You all know Helen for her amazing patterns. Well she’s huge with teen and tween and twenty-something. Here’s a book cover she did with fantastic girls and type. Would you buy this book? I would.

This is our favorite bead store around. Precisely because it’s a giant mess in which one must rummage.
It’s called, “Things We Love” and it’s at 1339 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington. The owner speaks several languages and travels all over the world to get beads and things for her store. She pulls no punches when you ask her a question.
So Julia and I played hooky from work recently and dropped in. I was looking for any ring-shaped things and she suggested I sit on the floor and dump out the tub, which, of course, I did. It was like preschool for me. I was in my own private bead & chachka heaven.

The amazing blue feathered edge, the imagery, the limited palette. It’s all just too much greatness. Hope you enjoy it. BTW, there’s an indent in the plate for where the cup goes. I got this some years ago at a junk shop.

I just love Mike’s work. We’re having such fun getting him work in editorial, which is relatively new territory for him. He’s delivering beautifully. The cover story is about digital printing and specializations that will allow newspapers to print variations throughout one print run. It’s an exciting development in printing, actually, and Mike illustrates it beautifully.

I am so excited to share our visit with Chrysale Parrot (that’s her name), owner of L’Atelier, whom we met on Martha’s Vineyard very recently. She makes and sells dresses from her space above a shop in Vineyard Haven.

L’Atelier
Chrysal Parrot
Fine Dressmaking and Design

774-521-8058
34 Main St, Vineyard Haven
down the alley, above Che’s Lounge
chrysalparrot@yahoo.com

Look at these gorgeous pieces she makes.

Here she is at work in her studio. If you look carefully, you will see her with her feet up on her table.

Here she is with some of her work.

A very happy Barbie.

Some of her silks that she uses in her dresses.

A view of her studio. So very inspiring. Sorry for the blur.

Her work table.

So I talked my friend, Susan, into getting a dress. Chrysale will tailor anything you buy.

Vintage and new fabric.

A stunning dress.

A wonderful, wonderful store that is really more museum to me than a shop. I took these photos for you, dear reader, during my recent trip to the Vineyard for my annual beading fest with my friend Sue. All this stuff is for sale. Sadly, I already way too much of this kind of thing.

If you are in the Newbury St. area of Boston tonight, stop in and say hi to Susy! She will be selling new work, natty roo dresses and shrugs, and recycled canvas bags. Yummy treats provided by Pomodoro restaurant. Let us know if you go.

Allegra Agliardi just did this charming illustration. I love her paint-y paint. What kind of jobs can you envision for her?

Here are some things I own that I want to show your for inspiration.

These lithographs of Janell’s work are on hardwood frames and are now available at Target. They’re BIG! 20 x 28″. Check them out here. Great kid wall art. Let me know if you see them at Target, ok?
Oh — and they are available for licensing in some other categories.