pipertree by alexandra dawn lauro

20% off sale!!! happening now!

2010-03-27T17:56:00.001-04:00

new jewels listed on etsy!!

2010-03-27T17:38:00.006-04:00

i just returned from a wedding in jamaica, which was amazing to say the least! now i am all refreshed and ready to get back to work...so new items have been listed in the ol' shop.

Pipertree AW10 collection

2010-02-21T15:39:00.011-05:00

Round two collaboration with the mystical Ann Yee. This season, Pipertree presents metal capped stones [in silver + black gold] and crystals on black rope of varying lengths...perfect for layering! Additionally, thick leather cuffs with protruding crystal points add a protective edge to the wearer's wrist. Upper arm bands in woven black suede have three glittery faerie quartz tucked safely away for any kind of day...

Ann Yee had a AW10 video lookbook presentation at Tribeca Grand on February 15th!
Love the day-in-the-life vibe and watching pipertree jewels shake & move!

newest painting....

2010-01-28T09:47:00.002-05:00

it took almost 3.5 years to find a muse..one who could motivate my hand in this medium..thought I'd left this cobwebbed part of me behind somewhere...

Andrew Satanovsky photography

2010-01-26T10:31:00.002-05:00

a magical collaboration in the bronx. see the rest of the photoshoot here.

INK MAGAZINE 2010

2010-01-24T11:26:00.003-05:00

so rad! pipertree jewels featured in two ink magazine spreads! see the issue here

2010..

2010-01-08T17:40:00.005-05:00

currently headed in a more dainty, metal-kissed direction...new items in the shop!

off to dreamland...

2009-12-11T01:01:00.002-05:00

hope images such as these enter my mind once i arrive...seeking inspiration for a future magical project...

bags bags bags

2009-11-19T16:51:00.007-05:00

newest leather creation! inspired by the late 70's/early 80's...i present the rainbow bag! my first time working with zippers, and easily the most difficult construction i've encountered so far...but so happy with how it came out! broke my sewing machine on those damn rainbow pockets, but it was well worth it! and so obsessed with these italian zippers too! I remember a while back [2004 maybe?] Dooney and Burke used these zippers..when I initially sketched out this bag I remembered them! Who knew they were still around, and figures they're riri. fancy fancy!

inspiring dream shoes

2009-11-13T11:10:00.003-05:00

wowee zowee, a leather lover's dream come true! look at these vintage, handmade delights...deadstock to boot and with the best elfin details. so excited about this find, cant wait for them to arrive via snail mail!
lots of new jewels developing for fall, i am so very enthralled about them, can not wait for them to be complete! i have this amazing vision for my next photoshoot: sparkling winter time and caves and i think february brings a westward road trip where this mystery place shall be found...

2000 light years from halloween

2009-11-10T01:08:00.004-05:00

for years and years, always guilty of a satanic majesties affinity! i've been lusting over jagger's moon clad wizard hat and moroccan velvety cape for all this time...and finally created my own version for this year's festivities: 2000 light years from halloween! yessss pleasseee!

2009-10-12T23:16:00.007-04:00

why yes hello brooklyn loves..! my jewels are now for sale at catbird on bedford ave! annnnddd for all you non-brooklynites...new leather knit bracelets and a fresh selection of rope necklaces are available on etsy!

blessed with press

2009-10-07T22:02:00.004-04:00

over the past few months, ive been stumbling upon quite a few blogs writing about my work! so psyched!

style magnet
all in your innerspace
is-mental
six six sick
in your wet dreams
betsey j

pipertree + ann yee: spring 2010 preview party!

2009-10-01T19:55:00.005-04:00

wow! september was quite the busy month! i am still trying to recuperate from the go-go-go mentality of party planning! it's been difficult to settle back into the daily routine...but i'm getting there...one braided rope and quartz crystal at a time...anyway, onward with the party details:

the magical collaboration of Ann Yee and Pipertree: SELENITE.

For our Spring 2010 collections, inspiration was drawn from natural sources of physical and emotional protection: crystals and mollusk shells.

Selenite is a stone of partnerships, enhancing mental clarity and strengthening skeletal structures.

September 18th was the unveiling of this shared vision communicated through cotton, silk, suede and stones in addition to the grand opening of HIDING GALLERY.

[all photos copyright alice wells, tara white and joe jagos]

Pipertree necklaces now being sold at Love Illuminati

2009-08-26T23:19:00.003-04:00

If you live in the bucks county, pa area...check out Love Illuminati... 23 South State Street Newtown, PA 18940! Several Pipertree pieces are for sale at this lovely boutique. This charming store carries a delightful balance of designer, handmade and vintage treasures..

PIPERTREE + ANN YEE

2009-08-26T22:57:00.005-04:00

Our Spring/Summer 10 Collection...'twas a magical joining of forces...ann is one of the most inspiring and motivating people that I know..rings and bracelets were born..necklaces turned headbands and upper arm cuffs...made for a mystical child..

busy busier busiest

2009-08-10T23:16:00.003-04:00

soo many august happenings! i have several appointments with brooklyn boutiques, plus i've joined forces with the lovely ann yee for her spring/summer 2010 collection. the ring above is a sneak preview of our collaboration! I leave for San Francisco on Saturday [i have some boutique appointments there as well! **fingers crossed**]..and then once I get back...the fall semester starts! geez louise..august is crammed with creativity...luckily that's just what this soul needs...

my first etsy trade!

