fawn&forest

Total textile joy: Plover Organic's line of crib quilts! Organic + whimsical + totally unique. Today's Q+A is with the very intriuging Marisa Kula Mercer, one of the very talented ladies of Plover Organic. Plover has taken a very refreshing stance on textiles, transcending trends + time... creating heirloom quality quilts + bedding with a fantastic feel-good + do-good option: organic cotton. 

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be everything at one point or another! Singer, writer, dancer, bank-teller. They all had their allure.

The A-Z Animal poster,  designed + illustrated by Tara Hogan of Ink+Wit is one of those products that makes me want to have a brick + mortor shop too. Yes, viewing the print on your screen, it is quite evident the illustrations are spectacular and the colors are so with it. But after beholding the A-Z in person, the details and thoughtfulness of the actual print far exceeds what you see on your screen.  The details are delicate, the grey has a silver shimmer and the composition is playful yet sophisticated. 

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
An actress.

Nature plays a major role in your work. What is the most compelling aspect of working with nature and organic forms in your work?
Spontaneity and the interaction of animals and botanicals.

What does the rest of '08 hold for you?
I am working on a numbers poster similar to the animal alphabet poster and also a new elephant print where part of the proceeds will benefit an elephant sanctuary. In addition, I will be creating the very first roll of children's wallpaper for INK+WIT. And, hopefully, a trip to Tuscany in October.

So looking forward to Numbers poster + wallpaper! Oh yeah. Thank you Tara!

It was the Tiny Warbler Whale that sent me on a quick search for Kate Keeler's email address. I fell in love with the whale! It made her little family of creatures instant Forest Finds. Not only are her small stuffed animals incredibly genuine, but Kate also perfectly captures the sweetness + character of each animal. I will admit one thing: I ordered a whale for myself and under the guidelines that these small animals are not meant for small children, I have no plans of sharing! 

 
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Truthfully, when I was  about 6 years old, my answer was always 'an artist'. I always loved to paint and draw and make collages. I guess not  too much has changed but now fabric has been thrown in the mix.

Does your "day job" (as a photographer's assistant) interact/overlap/inspire your "evening job" as creator of little friends?
Absolutely! I find being surrounded by talented and creative people really inspiring. On a shoot, I usually find out what someone's favorite animal is and then I start to see it as a pattern. It also pushes me to hone my technical skills and always try to do my best.

What does the rest of '08 hold for you?
There will be a lot of fabric, cutting, stitching and sewing ahead. I'm working out some new patterns now and hopefully will have some new products to offer in time for the holidays. There may be my first craft fair down the road as well. And hopefully a little travel and rest with my husband. 

Thanks Kate! I look forward to who else you create! 

Samantha of Nix Socks is a can-do kind of gal. And she makes it seem so simple!  She wanted her son to wear stylin' socks that stayed on his little feet. So she designed some old-school style socks + had them manufactured. Nix Socks was born! Samantha is a spunky lady -- it shows not only in the awesome color combinations of her socks, but also in her loving attitude toward her family. And where did the name Nix come from? From the source of her inspiration, her older son, Phoenix.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An actress, of course.

What is the most challenging part of being an inventive designer-business women + full time Mom?
Eating a meal in a char... well, first, eating a meal. The chair is just a luxury at this point. This is true. But also, making a point to not short shift my husband on the love he deserves. There is not a lot left at the end of the day to go around but I think it is so important not to let that slide.

What does the rest of '08 hold for you?
Hopefully a 2nd line of socks (new colors/styles) and lots of fun with my 2 boys and my husband. I'd love to make it to the snow this Winter. 

Thank you Samantha! Perhaps I am thinking what every other Mom is thinking right now: I wish the Nix came in my size too! 

We are now in a new month of Forest Finds with a whole new selection.... but did not want to neglect the final June Forest Find Q+A with Paige Russell. I gave birth last Monday before I got the chance to post Paige's interview. I enjoy the wit Paige has with the work she creates. Objects that are both useful, thoughtful and fun. Plus, she was voted most sportsmanlike for 7th grade volleyball. Umm, come on! I tried to play volleyball in the 7th grade and was surely not as cool as Paige.....!

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
The first thing I can remember wanting to be is a marine biologist, but I'm ultra afraid of seaweed & sharks, so...  Then I moved on to cake decorator.  My family ate a LOT of cakes for a couple of months one summer.   But for most of my teens and up, I always knew I wanted to make things.

What is the most compelling aspect of working dimensionally?
I'm a pretty sensorial person (is that a word? hmmm...) so working in 3D really compliments that part of me.  I also love function and the challenge of pairing that with beauty.  Creating useful household objects that people enjoy looking at & using is the big dream.  

