4/17/07

Matsuri turned out to be a super event. My booth was between Ray Bliss Rich, (papermaker, sumi-e artist, and nature printer, click to visit website ) on one side, and on the other, a Kimono-try-on booth. Entertainment throughout the day, at times cacophonous (karaoke), and at times wonderful (Burlington Taiko Group). I sold lots of women's shirts, as always, and I think five of the kids' shirts. And, to my surprise I sold a few of my bigger and more complex scarves. So I am happy, inspired, and eager to move on to a more major project (while continuing to make my bread-and-butter shirts).
Last summer I became interested in the work of Paul Poiret, innovative fashion designer of the early 20th century. Poiret loved exotic fabrics and was much inspired by ethnic clothing. He is famous for, among other things, freeing women from the corset. Last summer I read everything possible about Poiret, and made a shawl inspired by his work, dyed in cochineal, beaded and fringed. It was one of the best things I'd ever done, I thought, and it sold promptly.
And now I've learned that a special exhibition of Poiret's clothing will be coming to the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, from May 9 - August 9 or so. I will absolutely be making a pilgrimage down there, and in the meantime, will be making some more Poiret-like clothing, starting with some more shawls, again using the natural dyes cochineal, and I think indigo as well. I just ordered some white mesh chiffon with an art-nouveau  (textured )design to make the finished product more interesting, and this particular fabric has a wonderful drape for a shawl. I can't wait to get started.