Archive for the ‘INTERVIEWS’ Category
LAUNCHED NEW DESIGN
February 1, 2007Last post
January 31, 2007This is the last day of life*fever as a wordpress.com blog! Tommorrow it will be a big day, with the launching of a new design and feautures… So don’t miss it! Check out here, at midnight the new link!
But before I go, I had to share this videos with you, that I have discovered at fashion pig.. They are amazing. Very fashionable moments..
Talking to Mary-Ann from Illu Stration
December 12, 2006
Mary-Ann Williams, the creator behind Illu Stration, was born 1965 in Cape Town, South Africa, studied Fashion-Design, Pattern-Design, Textile-Design, Interior-Design, Interior-Architecture und Hat-Design in Cape Town and Germany and decided to stay in Germany because of Apartheid. In 1984 she started using felts (felting) for fashion and hats. After starting with her own fashion and hats collection she later specialized in the development of textile products in the HIGH END section of interior design. She creates home accessories, bowls, lights, table accessories, kitchen accessories, living accessories, greeting cards, bags, carpets, hats and fashion and she is advising in interior design solutions. Her innovative designs find international interest. She brings structures and 3-dimensionality into the so far known 2-dimensionality.
I went talking to her,
Coxi: What was the biggest influence in your work untill today?
M-Ann: South Africa: You can learn of poor people collecting waste and making something new out of it.
Coxi: Tell me a little bit about your artistic path.
M-Ann:It was stony: I took all obstacles that were laid in my way to build a bridge, my way to success.
Coxi: Were do you get inspiration?
M-Ann: It’s a combination of hard work and what’s happening around me in the world of fashion, art, architecture and everyday living – and a good sense of humor.
Coxi: Designers/Artists you admire?
M-Ann: My Dad, he was real.
Coxi: How is your work environment?
M-Ann: Almost everything is white. Large windows with a nice view all over the town. 40km of forest starting behind my house. Naturally green.
Coxi: What is your favourite piece of art that you have at home? Old or recently bought…
M-Ann: My son – always good for a surprise. You never know what comes next!!
Coxi: Do you think these days people can talk about a global design culture?
M-Ann: There does exist a global design culture. Internet and all the digitalisation of images was a big step towards globalisation. The blogs do the rest.
Coxi: Are you living your ideal lifestyle?
M-Ann: I`m always looking for a new challenge.
Coxi: How would you describe your style of work?
M-Ann: The simple, sensual and poetry of my work makes it more than textile – it`s a state-of-art design that has its own purity of form.
Coxi: Do you have any other job?
M-Ann: My jobs: Fashion – hats – accessories – furniture textiles – interior design – interior decorating – colour planning .
The amazing Amy
December 1, 2006
Welcome to LIFE FEVER december edition.. A fresh new month is starting, and as you can see if you take a glimpse to your right, a new sidebar is up, much more easy for you to check out all the stuff I put online. Also a new favourite artist, this time Amy Butler, an amazing designer based in Ohio, with one of the most beautifull patter collections I’ve ever seen. As this month is the “X-MAS MONTH”, L F and Amy Butler have a small surprise for one of you, more like a small contest, and the winner will win a” x-mas present”. (I will make a post about this contest explaining the rules).
Now, more great news, I went talking to Amy, to get to know her and her work better, and here is the result:
Coxi: How did you started?
Amy: Whew.. I didn’t know how far back you wanted me to go so I started with art school, which is what really jump started my design career. I also met my husband David at CCAD, truly the most important thing that’s ever happened to me. I graduated from the Columbus College of Art & Design in 1988 with a bachelor of fine arts degree. I majored in retail advertising with a textile and fashion design focus. I was hired by Hallmark Cards right out of school and I worked as an art director for them for 4 years. On the side , I created a new fashion portfolio and started making gifts and bags with my ever growing vintage fabric collection. After a portfolio submission to my design hero Christian Lacroix, and a subsequent kind letter of rejection, my husband David and I decided to strike out on our own and start our studio ” Art of the Midwest ” back home in Ohio. Halloween night 1992 we packed up our truck and moved back home to start over. Through the years David and I have grown our business by living multiple ” design lives ” and working some pretty interesting odd jobs on the side, all of which fed us and our entrepreneurial spirit! We like to call the early days of Art of the Midwest, the ” salad days “. Dave and I have had so many creative adventures, from doing fine art shows together to working side by side on client projects. Over the past 15 years, our flexibility, risk taking and love of design has opened the doors to a life of working together ( and with our cats ! ) doing what we love to do.
We each have had successful careers as illustrators, and brand and product developers.
In 1997 we started producing lifestyle stories for Country Living magazine alongside our studio work. I became their resource for producing ” how to ” stories that provided inspirational ideas for using vintage fabrics. The magazine was short on space, but we needed to get instructions to our readers so they could
make up the projects. This is how Amy Butler Sewing Patterns began. I licensed the Country Living brand and produced my first two sewing patterns that were featured in some of my articles. Soon after the magazine eliminated it’s fulfillment services and I was left with the challenge of how to get these patterns out to the broader market. In 2002 I attended my first International Quilt Market where I exhibited in my first 10′ x 10′ booth, decked out in quirky vintage modern fabrics highlighting my patterns. Since then, I’ve been blessed by enthusiastic support from the sewing community and I’m proud to say that great retailers worldwide now carry my sewing patterns. I never expected my business to take off as it has, and although I’ve kind of moved into creating a new business and brand, Dave and I still get to work together on creating the visuals, graphics and packaging for my patterns and fabrics. Plus Dave loves it that I’m ” his client ” and I call him the boss, because he is! and he’s an amazing talent, and I feel super fortunate that I get to work with him.
