[caption id="attachment_3621" align="aligncenter" width="647" caption="Images Via New Friends"][/caption] Kelly Rakowski is a graphic designer, textile designer, prop stylist, photo editor, image researcher, and blogger. Whether she is searching the internet's deepest depths for her blog Nothing Is New, or working on her newest project, New Friends, you can alway expect that she will come up with something that will catch your eye. LINE talks with Rakowski about her current happenings.
LINE: What are some of the projects you are currently working on? Kelly Rakowski: I am in deep working on weavings for New Friends (www.new-friends.us). Alex Segreti of Weird Friends (www.weirdfriends.tumblr.com) and I met online (via our blogs) and now make weavings together. Our first show opens the beginning of March, so we're busy finishing our collection. We're also going to design posters with images from both of our blogs. Expect lots of dogs and balls of yarn.
LINE: With your blog, Nothing is New, what do you look for in content? KR: I look for things that are on my mind. It's usually research for my own projects or life happenings. Image wise, I'm looking for things that are off kilter, something maybe you haven't seen before and will surprise. My go-to image searches are: woven, baskets, pink, ceramic, marble, shoes --- then I see what turns up in the old digital image archive.
LINE: You recently launched an online store. Are its offerings a reflection of your blog? KR: Yes. POSTRS are collages of images I found and posted on NisN. Just searching for images started to feel lazy, so I decided to make something out of my finds. New Friends weavings are also in the shop, which are really a woven mesh of inspiration from each of our blogs.
LINE: What is your favorite place in New York? KR: Parks. Any park in Brooklyn or Manhattan, they are always my destination. Every Sunday morning I get up, walk out the door, and head to McCarren Park, the dog run (just to watch, like a creep) and then down to one of the parks on the East River. My favorite park is a tiny slice of green in Cobble Hill. I renamed it 'Break-Up Park' after I witnessed from a park bench an emotional, French-like cinematic break up.
LINE: What are some of your favorite blogs to look at? KR: There are so many! But here are my fave blogspots (old school bloggers, pre tumblr days) www.internetkhole.blogspot.com, www.stoppingoffplace.blogspot.com, www.toysandtechniques.blogspot.com, www.referencelibrary.blogspot.com
LINE: What is your current state of mind? KR: Hot head stress! I'm on the search for a NYC apt. It's nasty out there.

[caption id="attachment_3600" align="aligncenter" width="647" caption="Image Courtesy of CLAM LAB"][/caption] Clair Catillaz of Brooklyn based pottery studio CLAM LAB talks with LINE.
LINE: In you words, what is CLAM LAB? Clair Catillaz: CLAM LAB is a line of handcrafted ceramic tableware. I believe in making things that people love to use, each piece is designed to be a versatile favorite. Every vessel is made by hand in my Bushwick studio.
LINE: Where did you grow up? CC: Outside of Rochester, NY, near the Finger Lakes. I moved to Brooklyn in 2006.
LINE: Where is your favorite place to escape? CC: I just found out about California. It's awesome! I'm going back at the end of the month. That Pacific Ocean is something else.
LINE: What are you favorite places in Brooklyn? CC: Aside from a short list of secret rooftops, I'll never tire of the BBG, Ft Greene Park, or Diner.
LINE: If you are throwing an impromptu dinner party, what do you cook? CC: If I have enough time, I'll braise something from The Meat Hook. Otherwise something simple; Batatas au gratin, kale salad, etc. Having a well stocked pantry leaves space for improvisation.
LINE: Do you have a favorite CLAM LAB piece? CC: Teapots are certainly the most fun to make, but I love using the blates more than anything else. Really though, my favorite thing doesn't exist yet. Soon enough. www.clamlab.com