2009-08-10T22:53:00.002-04:00

maryjane frances and i had such a magical little trade..in exchange for one of my necklaces, I received a lovely painting of a seashell and the above necklace..the charm is from some sort of Bavarian cuckoo clock! it feels so wonderful on...so glad I had the opportunity to swap creations with such an amazing lil lady...!

i need to update this more!!!

2009-07-28T16:03:00.006-04:00

soo many new necklaces in the shop and a ton more in the makin'! To learn more about the stones, crystals and natural wonderment found in each piece...please see my etsy shop!

So last weekend my father and I had a little collaboration..and soon I shall be incorporating 14K gold and sterling silver into my pieces. Daddy-o has spent many years as an electrician and fixing cars and the like..so he's a good source and such a great person to learn from. So excited!!

In other news Pipertree necklaces are now for sale at EVA NEW YORK located at 355 Bowery between 3rd and 4th street. Pay 'em a visit and see the jewels in person! xoxo

loopholes of sea + earth lariat necklace

2009-06-30T20:34:00.004-04:00

one of my newest pieces...I am seriously so in love with this one! it was up only for a day and is already on reserve! time to get busy and make some more..

This rope necklace has been hand-braided in olive, light blue and cream cotton/acrylic yarn using traditional techniques. The ends are adorned with olive and dove gray suede tabs that lead to an aqua aura quartz crystal from Arkansas and a center cut ceritium aluga sea shell. Within each nook resides a curious piece of natural wonderment. There are four tiny sand fulgurites, two clear quartz crystal points and one tangerine quartz crystal point.

Though all quartz is said to clear and focus the mind, clear quartz is a universal stone. It corresponds to all zodiac signs and is a wondrous energy source. Also said to be the self-esteem stone, clear quartz stimulates brain functions and enhances all levels of consciousness

Aqua aura quartz is created when natural quartz bond with the nuclei of molecules in pure gold. This happens due to the crystal's natural electrostatic charge. The result is a dreamy beautiful blue surface. Aqua aura crystals can assist in realizing one's inner beauty and attracting wealth.

Tangerine aura quartz is created from a collection of hematite and water located in the cavity of where the crystal formed. The result of this is then rust, which creates a permanent bond on the crystal's surface...allowing this beautiful pale orange to exist. Tangerine quartz is amazing, because it helps one put the past behind them and realize the universe's order which is often overlooked.

Sand Fulgurite is also pretty amazing - as it's formed by the action of lightning striking the earth. This textured, rocky surface is created by heat in excess of 1800 C and is found below the surface.

presenting pipertreeleather.com!

2009-06-30T20:24:00.003-04:00

yay! pipertreeleather.com is finally up and runnin', thanks to tabatha!! check it out!!

Saturday, June 20th: Two Bridges Trading!!

2009-06-19T17:03:00.002-04:00

Tomorrow- this saturday!! Come to an amazing nyc event hosted by freelance fashion blogger, naomi nevitt! Two Bridges Trading is an apartment-turned-boutique in chinatown! tons of amazing artists and independent designers selling their creations..one day only! I will be selling several Pipertree necklaces, so come check it out! Plus, rumor has it that there will be homemade ice cream and a possible roof party if weather allows!!

For more info, please go to: www.twobridgestrading.com

Hope to see you there..xox

new necklaces in the shop!

2009-06-10T16:54:00.003-04:00

check them out here!

newest creations completed!

2009-05-26T16:35:00.010-04:00

so despite a very distracting, relaxing, amazing, summer funn-ery memorial day weekend...it's back to work! spent the day editing photos and listing all the new delights onto etsy! in addition to the bolo tie necklaces I listed today, i've got tons more on the way! and my most favourite is, of course, the new handbag - the ohayo bag in an envelope, unconstructed style..with lush tassels and mesmerizing aqua aura crystals! I was inspired by visions of 80's unicorns and the movie legend - specifically Oona, the wee little faerie who totally wants to do Tom Cruise..but can you blame her? Pre-katie holmes, tom was quite covetable..Anyways, I was also inspired by these traditional Moroccan bags that I came across while walking home from work one day...all with large flaps and with lots of tassels and bauble charms! This is my interpretation from the perspective of a Pipertree...

midnight feather wings necklace

2009-05-09T08:32:00.001-04:00

was featured on brianna morrison's blog! yay!

see here!

golden birthday

2009-05-07T17:22:00.002-04:00

turning 27 on the 27th [of april] was pretty amazing. the weekend prior i had a massive slumber jamboree at the stone tower house in woodstock! it was incredible..the weather was 84, sunny and gave me tummy butterflies for summer. we hiked, played in the hot tub, made yummy food on the bbq, ate delectable cupcakes and drank a little toooo much. it was the best!

this suede falls necklace is really workin' it's magic!

2009-05-07T17:21:00.001-04:00

..because it was on the front page of etsy again today!!

wowweee, good stuff!

internet findings and a real update!

2009-05-04T15:12:00.009-04:00

yesss, yesterday my suede falls necklace was on the front page of etsy!!

and today, I came across this blog which posted some of my pieces!
http://tucoandblondie.blogspot.com/2009/05/pipertree.html

so things are really happening these days...my full time job as a handbag designer for this company in soho...has now been switched up to part time, 2 days a week..due to cutbacks and our current economical climate. after being really sad for about an hour, I realized...i have an awesome part time design job that pays well [considering its only 2 days]!! this leaves me with 5 days that I have off...and can devote to pipertree! so that's what i have been doing..working away everyday on my own stuff. it's amazing.. and i feel really lucky to be presented with this opportunity. my craft room is officially moved in and set up. my extremely supportive and generous parents bought me my second sewing machine [for my birthday]..an industrial flat bed. and it's a dream! it's nice to finally have a brand new machine, by the way!

in other news, i've decided to go back to school part-time in the fall...focusing on advanced handbag classes which weren't part of the one-year accessories program when I attended FIT in 2005-06.