My first fabric collections were created with FreeSpirit fabrics. They gave me an incredible opportunity
to design fabric…..which I’ve always wanted to do! I met Donna from FS at my first quilt market, and never dreamed my quirky pattern business would allow me to pursue my fabric design dream. I’ll always be grateful for FreeSpirit’s willingness to take a chance on me. After several successful lines, our contract expired and I began working with Rowan fabrics, a relationship that had budded through our experiences working together on a knitting bag collection. As they say, timing is everything, and I feel I have landed just where I’m supposed to be. I started working with Rowan in December 2005 and have since launched two quilting lines with them. They are a great company full of good folks with imagination and energy. I’m looking forward to some exciting collaboration with Rowan!
Coxi: How have you realized you wanted to become an artist?
Amy: I think I realized I wanted to become an artist as soon as I learned what the word ” artist ” meant as a little kid. I was always coloring and crafting and making home made gifts for friends and family. My Mom and Grandmother have been a huge influence, both are self taught artists. As a child of the 70’s I watched both of them dabble and often master every craft. Both created water color paintings, hooked rugs, knitted, quilted, made groovy dioramas with found antique artifacts and dried flowers and truly made our home a creative nest. G. as we called her ( my grandma ) mastered sewing and taught me how to use her ” back up ” machine when I was about 6. G. gave me my first fabric stash and would always keep me supplied with craft materials. I took that first fabric stash and ” glued ” together halter tops for my little friends in my neighborhood because I didn’t have a sewing machine at home. The sewing machine was superfluous! It was all about the fabric. My friends tried to wear the outfits and assured me it was ” the thought that counts “….. a comment I still often get as I love to experiment with new crafts!
Coxi: What was the biggest influence in your work until today?
Amy: My influences and inspiration change constantly, but I do have a few core influences that will always have an effect on me. Broadly, all decorative arts and textiles have greatly influenced my work. This of course includes fashion. I’ve gone through several love affairs with different genres and periods of design. Culturally I’m hugely inspired by ethnic textiles and artifacts. My passion for fabrics and sewing has been a common thread through the span of my life so far and it just keeps building. My love of antique fabrics, and a collection that’s been growing 20 years now, has influenced my design eye and lov for unique vintage prints. The natural world is a big influence. I grew up with an appreciation for wildlife, flora and fauna.
Our home was always filled with animals and my mother taught me a great deal about wildflowers and birds. My grandmother was also a prolific gardener which has been a constant influence in all of my work and today my garden is one of my most satisfying creative outlets. My home life and my surroundings play a big part. My ” collections ” of antiques, junk and curiosities over the years have inspired me to have a personal design voice in my client work from years past to my own personal work that I do now.
Coxi: What are your main goals when you create?
Amy: My goal is to enjoy the entire creative process while I’m designing . I feel this joy and energy is translated in my work and passes onto others. It’s a joy that keeps paying forward. I’m just a starting point, I love what I do and then folks work with my patterns and fabrics to create and pass on that joy to the person on the receiving end as well as getting the personal satisfaction and pleasure from their creative experience. I only create what I LOVE and what I’m excited about. My designs are more intuitive and personal. I think all artists create this way. I believe anything you set out to do to please yourself will ultimately please others. I’m so fortunate that folks respond so sincerely to what I do which is incredibly humbling and gives me the greatest pleasure!
Coxi: Were do you get inspiration?
Amy: My biggest inspiration comes from travel and my garden, which explains my love of florals! Travel is so influential, it takes me away from my day to day rituals and allows me to open my mind and think differently, it also gives me the ” mental escape ” I need to renew my creative energy. I love to get completely absorbed in a place or culture, to step back and take in great design from architecture to museum collections to shocking colors in a tropical local. My garden is a never ending resource for beautiful color and design. Each season I have a different show, from Spring to Winter. My garden is one of my favorite places to spend time. I am influenced by every era of design, from turn of the century to mid- century. To me, design is far more interesting and fun when you experiment with many different elements. I design what I love, and what I want to be surrounded with. My collections are very personal, I think they have a feminine / modern feel about them. I’m always dreaming of future fabrics I’d love to sew with or use in my home which is always the underlying motivation for specific prints. I keep things fresh and lively by keeping my inspiration kinetic. I’m always excited about a new ” color” or colors. I keep an on-going color idea stash where I save snips of colors I love which eventually get worked into my palettes. I’m always snipping and clipping design influences from home decor, gardens, fashion and fine art. My taste and interests continually change and are reflected in my design choices.
Coxi: Do you rule by any tendency in your creative work, or you only follow what comes in your mind?
Amy: I don’t have any rules other than I have to love, love love what I’m making.
Coxi: Designers/Artists you admire?
