Let's Picnic...!

Last weekend I was invited to an outdoor picnic-themed birthday celebration in honor of my brother's lady, Diana.  The festivities took place at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains...a lovely spot called Eaton Canyon.  Diana designed and created the most amazing invites to go along with the picnic theme.  The following are images taken throughout the festivities...

Home Made Pineapple-Mint and Berry Blended Drinks

The lovely Matilija Poppy

Beyond the field of Matilija Poppies

Leaves of three...let it be.  I managed to avoid both natives...

Los Angles Renegade Fair: The Third Time's The Charm!

Hello!  I'm so happy to share that I'll be setting up shop at this summer's Renegade Fair in Los Angeles with my friends and fellow booth mates, Kattuna and Bow's and Anchors...Woohoo!  We've been working REALLY hard to create new product to share with the people of Los Angeles (and beyond!). I've had the AMAZING experience and opportunity to participate in the last two Renegade Fairs with these two talented gals and I'm absolutely besides myself that we get to do it again :)  Come by and say Hello!!  We have a primo location this year...booth#114...check it out below:

Enchanted Annie...

My friend's daughter turned 4 recently, and as a birthday gift this year, I decided to transform a plain, knit American Apparel ballet dress into an enchanted flower fairy dress (with wings on the back to complete the transformation)...!  She was so sweet to model the dress at the Butterfly Pavillion (Los Angeles Natural History Museum)...Thanks Annie!!!  You made the Fairies smile...

Lady For a Day...

Add some extra whimsy to your baby's wardrobe with a floral "lady blouse" and forest animal "collared blouse" onesie from made by l'moore...Coming soon to Esty!!

For Your Stylish Little One...

My friends' adorable children have been the inspiration of many crafty creations over the past few years.  I have a particular fondness for creating embellished baby onesies, and have found that they make lovely baby shower gifts...Here are just a few of my faves... 

Meet Rowen...

Little man looking sharp in his neck-tie onesie...

Taking a nap in his owl onesie...

Meet Ashley!!

Her mother's obsession with piggies inspired an entire collection of pig-themed onesies...

See You This Weekend...!!!

In less than a week, I will be setting up shop again at the 2nd annual Renegade Holiday Craft Fair in the lovely city of Los Angeles.  Once again I will  have the pleasure of sharing a booth with two very talented, original and acclaimed artists, Kattuna and Bows and Anchors.  Together we'll be selling felted mushroom tree ornaments, reversible necklaces, felt pom pom rings, cross stitching patterns, cross stitched creations, hand made felt ornaments, hair accessories, purses and doggie bow ties.  Come by and say hello!

The Camera Embroider-a...

So ages ago, my Dad gave me an old Brownie Starflex camera (with an equally old Kodalite Midget Flashholder attached).  Besides the funky twin lenses, and the flashy chrome front plate, I la la loved marriage of random fonts printed across the plate....and of course the awkward flash screwed into the side...Oh!  And the viewfinder is great....Okay...so I loved everything about this yummy vintage gem.  I decided to embroider it for my Dad so he can hang it up in his office...I still have a while to go...Updates to follow....

Art in the Streets (hi-lites)...

Growing up in Los Angeles and it's environs, I've had a love hate relationship with graffiti.  Since I was a teenager, I've traced countless anonymous works with my eyes while sitting in traffic...and have marveled at the colorful dynamic shapes covering grey cement overpasses and grimy freeway walls... secretly admiring the artists' brazenness.  I've also cursed their egotistical ignorance for spray painting nonsense on top of trees, rocks, murals and over historical monuments...  

When I lived in Brooklyn the highlight of my walks to and from the L train were spotting newly posted wheat-pasted signs and stenciled images that popped up everywhere imaginable.  These walks sparked my appreciation for Swoon's paper cut outs, of which I would snap photos of on my trusty Kodak disposable camera.

Flashforward almost 10 years later, I was given the opportunity to take a behind the scenes tour with one of the curators of Art in the Streets at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.  I have to say, I was impressed with the collection (I finally lost my Banksy-virginity), but a little disappointed they didn't highlight Los Angeles legend "Chaka"(jaja).  Seeing my first Swoon in an actual gallery setting and of course made up for Chaka's absence :)

Third Annual Los Angeles Renegade Craft Fair...

Finally, the Renegade Fair had arrived!  My booth-mates (Bows and Anchors and Kattuna) and I had spent many weeks creating, planning and prepping for this fabulous event.  With the help of family, friends and many many hours of hard work, we were able to create a lovely booth and unique works of art.  Here are a few images...

