While I’m away, and sitting oceanside, Erin Loechner of Design for Mankind is filling in for me today with some finds that are just prefect for the beach!  - jen

By  guest contributor Erin Loechner

There’s just something to be said for a day at the beach, and while I’m endlessly jealous of our dear Jen’s travels at the moment, I can have just as much fun in my dreams. Right? Right.

Come along with me as I hit the white sand and blue waves — virtually, of course!

[image credits, clockwise from left to right: far fetch, net-a-porter, far fetch, matches fashion, art promos, vivre, net-a-porter, bird, home depot]

[image credits, clockwise from left to right: huset shop, tonic living, horne, designme, pebbles to sand, my sugarland, crate and barrel, crate and barrel]

You smell the salt in the air, don’t you? Me, too. Bon voyage, Jen!

About the contributor: Writer Erin Loechner launched award-winning DesignforMankind.com in 2007 as a catalog for the overflowing inspiration found while researching design day and night. Her work has been featured in Glamour, Dwell, Print, Nylon and ReadyMade, where she regularly blogs. Erin is a former AOL editor and currently shares her adventures in home renovations on HGTV.com. She can recite all fifty states in alphabetical order in less than fourteen seconds.

Continuing with a fashion theme for today’s Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx, I’ve interviewed Maria Lucia Squillari of LarimeLoom. I’ve featured Lucia’s stunning, yet simple, fashions many times on Indie Fixx (here, here & here) and I thought it might be time to get to know the artist behind the designs.

1. So, what do you create & sell and how did you get your start?

I make clothes & sell them on etsy. I was making handwoven scarves and shawls when I first joined, but gradually got more and more in to sewing, till I started only making clothes as I started getting better at it.

2. What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst?

The best thing is the total liberty of doing what I want when I want. Of course, I must stay on top of orders and requests and shipments, but the *knowing* I can decide of my time at any moment makes it so much more pleasant.

The not so good aspect is I sometimes end up working all day, which can be tiring.

3. What are your inspirations in your art and life?

I like looking at shop windows and pretty dresses in magazines. The little details, fabric & color combos and solutions I would not have thought of are definitely of inspiration.

4. What’s a typical day like for you?

I don’t really have a typical day. Some days I sew the whole time, others I spend catching up with shipments and still others are spent taking photos and listing goods in my shop. I like the variety!

5. What’s been your biggest accomplishment so far?

This dress. I made it before I ever knew of etsy, and it’s made with little bits of handwoven remnants sewn over and over with the sewing machine till it formed a new fabric. It took forever to make!!

6. What’s new or in works?

I love spinning and started a separate etsy shop for my handspuns a few months ago.

You know I’m a cat person..I started the Indie Cats Flickr Group after all, but I do love the work of artist Gemma Correll and I know that some of you are dog people. That’s why I decided to feature All-Mighty,  a shop that sells cute mighty dog themed illustrated tees, accessories & gifts as well as clothing.

The All-Mighty group, made up of two sisters and a Boston Terrier named Mighty, recently teamed up with Gemma Correll who is a self-professed Pug lover and creator of Pug art. Gemma created some Pug designs that are exclusive to the shop, and which are just totally adorable. The shop also carries some of Gemma’s Pug Not Drugs totes as well. They make a wonderful complement to the Boston Terrier goodies!

I’ve got more fashion for today’s Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx. Last week I interview Snoozer Loser NY  founder Sonia Tay, and today I’m sharing my interview with Allison Smith of Allison Wonderland. Allison had recently released her divine spring & summer 2010 collection and I love it. It’s flirty, yet sophisticated, and structured without being severe. If you like what you see, visit Allison Wonderland after reading the interview.

1.Tell us a little about yourself and your work.

My name is Allison Smith and my line is called Allison Wonderland. I aim to make clothes that work in real life for actual bodies. But have them be super cute and hot as well!!

2. What’s your creative process like?

I start with a rough sketch, make that up and then redo it a thousand times until I’m happy with it. At some point there are usually tears.

