New Happenings Spring Summer 2012

Hello. I love SPRING here in Maine so much it hurts. My gardens are all almost all up and all the green has given everything new life. We spent a few weeks hiring folks to take down old fallen trees--opening up the wooded acre on the right side of our house. (right outside my studio) I will post these. So pretty now that the leaves are out! Takes forever for SPRING to hit Maine but it's insanely peaceful here with all the ferns and trees, lots of froggies in the pond for the kiddos to play with--LOTS of MUD and always enough design work that keeps things humming around here. And some newest FLETT news is that I fell in love with baby bunnies from a local farm stand, and well we ended up with two lop ears mixes that the girls are holding as I write this early Sat morning:) (and side note is that I was ALONE--so yes folks, just says I am a sucker for all things cute and soft and as my mother put it, "a gluten for punishment AKA: Going to be hell maintaining life here as normal when the girls are obsessively holding and loving these two cuties). But all is well so far and Mas brought home the BIGGEST BUNNY CAGE in the planet from a FARM that he is renovating. (a million dollar renovation so not your typical farm ha ha) But killer bunny cage that just needed a little love. These bunnies are going to be PIMPED OUT! )

A few new projects posted. BLANCHE + MIMI's new card and sign--killer home shop in OLD PORT PORTLAND MAINE, a fun wedding package that is all MAINE inspired and a NEW WEBSITE screen shot that is coming out SOON that will be a kick ass shopping site--finally! (been working on designing a new site for almost a year now). I never seem to have the time to really button things up--but the serge of orders in wholesale and just pillow sales in general have made me much more of a believer that I need a site that people can actually see what I do as well as see the massive amount of options we have in textile pillow prints. Frankly I have such a obsession with design--and seem to find inspiration everywhere. Starting to say that my work is "LIFE INSPIRED" because it is this amazing life that inspires me everyday. 

Heading to HIGH POINT NC next Saturday. Exactly one week from today to launch my most exciting news--a new bold and graphic line of WOVEN OUTDOOR FABRICS that has all the erin flett color you can ask for (and smart neutrals to balance them out) + some really simple, imperfect graphic prints that I am so in love with. Attached is a poster that I put together for the lobby of the trade show. Hard to get your head around a huge pic of yourself--Winky Lewis captured this shot in my studio a few months ago. This image will also be in OPRAH in JULY--which is another kick in the pants that I needed to get my new website done! (Mas will be coming with me for this 5 day adventure and I could not be happier). I could not imagine NOT sharing this moment with him. Sadly, the two little ones will be here with my lovely mom and Mimi (maslen's mom). So thankful for them but sad that they will not be with us. (I can just see Ary talking about froggies and bunnies and worms to all who would listen and Breshia being bored out of her mind since she is all of 8 with so much to do ha ha.

Also attached is some pics from a photoshoot for Better Homes & Gardens--I sent Stacy Kunstel (bad ass stylist) some BOLD GEOS in gray and brown as well as my NEW ROUNDS that are selling like hot cakes:) One my stitchers mentioned they were delicious and MADHATTER worthy...I have to find her direct quote. Made me smile. 

Some new work--business card design for Karla Wheaton who I love..and a wedding package that was super fun to do for a mock wedding put together by GENEVE HOFFMAN.

So a busy few months here--OH and before I close, JUNE 1st a new HOME SHOP will open  on COMMERCIAL street along the waterfront. ANNIEBELLS. These women are a crew of chicks with great taste, amazing vision and okay well--completely amazing at putting SERIOUS super LUX home stuff together and making it look spectacular! 

If you remember the POP store last holiday season, well they rented this space and did the RE-DO of the century! You will not even recognize this amazing space with brick arches, amazing high end furnishings, custom home items and YES I am so so excited to say, ERIN FLETT OATMEAL PILLOWS AND some new LARGE ROUNDS that are going to be in a custom NAVY ink ON WHITE BARK CLOTH. The rounds are going to be roughly 16" instead of the 12". We are in the process of printing them today actually. BEYOND excited to show you---and they will have a HUGE erin flett LARGE WALL print hung in the window! BEYOND excited about this one folks! (pictures--lots of them to follow!) YAY! 

