Going Local: Elizabeth Yarborough Gets to Know the Sheep Behind the Yarn
For Elizabeth Yarborough, who makes awesome bangles like these under the name Yarbie, a key inspiration hub is also a place of production: She visits a close-to-SF farm to spin yarn and meet the animals she has to thank for it. Amazing, right? Dive on in…
“Wind Rush Farm is near Petaluma, California, just an hour’s drive from my home in San Francisco. Pictured here is a beautiful barn and courtyard where I spin sheep’s wool into yarn and then dye it using all-natural materials like onion skins and annatto seeds. My teachers are Mimi and Marlie, master yarn-spinners and lovely ladies, and classes always start with a visit to the pastures! Mimi invites people to learn more about yarn-making and farm life on her blog, too.” —elizabeth
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Going Local: Louisa Parris Does a Deep Bookstore Dive
Sad news for San Francisco: Louisa Parris, who makes downright stunning silk scarves like this one, has returned to her native England. But at least she’s willing to play U.K. correspondent! Here, she give us the scoop on her latest inspo discovery.
The jaw-dropping gallery that houses Louisa’s latest bookish obsession.
“For me, I would have to say a great bookshop is where I find new and fresh inspiration, and they usually come in the form of art-gallery bookshops. My last splurge came from a tiny shop inside The De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea, England. One of the wonderful books I found was on railways posters from the twenties and thirties.” —louisa
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Going Local: Sara Dudzinsky of Better Late Than Never Gets Down With Plant Life
Since Sara Dudzinsky composes many of the small-scale earrings and understated necklaces for her line Better Late Than Never of from-the-earth materials—think little chunks of tourmaline or even sea urchin spines—it’s hardly a shocker that she also looks to nature for inspiration. We’ll go ahead and let her tell it.
One of Sara’s pics that is best described as verdant.
“A good garden center has always been one of my favorite spots to visit for inspiration, and I currently enjoy going to the Portland Nursery. There are so many different colors, textures, and shapes. On top of that, I feel that a walk though all the beautiful plants really helps me relax my mind. When I get back into my studio, I can thick clearer and am more productive.” —sara
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Going Local: Laura Lombardi Talks Up Her Chicago ‘Hood
Last week, we were all about where designers are clocking time on the internet. Now, we’re delving into where they go for inspiration IRL—when they can take a break from email-answering and sample-making and all that business. Thankfully, jewelry extraordinaire Laura Lombardi doesn’t have to look very far to get her fix—see below.
Some snaps shot around Laura’s studio (that look shockingly in line with her jewelry).
“My favorite place to find inspiration in Chicago is the neighborhood surrounding my studio—the Near West Side/West Loop. I always have my eye out for interesting details on buildings and in the street. It’s primarily a post-industrial area, and there is not a lot of foot traffic. It’s interesting to see the way random pieces of refuse come together to form small vignettes—I take a lot of pictures.” —laura
