In an old mill, Blue Q creates happy things.

Come back tomorrow and see how to purchase one of our artist’s most popular items (and get free shipping!)

Blue Q: What amazing products they make. I’ve admired them for years. It’s affirming to see that they design great work and buy great illustration and by doing so they do so well as a company. They don’t play it safe or pander to a mediocre cultural aesthetic.

In selecting artists to represent, I try to select the very best artists in an attempt to move the visual culture forward. It’s always a risk, but it’s in my blood. It’s worked very well for my studio and my artists, and I hope it helps other artists out there to not have to dumb down.

Thank you, Blue Q.

Tomorrow: See more photographs from the Blue Q visit.

Here are Helen’s stuffties which we showed to the Blue Q folks.

This summer we visited Blue Q, clearly one of the coolest places ever, with the hippest and kindest people. We were honored when Blue Q commissioned our Helen Dardik to do art for bags, tea towels, and water bottles. It was like winning an award. Isn’t this the most amazing office? Come back tomorrow and the next day to see more photos.

I love to share books with you. I love the typography, the drawings. I have tons of old books. I hope you’re inspired. I always have bought books that are out of step with the current cultural style. Those are the most inspiring, and get me to rethink my style. Now, of course, these books are back in fashion aesthetically.

I thought you’d like to see these fab things from a recent visit to Anthropologie, where I get most of my clothing.

Here we are in Halibut Point on the north shore of Cape Ann, near Boston. This is an amazing collection of rock sculptures that we stumbled upon. I call it anonymous collective creativity. There is no ego involved, no commercial sponsor, no costs or fees to make this art. Do you find this inspiring?

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 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.