Christy Nyboer is the artist behind Little Lark clothing, and mother of 2 small children. I love the simplicity of her designs + her obvious interest in what she does. See those dahlias? Those beauties grow in her garden every year! And while the majority of her designs reflect nature, she's not afraid to throw in a robot or 2! Another plus? Most of the Little Lark cloting is organic.   

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
I'm sure there were tons of things that I wanted to be when I was younger, but one definitely sticks out in my mind first.  When I was about 4 years old, I was obsessed with becoming an "Orange Crayon Maker".... from watching how crayons (specifically the orange ones) were made on the show Mr. Rogers.  (remember Picture, Picture?)  Well, I eventually realized that being an orange crayon maker would get kind of old after awhile (and after being teased enough from it), I switched to wanting to become a doctor like my dad and grandfather.  I loved how passionate they were about their chosen career, and I too had a strong passion for biology at a very young age.  It became more clear to me as I got older, that my passion for visual arts was far stronger than anything else.  I choose to study art at Alfred University in New York where I attained my BFA.  I wasn't sure where studying art was going to take me.... but look at me now!

What is the most challenging part of being a mom and a creative business owner?
That is a loaded question.  For me, one of the most difficult parts is balancing my time with business + family, plus also making the time for myself (non-work time).   When I find myself worn out, frustrated and unmotivated with the demands of work and home-life.... it becomes very clear to me that I have been working too hard and taking care of everyone except myself.  I need to remind myself more often that it is  okay to stop working for an hour to share coffee with a friend.... the updating of the website can wait.

What does the rest of '08 hold for you?
I'm on a mission to make Little Lark more organic.  This fall I will be adding some organic, long sleeve onesies in a beautiful range of colors.... I'm so excited!  I hope to have some new fall designs ready by July.

Thanks so much Christy! My favorite? The horse onesie. 

As we approach the end of June with a full + exciting month of Forest Finds action, I am pleased to announce Tressa's Teething BonBons to be amongst the top 3 best selling Forest Finds products. No surprise as the Teething BonBons are an ingenious solution to every parents dilemma: a teething baby.  Plus they are organic + super cute. I am refreshed by Tressa's enthusiasm and expanding creativity.

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
A problem-solver, a group leader and self employed.  When I was in grade four I organized a club for my friends called 'The Golden Girls'.  I designed a logo, hand drew our membership pamphlet (this was the early 80s) and fashioned a clubhouse out of cement cinder blocks and old pipes that I found on a pile of fill from my elementary school's renovations.  I think that it was around the same time that I invented a dandelion picker and set up a one-day-only birch-bark crafts stand at the end of my driveway.  Back then my ideas didn't have a lot of staying power or technical support, but laid the foundation for a life of leadership, art, and engaging every creative possibility.

What is the most challenging part of being a Mom and having a business?
Not banking on nap time.  My daughter is just over 1 1/2 years and for the most part, a beautiful sleeper.  I have come to count on the couple of hours each day nap time affords - designing, prepping materials and sometimes even getting to the machine to put together a few Bonbons (the real production work happens in the evening when my husband scoops up the babe for her nightime routine).  As Little R. gets older and product demand increases, the nap time hours seem to be getting shorter and I find myself both counting and maxing the minutes.  Having a business and a family is about setting s.m.a.r.t. goals for long term vision and immediate focus, being well organized, and welcoming support from folks experienced, wise and enthusiastic.  And, of course, knowing when to ditch nap time expectations and head to the park.

(s.m.a.r.t. = Specific Measureable Attainable Realistic/Relevant Timely) 

What does the rest of '08 hold for you?
Each weekend I join a community of crafters, organic farmers and not-for-profit organizations at the Moss Street Market in Victoria BC Canada, selling my wares and educating folks on the benefits of organic cotton production from seed to my finished - handmade! - material goods.  This month, I am soooo excited to be on the brink of having my own line of fabric hand screen printed and ready to go - three prints, four colours.  They will be snipped and sewed into a super stylin' new branch of my classic organic soft toys.  August will find my little family climbing in our Volks for a road trip from our home on Vancouver Island to my childhood stomping grounds in BC's interior.  We'll do a bit of camping, some wine tasting (hello Naramata Bench!) and lots catching up with family and friends.  Come autumn, I'll be gearing up for a major event, the Vancouver Island Baby Fair and - golly - now I'm thinking about Little R's 2nd birthday and the Holiday markets that will soon follow ... 2008, where are you going?

Thanks Tressa! Sign me up for your 'Golden Girls' club! I was totally one of those kids.....

Alyson Beaton is a thoughtful + talented designer who creates multi-functional work. The Baby's First Words letterpress card set is a true example of functional, heirloom quality art. And a great place to record your growing baby, even if you don't have the umph or time to write a novel. I look forward to Alyson's soon to be released children's book "grow", exciting!  

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a veterinarian , but so did everyone else!