Amy: The top of my list is my husband. David is a massive talent, he’s a true renaissance man, as he’s a brilliant fine artist, writer, photographer and graphic designer. His body of work is so impressive. He is true to himself and his art and that’s what moves me the most. Kaffe Fasset has always been a great inspiration to me. I admire him because he is first a fine artist who eloquently shares his vision for color and design through his work with great warmth and passion. He is a master colorist! I get lost in the color combinations in his fabrics. I am a huge admirer of Harmony Susalla from Harmony Arts.
Harmony is leading the way for organic printed fabrics. She is the real deal, an amazing artist, designer and passionate supporter for the organic fabric movement. She is a visionary with an unwavering heart, and
her fabrics are delicious! harmonyart.
Coxi: How is your work environment?
Amy: My work environment is the best! Dave and I have our studio in the lower level of our home. We have a 1970 modern bank ranch and the lower level is a mirror footprint of our top floor. I have my ” girl space ” and Dave has his own space. I’m surrounded by all the things I love, loads of fabric, notions, antiques, ephemera and books. I made two big benches that are padded with cushy foam and slip covered in my Forest fabric. I push the benches together for napping with the cats! We’re pretty relaxed here, we do have one other full time employee besides myself and one part time, I call them my super heros! We work a straightforward 9-5 with no overtime with the goal being we all need loads of down time and family time.
Coxi: What is your favorite piece of art that you have at home? old or recently bought…
Amy: I have a fresh, brand spankin new piece of art that David just gave me! It’s a gorgeous print called ” Communicable Flow”. The print images are formed by two turn of the century etchings of magnetic fields that David illustrated into elegant organic shapes. His quote on the print reads… ” The expenditure
of positive intention leading to the reproduction and spread of good will “. and that’s exactly what you feel when you look at the print. I am now going to hang the print in a local where I’ll see it and ” feel ” it every day. lucky me!
Coxi: What is your bedside table book at the moment?
Amy: I have 2 in rotation right now! I like to mix it up. Short attention span, ok maybe. I am in the process of re-reading both books because they are such life changing kinds of books….. ” EAT PRAY LOVE ” by Elizabeth Gilbert. You have to read this book! It’s a true personal account of the authors travels through Italy, India and Indonesia… one woman’s search for everything, beautifully written with wit, humor and profound insight. I couldn’t put it down during my first read. My second book, that I’m sure I will re-read for the rest of my life is Pema Chodron’s ” THE PLACES THAT SCARE YOU ” This is one of those books you read and you go ‘ oh yeah, that’s just what I needed to read at this place in my life. Pema is an incredible teacher and writes with such a compassionate and easy to understand voice. She presents Buddhist principles and ideas in a very real and human way, making the teachings super easy to absorb.
Coxi: Are you living your ideal lifestyle?
Amy: I’d have to say yes indeed. I always feel like I’m just where I need to be at this moment. Now staying in the moment is another story.
Coxi: What haven’t you done yet that you definitely want to try someday?
Amy: Latin dancing, snow boarding, hike in Indonesia, hand print textiles in India, live in the Cotswolds for a year and grow a truck patch of Dahlias.
Talking to Catalina Estrada
November 25, 2006
I went talking to Catalina Estrada, an artist born and raised in Medellín, Colombia. There she graduated in Graphic Design. Seven years ago she decided to travell to Europe, and stayed in Paris for a wilde, then moved to Barcelona where she graduated in Plastic Arts. Today she is a freelance designer and illustrator and she also teaches illustration at IDEP in BCN.
Coxi: How did you started? How have you realised you wanted to become an artist?
Catalina: I´ve always loved painting and drawing, I don´t know if I realised I wanted to become an artist, I just started doing what I liked and try to enjoy the whole process, worked a lot like crazy, got obsessed with images, colors, and above everything I tried to make real all the ideas that came to my mind, and now it´s like I´m doing what I love the most and even better I´m getting payed for it.
Coxi: What was the biggest influence in your work untill today?
Catalina: Many things have influenced my work, however I guess my mother´s usage of color is one of the greatests influences in what I do, every wall in her house is painted with a different color, she has beautiful objects that she collects all over the place, and she´s got a really personal and original sense of beauty.
Coxi: Tell me a little bit about your artistic path.
Catalina: I was born and raised in Colombia, there I graduated in graphic design. 7 years ago I moved to Barcelona and studied Fine Arts specialized in Lithography. I began to focus on illustration a couple of years ago and I also altern it with my personal art projects and that´s what I´ve been doing lately and I feel really happy about it !
Coxi: What are your main goals when you create?
Catalina: Feel proud of what I create …
Coxi: Were do you get inspiration?
Catalina: Music is one of my greatest sources of inspiration, I listen to songs and I want to create a new piece, mostly anything that´s emotional, also movies, books, folk art, etc…
Coxi: Do you rule by any tendency in your creative work, or you only follow what comes in your mind?
Catalina: I guess I mostly follow what comes in my mind and in my heart
Coxi: Designers/Artists you admire?
Catalina: All pre-raphaelites, all arts and crafts artists, many folk artis from latin america, art nouveau artists, modernist, among many others.
Coxi: How is your work environement?
