IAMTHELAB | Your Handmade Laboratory

Handmade in Brooklyn: Bags by reiter8

Here’s something that’s been on my wishlist for a while: bags made from recycled sails. I have to say that the ones I’ve seen in a few brick & mortar stores have been pretty expensive, which kind of defeats the purpose of buying something made from recycled goods, IMHO. That’s why I am thrilled to introduce LAB readers to reiter8, Katherine Rasmussen’s great shop full of clean and crisp handmade designs. Recycled sails never looked so good and they’re affordable!

I’m a big fan of this #8 Tote. It measures 14.5″ x 15″ with a 3″ deep box bottom. Seems perfect for traveling. I’ve discovered that, which the Reiter8 Etsy shop has a nice selection, their primary web shop gives you the option of picking the exact number you want on your bag. How’s that for customization?

Looking for a new set of luggage tags? You’ll be able to find you luggage with ease as they come tumbling down the line if you get your hands on a set of these Upcycled Sail Luggage tags. They feature a clear sleeve on the back, perfect for your business card or other means of ID. Lastly, these pouches. Good thing reiter8 sells them as a trio. That way, you don’t have to decide which one to get. Grab them all!

Connect with reiter8:
SHOP | ETSY | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Handmade Profiles: Annie Olean from Gift Shop Brooklyn

OK, if you’ve been on the LAB once, I really like. Twice, and you’ve moved to love. Three times, I’m a groupie. So, just call me a big crazy fan of Gift Shop Brooklyn. I love their fresh selection of handmade bags and clutches. They are classic and modern at the same time, which means they will never go out of style. I am very fortunate that owner Annie Olean is letting us in on her creative process for the newest installment of the LAB’s Handmade Profiles. Enjoy the interview and then click on any of the images to see her entire selection.

1. What inspired you to begin your collection?

While working in the fashion industry as a graphic designer I always felt I was not fully utilizing my creative energies, I didn’t feel passionate enough about what I was doing and I hated that. I knew I wanted to start creating my own product, though initially I was unsure what that was. In the beginning I tried many different items including home goods, organic body products, baked goods, greeting cards, the list goes on. For some reason I kept going back to sewing, accessories in particular. I think it kept my interest because I was creating something that I couldn’t go out and buy, something I actually wanted.

2. Can you name a favorite source of inspiration?

Anything in nature. The colors, the way things fit and work together, the textures. It’s all right there for us to constantly draw inspiration from. I love using interesting colors and textures, but in a natural way when I am creating.

3. What materials do you love to use?

Leather, silk, linen, anything shiny, and Adobe creative suite.

4. Do you have a dream collaborator?

I actually haven’t thought about a dream collaborator, but I’d love to work with a really great business person and pick their brain.:)

5. When you need a musical muse who do you turn up the volume to?

This is something that always changes. I go through phases of listening to a certain album or artist on repeat. My all time favorite though, is Tori Amos; I have listened to her ‘Scarlet’s Walk’ album probably around 1 million times and am inspired every time.

6. How do you use social media/blogging to promote your work?

I try to incorporate a mixture of topics to keep followers interested. If followers feel you are just trying to push a product on them constatnly you will lose them. I know I feel that way when following others. Although I have all social medias, My favorite way to stay connected in through Instagram and Pinterest.

7. Where do you see your shop/project going?

Forward hopefully! We never know what life will bring, or what new experiences or opportunitites will come our way. However, I love doing this now, and I will continue to do it until I do not love it anymore (if that happens).

Connect with Gift Shop Brooklyn:
BIG CARTEL | ETSY | BLOG | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Handmade in Brooklyn: Bags by TM1985

Can a backpack be a work of art? Yes it can if it comes from the talented mind of Brooklyn-based Tielor McBride. All you have to do is spend a little time in his TM1985 shop to see handmade bags that are truly objet d’art. I have a thing for bags. Duh, right? I’m not sure if that is a confession as it is a statement of fact. I love a sturdy, well-made and well-designed bag. Tielor has mastered the art of all three.

