A Conversation in Design

I am well aware of the risk I take in answering a completely complimentary introduction by a dear friend with an equally complimentary acknowledgement, thank you and reply.  It's like those pairs of artists who are continually chewing on the awesomeness of the other,  always talking about how amazing the other is.  Yet with that very risk in mind (you know the one I mean- actors do it so well) I would just like to say that, my friend Natalie Chanin is AMAZING.  There.  Take it. 

I don't even remember which one of our "dates" together it was that she asked if she could work with some of my prints.  The first maybe?  But it was one immediate hard swallow + one breathy "of course" later that we took the first small steps to making something together. I've spoken here before about my interest in and love for her process, and the idea of having any tiny thing to do with it, really set my heart racing.  All the honor, and flattery aside, I just wanted to watch her work on this and see what would happen.  Witness my little tiny prints becoming something new and realized through another vision.

Her process is not a fast one.  Rather it is mindful, deliberate, deep-breath-inducing even.  I am a fast paced worker on many things, but I have never been more willing to be patient.  Delighting in the tiny "postcards" of progress (above) she would send to me from time to time.

Until just recently where I squealed (smiled, heart fluttered) getting to see the Little Honey print translated into a raw, pure language that only she could speak.


And there it is.  A friendship set in cloth.  Stories exchanged, phone calls dialed, texts tapped, art drawn, threads pulled, a conversation had.  Stencils shown above promising an even deeper walk into our chapter.  Rolling out over the next several weeks, as fall creeps in.

I am beyond honored, and feel very humbled.  Every visit with Natalie makes me feel like I've just had a much needed drink of water, and I can't help but feel the same after looking through her work.

Enjoy a look at our Little Flowers blossoming here and there in her Fall Denim Collection.
Thank you Natalie.
xo, Anna Maria