Today I registered..so it's officially official! I will be taking Advanced Handbag Construction, Zippered Handbags and Decorative Leather Techniques. i am looking forward to creating in a school environment again...kinda missed it after all these years of being a workin' gal ;) and the best part - the craft room will be perfect for completing all of my school projects...no more long lines waiting for an available sewing machine! i can do it all at home...

good stuff!

new bolo ties available in the shop!

2009-04-30T16:10:00.003-04:00

yaaay, been busy at work makin' new necklaces..spent several 84 degree days in the park, crafting away! i was living such a summer dream on my birthday. the new 'hood has been treating us pretty good...so much to do, so much to see. and speaking of things to see, feast your eyes on the pretty treasury that shavingkitsupplies made on etsy!

so yes, more bolo ties will be listed this week..check out etsy for all the latest and greatest...

back to brooklyn

2009-03-09T17:30:00.003-04:00

so april 1st, my fiancee [sorta into that word these days] and i are moving back to my ol' hood...that being greenpoint. but instead of living in the middle of nowhere, we will literally be across the street from the G train - Nassau stop [shorter commute to work, yay!]...and a 2 second walk to mccarren park! [grass, picnics and a track to run on? yes please] our new apartment has lots of windows and plenty of space, so much so that I finally have my own crafting room! i cant wait for april 1st..i can't wait for april 27th [turn'n 27 on the 27th!]..i cant wait for spring and summer..i cant wait!

custom folk heart satchel - finally complete!

2009-02-08T21:14:00.003-05:00

I am actually 1.5 months ahead of my deadline [March 19th!].
I am so happy with this piece, it really came together and I hope Melanie loves it.
The woven vintage embroidered ribbons are one of my favourite details! I definitely want to incorporate this into future pieces.

And alas, with all this newly obtained free time, what will my next project be? I have sketches on napkins, in my planner, all over the place...time to narrow down and get movin'!

thats how strong my love is...

2009-01-01T22:23:00.005-05:00

I have to say...2008 was a passionate year. For as far back as I can remember, I always looked forward to seeing most years come to a close. There was always something lacking, and I found relief on the 1st. Not the case for 2008! This year supplied some pretty amazing things...the engagement to my soul mate, landing my dream job, selling several handmade handbags [including the saddle bag in the previous post!], finding happiness/positivity day in and day out.

I feel so content...and abundant. Not through tangible, materialistic things...but with love, sincerity and creativity. Overflowing, even.
But 2009 has some good things in store as well. For one, a business trip to China! That in itself is pretty incredible. And my first commissioned handbag thanks to Etsy! I am actually taking a little construction break as we speak...it feels so good to take on a custom order like this [see illustration below]. I love the color palette, the materials..every hand stitch makes me feel alive, a tingling burst of energy and enthusiasm. I hope for more of this..custom orders, and well..this feeling. Definitely more of this feeling...

Some goals for 2009 would definitely involve a fully functioning website. For the time being, I am creating it myself...which explains it's funny state!
see for yourself...www.pipertreeleather.com.
if anyone has a friend who'd be down to create a simple little site, please contact me. I really do not have the time to figure all this html-ness out, and I am so rusty and far from my dreamweaver days.

Another goal involves a more serious relationship with wax carving, and creating some amazing hardware for my bags. Like that little elephant from a previous post, it's imperative that he makes an appearance in metal soon!

sittin in a tree leather saddle bag

2008-11-30T22:13:00.004-05:00

now in the shop!!

Suede Falls necklace - now in the shop!

2008-11-16T22:05:00.004-05:00

I've been sorta obsessed with adorning my neck with these cozy tassel necklaces [just the perfect amount of fringe!], and even more obsessed with making 'em!! Today we ventured to long island for a family gathering, and I braided yarn the whole hour-long car ride there..finally stopped when I became too car sick to function haha. More color combos and tassel lengths will be posted to the shop this week...

Yay!!

2008-10-08T12:37:00.002-04:00

I love finding little bits on the internet about my makings!!!

http://carolgreavesdesign.blogspot.com/2008/10/great-bags-on-etsy.html

As for this next link, not so impressed! What is the motivation behind someone making a fake facebook profile with my name / photos?? hmm...

http://ja-jp.facebook.com/people/Alyee_Pipertree/1331403882

i feel like dancing..

2008-09-22T22:40:00.005-04:00

when i have new necklaces listed in the etsy shop!!

almost a month ; still in love...

2008-09-04T22:50:00.003-04:00

my job = amazing. i spend my days hand-sketching bags on my lil' light box, crafting with bits of leather, going to leather and print shows....i am finally where I want to be, and I couldn't be happier. and here's a photo of me creating some work prototypes at home...in a tee and undies, my usual house attire...
as for pipertree, i am in the midst of two bags right now. a website is in the works. progression, always in a state of progression...

now available in the shop..

2008-07-27T15:16:00.003-04:00

the myfolkheart satchel is now available for purchase in my etsy shop. I wish that I could list my bags at a lower price point, but alas -- too many hours invested to do so. I've already started making patterns for my next bag! I feel like I am on a roll and I really can't stop! What else would one want to do on a rainy Sunday afternoon anyway??