What is the most challenging part of being an artistic creative working mom?
The toughest challenge is finding the time to do the work. Since the work is not necessarily paying the bills you have to carve out a bit of your life for yourself and your outlet.

What does the rest of '08 hold for you?
This year is going to be an exciting one for me because I just partnered with a colleague from grad school to have a design collaborative called Good Design Chicago. We are going to hit the ground running with the release of the web site and something we have been working on that encourages kids to write and illustrate their own stories. We are incorporating this idea into birthday parties too! I also have the release of the book "Grow: An Environmentally Friendly Book" set to hit stores in December, with a limited edition letterpressed version coming out now. I am super excited about both of these projects, and with the growing relationships with wonderful people like Fawn and Forest who support people like me. I just have to remember to keep the balance. 

Thank you Alyson!! 

I love the simplicity of Jai and Lauren, the sweet couple behind Sleeping Forest Studios....who "make high quality handcrafted wooden objects in their small but mighty shop in rural Nova Scotia, Canada. Both love to visit the city, but are most happy in their big old house in their small quiet town, surrounded by cats and bunnies and good books....". I would love to spend a day with them in their small but mighty shop... watching them make their beautiful wood tops (among other goodies).... wouldn't you?!

 
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
Jai: When I was really young, my grandfather trained me to answer this question with, "I wanna be in show business!" He was a projectionist, so he was already living the dream. I think he would have been proud that I went the toymaker route, though.

Lauren: Growing up, my Mom always told me I could be whatever I wanted to be... until I decided I wanted to be a harem dancer.  My Grandma wanted me to be a scientist.  She would clip articles out of the newspaper about women in science.  It was pretty cute.  

 
What is the most compelling part of working with wood?
Jai: For me, being a woodturner, I like the idea of taking things with corners and making them round. Everything I make is by hand so it's all a bit different. It's also amazing how little measuring I have to do.

Lauren: It's almost unlimited, what you can do with wood.

What does the rest of '08 hold for you? 
Jai: Christmas!

Lauren: Lots more fun and experimenting in the shop.  Spinning, cutting, shaping, sanding, and, oh yeah,  Christmas.

 
These tops are small but mighty and have the most amazingly perfect spin. Totally addictive! Thanks Lauren + Jai!

Today's Forest Finds Q+A is with the very intuitive photographer Elizabeth Soule who has created her own 'Little Zoo'. I am astonished at her ability to put so much personality + life into such small plastic objects. Thank you Elizabeth! 

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
Like most kids I went through a dozen phases, but I was determined at age 6 to be a Harvard law graduate and eventually President of the United States.  When I found out how much I loathed politics, I moved on to more practical aspirations; ballerina, actress, teacher, and computer programmer.  

The 1st Forest Finds Q+A is with the very creative Sian Keegan. She brings her handmade fabric patchwork strawberries, radishes and scallions to June's Forest Finds.  

Sian Keegan is a recent graduate of the textile + surface design program at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Sian grew up in a rural town in southern Connecticut where she worked on a strawberry farm. She currently lives in park slope, Brooklyn with a dachshund named Ollie.

 
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a kid I wanted to be a veterinarian, or any profession relating to dogs.  I still want to be a dog trainer one day...

What was the most challenging part of studying at Fashion Institute of Technology?
The heavy workload was very challenging.  Also commuting from Brooklyn on the F train every morning with all of my supplies was tricky sometimes!

What does the rest of '08 hold for you?
I will be at the Renegade Craft Fair at McCarren Park Pool June 14-15.  Next I'll be working on some new animals and fabric vegetable designs to sell from my shop at sian.etsy.com. 

Thanks Sian! 

I am thrilled to announce the launch of a new, very special category on fawnandforest.com called Forest Finds!

Each month we will bring you a fresh selection of independent artists and designers who create relevant, modern wares and crafted items for your children and home. This month we have found a lovely section of folks in the forest : Sian Keegan (shown above left + right), E. Soule, Little Lark, Alyson Beaton Design, Paige Russel, Dress Me Up, Decoylab and Sleeping Forest.

My idea for the Forest Finds unfolded quite randomly. I found a link one day to Sian Keegan's site and fell in love with her work -- stuffed fruit + veggies. Love!  I've never had a desire for fawn&forest to be stale and impersonal, limited to selling all the major brands and well known designers. Interestingly enough, however, these major brands, such as Oeuf, vision is quite similar to that of Paige Russel or E. Soule. Each has an intention of form + function, thoughtfulness of materials used and a desire to bring enjoyment + simplicity to your home and family.

I'm personally a big Etsy fan, avid blog reader + generally interested in all the creative + innovative ideas and wares made by all the you's + me's of today. I get excited about stuffed radishes and organic cotton teething bon bons. And wouldn't you just love to have this deer and cupcake hanging on your wall? Exactly.   

Forest Finds it is.