Sunday, March 27, 2011

NEW WORK / HAPPENINGS!

I have been working madly at some new prints for SAVANNAH TAILS. After working on the Chinese Outdoor textile prints a few weeks ago, it was the first time I really focused on drawing. So nice to get into this mode. I work a lot with graphic design clients so I had a nice little break. It seems like the perfect storm of graphic clients and surface design clients. Both some how balance me out and make me very happy. 


I was also contacted this week by ETSY Press Request - rom123 (Norway) Trender i 2011 - Etnisk chic og dyrisk natur - Rom123 - klikk.no I hope they end up using the images I sent them. They loved the Daisy Thorn pillow + the Bunny Boo pillow. They also like the framed prints...The designer told me she would be sending me a magazine so that will be super wonderful! Love love this mag--so stay tooned for that!




I have hired a few reps finally for the textile line. I have been holding out but I feel it's time since I am on the phone so much--(which I love) and looking to find the perfect shop to have the pillows. A great personal quest. But because I am only one person I have to realize that in order to get my work out there, I may need help ha ha. I am a bit of a control freak and love to connect with shop owners, interior designers--anyone who really gets design and of course anyone who is drawn to textural bliss of bark cloth and funky graphics. 


RECENT VINTAGE FIND: I also found a vintage round + square pillow that must of gone on some mid century little number. I obviously fell in love so I am having my stitcher comp one up for me. I have this round illustration that is similar to my square illustration that will be a perfect background to some funky bold pillows that are small and sweet--that will balance the line out I think--I want to have a smaller, more economical mod pillow but with all the extra detailing of the cording and such, they seem to be a bit time consuming. BUT I am in love with the shape and will show you what I come up with. 


I am also been stalling on the yardage for the moment but will hop back on the Stacked Deco print for Carol Bass. The custom screens that are HUGE are still not here. They will be 62"x 32". I am so so excited to get going on this first print-- Alfred's Upholstery & Lamp; Company - Custom built furniture and upholstering is designing the chair that will be featured in this new office space here in Maine...I will have more details on the event. I love that this will be my first upholstery piece that will be done in my fabric with the bark cloth. I am also hooking up eventually with CHAIRLOOM in New York. Molly is amazing and hopefully as soon as I am done with some serious yardage she will be putting it on something perfect that she finds..(she puts amazing hand screened fabrics on vintage pieces that she finds all over!).


A nice shout out to one sydney road - Home A nice SPRING order is coming as of yesterday! Piper Toth has been a huge Erin Flett friend and I just adore her shop! Please check out her online shop and please tell her I said hello!


Just for fun I wanted to show you some posters I did for the up and coming HOME DESIGN MID COAST SHOW  that Maine Home & Design Magazine is putting on. I did all the branding for this event a few months ago and just opened MH&D Mag this month and found it on the first page. Very cool. If you don't know about this amazing Maine Mag--please check it out! These are still comp versions. (logos at the bottom are FPO's). But you get the idea. Or better yet, check it out in PRINT for real.


Thanks for stopping by--hopefully next post I will have awesome yardage photos, a ton of new wholesale accounts and new work to show! e














Thursday, March 3, 2011

Textile Designers: 10 Women to Watch






























I had to post this and thank Apartment Therapy's Marketplace + Sarah Coffey for selecting me: Textile Designers: 10 Women to Watch. I am shocked and honored and can't believe I am on the same page as these other amazing women! Thank you thank you so so much! Please click the link above and check out these other designers that are changing the textile world.


I showed Breshia (my 6 year old) this little post and tried to explain the significance to her...explaining that now more then ever this dream of mine is coming around to something that could possible change our lives forever--that just maybe my little pillows have a voice. I know very dramatic---but everyone that makes anything-no matter what it is, has a distinct opportunity to say SOMETHING--could be anything. I want my prints to make people smile and feel connected...every imperfection and drawn element--collaged together...I want them to feel relevant and bring something in a home that needs to be there--something that was missing before?


Anyway, enough ramblings..gotta get B ready for school--just a serious heart felt thank you for selecting me..it just pushes me to continue what I have been dreaming up for so long--just gives more solid ground and confirmation that I am not totally out of my mind! 


