Farewell 2012 Sale

Now, through December 15, 2012, enjoy 20% off all purchases in my online shop. All of the items currently in the shop are ready-made and ready-to-ship. You will find several dozen hand-knit and crochet pieces in a variety of styles and colors, from delicate silk necklaces to substantial and toasty merino wool capelets, from versatile year-round wraps to chic cowls. Treat yourself or your loved ones to something lovely and luxurious from my wearable fiber art collection, and help me make room in the studio for my new 2013 designs. Here's a small sampling of what you'll find in the shop.

Please use code "FAREWELL 2012" at checkout to receive 20% off your purchase.

P.S. My online shop has been re-named for 2013, TickledPinkKnits.etsy.com is now ElenaRosenberg.etsy.com. Welcome!

 

Handmade Gifts Guide

As you select gifts for your loved ones this holiday season, I hope you will consider the beauty, uniqueness, and character of hand-crafted gifts, made by artists and craftmakers either in your neighborhood or in a faraway corner of the world. Here is a selection of items made by artists whom I know, whose pieces I own and cherish, or whose work I admire. Happy thoughtful shopping, everyone!

Oh, and if you are up for treating yourself or a loved one to a hand-knit piece from my wearable fiber collection, please enjoy complimentary shipping, now through November 26, on all orders placed in my Online Shop (just enter code "ilovehandmade" at checkout).

Top Row, left to right:

Handwoven Table Runner by Kate Kilgus (Nutfield Weaver), New Hampshire, US

Miss Cabbage Letterpress Print by Lori Langille (Automatism Atelier) Ontario, Canada

"Sheltering" Collagraph Print by Kathleen Buchanan (Grey Seal Press), Maine, US

 

Middle Row, left to right:

Queen Anne's Lace Eco-Printed Towel by Lotta Helleberg, Virginia, US

"Game Changer" Cloche Hat by Terry Graziano, Illinois, US

Seashells from Repurposed Sweaters by Eve Geisler (EvesLittleEarthlings), Ontario, Canada

 

Bottom Row, left to right:

"Hedgehogs in Apple Orchard" Wall Plaque by Margaret Wozniak, New York, US

"Gnarly Twig" Sterling Silver Earrings by Barbara Michelle Jacobs (BMJNYC), New York, US

Ranunculus Photograph Print by Jessica Nichols (Sweet Eventide), Oregon, US

 

 

New Work and Upcoming Fall 2012 Events

I have a few new designs and pieces to share with you today. I also want to let you know about two NYC-area events where I will be presenting my designs in the next few weeks.

Persimmon Orange Botanical Lace Knit Capelet in Merino Wool
This is a very versatile design in that it can be worn as a capelet, a shoulder warmer,
and a dramatic cowl scarf (see photos below).

Botanical Lace Knit Capelet in Organic Merino Wool

Botanical Lace Knit Capelet in Bamboo & Silk

First up is CraftWestport in Westport, CT. This show takes place Saturday & Sunday, November 17 & 18, 2012.  For directions, hours, and a discount admission coupon, visit the show's website.

Produced by Artrider and sponsored by The Westport Young Woman's League, this event will feature 160 contemporary craft artists working in fiber, jewelry, wood, ceramics, and glass. Although this will be my first Connecticut show, I have met many fans from Connecticut at my earlier shows in MA and NY, so I am looking forward to CraftWestport very much. I look forward to showing my new designs as well as the familiar favorites and bestsellers.

Merino Wool Blend Knit Infinity Cowl

"Victoriana" Knit Scarflette in Chunky Merino Wool

Fiber Art Jewelry - Necklace - 100% Silk

Knit Wrap in Merino Wool & Cashmere - Mustard Yellow

Two weeks after CraftWestport, I will travel to Morristown, NJ for Holiday CraftMorristown. This show is perfectly timed for the holidays and is three days long - Friday, Saturday, Sunday, November 30 through December 2, 2012. NOTE: I have several COMPLIMENTARY admission passes to this show that I would be happy to mail to you. Please get in touch if you are interested in visiting me at Holiday CraftMorristown.

