La Jolie Femme De Marron

Bikini Event at Eco-tastic Clothes and Living!

2010-03-04T15:19:00.000-08:00

Join us tomorrow evening, Friday March 5th, for a "Spring Break Prep Party" at Eco-tastic Clothes and Living on Arlington Ave! Eco-tastic is the exclusive Columbus retailer for my Reclaimed Cotton bikini line. Each bikini is one-of-a-kind and will not be repeated. Eco-tastic will carry a small collection while supplies last, as the rest are going to New York, Chicago, and possibly Evergreen and Virginia Beach.

Our Spring Break Prep cocktail party will happen from 5-9 at Eco-tastic, 2066 Arlington Ave in UA! Maybe if we all get ready for the summer sun with our little bikinis it will banish the lingering winter chill away! ;)

See you there..

See this event on Facebook!

Why a cotton bikini?

2010-02-25T12:59:00.000-08:00

Lately, everyone has been asking me why I am focused solely of bikinis made of cotton, and what has inspired me to do so..

In the late 20’s through the late 50’s, most swimsuits were made of cotton. Cotton is a durable, breathable, natural, biodegradable, and a renewable resource. Most of the swimwear manufactured today is made of synthetic fibers, which may dry a little faster, but does much more harm to our planet. Cotton bikinis provide a simple, beautiful, back-to-basics solution to natural swimwear.

Reclaimed Cotton Bikinis are made with recycled cotton fabric. I take worn-in tee shirts made of cotton jersey and repurpose the fiber to create a string bikini form. Each bikini is handmade by the artist. Changes in color and design through the material used make each piece completely unique. This ensures the wearer that her swimwear is the only one of its kind. By using cotton, I am promoting the use of natural, earth-friendly materials. By using recycled material, I am helping to reduce the carbon footprints of a generation; turning one’s trash into another’s beautiful, wearable, eco-conscious art.

I love this planet. I believe in natural beauty. I think every girl should feel like an Earth goddess. That’s why. ;)

I was pretty proud of my recycling skills..

2010-02-24T09:49:00.000-08:00

Until New York fashion week..
This dress by designer Emma Kaywin is made completely out of expired condoms. Wow.

Two for Fall..

2010-02-08T21:59:00.000-08:00

It's hard to think about autumn already when it's not even spring, but my dance card is beginning to fill up. I have a show in my town here in UA and one in a beuatiful old estate in New York. Hooray.

I will be featured in two shows this fall..

Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival
Upper Arlington, Ohio; September 5, 2010

Crafts at Lyndhurst Estate in the Fall
Tarrytown, New York; September 10-12, 2010

A few talented Visual Artists on Etsy.. Part One

2010-02-05T16:21:00.000-08:00

I think it's very important to pay hommage to other visual artists out there that are making beautiful and interesting things, so I've decided to share some of my favorites with you from time to time. Also, it's snowy outside, and I need a break from my work, so here are a three of my favorites, for your enjoyment.

Awesome 80's Inspired Pouches..

http://www.etsy.com/shop/BraveMoonman

Beautiful Colorful Cloaks..

http://www.etsy.com/shop/greenoakcreations

Adorable Illustration..

http://www.etsy.com/shop/timssally

Ecotastic Clothing and Home!

2010-01-30T16:41:00.000-08:00

My first small collection of spats and minis are now available at Ecotastic Clothing and Home in Upper Arlington!

I am very excited to be included in the group of talented artists featured in this awesome, Earth-friendly store. You can find so many beautiful things in there~ reuseable shopping bags handwoven out of recycled plastic, organic cotton and bamboo yogawear, natural babygear.. It's a eco-fashionista's paradise.

I am currently working on a large collection of my Reclaimed Cotton Jersey Bikinis for our opening bikini reception, March 5th from 6-9, which will be an awesome prelude to the impending Spring Break 2010. More info about the reception to follow soon.

Shop Local, Handmade, and Green!
Ecotastic Clothing and Home
2066 Arlington Ave.
Upper Arlington, Ohio

PS.. I had a WONDERFUL 26th birthday on Friday, dinner and wine in the Short North with my husband and love and kisses from my boys.. what more can a girl ask for?

Welcome to New York.. the place that dreams are made of.. there's nothing you can't do..

2010-01-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

Five-ish years ago I fell in love with two things and I only got to keep one of them. The boy I loved became my husband but New York City, my other love, became "the one that got away...."

