Look What Dana Did...

Today I photographed Dana’s latest creations…I know, I know, I still need to work on my lighting.  In spite of this, Dana’s coats shine brilliantly through…the coats are loaded on the site.  I am particularly fond of the Ikat silk…actually I am particularly fond of all of them…that said, Fiona wants an Ikat, please…

Here is but a wee sampling of the latest coats…

 just a tease, really…

                                                                                     

                                                                                        Enjoy! 

                          

Seattle Times Pacific Northwest Magazine

JoeysCoat is honored to be featured in this Spring’s Seattle Times Pacific Northwest magazine Footprint Edition of Green Market.  The article will include local businesses that design and sell eco-friendly items for pets. 

So grateful…

Fiona in French Grain Sack with silk brocade binding and trim made from a remarkable old necktie I recently found "thrifting". The tab is Sashiko - translation "little stabs"; a form of decorative and functional Japanese embroidery of white cotton thread on traditional indigo cloth.  Dana's imaginative aesthetic is genius!  The fabric for the belt loops was an Estate Sale find - a beautiful handmade wooden box that contained incense imported from Japan long ago. The material was actually used to secure the lid to the box during shipping. The extraordinary buckle and buttons are made of Bakelite.

Snow!

View from my dining room...

Winter wonderland in the enclosed garden...

Fiona in pink wool flannel with Antique French braid Dana found in Paris forty years ago!  Double-knit bow, satin braid belt-loops, Hard Plastic buckle, two-tone Bakelite buttons...prior to seeking refuge under the car, that is... 

Winter in the beautiful Pacific Northwest…the perfect backdrop for some snaps of Fiona playing in the snow, or so I thought…I was able to get one good shot before she crawled beneath the parked car to escape the icy, scary white stuff…it took some doing getting her to come out…the incredibly lovely pink coat will be visiting the Dry Cleaners!  Good girl…playtime's over…

Sweet Love...

Ouch!

Prior to asking Fiona to hold very still on the edge of my piano, I shared my personal challenge to photograph Dana’s latest, brilliant, JoeysCoat designs.  I followed through with my commitment and completed them in one day.  Although they do not match the same pristine quality of Julie’s original product shots, I allow myself grace for a valiant first attempt, recognizing that along with everything else in life, there is indeed a learning curve.

I had every intention of loading my images on the JoeysCoat site prior to Friday, December 23^rd, but alas, time flew by, and a planned hand surgery prevailed.  In the process, I have learned an invaluable lesson of gratitude.  Two functioning, healthy hands are a gift that I have taken for granted.  I will never, ever, forget to be thankful for this gift again.

So…with packing off, sutures out, splint on, and with enormous pride and constant awe of her artistry, I am committed to loading Dana’s extraordinary designs to share with the world, today.

Enjoy…

Hold very still...

Good Girl...

Stay...

Sit, Good Girl....

Okay...you can get down...

Waiting in the wings…

I have mentioned Julie Sotomura of PhotoMura Images in past blogs.  Julie is responsible for the beautiful product shots on joeyscoat.com, as well as several of the images in the slideshow.  Because of her talent, her services are in high demand.  In the meantime, my brilliant friend and master tailor, Dana Lazare has continued to create more than 40 of the most exceptional, one of a kind JoeysCoats, that have been patiently awaiting their debut before the world.  On Monday night, Mike Urban, Island artist, sculptor and photographer, will provide me with a tutorial on set up and lighting.  I will endeavor to recreate what Julie began; the bar is elevated dauntingly high.  Challenge myself I must…in the meantime, a few modest shots to leave you wanting more…

Hand-woven cotton tweed (up-cycled jacket donated to JoeysCoat by a dear friend of Dana's) with hand-made silk satin binding (remnants of what must have been the most elegant evening gown), hand-made lace, linen damask belt (the trim from an antique mantle scarf), extraordinary Mother of Pearl buckle, Bakelite and Hard Plastic buttons...beautiful...

Melton wool, Chinese frogs and braid (a bartar from a friend and Island artist - there is a matching tassel at the tail of this coat!), vintage embroidered motif (also bartared), Mother of Pearl buckle and Bakelite buttons…genius…

Wool plaid from a vintage blanket, intricate antique beaded motif (from Seattle’s own Frederick & Nelson’s department store, now Nordstrom’s premier downtown store), Antique Obi belt (found in San Francisco’s JapanTown), Bakelite buckle and buttons…so fun…

And last, but certainly not least, vintage French Grainsack, hand-made crochet trim (donated by a friend from her extensive collection of antique and vintage trims and lace), soutache braid, Mother of Pearl buckle and button, Bakelite button…voila!

Wish me luck…