I hope to see some of you at these events. And for those of you who are not in the area, my online shop remains open for the holiday season. Most of the items in the online shop are ready-made, and I will have time for only a few, if any, custom orders this season. If you have had your eye on a knit treat for yourself or a loved one, I invite you to shop early for the best selection. You are always welcome to get in touch with me to discuss a bespoke knit piece, just note that production time is likely to be at least several weeks.  Visit the Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art Shop Online (Tickled Pink Knits on Etsy).

Stay tuned for news of 2013 events -- I have several exciting opportunities already lined up!


Fiber Art Jewelry - Lace Necklace / Lariat - Terra Cotta - 100% Silk

TAFA Tour: Get to know the Textile And Fiber Art List community

Several months ago, I joined a wonderful organization -- TAFA, The Textile and Fiber Art List. With several hundred members from all around the world, TAFA is a juried online community of artists, small businesses, and entrepreneurs, all rooted in textile and fiber art products and traditions. Among its members are quilt artists, studio weavers and embroiderers, wearable art designers, art doll makers, vintage textile purveyors, art educators, and many more types of creative people passionate about fiber art. TAFA has a vibrant website and an active presence on Facebook. TAFA members frequently participate in art and fine craft exhibitions and shows. You can buy work by many TAFA members online.  I am happy to be part of this marvelous organization, and I want to introduce you to just a handful of its members. Visit The Textile and Fiber Art List online to learn more and see work by many other talented TAFA members.

Salley Mavor of Wee Folk Studio is an award-winning fiber artist who creates three-dimensional, extraordinarily detailed fabric relief miniatures. Her work has been used to illustrate numerous children's books, and the original fabric relief illustrations from her most recent project, Pocketful of Posies, are currently touring the country. I recently purchased one of Salley's (autographed!) books as a gift for my new nephew, and I was thoroughly enchanted by the magical worlds she creates with needle, thread, fabric, and found objects. See Salley at work and hear her talk about her work in Rabbitat.

Salley Mavor. Self-Portrait: A Personal History of Fashion.

The original fabric relief sculpture incorporates miniature dolls, which represent a year in the artist's life. The dolls spiral out from the center, passing through time, from birth to age 52. Each 1" to 3" figure is dressed in an outfit she would have worn that year. The piece is stitched entirely by hand, including the endless french knot pattern in the border.

 

Dianne Koppisch Hricko has had a long career in art education and now works as a fiber artist specializing in wearable and non-functional dyed and painted silk. I am drawn to the use of botanical and abstract motifs and unusual color palettes in her work.

Dianne Koppisch Hricko. Cascade2007
18 x 54 inches
Two sided lined hanging. Hand painted, stamped and breakdown printed with MX dyes on silk organza.
Serged, hand stitched and beaded.

 

Lotta Helleberg is a contemporary textile artist and surface designer whose work I have admired for several years. She uses plants from her Virginia garden for fabric dyes and also includes them in natural printing techniques such as leaf-printing.  I met Lotta through Etsy a while ago and was fortunate to meet her, however briefly, in person, when she came to visit me at the American Craft Council Show in Baltimore in February 2012.  I have a growing collection of Lotta's work, and as someone who continually experiments with new techniques and directions, she never ceases to surprise and intrigue me. Her online shop currently has a bounty of art quilts, home linens, and artist books.

 

Lotta Helleberg. Forest Floor.
leaf printed, plant dyed linen, wool thread,
hand stitched
21" x 33"



Betty Busby, a RISD graduate in ceramics, has worked as a fiber artist for nearly two decades. Her magnificent, very richly hued art quilts and collages have won many international awards.  I am particularly drawn to the textures and mesmerizing patterns of her "Macro" series. In her online shop, Betty has work that would please the tastes and budgets of new and seasoned fiber art collectors alike. 