Have a great LONG weekend and please be a reflection of love and light. It will come back to you. I promise. e

Geneve Hoffman Mock Wedding Package

Blanche + Mimi Business Card and Sign

NEW ERIN FLETT.com WEBSITE HOME PAGE
coming SOON! e

Erin Flett / ALFRESCO FUNCTION FABRICS Launch 2012
Outdoor WOVEN fabrics 

BOLD GEOS have a party in the HAMPTONS. BHG shoot

New Work //Erin Flett for Alfresco Fabrics

Today has been a great day. 


Finishing up major PORTLAND, MAINE website and ID and Visitors Guide Magazine---yes I am so so relieved and very happy with the final printed mag. It's been so much work obviously but very excited about the completed process. I hope to give better images of the final pieces but here is a shot below of me and the GIANT LOGO/TAG. It was such a surprise to come in for a meeting and see this hanging--the largest logo I have designed blown up I think--nuts. 


Then I came home and found a small snippet of fabric samples from Todd at ALFRESCO. They asked me weave 10 of my prints for their outdoor/indoor line. Everything is woven in the US and the quality is amazing...I am so so excited--heading off to NC next week to review all patterns and colors. I have never had the opportunity to have my prints WOVEN..which is so different then silk screening obviously..so it has been so fun doing the final repeats and sending them off to the mill in NC--


Okay, then to top it off I have been working with Hilary owner of  BLANCHE and MIMI (killer home decorating shop in Portland, Maine) on a fresh new brand identity. She LOVED her original design but wanted to freshen it up a bit and do something different that better represented her new direction that she is heading into as far as look and feel of her store. (Her shop is named after her grandmothers). The process took a bit to flush out---but I love her so much it hurts. She has an amazing eye and just about drove me crazy but in a good design way. Good clients push you to do your best work--they just do and I feel this is such a awesome collaboration. (and of course even better when the person is a dear friend). 


So that is it. One perfect design day. See attached fun images of my quick little snap shots straight from the box--


Lots of work to show very soon--I feel like I have completed more logos, business cards, websites and collateral in the past few months then maybe ever in all my years as a freelancer. I am ready to settle down a bit and get ready for my new website that will launch as soon as I finish it--ha ha. So hard to focus on your own stuff sometimes but I am really happy the way it has come together---and I really don't think I will ever get tired of working with amazing kick ass people doing graphic design work--I can't seem to get enough of it!


best, e

e

31 HOME TEXTILE magazine INTERVIEW // Shanghai China

Last month I was asked by 31 HOME TEXTILE magazine to describe my design process a bit and to feature my work. The images are from my shoot with WINKY LEWIS last year along with a little session the other week that I did once I had a big wholesale order complete that was going to LOTUS BLUE in San Francisco. I thought I would take advantage of having some new colors and prints that were just finished. 

Just for fun I have attached the questions they asked and my answers. I have no idea what was published since it is in Chinese but this is what I said:

Enjoy.

FULL INTERVIEW:

I am a graphic designer that has evolved into surface textile design

>> 2. Please make a brief description of your designing style.

I love to draw and collect found designs in nature, old vintage found elements, and create collages and unique compositions and patterns

3.your growing background, the past experience and your hobby

I hand screen onto fabrics in my Maine Studio and create products out of the prints such as pillows and bags. My life is to be a mother, a wife and a designer---I am obsessed with design and composition and love being a graphic designer, textile designer and focus on all of this everyday. All my free time goes to raising my children and fine tuning my craft.

4. To become a really good designer, what qualities and talents can be need in your 

opinion?

All you need is a strong sense of self and know if you love what you do you will succeed. 

5. What features of your design work?

hand drawn, imperfect perfectness.

What is the source of your design inspiration? 

life. old vintage finds. my children. the maine woods outside my studio. my gardens. 

6.Who is your appreciated designers? Why is he or she?

I love Vera Neumann. She had vision and an amazing depth and endless amount of inspiration and body of work

7. What do you think about the function of color in your work?

color is life and that is what drives my designs---

8. Please give some suggestions to young people who is Engaged in the industry in 

china.

Listen to yourself and work hard---stay focused on what you want to achieve. Never under estimate the beauty and strength of perseverance.

