Apr 01 2008
About
Contact Me:
saltybean at gmail.com
Studio:
#240 - 975 Vernon Drive
Vancouver, BC V6A 3P2
In plastic world of mass production, where perfect appearances can mean everything, I try to celebrate the diversity, the imperfections, and the silliness of life through my textile creations. That’s why each of my creatures is lovingly handmade, far from perfect, totally unique, and full of personality. That is also why I use mostly reclaimed, recycled and repurposed materials.
embrace your inner freak
Salty Bean was a mom and daughter sewing team dedicated to creating quirky little creatures that make us snicker, giggle, laugh, or even cringe. We live, lurk, and play in the Commercial Drive area of Vancouver. When we are not sewing, we can often be found avoiding our local gym, eating kalamata olives, taking photos that reflect local culture, breakfasting at Bon’s, and walking our aging friend Molly the Border Collie. Now, Saltybean is mostly just a mom endeavour; as adolescence gallops along, time for sewing is less and less a priority:)
Morgan is a teenager who, in addition to enjoying the usual teenage stuff (hanging out, shopping, music, Facebook), sews, dances, plays soccer, and selects the perfect name for each Saltybean creation.
Jen is a textile artist, making soft sculptures, creatures, dolls and other oddities using mainly repurposed materials, thrift store finds, and hand-me-downs. She is also local teacher librarian and a grad of Emily Carr University of Art and Design with a major in printmaking and sculpture. Jen is an avid, impulsive, and compulsive textile enthusiast & collector. She is currently into felting, fulling, wool, and reading children’s literature.
Where do we get our inspiration from? The materials. Fabulous textiles are hugely inspiring and so satisfying to work with, particularly natural ones. Weird, playful, cute, quirky or downright creepy, creatures are intended to invoke emotional reactions in people and provoke hands on interaction. We are also inspired by the diverse, unique, and vibrant community that we live in and the creative people we like to hang out with.
I like how the way you did the Dreads on the suzett- back mermaid.
How did you do it? and did you do the dying yourself
Thanks Calvin
The dreads are hand felted from fleece or yarn. You roll between your hands with hot water and soap (Murphy’s Oil works well). Some people use bamboo blinds or that bubble wrap, but I don’t bother unless I’m felting something large. Her dreads aren’t hand dyed, but I do hand dying occasionally.
Jen
Great post! Just wanted to let you know you have a new subscriber- me!
Hi Jen,
I love your creations! Your dolls with faces are amazing. I thought you might be interested in promoting your talent at the up-coming Mommies on Main Show at the Heritage Hall on Sept 19th. All products featured will be either handmade locally or manufactured in Canada. Your designs would be an excellent product fit. For details please view the website:www.mommiesonmain.com .
Thanks, I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Brenda HOrth
Event Organizer/Mommies on Main
604-739-3739
info@bleematernity.com