers who tell me how happy they are with their special item. :)

Crafty folks know that accumulating new tools and supplies is something that comes along with the territory. What are your favorite tools and supplies?
Pins, scissors, tape measure, chalk, a mannequin and very important, a good iron… The simple gear of a Tailor:)

What advice would you give other independent artists who are just starting out?
I’m still quite new in the game but here what I’ve learnt so far: don’t be afraid to try new things and to get out from your comfort zone. Be perseverant and believe in yourself. Things do not happen overnight, so be preapared to work very hard.

What is your favorite indie purchase or trade?
An adorable little flower brooch made from felt by my little sister. I’m still wearing it!

What’s on your iPod/music player right now? What’s on your “Crafting Music Playlist”?
Nouvelle Vague: it’s a cool band covering punk and new wave classics in a bossa nova mood.

What’s your favorite food?
I can’t say no to good fresh bread with a piece of dark chocolate.

Coffee or Tea?
Tea!

What store could you wander around in and be happy?
Liberty, Anthropologie, Etro and Hermes, ah and also the Victoria&Albert Museum shop in London.

Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?
Venice during Carnival: simply amazing ( a bit too cold though!)

What do you secretly wish you could do/be?
Occasionaly, I do some freelance design and pattern cutting work.

Do you speak any other languages? If not, would you like to learn one?
French is my mother tongue and I’m curently learning Italian (as my boyfriend is Italian).

It’s a brand new year! What are your plans and/or goals (business/personal) for 2010?
Keep doing what I love and grow bagatelles&co.

Thanks so much, Rym! Can’t wait to see what new things will pop up at bagatelles&co! Oh, and Nouvelle Vague is on my iPod, too! Here are a few items you can find at her shop…

Bold Peacock Gigi Small Purse: $42.00; Multicolored Floral – Liberty Print Medium Clutch with Chain: $95.00

Azulejos Lili Medium Clutch: $72.00; Little Flowers Small Gigi Purse: $27.00

Marigold Ambrosia – Silk Tie & Leather Large Clutch with Chain; Amber Floral – Jacquard Medium Lili Clutch: $82.00

Mixed Plate readers get free shipping through the end of January! Simply enter “Mixed Plate” in the comments box at checkout.

want to advertise on Mixed Plate? Of course you do! Shoot me an email at liana@mixedplateblog.com to get started.

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Get To Know: Vanessa Hansford of Duk Design.

Liana — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:03:50 +0000

It’s time to learn a little more about one of our fabulous sponsors. Enjoy!

Meet Vanessa Hansford of Duk Design:

Name: Vanessa Hansford

Business Name: Duk (as in duck, not duke) design :)

Where are you located?
Los Angeles, California (more specifically, Silverlake)

What is it that you design and create?
I design everything from logos and business identities to website and motion pieces. I love working with creative people and figuring out design solutions to ideas that don’t even exist yet.

How did you come up with your business name?
Ducks have always been my favorite animal and I love the simplicity of their combined white and orange colors. It was also my first word so I have been secretly drawn to it ever since I was born!

Where/How did this all begin?
My mom was a graphic designer and I remember trying to design as early as 1st grade. By the time I reached high school I absolutely knew I was going to be a designer as well.

Who or what inspires you?
My mom definitely inspired me to look at things differently and gave me the visual eye. I am inspired by everything I see and love finding the beauty in the simple things in life.

What is your favorite part of the design process?
I love meeting and working with new people but my favorite part is the excitement between sending the client the final work and receiving their feedback (which is hopefully positive). I absolutely love when I can create something that someone else is proud to have as their own.

Crafty folks know that accumulating new tools and supplies is something that comes along with the territory. What are your favorite tools and supplies?
Although I wish I could say my favorite supplies were my silkscreens and draft boards but honestly, it’s got to be my wonderful Mac computer that I just couldn’t live without. :)

What advice would you give other independent artists who are just starting out?
School was a huge part of my decision to start my own design studio so I would advise anyone thinking of becoming a designer to attend art school and receive your degree in design because you will learn more than you thought possible. After school it’s just believing in yourself and your work…and patience!

