9/20/13

reminisce


 
Thinking back...
In 2005 I ran a gallery, Fort Nest, with two friends on India Street in Portland. It was a fun time—a time of endless ideas and dreams (I was in my mid-twenties!). It was in this year that the word madder became Madder, a small clothing line, possibly with hand-dyed fabric. I was going to convert the gallery into a shop. Ha! That didn't happen. So then Madder evolved into a line of hand-printed fabric. Rather quickly, again, the idea shifted—I was going to revive a magazine I tried to start in 2002 when living in Seattle, this time under the name Madder Megazine (in fact, my first domain was maddermegazine.com). Oh the dreams....

Well, it did not take long for me to realize that I lacked the skill set required (as in all the above ideas) for launching a magazine. Obviously committed to the fact that Madder needed to be something, I nestled into the idea of creating a website with a broader name (madder made). This way I wouldn't be locked into any one direction. I decided to focus on what skills I did have at the time—photography and knitting swatches. Alas, maddermade.com kicked off with the release of my book—Swatch Diaries one: Away / Japan. The book was a photographic exploration about inspiration and the process of creating knitwear (ie: swatching). There was book one, then book two (Marina), and then...life took over. A full-time job, a new baby, and honestly the idea sort of fizzled for me.

But, as you may have read in a recent post, I am finally working on a third "book" (more like a lookbook). I think it's mostly because this time of year is full of inspiration—the change of season from summer to fall is so beautiful. Swatching begins again, the desire to have wool in hand is re-awakened.

So...if anyone is interested in seeing the first two books, I'll be previewing them on my website as lookbooks for a few weeks each. First up: Away / Japan, then Marina, then....stay tuned.

15 comments:

mary jane said...

beautiful. I wish I had a copy to hold in my hand. and about that trip to japan we need to make....

madder said...

thanks mj. i really want to go to japan again...let's go...right now...

Isa said...

Such cute little booties, love the kitten too!!

Savannagal said...

I love this book. I just completed my first colorwork project, a hat. I'm hoping to try a bigger project soon. Thanks.

Bridget said...

I LOVE your booties pattern. SQS has been working up a knitting pattern for imitation Bean Boots. Your booties have a sweet "boot" feel to them. VERY nice!

barbara collins said...

super inspirational post, thanks. you never know where things will lead, right? lots of ideas circling around, it takes time to see how things work out, where they land.

madder said...

thanks barbara! yes--exactly right. all my ramblings were meant to say how neat it is that some ideas are cyclical...they need time to mature and transform.

vanessa said...

Thanks so much for sharing this! I love learning how Madder "grew". Your photos are so lovely and inspiring. I look forward to the next book!

madder said...

thanks, vanessa!

Lori ann said...

love away /japan, i feel like mary jane and wish i had a copy to hold. your photos are ethereal, so delicate and lovely. i love japan even though i haven't been (yet). my son lives in tokyo so of course i love it. but really, i know i will, the japanese asthetic has always appealed. love your cowl too! thank you for sharing carrie :)

madder said...

oh you should go! you're so lucky you have a good excuse to visit.
i was too timid to go to tokyo on my trip, but i bet is it an amazing city.
someday....
:)

Kate G said...

I work as a publication designer, Carrie, so I know the incredible amount of work it takes to produce a "paged" work.

That dream you had of producing a magazine? I'd say you've surpassed it. Away/Japan is beautifully nuanced and it's story is deep and clear. Thanks for sharing the work.

madder said...

wow, thank you, kate.

Anonymous said...

I have copies of both your books and I cherish them. I look forward to your third! (and I am in love with your new baby collection for Quince. So sweet.)

madder said...

that's so nice to hear, Anna! :) thank you.