Mood Fabrics from Project Runway

Mood Fabrics was so inspirational!  As many of you may know Mood Fabrics is the fabric shop on the hit television show Project Runway.  Mood is located in Manhattan, fashion district.  The store is two floors full of luxurious fabrics and trims.  I felt like a kid in a candy store.  My favorite part was meeting Denise, a worker there, who was also a textile design major at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology).

We discussed our education, backgrounds, and interests.  Denise told me about her experience working as a temp at Express.  She felt it was a little too corporate for her.  I appreciated her honesty.  One of the most important things when beginning your career is to know about YOURSELF and what kind of environment you can really thrive in.

She told me about Amy Butler textiles which I love!  Amy Butler's designs are Midwest Chic.  She uses a beautiful color palette and exquisite designs full of rich hand painted textures.  If you live in Buffalo, NY you can purchase the fabrics on Elmwood Ave at Elmwood Village Fabrics (which was featured at the Mass Appeal Fashion Show 2010 in the wearable art segment).  Elmwood Village Fabrics is a great place to go for inspiration if you're feeling stuck on your next project. http://www.elmwoodvillagefabrics.com/home.html


Visiting Mood Fabrics reminded me of my old days at the University at Buffalo hanging out in the costume/theater closets drawing shoes, hats, and accessories.  I found such peace surrounded by these fashion items.  Do you ever have those aha! moments (as Oprah calls them)?  Those moments when everything in the world starts to make sense?  That's how I feel when my graphic design, marketing, and fashion background all come together.  Every little experience adds to where you will go and what you will be.

In our studio
Right now at Rice Rafferty we're preparing items for our holiday sale at Chatham University (Chatham College) in Pittsburgh, PA.  We're also getting ready for an upcoming fashion photo shoot - more details soon.  I'm also planning a trip to Toronto soon to investigate their fashion district and report back.  Does anyone have recommendations on where to go?  I also want to check out their shoe museum!

And Yes, the above textile is designed by me.  I hand painted flower motifs and created a repeat pattern.   You can also learn how to do this by taking a textile design class at Buffalo State College, which is one of the best in the United States for fashion.  The class is taught by the head of the fashion department Professor Elaine Polvinen.

A family that goes to art galleries together stays together

This past weekend was Beyond In Western New York.  All the galleries were open in Buffalo with no admission fee.  Buffalo is a rather small city with an extremely large arts community.  I personally feel Buffalo should restore historic buildings downtown and turn them into art buildings like at SCAD in Savannah, Georgia or Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI.  Buffalo could use an art institute or something.

My family and I gallery hopped Friday - Sunday.  I believe a family that goes to art galleries together stays together.  We've been going to art shows/openings all my life.  We were more of an art gallery, reenactment group, Williamsburg visiting kind of family rather than going to amusement parks.

This weekend we went to: 

Albright Knox Art Museum
CEPA Gallery
Burchfield Penney Art Museum
Big Orbit 
El Museo Francisco Oller y Diego River
Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center
Hi-Temp Fabrication
Hotel Lafayette
Squeaky Wheel
Starlight Studio and Art Gallery 
Western New York Book Arts Center
Carnegie Art Center 
Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society
Anderson Gallery
UB Center for the Arts Gallery

It was quite a weekend!  Now rice rafferty is newly inspired and ready to get back to the studio to continue making things!

Skinny Scarves

We've been making devore SKINNY SCARVES in our studio! Skinny scarves are super fun to wear - they're stylish and warm! Wear with all black or dress up a blouse and jeans.

We make the skinny scarves in an array of colors. Each one is hand dyed and burnt out with a unique pattern design (made by us). These scarves are wearable art. Tell us which ones you like. It's also great to wear more than one scarf at a time for a colorful, layered effect. We sell in museum shops and you can visit our online shop at www.ricerafferty.etsy.com

Scarves Scarves Scarves

Our luxurious fabric shimmers and shines in every type of lighting. Each hand dyed velvet devore scarf is burned out with a unique pattern design. Our devore scarves are one of a kind wearable art.

Each scarf is made from individually designed motifs, burnt out by hand and hand dyed. The scarves look like luscious pieces of candy when finished, coming in an a glorious array of colors - blues, purples, oranges, yellows, greens, reds. NOTE: These scarves are not your typical commercial scarves; they're better!

Devore is french for devour. It occurs when sodium bisulphate is applied to the cloth, dried, then heated. The heat process causes the sodium bisulphate to eat away at the fabric, leaving the treated area transparent.

In the areas where the devore is burnt out the material is transparent. These scarves really play with lighting through its shimmery fabric and shear sexiness. Our scarves are currently sold online and in museum shops.

Visit our shoppe: http://ricerafferty.etsy.com

Kara's Rainy Summer 2009 Top 10 List!

LOVE THIS! http://www.thebargainqueen.com

We can't let the rain and cold stop us from enjoying summer. Summer is about more than the heat. It's a state of mind.

Check out my summer top 10 ways to enjoy summer 2009:

1. sunscreen - the smell of sunscreen just screams summer to me...it might be the fact that I'm so pale so i always had to lather up as a child (never go anywhere without it if you want to stay wrinkle free)

2. museums, summer concerts, food festivals - Don't let the rain stop you. Look on the bright side; the lines will be shorter.

3. waterproof mascara

4. rain-boots and umbrella (choose one with a fun print and bright colors)

5. flip flops - I just bought some Tiva's that I love! very comfy!

6. sundress with leggings

7. summer songs on the ipod (Miles Davis - Summertime, Go Go's - Vacation, Beach Boys - Surfin' USA, and new summer hits of 2009)

8. patio lamp (to stay warm while trying to enjoy these cool summer evenings!)

9. fruit picking (all the rain has made the fruit nice and plump)

10. vintage inspired swimsuit

Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer...

Since the summer isn't getting super hot I'm finding other ways to make the summer entertaining. Attending local festivals, fruit picking weekend getaways around New York State, music events, museums, and of course making more artwork and designs! Rain or shine make it a priority to make this summer a special one. Call up an old friend, make a new one, or just sit and enjoy a sunset.

Video - Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer - Nat King Cole http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj76br_aLdQ