Oh, and on a separate note..I have finally created a flickr account with more detailed images of the leather goods that I make.

Please visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/pipertreeleather/

it's really happening!!!

2008-07-26T10:57:00.007-04:00

Remember one of my last posts...where I talk about my day job "designing" bags for Target? And how I live two extremes of this industry? The independent designer and the one who rips off the independent designer? Well, on Thursday..those extremes merged.

I'VE FINALLY LANDED MY DREAM JOB!!! and I wasn't even trying. A recruiter whom I worked with years ago came across this amazing position and immediately thought of me. I always emphasized that I wanted a creative, artistic design job..of the high-end persuasion, leather and the like. But alas, these jobs are hard to come by and extremely competitive..and mass market Target positions are the tangible reality of this industry. Then she got a call from my [now] new company [i am keeping it secret for now!]..saying that they wanted a passionate, creative person to design their bags. The interview was amazing, all the interviewees had 15 minute time slots, but mine exceeded that by a half an hour and none of us realized the lapse in time! I was offered the position the following day! The recruiter said that they were so psyched that I accepted and I was a perfect match for the position!

And about the position...there are only 11 employees total. I am the only designer [besides the owners, of course]. The space is dreamy..it's a huge loft in soho [on a cobblestone street no less! goodbye midtown!] with amazing windows and amazing sunlight! There are inspiration boards of art and pottery and lace..and it's just unbelievable. They do not even use trend forecasting services [stylesight.com, wgsn.com]..they simply design based on things such as architecture and paintings and ready-to-wear!!! And there will be overseas traveling as well..which I am looking forward to!
And it's mainly hand drawings, which is incredible. And they were so into the idea that I make accessories. I had placed images of the myfolkheart satchel into my portfolio and they were intrigued, asking what kind of sewing machine I used, etc. Other jobs of the mass market sort could care less if you know construction. Why take the time to understand construction when you can simply buy a bag from a designer who does..and send the product overseas so they can take it apart, figure it out and copy it? UGH. makes me sick! hattteee mass marketttttttttt!!! and now I can say that because I no longer work for that part of the industry!! HATEITIITITITITITITTHAHHTHTHEIITITITITIITITIT!!!

so anyways, i put in my two weeks on Thursday. My present boss was super understanding. She had said that she knows I am too creative for the Target position and that I've been an amazing employee, and if I ever would like to come back or need a reference, to just give her a call. It makes me so happy to end and begin something on such a positive note.

And another career chapter unfolds...can't wait to see what happens next...

3 months and finally completed!

2008-07-22T00:55:00.004-04:00

The first bag of thee *my folk heart* collection is finally completed! 3 long months and here is a preview! More details to follow and soon she will make her way into my etsy shop. Expect some hand embroidered heart necklaces to be posted soon as well. xoxo

back from the bahamas!!!!

2008-07-12T13:14:00.008-04:00

My lovebug and I had an amazing time! We spent Rob's birthday and the 4th of July in Nassau, Bahamas. It was a much needed vacation and truly recharged my creative batteries; To relax and regroup and get ready for the completion of all my works in progress!

wax carving!

2008-07-12T12:44:00.010-04:00

Last semester I took a jewelry class at FIT : wax carving. As I said in the previous entry, I am really into the idea of creating my own hardware. I want every aspect of my bags to be unique. I also loved the idea of sculpting a functional piece. It looks like I've turned myself onto another time consuming technique! :)
Wax carving is an extremely long and laborious process. Our professor is from Japan and has been teaching at FIT for 13 years. He is extremely knowledgeable and actually designs hardware for Liz Claiborne bags, which of course interested me. One can purchase wax in the form of round tubes so that you can easily slice off a circular chunk for a ring. But we were not allowed such luxuries, we had to buy a huge square block of hard green wax. Both pieces featured above were created from a solid block. The elephant ring was the most difficult. It required drilling and much sanding and filing. The most amazing aspect of wax carving is how you spend months on this little sculpture, and then once it is sent to be cast in metal, it completely melts and disappears. Again, the idea of working so hard on something and then see it go. There is liberation in this, making room for the next creation. Realizing that within you there is always a plethora of ideas. "Happiness is a warm gun", to me, means that there's a constant firing of blissful moments...always ongoing, always a "next". I apply this mentality to my designs. This is especially valuable when someone else copies your work [ha, thats my day job, remember?]...you need to let go and detach yourself and come up with something better.

Anyways, so back to wax carving. After your piece is cast in metal [the ring is cast in sterling], there is much sanding and polishing. It took us a whole semester to make one ring! Since then, I started on a functional piece of hardware. It is an elephant hook closure. I've always looked at elephants as an iconic symbol of good luck, so I want to incorporate them into my work more. Fun fact for everyone: I have an elephant tattooed on my ass! Ha, no joke--one of my first tattoos at the age of 18. The placement is of course hilarious -- I was trying to hide it from my parents haha. ANYWAYSSS I've been carving this elephoooont for a while with all my little dental-esque tools. I even decapitated his little trunk at one point, but luckily it is easy to convalesce such errors with my wood burning tool. I can melt the two pieces back together. My next mission is to buy a hand dremel so I can reduce his thickness. SO many missions that I've put myself on lately..it feels healthy, it feels good.

an honest update

2008-07-12T11:08:00.011-04:00

i live two different lives, and I am trying to find the balance.

