Spring 2012 Goings On

Last fall and winter were such a whirlwind. It seemed that I spent virtually all of my time either preparing for one of the 6 major art/craft shows I participated in between the months of October and March, or traveling to and from the shows. It wasn't until April that I had an opportunity to come up for air and go at a slower pace. Thankfully, spring has been absolutely glorious here in New York, and few things can refresh and inspire quite like nature can. It has been wonderful watching new leaves unfurl, witnessing fields of wildflowers pop up among the grey, and inhaling the heady aromas of apple blossoms, lilacs, and peonies. I wish you could smell the delicate and delicious fragrances of these peonies I photographed at the New York Botanical Garden.

It was also time to document at least some of the many new knit pieces I designed and made over the past few months -- I hadn't had a chance to photograph any new work since last September!  And now, after hibernating while I was away at shows, my web shop is well stocked with fresh pieces and familiar favorites. I hope it will be a welcome thing that the majority of the work there is ready-made and ready to be shipped. You will see few if any 2-3 months production time notices for made-to-order pieces, at least not until next fall, when I likely will be pretty busy again. The other lovely thing is that as much I love working with merino wool, aplaca, and cashmere, I am very fond of fine cottons, bamboo, and silk  -- all fibers that are excellent for warmer weather and for year-round wear. So you will find lots of wonderful options in the shop at this time of year, like this terra-cotta Rococo Shawl hand-knit in 100% silk, new capelets in 100% organic cotton, and lightweight cowls and shrugs in a blend of pima cotton and merino wool.

I am also thrilled to present my new fiber jewelry collection.  The necklaces and lariats in this series are made in pure silk and are inspired by botanical and aquatic forms and shapes.  They are whimsical, unusual, and playful.  Each is one-of-a-kind with its own personality and character.  For this collection, I employ some traditional crochet techniques but mostly I use new combinations of stitches I have developed. They are such great fun and creative challenge to create, and I hope this exuberance is evident in the designs.

I will be on the road again in a couple of weeks -- my next show is the Paradise City Arts Festival in Northampton, MA, May 26-28, 2012 (Memorial Day Weekend).  Hope to see you there!

Until then, I invite you to connect with me through my Facebook Artist Page, visit my online shop, and catch up with me on Twitter.

Thanks so very much for reading and for your interest in my work.  I am so very grateful for it!

Winter - Spring 2012 Events

With several major and exciting retail craft shows on the horizon, things have been busier than ever in my studio.  I am concocting several entirely new designs and silhouettes to show alongside familiar customer favorites.  At the upcoming events in Maryland and Massachussetts, you can expect to see rich jewel tones as well as neutrals, wonderful textures (from chunky to lace), versatile pieces that you can wear in more than just a couple of ways, and a few fun and fresh surprises too.  I had an amazing time at all of last fall's shows, meeting so many exceedingly lovely people, and seeing my designs in action, as my show booth turned into impromptu fashion shows.  My show schedule for the next few weeks and months is below.  Hope to see you at one of these events!

You can also stay up to date on new designs, events, and discoveries any time by connecting with me via social media.  I FB about recent press, latest designs, and the world of wearable fiber on Facebook; I tweet about what I'm working on, watching, reading, and learning on Twitter; and I pin eye-candy from the world of fashion, jewelry, fine craft and design on Pinterest.  Check out the links for a taste of what you can expect from my posts, and I hope you will enjoy connecting with me via some or all of these sites.  Leave your Twitter and Pinterest URLs in the comments too,  I would love to look you up.

Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art
Calendar of upcoming events - WINTER - SPRING 2012

 

American Craft Council Show
Baltimore, MD
February 24 - 26, 2012
Booth 2206

After debuting as an emerging artist at the American Craft Council Show in 2011, I am more than thrilled to be returning this year as an exhibiting artist with a full retail floor booth. I credit the experience at this very event last year for my decision to work on my wearable fiber craft full-time.  Last year, sharing the space with some of the country's best makers in fiber, wood, glass, clay, metal, was immensely exhilarating, and I felt, to my surprise, very much at home and in my element (not a feeling I experience often, by any means).  I hope this year's experience will prove equally, if not more, rewarding.

At various art/craft events in 2011 I met several wonderful artists whose work I am looking forward to seeing again at the ACC: Paula Shalan Ceramics, Novie Trump Ceramics, Loretta Lam Jewelry, Betsy Giberson Fiber, and many others. 

For a visitor/shopper, this is an event that's more than worth a weekend trip to Baltimore. In fact, many of my customers last year told me that visiting the ACC show in Baltimore has been a family tradition for years.  It's a phenomenal gathering of talent, and a not-to-be-missed event because of the quality and breadth of work, the creativity and ingenuity, the visual and tactile delights. If you are only remotely interested in fine craft, this event will turn you into a lifelong devotee. If you are already a committed fan of fine craft, well, you know what delicious joys are in store for you.

Visit me in booth 2206 while you are the ACC!

 

Paradise City Fair of Fine and Functional Art

March 16-18, 2012

Marlborough, MA

Booth 213

This will be my first time exhibiting at this event, and a second time with the Paradise City family of shows.  Last fall, the Paradise City Northampton, MA was my favorite show of the season, with the organizers, fellow exhibitors, and hundreds of visitors and customers making me very welcome.  Paradise City shows definitely have a dedicated fan base, and it was fantastic to introduce my work to the people who faithfully visit the shows year after year.  Commissions received at this show and from customers I met in Northampton kept me busy through early 2012.