Thank you so much. e



Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Goodbye February-Hello March

Hello-finally able to take a breath and just catch up--finally caught up--well sorta. Ready for March and all the things I have been meaning to get done. My mind races trying to gather all the things that I want to work on and all the million things that I am inspired by each day. The snow continues to fall here--it's relentless, but somehow it is a time of reflection and solitude. I cherish my time alone in my studio as well as time spent reading books with my kiddos, helping with homework and talking shop with Mas. I am finding the simplest things so spectacular and appreciating having this slight lull.

Just finished a few projects..the Chinese textile prints for the outdoor + interior industry here in the US are just completed--it was amazing amazing amazing and so so excited to continue. I pray that they sell so I can keep going. It has a been a dream/goal of mine to do fabric--yardage and the past few years I have done a fair share and can honestly say it is something that I feel is apart of me in way that just can't be described. Designing patterns that go into homes becomes so significant to me since the life span is more then 30 seconds and all the hard work going into a design is appreciated on a totally different level. I think that is what makes it so gratifying. Plus drawing all day is pretty much all I want to do these days--the other few projects I have completed is the new ID for Canal 5 Studio or C5S, a new architecture firm here in Portland Maine. A great amazing group of people--hoping to do some custom interior stuff--we talked about doing some funky pillows to go into the new space--in a lounge conference area--which sounds completely sweet so hopefully that will come around. Also finished with the MUSTARD HOUSE web design which will launch this SPRING. I am totally in love with it. On another note--AU, the killer bag company that I have done two custom prints for, is coming out with a third floral print this SPRING in some kick ass colors. I am going to get well--not sure but I love the lemon yellow, olive + and the blue is pretty amazing---as soon as we get some prototypes of the new print + colors I will post. 

The newest up and coming things are prints for the NASHVILLE TAILS I spoke of last time--going to start really digging in this week. I have done tons of research and now ready to work out my first sketch round. Think MOD and MODERN with a hand drawn eclectic something---I love Dimple, one of the owners...so far have had some amazing conversations with her. I have some other graphic design kicking around but always hoping for new cool projects to round out all the other stuff...

And finally working on some custom yardage projects for local interior designers and finally on top of doing STACKED DECO--and I think Mas and I are going to try doing a few shower curtain prototypes. I have been wanting to do them for awhile..so not in love with what I have found out there--I have two new stitchers lined up which has been great and helpful to keep up with mad orders...It's a art that I just admire---wish I could sew. I see such craftsmanship and skill with my moms things, and hiring others is amazing. I love creating things to sell and so so fun working with talented people. I will post on them soon--they deserve more then a little mention...

Also been selling wholesale to a bunch of new shops and getting reorders from existing shops getting ready for Spring. I hope to focus on this a lot more in the coming weeks. I love connecting with shop owners and just plain talking pillows---ha ha. I know, how much can one talk about that but honestly I am still obsessed with them and hope to let go of this first line of prints and launch all the new stuff I have done...I may just start doing designs that are fresh in the middle of seasons. I get bored so fast and love the idea of a limited edition of some prints just to see how they do. Adding the framed prints, poster prints has been great and hope to add things that make sense in the future---the girls are still dreaming up new kiddo prints--almost daily these days! I have a list I am sure we will never print but who knows---

I am so so thrilled to be written up by Apartment Therapy last week. One of my all time favorite sites for cool shops all over and just an amazing fabulous resource for all things homeness. You can read the little blurp here: Patterned Throw Pillows by Erin Flett Designer Profile | Apartment Therapy New York

So thankful they did not toss my first constant contact email blast and wrote about me. So amazing--I can't tell you how many pubs contacted me. I was amazed...I honestly believe that this internet thing has changed the game in launching your own stuff. It has changed the way things get out into the world. We all have a little ADD since we get what we want in a flash and move on. That is the deal--you need to be more then a flash and keep people wanting more...keeping things fresh and current and constantly challenging yourself--but honestly. Getting up and doing what you do best and throwing it out--even if it's just to get it out of your head--life is seriously about taking these insane leaps and just trusting that where ever you land is where you need to be at that very moment.

I have met some amazing people lately, connecting with souls that are striving and doing what they love. I do believe we are who we surround ourselves with. I hope to continue to meet others who demand life to be what it needs to be and keep down this path. All I want is to keep working and spend time with my family and friends. Life is just about that simple these days for me. 

Taking it all in, one day at a time. Loving every minute of the Flett madness. e