My days:

spent in an office[i even have my own cubicle], in front of a computer..designing handbags for Target. There is no time to think, the seasons come and go and I make spec after spec, request sample after sample. Our production takes place in a factory located in China, whom I have such sympathy for. We email a specification sheet and within two days, the sample has arrived in our New York office. I do not believe that they sleep. They do all the manual labor of cutting patterns, sewing, riveting,..and we do all the shopping...where we literally buy a sample, which is then "interpreted", which really means sent overseas to be copied and remade in cheaper materials aka PVC [which I ironically was warned about while studying industrial design. The UArts program stresses green design and sustainable materials, which PVC is the complete antithesis of. It's horrible to the environment on so many levels..it is a thermoplastic polymer which stands for Polyvinyl chloride, so you can only imagine]. Basically I partake in the disposable end of the fashion industry, things are made for the moment and are meant to be discarded within a few months. There is no time to really labor over one single piece, as there are so many immediate deadlines to meet. My prior job designing belts beats to this same drum. I am thankful to work and understand this side of the industry, however difficult this side of the industry may be.

My nights and weekends:

I have been working on the same leather handbag for almost three months! I work slow and meticulously. I start out with rough sketches which I draw on the subway to and from work. I then figure out dimensions and start the pattern making process, which takes weeks. One has no idea how many pieces make up a handbag. Sometimes I think of technically drawing an exploded view of a bag just so others can understand the insanity it can become! And with me, it always becomes insane, because I am drawn to challenges and complicated things. I like to figure out how something will function. I like a lot of pieces. There are a lot of hand-details in my work, whether weaving or macramé knotting that are very time consuming. But it's at these moments that I feel the most content and happy. I'm enamored with the idea of passing on something that I invested so much time in..to someone else. There is something so thrilling about letting these pieces come and go, and allowing them the opportunity to see the world through someone else's eyes, besides mine. My bags are like little soul mates of mine, we help each other learn and evolve.

I also love the idea of making every aspect of a bag, even the hardware. The photos I attached are details of the bag that is 3 months in the making. The antique nickel buckle is my own design, with hand-drawn LOVE lettering within a heart. The photo of the fringed leather heart with embossed pipertree logo is the tag that will adorn the interior of every bag. There are so many fun surprises and details within this piece, I don't even know how I can articulate it all when it comes time to sell this wonder.
Though my next project [i have so so many more designs in the mental queue] I plan on timing...I need to work faster! This is difficult for me, especially being a Taurus as the Bull does not like to be rushed. But I said I was into challenges, right? Well, here's my next.

process in progress

2008-06-07T10:59:00.003-04:00

the last few weeks i've been so busy. trying to find the balance between socializing amidst these beautiful summer days, creating my first handmade collection o' bags [and possibly belts & necklaces] and putting in long hours at work. the time funnel, man. it gets me every time. a few days ago someone in nerja, spain accessed my checking account via my debit card [apparently some atm machines are rigged and they actually make an imprint of the card itself, so that a fake can be made and used elsewhere. even cameras are installed so that they can see where your fingers hit the keypad and hence, have your password]. They had withdrawn over $700, which then accrued over $200 in overdraft and international fees. luckily wachovia was great about all this, and I was credited back my funds and not held accountable...but I still wonder what these people needed the money for in Nerja. Crack? Hospital Bills? I try to imagine the whole scenario.
Usually the peak of these imaginings occur when I am running. The past 6 weeks I have been running a mile every morning, and I can not tell you what this has done to me creatively, emotionally, physically, mentally. I feel like I've been recharged with this amazing energy that has been unknown until now. As I run, my mind shifts into overdrive and then clears, simplifies and complicates in the same flash..i mentally render new bags, solve existing design problems that I've been stagnant on until that moment. I am also training for this hiking trip that Rob and I have in the works. I need to increase my lung capacity and strength for such an adventure. and speaking of adventures, rob and I leave for our first tropical one to the Bahamas in less than a month. I can't believe it's soon.
oh, these days! how they just seem to be getting away...

all in the family

2008-04-29T13:15:00.006-04:00

oh, and one more thing! i had an amazing 26th birthday! last friday was a cupcake & cocktails party at stella's house, and then saturday Rob and I ventured to PA to hang out with my fam...and to celebrate me and my brother's birthday [as you know, i have a twin!]. almost every visit, i review my parent's old photo albums..velvety floral patterns adorn the rectangular shaped covers, and the worn bindings always greet me with an aged crinkling hello. the ones from '73 [when they first met] are my favourite and always a design inspiration. in fact, several mood boards in my portfolio contain their photos. and this past weekend was like any other, i rifled through to procure more treasures. and these are what I came up with! love love love those two who created us two. p.s. my dad was pretty bad ass haha

april inspiration

2008-04-23T22:30:00.002-04:00

a weekend in Woodstock, and i found myself submerged in a store filled to the gills with Mexican folk art and Moroccan treasures. ignited dreams of far away places and future vacations, and i was completely drawn to a wall of hands. perhaps because hands have always intrigued me, specifically because they are so difficult to accurately draw / paint. i recall my senior year of high school, i had focused all of my artwork on the subject of hands..all because of the challenge. anyways, so the wall of hands...tin, metal, bronze, shiny, porcelain: they all called..or, uhh..waved to me. and in other cultures these hands are used in amulets, and charms on jewelry for protecting the wearer against the "evil eye", or to lend the wearer magical powers. Known as the hand of fatima in Islam, Hamsa in Hebrew or Milagro (miracle) in Mexico. I am sorta obsessed with this..i love the idea of talismans and wearing something because it protects you and makes you feel safe...

stay true blue to the time zone

2008-04-04T14:49:00.003-04:00

A month ago, Kelley and I went to the Betsey Johnson lecture which was held at FIT. Oh, the joys of being a student again! It was interesting to hear about her Warhol factory and Velvet Underground run-ins.... among other points which, at times, lost their validity from ongoing ramblings and distractions. But despite the crazy spazziness that is Betsey Johnson, I was able to capture some interesting quotes from her. And they were as follows:

-Chanel said that all you need is your own silhouette,
Betseys says "all you need is your own point of view".

