{studio update} recycled sweaters...

This week was super rainy here in the NW. I'm generally not one to let the weather bring me down - I grew up a northwest girl after all. But man - it's been down right dreary! So, I felt the need to make cozy, wool snuggly things in between filling orders. This of course comes from the major spring cleaning kick I've been on too.  

Over the years I've sort of become a bit of a pack rat (to say the least). It's really hard to part with clothes in particular. Even if they don't fit, if I really like the texture, pattern, or color - I just can't seem to part. Well, I found a solution for that a while back & I started making sweater slug plush out of my old sweaters. I now have a new stack of sweaters to work with from my latest purge. These are some of my longtime favorites. It was hard to make the first cut, but I quickly got over it when my critters came to life. I even made a sleepy owl (that was seriously a self portrait that day). 

I have to say, I enjoy making these cuddly plushies with sweaters that already have a story.  The plush section of the KLTworks Etsy shop is sure filling up! Not only did I have fun making these, but I had fun taking instagrams of them as well. 

Hope everyone has a great weekend! What are your plans? Maybe there is some sun in my  future & I'll have to start working with cotton seersucker....

{Mid-Week Inspiration} Marimekko Process...

When I cracked open my new dwell magazine, I was delighted to see an article called, "Helsinki Ink" under the PROCESS category. You know I love Marimekko, but I also love reading about everyone's creative process. This article lets you step inside Marimekko's printing factory- oh how I would love to go in person! But for now, it was a nice studio break read.  

You can view the "Helsinki Ink" article here or check out the new September issue of dwell magazine pages 72-76.  It was just the little piece of mid-week inspiration that I needed to get back to work. Hope you are having a great week! 

:: middle three images via dwell.com ::

{Fabric Friday} Marimekko for Spring...

Bears hibernate during the winter, but I collect Marimekko fabric. I stash it away like a squirrel stashes nuts. I've kept my eye open for vintage & hard to find Marimekko remnants for my plush for months now. My stack is growing & my ideas are flowing. 

These three cheerful amigos joined the other colorful slugs yesterday (in honor of Cinco de Mayo). They really mimic the gorgeous color of the many tulip fields that I'm surrounded by in our valley. 

While I certainly have lots of plans for klt:goodies using my Marimekko fabric, for some reason, I love making slugs with these happy textiles. The idea of a kiddo toting around these vibrant & cheerful friends make me smile. I have to say, Sayer has already adopted one from this new stack. Can you guess which one? I knew right away which one he would be drawn to. He already has two slugs, but they could use a little break & a new friend. Happy Fabric Friday! Do you have a favorite fabric from the stash? 

As a side note:

klt:works loves moms! To celebrate you lovely mommas out there, everyone gets 25% off the entire KLT etsy shop this weekend  with the code "KLTMOM" (offer ends Monday Morning at 8am PST)! Happy Mother's Day! 

{shop update} willie & wanda...

There were glimmers that spring was right around the corner this weekend. It was sunshiny but  still really chilly.  Wanda & Willie worm like to come out in the spring when the tulip fields in our valley start to bloom, but they decided to emerge from the studio this weekend (a little early)  full of cheerful, Marimekko splendor. Making them today seemed like a nice way to encourage more of this weather & to start the week out on a happy note. These are the sort of critters I make when I've had a nice weekend. Hope you did as well! 

{Everyday Inspiration} Converse + Marimekko...

When I first read about this awesome collaboration in December, I was really excited to see what the finished product would look like. Well wait no further - the Converse/Marimekko shoes  were just unveiled yesterday along with this great little mini documentary. They can be found at converse.com - all the styles range from $75-$85 US (& those cool shoe bags come with the sneakers). I really don't need to tell you how much I love these do I? What do you think? Do you have a favorite? I think I have it narrowed down between two.... stay tuned.

{via here}

{Everyday Inspiration} more Marimekko...

January was good to my ever growing stack of Marimekko fabric. I actually might call January 2011, the textile month because I went a little bonkers with finding gorgeous fabrics internationally. Not to mention I brushed up on my textile/design history and learned about a lot of amazing textile designers. Most of my fabric purchases came from Finland or the UK with a combination of cool vintage & new finds that I'm really excited about. So what am I going to do with all of this fabric you ask? Oh, oodles & oodles... but lets' start with some new slug plushies, a kitty, ... and ol' Phil the Groundhogs cousin- Mr. Squirrel.

I find making plush out of Marimekko fabric so inspiring- my hands can't keep up with my ideas. The painter in me loves to play with different color combinations in search of making the colors sing.  While I realize this isn't Friday - and this could be classified as a Fabric Friday post, I felt it belonged in my Everyday Inspiration category as well. Besides, who couldn't use a jolt of gorgeous color on a Wednesday? What would you do if this was your stack of fabric?

{Fabric Friday} vintage stash peek....

I've been so busy lately that I haven't even been able to touch the new additions to my vintage fabric stash. I have so many ideas of what I'm going to do with them & I'm just itchin' to start cutting & sewing something new. However, I thought I would share a peek of bright & cheery finds so that they aren't completely neglected. 

The top three fabrics have been added to my Marimekko stash & just arrived from Finland a few days ago. They are so gorgeous & it's driving me nuts that I can't work with them right now. I'm practicing some serious restraint & discipline to stay away. The next stack is a fun assortment that I've collected over the last few months from  Frecklewonder. Did I ever tell you that I am fond of paisley? I always have been & was really drawn to those top two paisley patterns. Looking at all of them together it appears that I have been drawn to purples, oranges, & pinks lately (but will always like turquoise).  Stay tuned, when the holiday bustle is over... I'm diving into this stack head first.  Happy Fabric Friday! Do you have a favorite from this stash?

{Fabric Friday} Vintage Marimekko...

It's no secret that I have a major fondness for Marimekko textiles. I've written about it many times. Well, about a week ago I bought a bunch of vintage Marimekko fabric via this Etsy Shop that made me giddy with excitement. I carried this stack around with me for days, sort of fearful to cut into it. After all, I bought it to use. But then had second thoughts when I saw how beautiful it was. My husband reminded me that fabric is fabric & it's meant to be used and transformed. If you are a KLT FB "liker" you have already seen this top stack of Marimekko goodness. Actually- the piece of fabric in the middle isn't Marimekko- it's a gorgeous Finnish, vintage textile that I liked too.  But the rest of these pictures will be new for you.

So I did it - I cut into the fabric this week!  My slugs just called out to these fabrics (or vice versa) - it was what I originally had in my mind to make when I saw first saw the vibrant textiles. I love playing with the bold shapes, patterns, & colors for the slug bellies. There will never be 2 exactly that same- which I really enjoy. These little guys are truly special & the colors are so darn happy! 

These vintage Marimekko slugs will be slowly inching their way into the KLT Etsy Shop throughout the next few days. Don't worry you die hard fabric collectors, I won't use all of the fabric, I have saved a bit for safe keeping. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what I will make from this gorgeous stack. Oh, and don't forget that klt:friends get a nice discount code to use for weekend. Happy Fabric Friday!

{Marimekko} Need some input...

Oh boy do I love Marimekko textiles! But I need your help. My Marimekko klt:fabric stash has drastically depleted and I am in need of more. I have a klt:plushie project in mind and was on the search for some Marimekko textile deals last night. Being a small biz means my budget is tight - so I can only get 1 or 2  different designs. Here are four that I found deals on. Do you have a favorite that you can see some klt:creations in? I keep changing my mind and needed some input. Thanks in advance! Look forward to hearing your thoughts....