Many friends have been to New York and the USA lately. I’ve already seen so many photographs and read so much about that city, I feel I know it, though I’ve never been there – and don’t plan to go for the moment -. I last ‘visited’ New York through Noema’s eyes. I discovered beautiful places and ate exotic food, while trying to bear the heat lying in a park, drinking iced coffe…
Thanks to Sandra from Cosesmones I’ve just found out some of my fans have been featured in Atelier Magazine #4!
In Arts&Crafts (p.40), Anabel García-Plata from jugandoconhilos, features different artisans who use traditional techniques to create contemporary objects.
Have a look at Atelier, this month comes full of great tips for this summer!
♥ Thanks Sandra and Anabel!
This has been a really busy week. Lots of visitors came to the shop through Design*Sponge and I’ve been ironing, pleating and sewing every day. All the orders are shipped now, flying to their new homes.
I’m tired but happy with my Etsy experience, I see the last month’s efforts are giving nice results.
Ashley English, editor of Small Measure provides lots of good advice to keep cool this summer. Read through her latest post on her Design*Sponge weekly column to discover the secret language of fans and low-fi means of cooling down when the mercury soars. Her post also features lots of hand fans found online: from traditional african and asian paddles, to japanese bamboo and silk beauties.
Ashley found my Etsy shop and included two of the fans on her article! I’m flattered to see my creations featured on such a prominent blog! Thanks Ashley!
These are some of the fabrics I’ve got this week:
- Memento by Amy Butler, from Bobbie Lou’s Fabric Factory
- Fortune by Anna Maria Horner, from Mineymo
- Paradise Garden by Amy Butler, from Mineymo
I love them all!
Pimp my african print is the name the girls at Shopliquorice chose for their african prints showcase. Last week one of my red african fans was featured there! Thanks Shopliquorice!
Esta semana he recibido un encargo especial. Christy, desde Atlanta, me envió un email porque le había gustado mucho uno de los abanicos de estampados africanos que tenía a la venta y quería otro de la misma tela pero para ser usado con la mano izquierda. Así ha quedado el dúo africano, ¡espero que le gusten!
Puesto que soy yo quien entela los abanicos, no tengo problema en hacerlo al revés, sólo se trata de que las caberas se abran en vez de hacia la derecha, hacia la izquierda. Por lo demás el varillaje es el mismo. Sin embargo resulta extraño trabajar así; aunque sé que debo seguir los mismos pasos para montar la tela, necesito pararme de vez en cuando a pensar e imaginarme cómo sostendría el abanico si fuera zurda. Es una experiencia interesante. Los diestros hemos construído un mundo a nuestra medida; sacacorchos, abrelatas, tuercas, tijeras… todo está hecho para ser utilizado por diestros. Los inventos para zurdos son muy recientes y además son eso, inventos, no son objetos cotidianos.
En la tienda ofrezco la posibilidad de encargar la versión para zurdos de casi todos los modelos. No siempre puedo hacerla igual al expuesto (porque no dispongo de la misma tela, porque el estampado no encaja igual…) pero prometo hacer una, como mínimo, igual de bonita.
♥ Si te interesa algún modelo en su versión zurda, no dudes en consultarme.
This week I received a special order from Atlanta. Christy loved one the green african print fans in the shop and asked for a similar one, left-handed. This pair of fans is already on its way to the other side of the ocean, I hope Christy likes them as much as I do!
Making a left-handed fan takes the same time as making it right-handed. It’s just a matter of lining it in the opposite direction, so that it opens to the left, instead of to the right. However, working the other way round feels strange and I stop now and again to hold it as if I where left-handed and make sure I’m doing it right. Even if we are not aware of it, we are surrounded by all kinds of things made to be used by right-handers: corkscrews, can openers, screws, scissors… Left handed products are simply unusual.
Most of the hand fans I make are right-handed, but I offer the possibility to make a left-handed copy and, if that’s not possible (sometimes there’s no fabric left or the pattern doesn’t fit) I do my best to make it as beautiful as the original.
♥ If you are interested in a left-handed fan similar to the ones available in the shop, contact me.
Although it’s cold and rainy in the north of Spain, the calendar says summer is already here! Marona is in the mood for vacation, travel, lazy days and fresh fruit. She included one of my fans in her beautiful set Ready for summer! on Flickr. Thanks Marona, I hope it keeps you cool over the humid summer in Salzburg!
One of the things I love most when buying online is finding those tiny details that show the origin of the package: the sender’s handwriting, the stamps, etc. The two Fat Quarters (What’s that?) I found some time ago at Karen Sato’s Washimatta shop came nicely packed, with charming japanese stamps on the envelope.
I fell in love with those patterns as soon as I saw them, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to finally get to touch such a famous fabric. What a great choice; Liberty Tana Lawn in a deliciously light fabric, built with tightly woven extremely thin threads. As soon as I received my purchase, I realised this fabric could make a great fan lining. It can be easily starched and ironing it is a real pleasure; it’s almost like working with paper, more than fabric.
♥ There’s plenty of information about Liberty fabrics online. A bit of history here. Although Liberty is a UK-based company, many of their patterns are printed and sold in Japan. It’s also possible to find affordable fabrics there. This post written by Erin from A dress a day contains lots of information about where to find Liberty fabrics online and bargain prices in London! A quality fabric deserves quality wood, so I chose the nice Bubinga staves made in Aldaia (Valencia).
Liberty Tana Lawn and Bubinga wood fans, in Olelé’s shop.