Catalina: I work at home, I share one of the rooms with my very talented husband (who by the way helps me a lot with everything I do and I couldn´t live without him), and we have a small studio here, we have two big tables with two big screens ( I just bought a very big screen) and that´s it basicly. I have most part of the studio taken with boxes, prints, more boxes, painting stuff, sometimes is a mess but mostly it´s a very nice place.
Coxi: What is your favourite piece of art that you have at home? old or recently bought…
Catalina: I´ll take the pictures of it so that you can see it. (“We’ll be waiting!!!”)
Coxi: What is your bedside table book at the moment?
Catalina: I have like a pile of books waiting for me to read them, I don´t know why I´m reading many at the same time so I never seem to finish none, but at the moment I have all this in my bedside table:
Coxi: Are you living your ideal lifestyle?
Catalina: Absolutely, I just wish I had a bit more time to travel more.
Coxi: What haven’t you done yet that you definitely want to try someday?
Catalina: Live in a house near the sea.
Click here to take a look at Catalina latest exhibition
Talking to Tsé&Tsé Associées
November 8, 2006
Fifteen years ago, Catherine Lévi and Sigoléne Prébois got together to give birth to Tsé & Tsé Associeés. Their concept is very simple, “freedom while creation”! They met in Paris design school “École Nationale Superieure de la création industrielle“. As they say, after 15 years together, Catherine and Sigoléne shared pleasures and catastrophes in life and profession. Today Tsé&Tsé is one of the hip and top creative associations in design scene. They create lamps, kitchen accessories, baskets, and all that comes into their creative minds, but everything has got that french taste that we all know so well. And besides this amazing creations, they also have one of the best sites I’ve ever seen.
I went talking to them
Coxi-How did it all started up?
Tsé&Tsé- We started building our own compagny, when we realised that nobody was waiting around to publish our design. Everything started when we decided to trust ourselves and to take the risk of publishing our own creations. At this time we were lucky enough to design the “vase d’avril”. It was luck, not because of its huge success that arrived 2 or 3 years later, but because of the way it is made, even with a small quantity of what one normally considers a vase, replaced by the repetition of a glass tube and a piece of metal , which allowed us to manufacture the pieces in an industrial way. And now , 15 years later, this vase, our first product , still sells extremely well all over the world and has become ” a classic”.
Coxi- How did you meet?
Tsé&Tsé- We knew each other since we were 16, we were not close friends because not at the same high school, but we noticed that we both liked to be different, we liked to sew (if you can call it sewing) our own clothes even our own shoes. But we really met at the “école nationale supérieure de création industrielle” where we were together.
Coxi- What are your main goals when you create an object?
Tsé&Tsé- At first we want to be honest with ourselves , we want to design something we would like to live with. We want to design something that will not be a burden for somebody else. If it is giving some pleasure or joy it is even better.
Coxi- From all the designs or products that you’ve created, what is the one that defines tsé & tsé?
Tsé&Tsé- The “vase d’avril ,” for it’s invariable way of making people fell great when they compose a bouquet. And the Hungry and thirsty dishes, because the people who use them feel they are totally theirs , they adopt them.
Coxi- How did you name your brand Tsé & Tsé?
Tsé&Tsé- As we design everything together , we where looking for a name that mean 2 and 1 at the same time. We are Ms Tsé and Ms Tsé and we are also Tsé Tsé the fly.
Coxi- Do you rule any tendancy in all creative process?
Tsé&Tsé- We try not to. Except to be sure we will not feel ashamed to add an unuseful object to the market.
Coxi- Favorite designer / artist?
Tsé&Tsé- Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Périand, for the dead ones. Ron Arrad, Ingo Maurer for the the living. Claudio Colucci amongst our friends and Laurence Brabant for the not so well-known.
Coxi- Are there any unknown designers that you follow and whose work you admire?
Tsé&Tsé- Yes, Laurence Brabant.
Coxi- Have you made something available to young people that love design and arts but don’t have enough funds to purchase your products?
Tsé&Tsé- When we started producing, it was a real goal: for Catherine and me (with our student ‘s budget) to be able to afford the public price of our object. Not every day, of course, but what could be mentally acceptable . For a birthday occasion, young people can always chip in together to buy one of our products.
Coxi- Your design objects are created by both of you, or does the idea of one of you prevail?
Tsé&Tsé- We design like we play ping pong; one of us speaks about a loss, an occasion where we can use an object we haven’t come across, and we start building an idea together. At the end a design appears.
Coxi- Are you living your ideal lifestyle?
Tsé&Tsé- No, we don’t have an ideal lifestyle. We just try day after day to balance the boring duties with funny events. We would like to be surprised by what we do. Of course it is difficult.
Coxi- How do you conciliate your work with personal life (children, babies, trips to India…)?
Tsé&Tsé- Since a long time , we have always managed to keep time for travel, because we like to be far away, confronted with other ways of life. Catherine fell in love with India, and Sigolène keeps going every where, even with a child. We create our own business, with all the trouble it entails in order to be able to conciliate it with other pleasures.