 

Betty Busby. Tentacular
art quilt, 59" x 52"

 

TAFA, the Textile And Fiber Art List, owes its existence, spirit, and success to its visionary founder, amazing woman, and friend, Rachel Biel. In addition to running TAFA, Rachel heads up an emporium for textile addicts, Rayela. Find out more about Rachel's journey, art, and services for other artists and creative entrepreneurs on her website, Rayela.Com.

 

Left: Rachel Biel, a collage from Rayela.com
Right: Yo-yo Textile by Rachel Biel

 

 

Interviewed by The New York Botanical Garden

Last month, I was interviewed by The New York Botanical Garden for their blog, Plant Talk, about my new collection of nature-inspired fiber art jewelry and accessories. I really enjoyed thinking about and responding to the questions they posed. You can read the interview and see examples of my work here, view more designs from the collection here, and find a few of them in the shop too.  I am enjoying this new direction in my work very, very much, and I look forward to sharing new pieces from this botanically themed collection with you soon.



A collage of photographs of seaweed I took on the shores of Nantucket Sound during the summer 2012, alongside examples of my jewelry and accessories that were inspired by seaweed and other nature forms.


The collage pictured above had a very warm reception on Facebook, when I posted it to my Facebook Artist Page, with nods from the American Craft Council, Craft Alliance, New Zealand's Craft Aotearoa, and many others.

Also in September, I was a 'Guest Pinner' for The New York Botanical Garden on Pinterest, where I curated this lovely board on nature-inspired textiles and fiber art.

For other recent press mentions, stop by my new Press page. As always, my heartfelt thanks for your interest in and support of my work!

HIGH FIBER Exhibit, San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles

Several of my pieces, including a few designs from my new collection of fiber art jewelry, are currently part of the HIGH FIBER Exhibit at the San Jose Museum of Quilts And Textiles. The show opened on October 20 and runs through November 4, 2012. One of my pieces (an OLIVA Necklace) is featured in the exhibition announcement.

High Fiber is the Museum's signature benefit art sale created to generate support for both fiber artists and the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles.  A juried exhibition of over 250 works by established and emerging artists, High Fiber is an inspiring showcase for a wide variety of textile art forms including quilts, jewelry, tapestries, wall-hangings, sculpture, and wearable art where fiber plays a prominent role.  If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, I hope you will make time to visit this splendid show.

While in California this past summer, I had the opportunity to spend some time at this wonderful, off-the-beaten-path, intimate and unusual museum. It is a treat to have been selected to be part of an exhibit there.

My fiber art jewelry line is growing and evolving daily. You can view and purchase several of the designs in the online shop and come to one of my upcoming shows to view an even greater selection of unique and whimsical textile/fiber jewelry designs.

UPDATE: This exhibit & sale is now online and will stay open through December 9! Visit and view many fantastic works of fiber art.

Upcoming Events:

Craft at Purchase, Purchase, NY, November 2-4, 2012

CraftWestport, Westport, CT, November 17-18, 2012

Holiday CraftMorristown, Morristown, NJ, November 30-December 2, 2012


Follow my Artist Page on Facebook for more updates, photos, and news.

Editorial Photo Shoot - Elena Rosenberg Designs

A selection of my knit fashion designs was recently part of an amazing editorial-style photo shoot in NYC. Aren't these images absolutely stunning?

On another note, the Collection galleries on my website have been spruced up, and many new designs are now in the online shop.  Also see the schedule of my Fall 2012 shows, with appearances in NYC, Northampton MA, Westport CT, Morristown NJ, and Purchase NY.

Organic Merino Wool Knit Wrap

 

 

Merino Wool Knit Gauntlets

Organic Merino Wool Knit Wrap

Merino Wool & Cashmere Knit Cowl

 

Organic Merino Wool Knit Wrap & Merino Wool Arm Gauntlets

 

Photographed by Ben Shaul, styled by Karin Zambrano. 



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!