What is your favorite indie purchase or trade?
Hm, there’s too many to name a favorite! But if I had to choose, it would be my framed circus drawing that I found at a thrift store for $5 dollars. Only after I purchased it did I realize that on the back of the drawing is signed “Toulouse Lautrec” aka my favorite artist/designer of all time! I can’t say for certain if it is authentic but somehow that framed sketch drew me in and I have loved it to pieces ever since.

What’s on your iPod/music player right now? What’s on your “Crafting Music Playlist”?
Lately I have been switching up music like I switch outfits but at the current moment I am listening to my Argentinian boyfriend’s Spanish music blast in the other room. I have to say that it’s a great way to start my day.

What t.v. shows are you currently hooked on?
I’m not a huge t.v. fan but I will admit that I haven’t missed an episode of Top Chef this season. Other than that, I stick to Sex and the City re-runs and the really old and outdated AFV (America’s Funniest Home Videos, of course).

What was the last movie you watched?
A Bug’s Life, not for the first time, but I just love that movie!

What’s your favorite food?
French Baguette, hands down.

What’s your favorite candy?
Anything chocolate…does ice-cream count?

Coffee or Tea?
Tea! I gave up coffee 2 years ago just for the heck of it and have become a tea snob ever since.

What store could you wander around in and be happy?
Any thrift or antique store I could spend all day in.

Any pets?
I just got my first puppy two months ago! A french bulldog pup named Frankie. He’s white with black spots and he is sleeping on my lap at this very moment.

Favorite place to visit or place you’d like to visit?
I spent the past summer in Paris and dream of going back for every meal.

Do you have a day job in addition to your crafty business? What do you secretly wish you could do/be?
I am very lucky and fortunate to be able to to design as my full time job. I love every second of it and can’t imagine doing anything else.

Do you speak any other languages? If not, would you like to learn one?
I speak French conversationally but I would love to be fluent one day! It’s the most beautiful language in the world.

What are your plans (business/personal) for the remainder of 2009?
For the remainder of 2009 I would love to grow my business and work with new clients. I am planning on going with the flow and seeing where life takes me.

Thanks so much, Vanessa! Contact Duk Design for any of your business design needs. Take a look at some of the amazing work {logo, web, packaging, menu designs, etc.} she’s done for her clients…

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Squasht by Les.

Liana — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:59:27 +0000

Check out these adorable clothing and accessories pieces by Chicago based company {woman owned and operated} Squasht by Les.

Petal Headband in Grey Striped Print: $28.00:

Parker Dress in Vintage Sand Houndstooth: $138.00:

Charlie Silk Noil Color Blocked Vest in Raisin: $38.00 {sale}:

Petal Headband in White with Pinstripe: $28.00:

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Renegade Recap: Loot: The Black Apple.

Liana — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:47:15 +0000

As I write this final Renegade SF Recap about the loot I scored, I’m still smiling. I’m smiling because I met Emily Martin. As in Emily Martin of The Black Apple. If you haven’t picked up on how much I love this girl already from all the past features, you’ll surely get an idea from this post.

Leading up to the fair, I knew that she’d be participating. Months ago when I noticed on her blog that she’d be here in San Francisco I knew. Knew that I had to make sure that I’d be off on at least one of the days of the Renegade weekend {preferably the first day so I could get first pick of goods}. It was in my calendar on my phone with an alert reminder and everything {as if I’d forget!}.

On Saturday I rode my bike to Fort Mason. I walked through the entrance and the excitement began to build as usual when I attend handmade fairs. I stood at the front for a second and thought to calm down and knew that this would be the first booth I’d like to visit. To my surprise, I turn and see this great sign reading “The Black Apple”.

I B line in the direction of that table. As I approach I see Emily and all of her creations. I already own some of her artwork and paper goods but always miss out on the dolls {trust me, everything sells out immediately during shop updates}, so of course concentrated first on those. I also picked up a print, two pouches made with custom fabric of her artwork, a roll of custom tape featuring her artwork and a brooch! Check it:

Alright, so I’m a big dork. But you know how you have a favorite artist {or someone} you want to meet in person and you have this image of how they’d be? Emily is just as sweet and lovely as I imagined. I guess my point in all of this gushing is that I wish you’d all have time to visit fairs like this. When you get to meet someone behind the product it’s fun and personal. I’m sure you’ll meet a designer or artist that you’ll dork out over just as I did.

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