-"living fashion is doing it on your own time"

-"stay true blue to the time zone"

-"wear a designer's clothing to the interview, it really works" [WEIRD!]

-"don't ever expect to do your own work, unless you are paying for it!"

-"talent is luck, but you must be passionate to really do it" [succeed in fashion]

-"part of designing for big corporations is learning discipline: being
on time, meeting deadlines, etc"

-"love it, live it, wear it, make it"

-"you must figure out why you want to do this, has it already be done
and what do you have to offer?"

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and that last quote was what struck me the most. i am in the midst of writing a mission statement and five year plan, which was completely motivated by that one sentence....i am a little inspiration sponge these days, what can I say...

slate leather is my sterling part 2

2008-02-24T09:11:00.002-05:00

This weekend I've whipped up another lace-like collar necklace, this time with a bow in the front! I love the closure on this one...it's a little secret until you take it apart. it seems almost seamless [haha get it?]. These necklaces are so airy and lightweight, they are gonna be perfect for spring and summer! yay hooray..and as always, more is in the works.

mornings like these...

2008-02-24T09:07:00.001-05:00

it's all i really need.

slate leather is my sterling

2008-02-11T23:14:00.001-05:00

ahhhh, have I been busy! Between taurus-ing up my apartment [aka making it into a lil' love den o' coziness], starting a new job [this is my second week!], and taking a class at FIT one night a week [i can never stay away from school for too long], I have a pretty intense schedule. However, I have been makin' new necklaces in the midst of all this! Inspired by my new tattoo, I have been making collars with bird buttons which feature the lil' guy who is permanently etched onto my arm! I am planning on making lots more of these, so please keep checking my etsy site for new versions. I have also placed "BUY NOW" buttons on my myspace page, so those without an etsy account can still make a purchase on the styles featured above.

Slate leather is my sterling, and it best be as I just bought a 180 yard spool of it.
Probably the only "deal" that I've gotten at leather,suedes and skins [my most frequented leather store, mainly because it was in the same building as my old job -- not because of it's prices], but this deal I acquired is only because I've learned how to haggle in my old age. Regardless, I've got lots of knitting and macrame-ing to do!

And though, slate leather is my sterling....sterling in it's .925 form may make an appearance in future creations as well!!! Thanks to what I am learning this semester, metal may be incorporated sooner than later. Oh the suspense!!!

pigeon balls

2008-01-26T00:58:00.002-05:00

Every night when I come home from work, I am greeted with these little puffer tins, perched on my next door neighbor's home. I love how pigeons become pigeon balls at night to keep warm from harsh winterly winds. They are so cute, sometimes I do not know whether I want to snug them or punt them. Regardless, they have totally inspired me these days..and perhaps may star in future drawings o' mine...we shall see!!

Also, speaking of work...I got a new job!!! I am leaving the belt designing world and reuniting with the handbag designing world. my passion, my true love! we finally meet again! I am so excited!!! New year, new job, new apartment, new tattoo, new me ;)

one flew over the christmas tree

2008-01-21T11:21:00.000-05:00

For as long as I can remember I've wanted to get a half sleeve. Time never ticked that way, it was never right. But then these bird illustrations started to take over my hand, progress further and forward and that's when I started to realize the moment was approachin'. this was emphasized the day after Christmas, a blustery night of winds gushing and singing into the side of my parent's Pennsylvania house on the hill. My dad opened the door and in flew the smallest little bird. Originally perched on the door's outside wreath, he made his way to the tallest windows. My parent's house is of relatively new construction, with dramatic 20 ft ceilings. Needless to say, this little critter took advantage of the height, and hid at the highest. My dad, in a frenzy, created some sort of net concoction, where he placed a huge plastic bag at the end of a broomstick. The bird relocated each time the white plastic gently glided his way. Then, he noticed the Christmas tree...and set up shop behind tiny lights and ceramic santa clauses. "Do you see him, Alyee, do you see him?" my dad cried, frantically. And then...I did. I finally was able to get a close-up view of him, and it was breathtaking. Peering between pine needles, I saw this small beauty trembling in fear and confusion. His elongated beak was slightly parted, as though he were hyperventilating from all the action. And I saw all of this as a sign, and I've been seeing so many of them lately.

I contacted Joseph [JK5] at Saved Tattoo and handed him my final drawing along with several Mucha inspirations, as I wanted a very organic, art-nouveau feel. I knew he was the perfect artist for the job, because his style had existing elements of a modern Mucha.

The tattoo took five straight hours, with no breaks. I thought I was going to pass out at some points, and the fact that there was a camera crew documenting the experience [they were interviewing Joseph for a certain web site] did not help matters. But Rob held my hand, and Joseph reassured me..and I made it. And I am a very happy little bee.