Check out the "New Faces" slideshow, highlighting the work of several artists and craftmakers, including me, who are new to the show.

Among the other exhibitors I look forward to meeting here are mixed media artist Jessica Pisano, clothing designer Jessica Crowninshield, and decorative fiber artist Ann Brauer.  

Find me in Booth 213 at this event!

CraftBoston Spring

March 23-25, 2012

Boston, MA

CraftBoston, run by The Society of Arts and Crafts, is a highly selective show of contemporary art, craft, and design. What an honor to be accepted to participate!  It will be exciting to meet the organizers (who have been very helpful throughout the show preparation process) and to see what the Boston-area public thinks about my designs. I promise to have lots of lovely and inventive pieces perfect for year-round wear, and, I will, of course, be taking custom orders.

At CraftBoston Spring, I am especially looking forward to catching up again with the following artists: Takashi Ichihara Ceramics, and Sharon Mehrman Furniture.

Looking ahead to late Spring 2012, I will be back in Northampton, MA for the Spring Paradise City Festival, Memorial Day Weekend.  Stay tuned for warm-weather-friendly garments in silk, cotton, linen, and bamboo!

Autumn 2011 Show Schedule

This autumn season is shaping up to be a very busy one for me.  I will be presenting my wearable fiber art designs at three major fine craft shows. It's terribly exciting! I look forward to presenting new work, meeting new visitors and customers, seeing my designs tried on and in action, and just simply being part of these esteemed events.  For the past few weeks, I have been working around the clock planning my booth display and building inventory.  Since I work on my own and do all the hand-knitting and finishing (and just about everything else connected with running a small, or, rather, tiny, one-woman fine craft business), it is definitely a challenge to produce a sizable amount of items for several multi-day shows.  I will, of course, be taking custom orders at each event.  If you are interested in my work, attending a live show is a wonderful opportunity to see a variety of my designs, see and feel the luxurious materials I use up close, and to try on your favorites.

Baby Alpaca & Silk Knit Cowl

Bamboo & Silk Knit Rococo Shawl

Pima Cotton & Merino Wool Shoulderette / Cape

Calendar of upcoming events

Paradise City Fair of Fine and Functional Art
Northampton, MA
October 8-10, 2011 (Columbus Day Weekend)
Booth #519

I have heard extremely positive things from past exhibitors and attendees about this event, and it's a huge honor to participate in it.  Paradise City has been producing award-winning fine art and fine craft shows for years.  For the Northampton show this year, 275 artists from 30 states were juried from nearly 1000 applicants.  On display will be original works in fiber, ceramics, glass, fine furniture, jewelry, metal, wood, mixed media, painting, and photography. There will be live music and food by local restaurants, an auction to benefit the local PBS station, and children's creative activities.  This show takes place during American Craft Week, a celebration which brings together individuals, small businesses and organizations from all fifty states in recognition of the countless ways handmade objects enrich our daily lives and contribute to our national aesthetic and economy.  I hope you can make plans to visit Paradise City Northampton.  Needless to say, New England is a beautiful destination in the fall. 

Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair
Lancaster, PA
November 12-13, 2011

This will be my second show with the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen.  It was a treat to be part of the Guild's July show in Wilmington, DE.  The Guild is a non-profit organization, and the shows are very well run, making them a fantastic experience for both artists and visitors.  I received a very warm welcome from fans of the show in July, and I hope to meet many of them again in Lancaster in November.  In addition to the Fine Craft Fair, Lancaster's thriving arts community and other Pennsylvania Dutch Country cultural attractions are all great reasons to plan a weekend visit.

American Craft Show NYC
New York, NY
November 18-20, 2011

Just one week after the Lancaster show, I will be closer to home and will have an opportunity to show my work at this relatively new event in a great location - the Jacob Javits convention center.  Happening the same weekend at the same venue is the Contemporary Art Fair NYC.  Hoping to have an amazing experience here also.

 My online shop will remain open during the fall and holiday season.  Production times on made-to-order items are likely to extend into several weeks.  If you are considering a treat for yourself or for a loved one (holiday gifts included), please do get in touch early.

Looking ahead to 2012 -- just the other day I received exhilarating news of acceptance into the American Craft Council Show in Baltimore, MD, February 24-26, 2012!  After my tremendous experience as an "Alt Craft / Emerging Artist" exhibitor at the 2011 ACC show, an experience that led to some life-changing decisions, I am super stoked to have been selected to exhibit my designs on the main floor of the ACC next year. I have plans for many exciting new designs to work up in the winter months, so I hope you'll stay tuned!

American Craft Council Show

I am very excited to announce that I will be presenting my designs at the American Craft Council Show in Baltimore, Maryland, February 24-27, 2011!  I will be in the "Alt Craft" (Emerging Artist) section, Booth #16.

 On display and available for purchase at the ACC show will be many of my most popular knit designs.  I will also introduce a selection of new designs at this event, in colors and materials perfect for late winter, spring, and summer wear.  Presenting my work at this revered and popular event is an honor and a wonderful opportunity for me to showcase my designs in person.  Visitors to my booth at the ACC will be able to try on the pieces from my collection, including scarves, wraps, cowls, hats, and gloves, to purchase their favorites, and to place custom orders.

 

Please visit the ACC website for complete details about show hours and location:
http://public.craftcouncil.org/2011/39

Elena Rosenberg / Tickled Pink Knits at the ACC show - http://public.craftcouncil.org/2011/39/8/21609