Talking to Ten Swedish Designers
October 10, 2006
Ten Swedish Designers was founded in 1970, when a group of ten young textile artists and designers joined together. They had a previous collective experience of having their designs rejected by the Swedish textile industry, with motivations asserting that their designed patterns were “unsaleable, too advanced and non-commercial”.
The aim of Ten Swedish Designers was for the designers themselves to take active part and control the entire production process, from the initial sketch to the printed fabric on display in the shop. Since the start in 1970 Ten Swedish Designers have presented more than 30 successful collections comprising of some 600 printed fabrics and wallpapers. The group has exhibited at a large number of museums, in Sweden and throughout the world.
I went talking with Ingela Håkansson. She has been a member of 10 Swedish Designers since the group began in 1970. Educated at the University College of Art in Stockholm, Konstfack. Besides her work with 10 Swedish Designers, she has created fabric and wallpaper designs for IKEA, Duro and Borås Cotton and others, executed public commissions and worked with appliqué and hand printed textiles.
Coxi: How did you all meet?
Ingela: The common denominator for the designers was that we all knew Inez Svensson the former creative director of Borås Wäferi. Most of us were also friends from the two art and design unversity colleges in Stockholm Konstfack and Beckman’s School of Design.
Coxi: How did Ten Swedish Designers started?
Ingela: Ten Swedish Designers was founded in 1970. We were a group of ten young textile artists and designers joining together. We had a previous collective experience of having our designs rejected by the Swedish textile industry, with motivations asserting that our designed patterns were unsaleable, too advanced and non-commercial. The aim of 10 Swedish Designers was for us, the designers, to take active part and control the entire production process, from the initial sketch to the printed fabric on display in the shop.Today the group consists of three original members Birgitta Hahn, Tom Hedqvist and Ingela Håkansson.
Coxi: What is the main concept?
Ingela: This is linked to the answer of the last question. The concept is for the designers to be able to control the entire production process, to decide the product range and color schemes. Today in Sweden it is unusual that a design company is owned and run by the designers. However, part of the concept is also the aesthetics of 10 Swedish Designers. We have an artistic expression with strong patterns in bold colors. Rooted in the Swedish folklore as well as the art world. We also wish to keep the prices at an affordable level. Spread good Swedish design thorough industrial production. Offer products which in a simple and affordable way can create a more stimulating homeenvironment.
Coxi: Where do you get inspiration?
Ingela: We get inspiration from things we see and read, art books, magazines. All three of us like theatre and contemporary dance very much.
Coxi: Do you rule by any tendency?
Ingela: Yes, we always follow our emotions and feelings. Sometimes we have a collective feeling that we would like to do a collection in green, or we discover that we have reached the age that we need a shopping trolley, then we make one in our own aesthetics. This is what is really amazing about Ten Swedish Designers, that the designers never have to look for approval from financers, owners or manufacturers.
Coxi: Designers that we admire and follow?
Ingela: I would mention two names: Sonia Delaunay and Henri Matisse. We have always found more inspiration in the art world rather than the design world.
Coxi: How is your work environment?
Ingela: We have a shop in the center of Stockholm, upstairs we have an office and storage. The shop and office have been located in the same address since 1983. Me and Birgitta Hahn and Tom Hedqvist also share a studio where we draw our patterns.
Coxi: Do you believe Swedish style has influenced you work?
Ingela: Of course we are influenced y the Swedish style. All three of us were born and raised in Sweden. The patterns and colors are all a reflection of our traditions and aesthetics.
Coxi: Do you think these days people can talk about a global design culture?
Ingela: No, I think it is a design culture which can be found in certain cities all across the world, but to talk about a global design culture is wrong.
Coxi: Your design objects are created by all of you, or the idea of one of you prevail?
Ingela: We work together as a collective, but since the three of us have worked together for more than 36 years we have become almost like one person. We discuss things but it is rare that we disagree; we know each other very well by now.
Coxi: All time favourite designer?
Ingela: Alvar Aalto. Because of his proportions and shapes, a simple playfulness. We often use his furniture when we create interiors or exhibitions.
Coxi: What is the piece of art that you have at home and love the most?
Ingela: It is a modern bright orange Buddha sculpture in rubber by a Swedish artist called Fredrik Wretman.
Coxi: Are you living your ideal life style through 10 Swedish Designers?
Ingela: Yes, I believe so. We are able to create and produce exactly the patterns and products that we dream of doing. Our concept is strong and we keep developing it all the time. It is also fun to see that the children of our first customers are now returning to buy things for their homes or children. All generations meet in 10 Swedish Designers shop. Sometimes I think that our products create a need in people, for color and artistic patterns.
Thank you so much Ingela!
Talking to Daisy de Villeneuve
September 12, 2006
Daisy de Villeneuve was born in 1975, the older daughter of a famous fashion model in the 60s and 70s, and of the man who was responsible by the rise of fashion icon Twiggy. Since she was a kid, she was a art passionated, and even won lots of art conpetitions. Today she became one of the most successfull fashionillustrators, not only in UK (where she is currently living), but world wide! Daisy has already done solo exhibitions, created designs for Nike, V&A Museum and Top Shop, and she has also launched two successfull books.
I went talking to her..
Coxi-When did you realised you wanted to be an artist?
Daisy-I was good at art from a very young age and when I got older it seemed like the right direction to go in.