Let’s start with his shop’s signature bag, the Roll Top Sack. This handmade bag features luscious tan leather, canvas accents and weathered brass clips. This is hardly just a backpack, this is a masterpiece. I was reading Tielor’s interview on Etsy and he has a few notable quoteables worth sharing. For instance, when ask what the name of his memoir would be, he stated:

“All I Ever Wanted Was to Make Things and Think About Them. Yeah, I know it’s long, but it’s a simple truth. I’m happiest when I get to make something worth thinking about, worth looking at.”

When an artisan is happy while making, it shows. You are bound to feel their joy in the finished product.

In that same interview, Teiler makes this comment when asked what handmade meant to him:

“Working with your hands slows you down in a way that forces you to consider each piece individually, to know the materials and their imperfections. Understanding the variations between components and how they work together as a whole, that is where craft comes into play. If you allow yourself this awareness, you can make careful adjustments to give the piece a uniqueness and specificity. Handmade items set themselves apart because the spirit of the individual is imbued in them.”

It’s hard to top that, right? Reminds me of the Handmaker Manifesto:

1. We live to create and we create with joy.
2. Our imagination is our canvas.
3. Our hands are our tools.
4. Passion and compassion are our fuel.
5. We may make many, but we are not mass-produced.
6. Handmade is heart made.
7. The process and the product are one.

Enjoy a few more items from the TM1985 shop. Be sure to click any of the images to go and explore for yourself. I think the only item I would love to see Teiler add to his collection is a daily shopper. If it were made from the same material as his Dopp kit, I’d think he would have a winner on his hands!

Connect with TM1985:
SHOP | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

DREAM SPACES: THE BROOKLYN LOFT

Megan Swanson via planete-deco.fr

Kelly Williams via dustjacketattic.blogspot.com.au

Lydia Keene-Kendrick via nylocations.com

Marieke Wijnsma via myscandinavianhome.blogspot.se

Annie Diamond via remodelista.com

Lael Hutchinson via remodelista.com

Katarzyna Kowalewska via nytimes.com

Kim Davies via momsturf.blogspot.com

See / Wear featuring handmade from Aeropagita Prints & history + industry

Oh, how pretty! Enjoy these handmade combos featuring some of Brooklyn’s finest.

Aeropagita Prints: Artist Mishel Valenton is producing these ethereal prints from her Brooklyn studio. I thought it was interesting that Mishel used to paint darker works of art. It was the realization that what you produce is a reflection of who are that moved her to the direction that you see now. How grateful we are that she is giving such splendid art to those who love handmade.

history + industry: A LAB favorite, Irene Wood’s colorful and regal necklaces can coordinate with just about anything. For some reason, every time I see her collection, I think of Audrey Hepburn. I can just imagine her wearing each one of these.

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See: Ocean of the Universe by Aeropagita Prints
Wear: Empyrean bib necklace by history + industry

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See: Gala by Aeropagita Prints
Wear: Miami Vice bib necklace by history + industry

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See: Lights from Capiz by Aeropagita Prints
Wear: Royal Equatorial bib necklace by history + industry

LAB:SPRING GIVEAWAY: Featuring KHOI LE

Ready to win a fantastic Swiss Dopp Kitt from handmaker Khoi Le? A master craftsman, Khoi uses waxed cowhide to accentuates the beauty of the leather he uses in this little wonder, giving it a timeless look and feel. Win this and you’ll be carrying your gear in style. Get three entries to win this sweet handmade prize by doing the following:

Leave a comment telling me which item you like the best from Khoi Le’s shop.
Get an extra entry by following Khoi Le on Instagram. Leave a second comment telling me you did so.
Get an extra entry if you send a pic of any item from Khoi Le’s shop to Instagram with @khoicorp & @iamthelab in the message. Add another comment with a link to your Instagram account.

That’s it. I will pick a winner at random on Friday, April 5th, 2013 @ 9:00 HST. Have fun!

Connect with Khoi Le:
STORE | TUMBLR | INSTAGRAM

Handmade in Brooklyn: Modern Baubles from Butterscotch

Modern technology is changing the way we create and thankfully the handmade community is keeping up. For instance, there’s Butterscotch of Brooklyn, a collective of jewelry and industrial designers who are using the latest 3D printing technology to create some dazzling pieces. Lead by Timothy James, this talented group are taking digitally designed jewelry concepts and then casting them in a range of metals from sterling silver, bronze and gold plated steel. The end results is a pretty spectacular collection. Check out a few of these pieces and then head over to see the entire collection.