The designer behind jewelry line Upper Metal Class speaks with LINE.
LINE: Where are you currently? Upper Metal Class: I currently reside in Portland, which has been one of the best moves, (I grew up and spent the majority of my life in Los Angeles). It has been just about a year now and I never imagined I would love a city so much.
LINE: When did you start Upper Metal Class? UMC: I decided to start Upper Metal Class in August 2010 out of my tiny studio apartment in Los Angeles with only my dreams in mind. Previously I was unemployed and decided to ease my transition between jobs by taking classes in jewelry making, and eventually realized I could do something I really loved.
LINE: Where are all of your pieces made? UMC: Every single piece is handmade with love and care in Portland, Oregon.
LINE: What materials do you tend to use? UMC: I love working with gold, silver and bronze. Gold is very luxurious and although it can be expensive, I believe it is a great investment to have when the jewelry is a classic everyday piece. Bronze has that beautiful almost soft gold look, and it's affordable. Silver has a stunning lustrous shine, and I also love mixing it with bronze to change things up and give the jewelry a contrast in color.
LINE: What aspect of your work is most important to you? UMC: The most important part of my work is staying true to what I like and my designs. I really enjoy what I do and the process that is involved. That along with being able to make a living off of what I love is one of the most rewarding things I could ever imagine.
LINE: What is your favorite thing about Portland? UMC: My most favorite thing about Portland hands down is the sense of community I feel living in such a down to earth caring city. It's really amazing to see so many people who are so involved in making life more sustainable and healthy. The other thing I love is the level of food. From the food carts, to the bars to the restaurants it seems to be one of the best towns to experience really amazing food and drinks. www.uppermetalclass.com

[caption id="attachment_3548" align="aligncenter" width="647" caption="Photograph by Tim Smith Courtesy of Falconwright"][/caption] Toronto based duo Sandi Falconer and Danielle Wright of Falconwright talk with LINE.
LINE: What is Falconwright and what you are currently working on? DW: Falconwright is a handmade, screen printed leather goods line created by the two of us (Sandi Falconer and Danielle Wright). Sandi covers the patterns and printing and I design the products and sew our pouches. We just released our latest collection of small leather accessories and pouches with geometric inspired hand drawn patterns. We both live, work, and play in Toronto.
LINE: How did you meet? DW: We met at a craft show here in Toronto a couple years ago where we were both selling our wares. After only chatting for a few minutes it was clear that we were going to be buds. After being friends for a while, we schemed over beers on patios last summer to work on a project together.
LINE: What do you like to do in your spare time? DW: When not working away on Falconwright you'll find me watching eighties sci-fi movies, drinking lots of coffee, hiking around the city and of course spending waaaaay too much time on the internet. I also cast jewelry under the name Caboto. SF: I make a variety of paper goods (under the name Deadweight), play music with my band (The Guest Bedroom), try (and fail) to read more books, watch/play baseball (in the summer), mercilessly beat my boyfriend at racing video games, and go out for food (the official food of winter 2012 = dumplings).  Sleeping ranks pretty high on the things I like to do list too!
LINE: What is your current state of mind? DW: Tough question! I would say excited- new projects, new ideas, new opportunities have kept me very busy lately. I just hope I can keep up! SF:  My natural state is typically a mixture of overwhelmed and excited/inspired. I switch between these two states all day long, ha! Admittedly, I'm not a very good relaxer, but I'm trying to improve! I probably drink too much coffee. But I love coffee.
LINE: What aspect of your work is most important to you? DW: I always aim to make things that I want to use and wear everyday. That sounds simple enough but is hard to do! I find that I can be my own harshest critic, and when I make something that I want to wear and use all the time I know that it's a winner. Making things I can't find (or afford to buy!) has been a big motivator for me creatively and most of my projects have been inspired by a desire to make things that I can use myself. SF:  I want to do work that I'm proud of, work that I'd like to use/have in my own life, and work that feels like a progression of some kind.  As far as Falconwright is concerned, I want to make bold patterns that aren't too obnoxious, but not too delicate either. In the future I hope to do some multi-layer prints with more color variations!  Textile/pattern design is a whole new frontier for me, and trying to make patterns that are interesting and fun to look at is important. Working with Danielle is great because we tend to agree on things naturally, and we can trust each other to go about our business with the confidence that we know we'll love what the other suggests. That's a really important part of collaborating.
LINE: Where is your favorite place to escape? DW: North of Toronto to play in the country. I grew up living in a small rural town and even though city living is awesome, I can't resist the call to the countryside. SF: I don't escape from Toronto too much, but if I had a choice, I would rent a cottage (summer or winter) and stay there for a week reading books, eating food, and swimming or sitting by a fire (depending on the weather). I should probably make this happen this year! When I need a quick escape from my day to day life, I try to go to a movie-simple yet effective!