I spent the summer of 2006 working in the city, for a city-famous stylist Alexia Kondylis. I worked with a group of beautiful, talented people, saw great things, fell deeper into my romance with my "second love," the city. I was also in my third trimester of pregnancy with a little baby, Henry. At the end of a beautiful summer, I left my city behind and went home again to quaint Ohio, to raise my little darling in the safety of the suburbs.

In the years that have passed I've dreamed of my city love, missed it, cursed myself for letting it get away. I traded dreams of one kind for dreams of another. I have two beautiful little ones and no big city at all. My little ones are the loveliest things I could ever ask for, but I left a piece of my heart, and my dreams, back there. I promised myself at age 43 (the year Jonas graduates high school) I'll move back to the city and enjoy a vibrant second youth and breathe in the energy every day, but for now, here I am.

I've just signed myself up for another teasing taste of the city love, I can't help it, I'm an addict...

I've been accepted to two art shows there this summer;

The Spring Craft and Fine Art Fair at the Nassau County Art Museum (Long Island)
May 22-23, 2010

and The 34th Annual American Crafts Festival at the Lincoln Center for Preforming Arts (Manhattan, 64th and Columbus Ave.)
June 19-20, 2010

So I'll travel there, see the beautiful things, drink in the city aura I long for and miss, dream of staying there forever, and, for now, come home fulfilled....

For more info..
http://www.craftsatlincoln.org/index.html

She wore an Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Recycled Tee-Shirt Bikini..

2010-01-13T12:26:00.000-08:00

So.. mid January is the time, every winter, when I start dreaming of spring.. and (gasp!) summer sunshine.

Once the holiday madness is over and everyone is breathing their last sigh of relief for having survived it another year, we wake up and think.. "Are there SERIOUSLY 3 or 4 more months of winter time to go?!!?" Ug.

Short of moving to Guadeloupe, there isn't much we can do about the cold, but bundle up, and dream of summertime..

I've been dreaming, and sketching.. and dreaming.. I have come up with an awesome mini collection of teeny bikinis for Summer 2010.

I'm recycling old tee-shirts and using the material to made string bikinis. I've come up with 4 main designs, but as always, every bikini is a bit different in the details.. colors, vintage buttons, lace. I'm designing delicate little hand sewn appliques to adorn them.

What could be better than a pretty little bikini that's eco friendly and as comfy to wear as your favorite worn-it tee shirt? I can't think of anything more awesome. Butterfly kisses maybe, but that's about it. ;)

Samples of the designs will be photographed February 2nd and the bikinis will be available in my online boutique in Mid-February. They will also be available in a few select boutiques. I'll keep you updated. ;)

A sneak peek at one of my bikini designs..

Etsy Team Columbus!

2010-01-08T07:23:00.001-08:00

I have just been inducted into Etsy Team Columbus! Yay!
This is a really wonderful group of artists and designers. Check out their awesome blog here:
Etsy Team C-BUS!!

Also, I had a fantastic photo shoot yesterday with some really talented models!! I am already on to the next big thing in my line.. Recycled Tee Bikinis! I was up until 3am last night sketching. I won't be able to rest until the first samples are complete!

Tiny Little Spats! :)

2009-12-21T12:27:00.000-08:00

I have finished my first small collection of spats for little ladies! They are so stinking cute, and teeny tiny. I started out with 2T-4T.

I don't have daughters, so my little 3 year old son Henry modeled them for me.

He thought is was a fun little game and asked "Mommy, can I have socks with soccer balls?" Tee-hee..

Little Ladies Spats by La Jolie Femme de Marron

La Jolie Femme de Marron in Bridgewater Art Gallery, on the east coast!

2009-12-09T19:59:00.000-08:00

Beginning next week, La Jolie Femme de Marron Spats will be available at Bridgewater Art Gallery in Bridgewater, MA!

If you live south of Boston, go check them out! :)

Here comes Handmade/Feminist Santa Clause..

2009-12-03T06:51:00.000-08:00

When you were a kid, did you ever want to know exactly how the elves pulled off making the plastic Barbie dreamhouse EXACTLY like the one you saw at Toys R Us? The workshop at the North Pole must have one hell of an injection moulding system.

My husband and I decided this year to skip the ridiculous commercialism and buy all handmade and eco-friendly gifts for our two sons.

Our 6 month old really just wants things to chew on an does not care in the slightest what it is, as long as whatever object he has chosen to bite temporarily relieves the teeth that are trying to pop into his mouth.

We found some awesome teethers, hand crocheted from organic cotton and carved from maple wood. No more yucky plastic stuff that will be thrown in the landfill in 6 months when he (hopefully) gets out of the biting stage. Yay!