One flew over the Christmas tree, and onto, onto my arm...

signs, signs, everywhere a sign

2008-01-13T18:13:00.000-05:00

our new apartment is heavenly. I can not tell you how amazing it is to fall asleep to the sound of wind chimes, and to awake to morning bird songs. And as soon as we moved in, a member of our plant family decided to give us a little present...in the form of a beautiful, vibrant tropical flower. Despite the January winter, this little cactus created the most amazing extension of itself. I can't help but see this as a sign [and i've been seeing so many of them lately] of our new beginnings and love blooming...

pfaff you!

2007-12-25T22:43:00.000-05:00

this guy here is the personification of a long distance love...how i yearn for thee! i am currently in Pennsylvania at my parent's house, and i visit my metalhead boyfriend in the basement. his name is harrison pfaff, and it's absolutely heart breaking that we have been separated since the day we met!!! we became acquainted on a beautiful, warm April day...inside a greenpoint handbag manufacturer which was downsizing. and they were getting rid of this gem at such an affordable price, i just had to make him mine. papa lauro was driving into ny that day and picked this guy up. but he's so big, i couldn't fit him in my old studio...so down to the pa basement he went!!! now i need to figure out a way to get him to queens, as the new place can accommodate his massiveness! being without him has prevented me from pursuing my leather handbags!!! it's agonizing....i sorta need him, figuratively and literally....

like magic!

2007-12-13T12:47:00.001-05:00

yay! yay!!! I sold my first painting on etsy today...which ironically, was the same piece i had this weird revelation about ...i can't tell you what, but i can say that i've experienced a serious case of foreboding here, dudes! i saw a sign, and it opened up my eyes i saw a sign. yay yay!!!

woodside, on the other side.

2007-12-12T16:24:00.001-05:00

rob and i finally found a cozy one bedroom apartment [much better than our current studio] ! I am excited to unpack my things, as we've been living out of bags and boxes for the past few weeks. This also means I can start creating again as I have been on a hiatus, with no place to work [though i have been becoming more and more obsessed with macrame, acquiring more and more vintage instruction booklets and practicing my little heart away]. I am also looking forward to having a backyard, 5 closets [including a huge walk-in in our bedroom -- living in nyc, you realize that having closet space is few and far in between], bright sunlight and windows everywhere, an eat-in kitchen, a short walk to the express stop on the 7 [faster commute to work], and lastly, living up the street from my favourite bubble tea cafe! anyways, between all this and the holidays, i hope to post new work soon. In the meantime..please see below for what has been occupying my fingers and mind.

bruce mau's incomplete manifesto

2007-12-04T21:29:00.001-05:00

while studying industrial design at the university of the arts, i was introduced to bruce mau. his words, they draw me back again and again.
---

Bruce Mau Design
An Incomplete Manifesto for Growth

Written in 1998, the Incomplete Manifesto is an articulation of statements that exemplify Bruce Mau's beliefs, motivations and strategies. It also articulates how the BMD studio works.

1. Allow events to change you. You have to be willing to grow. Growth is different from something that happens to you. You produce it. You live it. The prerequisites for growth: the openness to experience events and the willingness to be changed by them.

2. Forget about good. Good is a known quantity. Good is what we all agree on. Growth is not necessarily good. Growth is an exploration of unlit recesses that may or may not yield to our research. As long as you stick to good you'll never have real growth.

3. Process is more important than outcome. When the outcome drives the process we will only ever go to where we've already been. If process drives outcome we may not know where we’re going, but we will know we want to be there.

4. Love your experiments (as you would an ugly child). Joy is the engine of growth. Exploit the liberty in casting your work as beautiful experiments, iterations, attempts, trials, and errors. Take the long view and allow yourself the fun of failure every day.

5. Go deep. The deeper you go the more likely you will discover something of value.

6. Capture accidents. The wrong answer is the right answer in search of a different question. Collect wrong answers as part of the process. Ask different questions.

7. Study. A studio is a place of study. Use the necessity of production as an excuse to study. Everyone will benefit.

8. Drift. Allow yourself to wander aimlessly. Explore adjacencies. Lack judgment. Postpone criticism.

9. Begin anywhere. John Cage tells us that not knowing where to begin is a common form of paralysis. His advice: begin anywhere.

10. Everyone is a leader. Growth happens. Whenever it does, allow it to emerge. Learn to follow when it makes sense. Let anyone lead.

11. Harvest ideas. Edit applications. Ideas need a dynamic, fluid, generous environment to sustain life. Applications, on the other hand, benefit from critical rigor. Produce a high ratio of ideas to applications.

12. Keep moving. The market and its operations have a tendency to reinforce success. Resist it. Allow failure and migration to be part of your practice.

13. Slow down. Desynchronize from standard time frames and surprising opportunities may present themselves.

14. Don’t be cool. Cool is conservative fear dressed in black. Free yourself from limits of this sort.

15. Ask stupid questions. Growth is fueled by desire and innocence. Assess the answer, not the question. Imagine learning throughout your life at the rate of an infant.

16. Collaborate. The space between people working together is filled with conflict, friction, strife, exhilaration, delight, and vast creative potential.

17. ____________________. Intentionally left blank. Allow space for the ideas you haven’t had yet, and for the ideas of others.

18. Stay up late. Strange things happen when you’ve gone too far, been up too long, worked too hard, and you're separated from the rest of the world.

19. Work the metaphor. Every object has the capacity to stand for something other than what is apparent. Work on what it stands for.

20. Be careful to take risks. Time is genetic. Today is the child of yesterday and the parent of tomorrow. The work you produce today will create your future.

21. Repeat yourself. If you like it, do it again. If you don’t like it, do it again.

22. Make your own tools. Hybridize your tools in order to build unique things. Even simple tools that are your own can yield entirely new avenues of exploration. Remember, tools amplify our capacities, so even a small tool can make a big difference.