Thanks to Dave for the lovely animal statues, Alex for the awesome sign and to our booth helper Martha for your support!!!!  

Follow me to the Renegade Craft Fair...

Hi Folks!  I'm so so happy to announce that made by l'moore will be at the third annual Renegade Craft Fair in the City of Angels this summer!!  I'll be sharing a booth with two amazingly talented and hard working artists, Kattuna and Bows and Anchors.  Come and get your craft on, and support local indie artists and designers.  Don't let the shut down of 405 Freeway discourage you from leaving your homes this July weekend...Hop on your bikes!  Take the Metro!  Carpool with your crew!  Come by and say "Hello"...

Stories from the Sea...

This weekend my cousin and I hiked to Smuggler's Cove in San Pedro...It was an arduous journey (by my city gal standards) in 80 something degree heat, with only our wits (and the google maps gps system on my phone) to guide us.   Once we reached our destination, I was taken back by the textures and colors the low tide revealed along the shore.  I'll let the photos tell the story :)

Making do...

The first reversible necklace I ever made was for a job interview three years ago.  I had applied for a fashion design position at a notable global corporation...after many moons living (quite modestly) as a freelance designer.  This available position was, at the time, my idea of an absolute dream job, and to my absolute delight (and fright), I was called for an interview.  Fabulous, right??  Hmmmm....my every day wardrobe up to that point included sweat pants, comfy tees and mis-matched socks.  I had enough in my (modest) budget to buy a new top and a pair of shoes...but what I REALLY needed was something to pull the outfit together...something unique...and cheap (did I mention I was broke??).  I decided to make a necklace...using whatever I had handy...fabric scraps, left over foreign currency, embroidery floss and a cheap metal chain and voila!  I was hired two days later...Today the necklaces are made using die-cut metal discs and sterling silver Italian made chains...but the same spirit that motivated me to create the first piece, exists in each newly created piece.  Please visit my etsy shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/madebylmoore) to see more...

Spring Fleeing

Spring ushers in a sense of rebirth, renewal...and a return to Self.  Our senses come alive as the leaves and flowers come alive, and we are reminded that life is cyclical...beautiful...and fragile.  It's time to awaken from our Winter slumber and venture out into unfamiliar territory.  It's time to set out and discover new lands, new neighborhoods, and new quirks about ourselves.  In the interest of returning to ourselves, we must flee!  Pack up a satchel with only the essentials... 

This vintage-inspired satchel is packed with field guides to familiarize oneself with local bird and butterfly species, a fabulous coin purse from Bows and Anchors, and of course, the essential conversation piece...a reversible necklace from Made by L'moore...available soon on Etsy.


Leave now...Your life awaits!

Paper & Stone

Yesterday I took off work in honor of my Birthday.  After having lunch with my parents at Veggie Wokery,  I was told that my parents wanted to surprise me by taking me "somewhere special" in Norwalk.  Norwalk, eh?  I couldn't imagine anything "special" that would surprise me in Norwalk.  Are we going to get an oil change?  Perhaps walk around Costco?   I sat quiet in the back seat of my Dad's car, feeling 20 years younger, watching the drabness zoom past my window while listening to his easy listening radio station.

Hmmm....Norwalk...the city of my youth... I've spent countless hours, in every square inch of this city, with friends and loved ones...and have experienced every emotion and sensation possible in this semi-gritty suburb of Los Angeles...and still after accumulating so many vital life experiences that have aided in the formation of who I am (!), I still have the nerve to think of this city as nothing "special"...ordinary...drab...

We stopped at the Norwalk Sports Complex off of Norwalk Blvd. and parked.  My parents proceeded to explain that the night before, they attended a special Artist's Reception at this park in honor of an artist who travelled to Italy to bring back a slab of marble, which would eventually become a public art piece in front of the Norwalk Social Services building.

The artist John Fisher, set up the marble piece in the court yard of the sports complex, in order to bring art to the public, and display the process of his craft in public view.  Wow!!  What an awe inspiring idea...!  We spent the next hour chatting with John and his artist wife, Sandy Oppenheimer, about the importance of the public's interaction with art and how witnessing the process can effect lives.  After only an hour in the presence of these beautiful people and their works of art, I felt transformed...grateful and hopeful.  Thank you Norwalk for surprising me with such beauty and inspiration...

Adjacent to John's work space is an art gallery displaying more sculpture and Sandy's beautiful paper creations.  John and Sandy will be there creating/chiseling until late March.