My 3 year old had one request; a kitchen. He wants a little kitchen and play food so that he can pretend to cook. Perhaps this is a reflect of the reality that his father always has to make dinner because I hate cooking with a passion and refuse to do it. His reality is that the father figure in the household is the one that does the cooking. Yay for little feminist boys! ;) We found him one made of reclaimed Ash wood and entirely handmade by a very sweet artist.

I bought him all handmade plush felt food to go inside. The commercialized plastic food made by Fisher Price is probably the biggest tease in the world to the poor scavenger animals traipsing around the landfill looking for a bite to eat.

We also found Henry some great crocheted hand puppets, so he can tell his little brother stories.

And a cape with a lightning bolt and a big H on the back since he already spends half his time running around the house doing acrobatics like a superhero.

Henry has a Cabbage Patch we got him when we found out we were having another baby. He used to practice being a big brother with it and even called it baby Jonas. It's getting pretty worn now because for a while he carried it around everywhere and then decided to give it a tattoo on it's forehead with his Crayolas.

So the last present from Santa this year is a handmade babydoll for each of my boys. I think one of the most important thing you can teach little boys is how to have loving, nurturing relationships. This woman makes the most gorgeous little stuffed friends and we were able to get the boys dolls that matched their featured. Jonas's doll is about 3/4 his size. Hehe.. so stinking cute.

Have yourself a handmade Christmas. Screw the corporate world with their Made in China leaded plastic craziness. How many toys does one kid need anyway? Would you rather buy your kid a few nice, sturdy, old-fashioned things instead of overloading their senses with a roomful of cheaply made crap? Chances are they are going to be sick of that crap in 2 years or less and then it'll end up in the Goodwill box (hopefully) or worse, in a landfill.

Buy handmade! It rocks.

Here are links to the shops of the artists I bought my Christmas stuff from:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/littlesaplingtoys
http://www.etsy.com/shop/palumba
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kiddycouture
http://www.etsy.com/shop/laurelszoo
http://www.etsy.com/shop/EYMM
http://www.etsy.com/shop/locoMOmomma

La Jolie Femme de Marron in a Chicago area Boutique!

2009-11-09T05:42:00.000-08:00

Hooray! La Jolie Femme de Marron will be in The World According To.. Boutique in the Chicago area beginning in December! Go check them out if you are in the area, it's a really hip little spot!
With so many holiday sales and orders ramping up, I barely have time to post!

Sparkly little things..

2009-10-13T12:22:00.000-07:00

The first apartment my husband and I moved into was in the Short North, the little Arts District of Columbus, Ohio. I was still an art student, and I used to love strolling up and down High Street, peeking in the galleries and cute little shops.

I was always drawn into this wonderful beading store called Byzantium, by the wall of sparkly seed beads and Japanese Delicas visible through the window. I loved to stare at the glittering tubes in all colors of the rainbow covering the wall. Occassionally, I would bring a few tubes home and store them in my secret stash of pretty art stuff.

The only problem with this is that I hate to string beads. I tried it for a little while, but it just wasn't aggressive enough for me. I didn't have enough patience for it. So, years later, I still have a box full of sparkly beads. A few weeks ago I pulled them out and stared at them again, thinking about what alternate uses I could find for them.

In my recent experiments with metal clay I have a small collection of fine silver charms and shapes that I sculpted and fired by hand. I've been trying to find the perfect way to finish them. So I decided to bring these two little groups together; setting the sparkly Delicas in Fine Silver.

It was super difficult to work on such tiny surfaces; I wanted to use the silver like a canvas and "paint" with the Delicas, setting them with transparent colors or clear epoxy. After attaching pins to the back so that they became brooches, I built tiny little mounds out of cork clay to help me grip onto the tiny charms, sticking the pin side into the clay mound.

I painted the tiny little pins in shiny, sparkly colors. It took hours and by the time I was done my vision was blurry and I'm pretty sure I was looking a little cross-eyed, but I finished them! In the end most of the pins remind my of a post-post modern version of enameling work; classy but funky and whimsical at the same time. I'll be putting a few in my shop over the next couple of days. Check them out! :)

Oh Mighty Felt, How I Adore You....

2009-10-08T11:12:00.000-07:00

I love felting for so many reasons. The repetition in the felting process is so wonderfully calming and the results are beautiful.
<- Natty had a little lamb.. :)

Felting is the oldest form of fabric known to humankind. Felt textile artifacts have been discovered dating all the way back to 6,500 BC, around the same time that pottery emerged. I guess Stone Age cavepeople needed a creative outlet as well.