Maine Home & Design

Hello all...just wanted to share a little feature from MAINE HOME + DESIGN  I had an idea to dig through all the amazingness on ETSY and find some cool pieces to throw into the mix in MH&D magazine. I pitched it to Susan and Rebecca and they loved the idea so yes--I searched and searched, flipped through thousands of images and found a lot of amazing things! I wanted to show case the eclectic vintage vibe that I am so in love with these days and illustrate how easy it is to find cool vintage pieces at great prices online--especially ETSY. 


So here is what we ended up with (images below). I was excited to work in a few Erin Flett pillows as well that went with this orange eclecticness...I love the new rounds--might be my favorite thing I have designed ever....


More soon on new pillow shapes and hopefully more great press! 


Thank you Maine Home & Design Magazine...I do love everyone at Maine Mag and MH&D--they are passionate people and believe in Maine and all the amazing people doing insanely wonderful things here. This is why this publication continues to thrive--both of them.  Here is what the blurp said in the little snippet under the ETSY FINDS. Enjoy.


BLURP FROM MAG:
Interior design in my mind is an eclectic journey. A process of finding things that are useful, mindful, and feel good. A collection that grows with you. I love a lot of different styles—antiques, new things, midcentury modern stuff, and everything in between. I am drawn to things that have a story or a past life—things with depth, things that have a soul. This collection is about life, color, and combinations that are cozy and rich with texture. The main pieces feel like I could live with them for a long time. I like to buy some staple items that are going to last, then switch out smaller items like pillows and accessories when I’m ready for a change. I found a lot of what you see here on Etsy, where everything is either handmade or vintage. Like most designers, I love the hunt, and finding pieces that get woven into your home’s tapestry is a fulfilling process. The inspiration for this living space comes from collecting found items and coming up with an eclectic mix. A space for watching TV, hanging out, lounging, reading a book, and a place infused with life and heart. For me, it’s not about matching everything together but creating an organic mixture of new and old, found and repurposed, things that speak to you personally. I think when you buy mindfully and slowly over time it makes for a more authentic space that ultimately feels peaceful. Everything can be new again if we can see past the imperfections—a great metaphor for life, really.

DESIGN*SPONGE -SUPER HUGE THANK YOU

One of my all time favorite blogs posted this yesterday. Speechless. All time record hits to my etsy. So so thankful to them!!! e


new pillows from erin flett | Design*Sponge

2012 15" Pillows!

Happy New Year! So excited about this year..going to be amazing. Kiddos are doing well and thriving and I am well, getting a good list of things going that I want to do better around here. I was really busy last few months and worked way too much and well, I became very sick. Coughing and a cold should not last for two months but seriously what was going on...not enough sleep and too many creative projects all at once..(I never thought I could run out of steam) but my body could not keep up. So I promised myself I will slow down a bit, go to yoga and do my gym time more consistently and yes the list goes on..so this year is about balance, kids having enough socks and underwear clean and me spending a ton of time designing and printing the things I love.

I finally had some SUN around here and did a mimi shoot in my bedroom--(has amazing light). So just a quick overview of the different prints that we just finished printing and stitching! You will notice TWO different fabrics. ONE being my standard lovely natural BARKCLOTH that I have been using since the start of my little business and NOW I am using a OATMEAL RECYCLED POLY Twill COTTON that is recycled soda bottles, recycled poly and cotton. ALL woven in the USA just like our original bark cloth. It's super soft, nice heavy weight and has a canvas backing that matches for the back slip covers. We are using a natural darker muslin for the hand screened tag on these. I looked for over a year for a darker USA woven fabric that we could add to the line. I finally found it..I hope you love it as much as I do. Basically for me it warms the pillows up a bit for FALL OR WINTER and or feels more organic or natural. Some people mentioned to me that they felt the natural bark cloth felt seasonal...and I struggled with wanting a ground that was a tad more earthy. SO this for me is the best of both.

AND don't forget to notice our new LETTER PRESSED hang tags. They are super lovely, Mark at Dunstan Press here in Maine did them on chip board just like my cards. IN BLACK of course. I love the utilitarian look and feel of the chip board..and ironically it totally matches the new oatmeal ground.

Thank you for all the support, letters and great feedback on ETSY. I hope you like the new shots...Cheers! e