My favorite item in the shop is the POPULATE ring. Like the description says, It really does look like it grew around the finger. The ring is stainless steel/gold plated, and like the rest of this amazing collection, it’s 3D printed. I just love this ring! I’m also a big fan of the patina that the 3D printing process embosses on the rings and bracelets. It gives each piece the look of textured stone.

Connect with Butterscotch of Brooklyn:
SHOP | PINTEREST | FACEBOOK

Handmade in Brooklyn: 3 Handmade Metal Masters

Nestled in Brooklyn are a trio of jewelry makers whose mastery over metal is magnificent. Modern, bold and handmade, these three talented women are creating collections that deserve a place in your personal stash. First up is Lilian Crowe.

Lilian’s collection is pretty expansive. I had a hard time finding just a few pieces to feature, but I settled on these fantastic Industrial pieces. Hand-cast in brass…OK, wait. Have you ever heard of white brass? I’ve never seen it before and I was totally intrigued by the concept. It’s pretty gorgeous stuff. I love the Industrial bracelet made from it. Looks frosty! And don’t get me started on those rings. Lilian has a 1 inch square version that is just WOW.

Connect with Lilian Crowe:
SHOP | SITE | FACEBOOK

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Next, check out Nettie Kent’s bold and brilliant handmade collection. There is a lot to love amongst Nettie’s creations. Using recycled leathers and metals, her collection spans a couple of different style aesthetics, from her fab Slice of Sand collection to this fantastic Wave bangle in her Coral collection. Cast in reclaimed gold finished brass or sterling silver, a trio of these would be the perfect accent to a refreshed spring wardrobe. I think my favorite pieces from her collection are the Rawhide Wrap bracelets. I totally could rock that!

Connect with Nettie Kent:
SHOP | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

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You know you’re about to get one majorly great handmade collection when the artist’s bio starts with “Raised by a herd of cattle in the rolling hills of Vermont…” Abbi Stern may have one of the most unorthodox bios on the web, but her Brooklyn Heavy Metal collection is anything but.

Again, like the previous two handmakers, Abbi has a ton of great pieces in her shop. But for me, it’s the Nut collection that steals the show. I want that Nut ring! I love a big ring, and at .5 inches high, this one will do just nicely. Be sure to check out this and the rest of Abbi’s collection. It’s a knockout!

Connect with Brooklyn Heavy Metal:
SHOP | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Your Monday Motivation: You Are Amazing

No matter how many cobwebs you have to shake from your weekend brain, you have it in you to create great things this week. Let’s do this! Need some help getting that creative spark going? What are you working on? Leave a comment and let my crafty-cool LAB readers help. UPDATE: Since you folks loved this graphic so much, I made a wallpaper, just for you. It’s 1920 x 1080 and should fit most computer screens. You’re welcome! Download it here.

HANDMADE IN BROOKLYN: GET INSPIRED WITH DIRTY LIBRARIAN CHAINS

What a great way to start Brooklyn Week! Designer Susan Domelsmith has mastered the art of taking vintage materials and remixing them into stylish handmade baubles with global appeal in her Dirty Librarian Chains collection. By using leftovers rescued from the now-closed jewelry factories of Providence, Rhode Island, Susan is proving that modern style and sustainablitly can go hand in hand. First, check out this video:

The Jewelry Maker from Dustin Cohen on Vimeo.

It’s little wonder that these brilliant and bold pieces have found there way into the hands of celebrities like Debbie Harry, Kate Husdon and Gweneth Paltrow. I’m especially loving this Glacier Brooch. This 4 inch brooch features her signature vintage beads in shades of hematite, gold and dark bronze surround a faceted antique chandelier crystal. It’s this type of expert mixing of pieces that makes for one stunning accessory.

Be sure to click on any of the images to see the rest of Susan’s Dirty Librarian Chains. You won’t be disappointed.