Coxi-Where do you get inspiration to draw and illustrate?
Daisy-Books, films, traveling to new places & spending time with my friends all inspire me.
Coxi-Which is your graduation?
Daisy-I graduated with a Fine Art Degree from Parsons School of Design in 1999.
Coxi-How would you define your clothing style?
Daisy-Eclectic mix of old clothes and new. I like vibrant colors. I normally wear something that stands out like a bright stripy scarf or red rain coat. Whenever I meet someone new they always say that I look like my illustrations.
Coxi-Describe the main concept of your books?
Daisy-The main concept of my books are about the communication between people and how they interact with one another.
Coxi-What did you wanted to transmite or show to the readers/buyers?
Daisy-I wanted the written stories to be universal so everyone could relate or find familiar and funny. I wanted the drawings to look colourful and compliment the text.
Coxi-All time favorite artist…
Daisy-Peter Blake the Pop artist
Coxi-Have you been influenced in all your artistic route by any artistic movement?
Daisy– I like Surrealism, Dadaism, Art Deco, Pop Art and Outsider Art. With each of those art movements that I mentioned I like their take on the world how they see it.
Coxi-What gives the most satisfaction to create?
Daisy-I get satisfaction from the concept that I create being manifested into a product or book. I enjoy seeing it in shops and galleries. If I see someone in the street carrying one of my Topshop bags that’s always cool.
Coxi-How is your work environement?
Daisy-I don’t have a studio. I work from home at a desk and on it is my computer, scanner and notebooks. I have lots of folders spread out all over the floor in different colours for each project, sometimes if I’m really busy it can get out of control with a bunch of paper piled up and not knowing where anything is.
Coxi-Do you create fictional characters, or they represent someone in your life (or even yourself)?
Daisy-Most of the characters are semi real semi fictional, lots of the time I include myself.
Coxi-Are you living your ideal lifestyle?
Daisy-I like my lifestyle but it’s not ideal. I’d like to make some money, buy a house, settle down and I’m no where near any of those things.
Coxi-What haven’t you worked yet, but you really want to try someday?
Daisy-I’d like to do fabric design and get into Textiles. I’m about to start a printmaking class next month.
Coxi- Describe your self as a person…
Daisy-I am nice, kind, polite, loyal friend, good listener, funny, sarcastic, opinionated, have strong morals, shy, ambitious, laid back and worry too much.
Talking to Sixixis
September 4, 2006
, this is the main concept and feeling of Sixixis team. They are Tom (Six), Chris (Ix) and Charlie (Is), the artists that discovered a artistic way of making wood usefull, creative, in other words, “a piece of art“! They create furniture, sculptures and other products out of wood.
After university degrees, travellings throught the world, these three artists got together to create somethig new, that will revolutionize the world for sure.
I went talking to them…
Coxi-How did sixixis started?
Sixixis- Sixixis started when we were coming towards the end of our time at university. The three of us really wanted to carry on creating our own designs, so we decided that we should work together, using our three very different ways of thinking and styles to create something unique and special.
Coxi-Why the name “sixixis”?
Sixixis- The name comes from the three parts of sixixis and the three different minds working together. Six – English, ix – roman numerals for the number 9, is – sand script / Arabic for the number 15. 6+9=15.
Graphically it also works very well. We did not want our company to be represented by a word that already exists and has connotations attached to it. Sixixis is a word that does not exist and therefore has no connotations. It is also an object that is visually very appealing and in that sense it works well as a brand.
Coxi-How did you launched sixixis into the market?
Sixixis- We tried to get sixixis out there straight away as soon as we left college, by grouping all our work under the sixixis flag at shows such as 100% East, New Designers and the Milan Furniture Fair. We have been really lucky with how the press have taken to us and have pushed us more and more into the public eye.
Coxi-Where do you get inspiration to create?
Sixixis- From each other, from our imaginations and from our environment around us. Really we find inspiration in so much, it just a matter of trying to harness that inspiration into tangible object.
Coxi-Define design..
Sixixis- Creating good things.
Coxi-Are any unkown designers that you follow and admire their work?
Sixixis- Jethro Macey is another up and coming designer from Cornwall , he is doing some great fun stuff that you will instantly want to have in your house. Mark Irlam is a designer who works mainly with CAD to create his designs, but he is doing some interesting stuff. Mark Squire is a ceramicist who makes some beautiful ceramics, another great unknown from Cornwall .
Coxi-What is your all time favourite designer?
Tom- Thonet
Chris- Bruno Munari
Charlie- Hundertwasser
Coxi-Do you believe today we can talk about global design?
Sixixis- Yes if you believe in it.
Coxi-How is your work environment?
Sixixis- We really believe in trying to make our work environment as fun and inspiring as possible. Our workshop is in an old grammar school which we have converted to house all our steam bending equipment. We have two wood burning stoves. One for the sawdust from all the machinery which we use to power the steam chamber and another for scrap wood which heats the office and workshop in the winter months. Our workshop is only a mile from a beautiful surf beach, meaning that we always get down to the beach for a surf or swim when we can that is!
Coxi-Have you been influenced in all your artistic route by any artistic movement? If so, in what way?