Felt is made my sheering animal fibers like alpaca and lambswool. The fibers are brushed free of vegetable matter (bits of food the animals ate and lived in) and washed thoroughly until it's squeaky clean, soft, and gorgeous.
Roving after it has been brushed, cleaned, and hand dyed. ->

Thin layers of this fiber are sandwiched together little by little, until the desired thickness is achieved. Then, hot soapy water and friction is used until the fibers are twisted and entangled and form a thick mat and, eventually, a sturdy fabric. When I felt things I always rub vitamin E and lavender oil in the friction process so the fiber comes out soft and smelling fantastic.
<- Layers of roving arranged in thin strips for felting.

You can add little details by needle felting. Animal fibers are applied to the surface in thin layers and poked repeatedly from all angles with barbed needles to fuse the fibers together.
Needle felted rainbow colors on a pair of spats I made. :) ->

Felting has re-emerged on the scene in the last couple of years and for good reason. It's an eco-friendly art form, super sturdy, naturally stain-resistant, and useful to make so many things. The only downside is that if you accidentally through it in the washer and dryer, you'll shrink it. Special things require a little special care. :)
<- A felted yurt in Edinburg.

So who, really, is La Jolie Femme de Marron?

2009-10-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

Who is La Jolie Femme de Marron?
<-Me, Natalee. The grown up.

Well, to begin, I'm a mostly liberal, twenty-something, artist-designer-mother-writer-fashionista-historybuff-teacher-talker-listener-lover of people who seeks to create beauty in the world. I started out in a small town. A horrible one. It was located in the middle of nowhere and ripe with small-minded, judgmental meanie heads who wanted nothing more than to stamp anyone who stood out down like the still lit end of their discarded Marlborough cigarettes. (Yuck!) Not everyone in this town was awful. I had a few wonderful friends whom I cherished and keep memories of deep within my heart. But, unforuntately for a square peg like me, the majority of the population were meanie heads.

I'm the 2nd one from the right.->

I had all the usual small-town experiences; cheerleading for the football team, spending summers camped out by a creek, falling in love for the first time with the catcher of the baseball team. By the time I had reached the ripe out age of 18, however, I was more than ready for my escape.

I was an artist, and enamored with the fashion world I knew so little about. My senior year of high school, I spent the entire month of February drawing. I drew trees, fashion models, fruit, people I saw, myself. I sent these drawings away to an art school. They wrote back with a big scholarship certificate attached. I had been set free.

I had three majors in college. I bounced around a lot. It was hard to pick one focus when I loved everything I tried. I went in for fashion, and then switched to fine arts, and eventually graduated in interior design.
<- A design drawing from college.

The summer before my senior year in college, gave birth to my first son, Henry. I worked all summer in Manhattan for fashion and interior stylist Alexia Kondylis (Google her, she's fascinating) and gave birth to my little boy 3 days after the internship ended. I had found two true loves in one summer; high end design and Henry. Henry->

After college, I worked for a couple of firms. I worked in office and restaurant design at Design Collective Inc, I worked in prototype design and branding at WD Partners, I even spent a short amount of time space planning for Victorias Secret. Although all of these jobs were fun, nothing really fit. My need to love and make a difference was not being fufilled. My well of creativity had barely been tapped.

<- A hand felted scarflette.
I decided to switch my course and spent a brief amount of time working in business for a fabric company, Maharam. Unexpectedly, from one of thier collaborators, I discovered a medium that both fascinated an contented me. Felting. A 5,000 year old art form, felting happens when water and friction is applied to animal fiber, like wool. Not only are the end results beautiful, but the repetitive process itself is so calming and beautiful. I was hooked.

Around this time, I quit working for Maharam to stay home with my son and teach Kinship children. I was hooked on that too. Teaching art to these kids was fufilling in a way I can only begin to describe. Each time thier faces lit up as they explained thier creative thought processes, and showed my thier finished masterpieces, a piece of my heart lit up too.
<- The Kinship kids painting.

So I've decided to make my life work for me instead of vice versa. I am staying home with my children (I'm now also the proud mother of another rowdy/lovely little boy, Jonas.) whilest I design and handmake a line of ladies accessories, La Jolie Femme de Marron. I'm preparing to go to grad school to achieve my masters in Art Education, and growing my handmade brand. It's a wonderful life. Jonas->

I always focus on making things that help a girl stand out from the crowd. Be a mix of pretty and funky and free. I have come to relish in my unabashed distinctness. Who wants to be easily forgotten anyway? I'd rather be almost anything but boring.
<- A pair of hand felted spats.

This blog is my new method of sharing ideas, thoughts, and inspiration with you. I hope you enjoy it.