23. Stand on someone’s shoulders. You can travel farther carried on the accomplishments of those who came before you. And the view is so much better.

24. Avoid software. The problem with software is that everyone has it.

25. Don’t clean your desk. You might find something in the morning that you can’t see tonight.

26. Don’t enter awards competitions. Just don’t. It’s not good for you.

27. Read only left-hand pages. Marshall McLuhan did this. By decreasing the amount of information, we leave room for what he called our "noodle."

28. Make new words. Expand the lexicon. The new conditions demand a new way of thinking. The thinking demands new forms of expression. The expression generates new conditions.

29. Think with your mind. Forget technology. Creativity is not device-dependent.

30. Organization = Liberty. Real innovation in design, or any other field, happens in context. That context is usually some form of cooperatively managed enterprise. Frank Gehry, for instance, is only able to realize Bilbao because his studio can deliver it on budget. The myth of a split between "creatives" and "suits" is what Leonard Cohen calls a 'charming artifact of the past.'

31. Don’t borrow money. Once again, Frank Gehry’s advice. By maintaining financial control, we maintain creative control. It’s not exactly rocket science, but it’s surprising how hard it is to maintain this discipline, and how many have failed.

32. Listen carefully. Every collaborator who enters our orbit brings with him or her a world more strange and complex than any we could ever hope to imagine. By listening to the details and the subtlety of their needs, desires, or ambitions, we fold their world onto our own. Neither party will ever be the same.

33. Take field trips. The bandwidth of the world is greater than that of your TV set, or the Internet, or even a totally immersive, interactive, dynamically rendered, object-oriented, real-time, computer graphic–simulated environment.

34. Make mistakes faster. This isn’t my idea -- I borrowed it. I think it belongs to Andy Grove.

35. Imitate. Don’t be shy about it. Try to get as close as you can. You'll never get all the way, and the separation might be truly remarkable. We have only to look to Richard Hamilton and his version of Marcel Duchamp’s large glass to see how rich, discredited, and underused imitation is as a technique.

36. Scat. When you forget the words, do what Ella did: make up something else ... but not words.

37. Break it, stretch it, bend it, crush it, crack it, fold it.

38. Explore the other edge. Great liberty exists when we avoid trying to run with the technological pack. We can’t find the leading edge because it’s trampled underfoot. Try using old-tech equipment made obsolete by an economic cycle but still rich with potential.

39. Coffee breaks, cab rides, green rooms. Real growth often happens outside of where we intend it to, in the interstitial spaces -- what Dr. Seuss calls "the waiting place." Hans Ulrich Obrist once organized a science and art conference with all of the infrastructure of a conference -- the parties, chats, lunches, airport arrivals — but with no actual conference. Apparently it was hugely successful and spawned many ongoing collaborations.

40. Avoid fields. Jump fences. Disciplinary boundaries and regulatory regimes are attempts to control the wilding of creative life. They are often understandable efforts to order what are manifold, complex, evolutionary processes. Our job is to jump the fences and cross the fields.

41. Laugh. People visiting the studio often comment on how much we laugh. Since I've become aware of this, I use it as a barometer of how comfortably we are expressing ourselves.

42. Remember. Growth is only possible as a product of history. Without memory, innovation is merely novelty. History gives growth a direction. But a memory is never perfect. Every memory is a degraded or composite image of a previous moment or event. That’s what makes us aware of its quality as a past and not a present. It means that every memory is new, a partial construct different from its source, and, as such, a potential for growth itself.

43. Power to the people. Play can only happen when people feel they have control over their lives. We can't be free agents if we’re not free.

to knot or not to knot

2007-12-03T10:29:00.000-05:00

hi! so the past few weeks i've been taking private macrame lessons from this wonderful woman. she lives about an hour away from me, but luckily i can take a bus to get to her workshop. she's been creating macrame masterpieces since the 70's, so it's amazing to learn from her. last night i started to work on macrame collars in leather cording [photos coming soon], and i must say -- i am sorta in love with this technique. it's completely mesmerizing, i find myself getting so lost in it. above is some serious inspiration. the textures and colors remind me of sedona, arizona and the grand canyon at dusk.

11.29.07 inspiration collage: illustration/painting

2007-11-29T22:27:00.000-05:00

my mind's imagery, it sorta seeps in-to and through every pore. these inspiration collages are a way to translate what stays with me, long after my eyes have left. they may later act as a creative pick-me-up on my uninspired gloomy days, or when i'm being a moody blue.

----

the theme for this first entry is illustration/painting --- consisting of work from all my favorite artists: Lavadour, Beardsley, Mucha, Morris, and Rackham.

what sticks to my visual ribs:
raw sketchiness, dark organic flow, femininity smudged with masculinity, color palettes of a gray woodside day, textures overlapping and unfolding, an aggressive application [like tools tearing through] but still maintaining a soft feel, elements of nature with an iconic twist.

[most often my leatherwork'n inspiration / ideas are derived from fine art and thee great outdoors than the fashion industry and the designers whom contribute to it]

a leather lover's secrets and stories

2007-11-28T16:26:00.000-05:00

hello friends. after several messages on etsy regarding the interest of pipertree having a blog, i decided to start one up. a little window into the leatherwork'n travels that i am currently on [if you will] -- one of which you can all witness. This will blog will be a documentation of inspiration, ideas and creative process. So keep checking back, as I will have a real update soon. Thanks!