Sixixis- Many movements have influenced us and all in different ways. One thing they do have in common is that they were all trying to break the mould and create something new and innovative. Movements like: the Arts and Crafts movement, Arte Povera, Memphis and Art Nouveau.
Coxi-Do you realize doing something avalible to young people that love design and arts but don’t have enough found to purchase your products? Something available to everyone?
Sixixis- Although a lot of our products are quite expensive, we started this business with the intention to make beautiful handmade things that everyone could afford and be part of. That is why sixixis is more of a brand or a way of thinking that anything else. We are starting to be able to create products that are in the more reasonable price range for the younger audience (such as the SpringShade and our newest product, the flower pots which start at £18).
We want to get people excited about wood and using it in new and exciting ways. It is not an old boring material, it is the most modern and contemporary of materials that has so much potential, and it grows on our doorstep!
Talking to Atelier LZC
August 30, 2006
The design studio Atelier LZC was setup in 2001 by 3 associates: Vanessa Lambert Barbara Zom and Michael Cailloux, all graduated from the Paris art and design school, École Duperré.
They create design objects, textile designs, illustration, hand made screen prints and fashion design. Atelier LZC‘s unique style is a blend of their individual creativity and personal savoir faire.
I went talking to them,
Coxi-How did you all met?
Atelier LZC- We were at University together studying a “ DSSA Textile” at Duperré. (See CV on the disk provided).
Coxi-How did Atelier LZC started?
A. LZC- The three of us entered and won a competition for Françoise Saget, a French linen company. We began by making a collection of Raku. Our range has since expanded.
Coxi-What is the main concept of your creations?
A. LZC- Nature, plants and animals is a big part of our collection
In September 2006 we are started with new collection
* Folklore : the designer have traveled in East Europe
* Geometric
* Children : as we sell more and more in children store. More over, we designed a book for Child (new collection) so we decided to have other children products
Coxi-How did you launched Atelier LZC into the market?
A. LZC-The first Raku collection that we exhibited at the “ Salon Maison et Objet” was a great success. It has help us to started to be a bit known.
Coxi-Do you rule by any tendency in all creative process?
A. LZC-We are trying to create our own tendency like our conception of Modern Folklore
Coxi-Describe a little bit of your creative process?
A. LZC- First, we choose a theme, then all of us work on it. We mix our work and each designer will change a part of the other designers work.
So all products are made by the 3 designers
Coxi-Define Art…
A. LZC- The colour, our three different styles, flat and textured designs, playing with scale (for example a fish flying over a flower), overlapping designs, working on different surfaces (china, paper, slate, metal, candles, fabric etc…).
Coxi-Are any unkown designers that you follow and admire their work?
A. LZC- Not really
Coxi-All time favorite designer/artist…
A. LZC-The Tsé-Tsé, Maison Georgette
Coxi-When you create something new, is there a opinion from one of you that prevails, or you decide all together trying to get to a agree?
A. LZC- Please see answer regarding the procedure.
Coxi-Do you rule by any tendency in all creative process?
A. LZC- not really
Coxi-Do you think Paris is an inspiration for your work? In what way?
A. LZC- No, we are inspired by foreign countries, Japan, Eastern Europe and by Nature animals or old prints too.
Coxi-From all the designs or products that you’ve created , what is the one that defines Atelier LZC?
A. LZC- The silk screen prints
Coxi- -This is a specific question to each one, from all pieces of art you have at one, what is the one that gives you more pleasure weaking up with it? Why?
A. LZC- Vanessa Lambert : the wallpaper
It is a very different scale
Barbara Zorn : The new note book. She like a notebooks and really wanted to make some LZC one
Michael Cailloux : the new postcards : He has loved working on the new Folklore designs
Coxi-Is there something you haven’t done that you wish to work with someday?
A. LZC-fabrics
– Children accesories like Teddy bears etc…
Talking to Lena Corwin
August 13, 2006
Patterns from Eley kishimoto
Lena Corwin started her design carreer some years ago, working for top fashion brands such as Calvin Klein, Marthiné + François Girbaud and Jill Stuart. Today she is a textile designer and she owns her own business of home accessories, wich I must say, is fabulous! She uses patterns of her own creation in pillows, plates, coloured neck ties, etc! She also writes daily in her blog! I went talking to her…
Coxi: First of all I must thank you for letting me interview you! It’s a huge pleasure for me to have you in Life*Fever.
Tell us about you!
Lena Corwin: I work from a studio in my home, designing textile patterns, pillows, plates, neck ties, illustrating, drawing, sewing, and trying to grow a business. I also like to explore cities, shop, bike ride, and garden.
Coxi: How do you define your art?
LC: It’s an exploration of whatever is exciting me at the time— which can be really basic, like colors and shapes that I’m drawn to. I go through phases of fascinations with certain design styles. Recently one has been children’s book illustrations of the 1960s, so I’ve explored what is attracting me to that style and re-interpreted it in my own way. Wow, that’s a tough question!
Coxi: How did you launch your brand into the market?
LC: I’m not very business minded, so I didn’t think much about press and public relations. I sent information to my favorite magazines, and have been thrilled to have my products featured in some of them. The internet has been the best way of “launching” my work. Blogs and websites have changed the way people find new designers. In the past a designer would have to be in a store or a magazine to reach a wide audience. The internet is an amazing tool for independent designers.
