heysusy

Moving Day!

Well, the day has finally come when I can show you what I've been working on over the summer, and into the fall. My new Susy Jack* website is now live, and starting with my next post, I will have a new home for my blogging, also.

Starting on Monday, I'll be posting over here at my new blog, exclusively. I'm thrilled to finally have my blog, shop, and studio in one venue. I hope you'll come and visit me often... I'll be posting more of my own work in style, pattern design, product design, and lifestyle, and of course, waxing poetic on paper clips and top hats, now and then.

See you on the flip side...

Can't wait.  xo! S

 

BAG HAG

 

Hi All. A short post today. But if looking at this bag makes you feel as good as it makes me feel...well, I think I've done my job.

Found here!

Makers Mark { Rachel Rose }

 

You know how sometimes, you see something someone made and it just says "Hello!" ...And it just looks so RIGHT to you? Well, that's how my mind responded to Brooklyn-based Rachel Rose 's creations when I came across her shop over the weekend on Etsy. The combination of these hand-created ink dot pattern explorations and the simple standard template for the shirt itself really delights me.

In other news, I worked on a little sewing project of my own this weekend, which has been a longtime dream. I am learning to make my own clothing. I have always wanted to be able to make my own clothes, because I can almost never find what I want in stores. So, I hope to share a little more about that later in the week, or next week.

Enjoy your Mondays All! 

Summer Lovin { flip flop bangles }

I have horrible feet and the idea of wearing flipflops gives me hives.

However, I suppose I would wear these. Yeah. I would.

And the price is nice too. Only 9.50 for 10

 

Come Away With Me

Image via Cuba Gallery

Greetings Earthlings...

Well I am back to my blog after a time away. You know...sometimes, the internet just overwhelms me, and I realize I am spending way too much time online, and not enough doing the things, and being with the people, that help sustain me. I start feeling kind of scattered and lost. And when that happens, I know it's time to hide for a while.

Lately, I find myself collecting lots of textures...an interesting thing for me to do since for so long, my design style has been about flattening everything out. Over the weekend, though I had a little cold, I assembled this grouping up here. The Scrummy surfer Baja look is trending pretty big right now...so I wanted to add some of my own picks. The trick with this look is to add the right notes that say one is AWARE of the trend, without looking like you've been sleeping in the same drug rug in a beach shack for 40 hazy nights. Although, actually... that could be fun, too.

Love this creatively rough way accent a structural accessory: here and here
The geometric accent on this bag gives an urban edge: here
A really versitile and wearable way to channel the iconic Drug Rug: here
And,I can't figure out if I like the bottom or the top of of this huarache wedge sandal better: here

 

Grubby Mitts

Happy Monday, All. Not a huge post for today...but hopefully a nice one all the same. I am going to be pretty busy this week doing follow ups from the Stationery Show and making sure all the New Product is ready to ship out on time.

But I really loved these little gems from The Lake and Stars...and consider this pattern design to be really interesting. Thumbprints -- perfect for underwear. But I can also see these as a really interesting exploration on...say...white denim jeans? I think they're at once really trend forward, quite beautiful and expressive...and yet pretty funny, without being overly ironic. What do you think?

Images found here

Take a Bow

Lots of people confuse design with styling or decorating. Not that styling and decorating are invalid...but I think it's important to consider the distinction, in terms of working creatively. Design involves more than just application, and in a way, it goes very deep. Design uses form, symbol, reference, and context to create something new and thought provoking...and of some use.

That being said, I consider these reversible bowties to be actual design. I really love the reference of the bowtie, with the traditional colors and patterns, flipped on it's head to make something wacky yet informed...

I came late to this party - they're no longer available. But they were originally designed by this person for this company.

The Bangles

There are certain things that make me feel wealthy even if I am not. One of those things is carrying a baguette sticking out of my totebag. Another is wearing old loafers while riding my bike. Another is drinking scotch on the rocks. There are not many, but there are a few tried and true methods that make me feel old money when I *could* be feeling no money.

One method I engage in daily, is wearing one big bracelet. Each morning, when I get dressed I...Hey....Wait...What are you doing??? Oh dear...I said ONE piece...Um...I see you are having trouble moving your arm. Too many bangles, perhaps. LIke I said, I do not recommend wearing all of these up here at the same time. Well, yes, of course, you may do as you see fit.

Anyhoo, I'd wear the one at the very bottom. The hinged style reminds me of something my mom would have in her jewelry box. Many designers are doing some really nice things with resin this spring - especially Marc Jacobs. 

Top to bottom: Marc Jacobs, French Connection, Marc Jacobs, Sobral, Kenneth Cole

The Latest { Carven }

 

I'm going to come right out and say that Carven is going to be the next Tucker...

Even though Carven has been around since the 1940's (so the analogy isn't quite accurate), I'm making this statement because of something special I see in their clothes, something that I think the market will be particularly receptive to. There is a desirable quality and an excellence to everything about these clothes, which reminds me of when I first saw Gaby Basora's clothes. And the S/S collection is so well selected, versatile, simple, strong, sophisticated, and yet...so irrisistably feminine.

I also love that these clothes would look great on.  They would be fresh on a young girl, AND chic on an older woman. That is really hard to achieve. I also love that this model below is wearing stockings. I'm 35 and think it's about time to abandon the bare leg for something more forgiving.

Are you with me?

Much more at their site, plus a video with their A/W 2011 collection here (defintley read their history.)
Shots of Separates - (These are THE shoes) from S/S 2011 here

Folk Art-ifact

I walked the NYIGF for a day with a few friends, and while I was there, we visited Odette's booth. I was instantly taken by designer Jennifer Sarkilahti's soon-to-be launched collection called "Minerva Divinus". The necklace in the top photo is part of it. 

I really love the textures she's using... they remind me of woodblock printing and linocut (see below), and defnitely give this entire line an artifact-y look, a great contrast of glowing metal with the brooding texture of a dark, folk art print... So very thoughtful, conveying a unique idea, using larger, thoughtful shapes and symbolic cutouts, and combining them with a really unique texture, to great effect. Just love the powerful mood coming through.

More on the Minerva Divinus series by Odette NY here
Woodcut Texture Example found here- from a piece by Lauren Bakoian.

ps. I forgot to mention that I think I see a little owl face hiding in the pendant up there - which is really cool because the owl was Minerva's (Athena's) symbol. More about Minerva here - really cool!