3. Share some of your inspirations.

Daydreaming is a huge inspiration. Imagining what outfit would be best to wear out to dinner at some new spot. Or thinking about what to wear to work in an office and still looking awesome. I like thinking about all the different types of women out there and wondering what they would like.

4. What’s a typical day like for you?

There really is no typical day, fashion being so cyclical everything does repeat every six months. Sometimes it feels like everything is happening at once, samples need to be done, shot and shown and at the same time the current season needs to be delivered to stores. Every morning starts with 5 mins of cat blogs.

5. What blogs and mags do you read and what shops do you shop at?

I read British Vogue and look at a few Japanese mags. I am feeling like I need to discover a few new blogs, I’m bored with the ones I look at now. I am pretty lazy about shopping and only shop in my neighbourhoods. Luckily my studio is in Gastown and there are great shops. I go to Dutil, Dream, One and Two of a Few and the Block.

6. Share something silly about yourself.

Where do I start, it’s all silly!!

7. What 3 things can’t you live without?

Coffee, mystery books and riding my bike

8. What’s new or in works?

It is in between seasons right now with spring/summer 11 up very shortly. I like to give my head a break in between, not think too much about what is next and try to start from a clear perspective. Of course, it’s impossible not to have a few ideas brewing. I really want to make a new spring jacket for myself which will most likely pop up in s/s 11.

For today’s Wednesday Indie Artist Fixx, I interviewed Snoozer Loser NY  founder Sonia Tay. With summer fast approaching (I know it’s only April, but you know it will be here before we know it!), I thought you all might like to take a look at their new Spring/Summer collection. There’s lots of sweetly gauzy tops and dresses just perfect for the dog days.

But 1st, the interview.

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your work. How did you get your start?

Snoozer Loser NY is clothing label that grew organically from an art collective (Snoozer Loser Collective) I founded in 2005. The line is created domestically in NYC. All the fabric used in the line is hand-printed with eco-friendly pigments and dyes. The jewelry is hand-crafted in our studio with love and care.

2. What’s the best thing about what you do? And the worst?

Getting to conceptualize the line each season. Traveling to interesting places to source new interesting objects
and inspiration to bring to my customers. The worst? Bookkeeping.

3. What’s a typical day like for you?

My days are always unpredictable which I’ve learned to embrace being an Aries! When I’m in the studio I am
experimenting with different prints/ researching new designs. When I am out of studio, I am doing
pretty mundane clerical work or sourcing new material.

4. Share some of your favorite fashion designers.

Kim Gordon’s label in the 90’s (X-girl) was a favorite of mine growing up. I also loved Sofia Coppola’s brand MilkFed.

5. What are some of your inspirations?

New Mexico, Henry Darger, Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal, rock and roll, Litchfield County, Marfa, and
the inspiring and always stylish gals of downtown NYC.

6. What 3 things can’t you live without?

masking tape, chapstick, the ocean.

7. What’s new or in works?

Fall/Winter 2010 prints and a new video presentation to go with

Today I’m guest blogging over on Going Home to Roost where I’m sharing some Garden Chic fashions. I found so many wonderful items when working on my post that I decided to do a sister post on Indie Fixx as well.

Some of these goodies are totally practical, while others are just not, but don’t let a little think like that stop you from looking oh so garden chic!  See more of my pixx in my post on Going Home to Roost.

Also, be sure to enter thegiveaway for a Going Home to Roost designed pillow in the giveaway sponsored by Green Rainbow Shop! ENTER HERE!

1. Rainmaker Necklace from natural historie
2. Gardeners Paradise apron from Going Home to Roost
3. Geometric Chickens Tee by partybots
4. Sunhat by hodgepodgefarm
5. Smock Apron by HandmaidensCottage
6. Grow Your Own Food Tee by happyfamily
7. Forest Green and Natural Fedora Hat by onnesti
8. Asparagus with Bee at Night Tee from Ahpeele
9. Rooster Love Scarf by CypressInk
10. Garden  Apron by Karisma28
11. Wonderful Wellie Warmers by naturallyfelt
12. Denim Jumper by breadandroses2