Coxi: What’s the best time of the day to create?
LC: The morning. I’m a morning person and I wake up with a ton of ideas.
Coxi: Is there a part of you in your creations?
LC: Yes, definitely. All my designs feel really personal. And they reflect my changing styles and moods.
Coxi: Do you inspirate your self in other designers work – historic or contemporany?
LC: Yes, both. I’m constantly inspired by other artists. There are so many I don’t know where to start. Some of my favorite artists/designers are: Henri Matisse, Frida Khalo, Josef Frank, Vera Neumann, Celia Birtwell, and Tsumori Chisato.
Coxi: What type of music helps you creating?
LC: Usually melodic music, like Elliot Smith and The Shins. But sometimes I need something with more energy. Right now I love the Raconteurs new album.
Coxi: Favorite designer?
LC: Eley Kishimoto, the textile/fashion design duo. Seeing their work is what made me fall in love with textiles and decide to pursue it as a career. They’re still my #1 favorite.
Coxi: What haven’t you worked yet, but you really whant to try it someday?
LC: I would really like to work with ceramics next.
Coxi: What’s your latest obsession?
LC: Geometric shapes. I think it has something to do with my Montessori education. We did a lot of drawing and crafts using geometric shapes. We were probably learning math, but since we were drawing I didn’t realize it. Lately I’ve been really drawn to textiles made from these basic shapes.
Coxi: Are you living your ideal lifestyle?
LC: Yes, I feel really lucky that I am. I really wish I were traveling more though.
Coxi: What do you love and hate about NYC?
LC: I love the people, the culture and diversity. And the energy and drive that New Yorker have. I love the fashion and creativity. I hate how exhausting it can be sometimes.
Coxi: What’s your favorite piece of art you have at home?
LC: I love this question, but it’s so hard to choose. My painting by Elizabeth Schuppe is my newest piece of art and I love it so much.
Coxi: What can’t you live without?
LC: Art. and my family.
interview: Maria Vettese
July 16, 2006PORT2PORT press…
I went talking with Maria Vettese from Port2Port and first of all I must say I discovered a very good person, very talented and full of personality and individuality! Maria the founder of port2port press, a letterpress printing business, that today is a success!
Interview:
Coxi: why “port2port”?
Maria: port2port is referring to my blog. i started it with a dear friend
Anika {known on the blog as “arc”} in april of 2005 and she lives in
one port town, i live in another. we live on separate coasts in the US
so that became … port2port. when i started the business it just
seemed natural to call it after the blog since my blogging is really
what started me even thinking about having a handmade craft business.
Coxi: How did you first become aware of and become interested in Art?
Maria: i became aware of art in my 2nd year in college. i did not go to
college thinking of art at all! i was planning to go into English and
writing but it just didn’t happen that way. i think in life you can do
a certain amount of planning but lots of things are just left up to
chance. my drifting into art classes certainly was.
Coxi: How would you describe your style of art?
Maria: elegant, simple, understated.
Coxi: Do you have any other job?
Maria: i do some graphic design as well for clients here in my area. i used to
do a lot more but since the business started taking off i have had less
time.
Coxi: Do you consider that being an artist is a difficult job to handle?
Maria: indeed! like any job you have your days where you just don’t know if
what you are contributing toward society is worth anything at all. i
think it’s a part of life but most certainly a part of being an artist.
self doubt is always there as you make your creations and it is in
pushing through that that you find your best moments!
Coxi: What would you be if not an artist?
Maria: i would own a flower shop that also carried little treasures or a café
where i could get to know the regulars and serve my baked goodies.
Coxi: Describe a typical job day?
Maria: i get up early and am to work in my studio room by 7am. i usually
linger on a walk in the afternoon and finish up by 5pm. some days i
just do computer work and work in preparing designs or working on other
kinds of backend things. other days i print for 3-5 hours of the day.
those are the days i love … my hands are dirty and i’m making art!
it’s so fun.
Coxi: What’s your bible?
Maria: i love Pure Style by Jane Cumberbatch. it is just beautiful and i look
at it all of the time to get my juices flowing.
Coxi: What do you do when you are stuck on a particular piece of work?
Maria: leave it or just do it.
i can’t overthink the work i do. i can only do so much planning and
then i just wing it. i find that that is the best way for me to work
and to not doubt myself. either leave the work there and come back; or
just power through.
Coxi: What can’t you live without?
Maria: dark chocolate!!!!
Coxi: What inspires you?
Maria: people. people and what they do, what they don’t do, what they make,
how they talk, what they say, how the photograph, what they eat ……
and why we are all here walking the earth bumping into one another and
making beautiful moments.
Coxi: What’s your favorite designer/artist?
Maria: there are so many who i am adoring. karin eriksson
{http://www.karineriksson.se/} is a huge inspiration to me. and i get
lots of inspiration from my blogging friends & flickr. i am wild about
being a part of the online community.
I must say thank you to Maria for her colaboration with Life Fever, and for her great answers wich will be inspiring for many people!
Photos: All from mav | port2port press´
LIFE*FEVER 
