Black Pearl Creation’s Blog

Since I have so many friends who are knitters, I don’t hold that resentment/grudge that many knitters and crocheters hold on to. I say that as my disclaimer because today’s porn is mainly knitted but it couldn’t have been accomplished without the crocheted details. And what good is a Ferrari without the details? YES! A knitted/crocheted Ferrari! Did I mention it is FULL SIZE! I, obviously am having too much fun with today’s Pin-Up!

Here is Lauren Porter’s Ferrari!

Yesterday, I was in a weird mood. I was in a “thread crochet” mode. I am not sure of where it came from but I’m glad it did. I found some gorgeous designs from the 30’s and 40’s. They are a definite lost art form. The one I chose for today’s Crochet Porn is a Celtic inspired look. I tried to find what era it was from but had no luck. From what I could tell, it’s a 1940’s design. If you find out more about it, please let me know. The pattern is here. Please send in your pics if you decide to attempt it!

So, for today’s Crochet Porn Pin Up, a lovely medallion motif!

I remember hearing about Xenobia Bailey a couple of years ago in one of my many crochet magazines. This woman is a true artist. The fact she is black just made my stitches stand a little bit taller! It was really difficult for me to pick one piece that I considered worthy to be a pin-up for today’s Crochet Porn. I’m sure Ms. Bailey will be offended at my calling her work “porn” but I truly hope she can appreciate my play on words and my absolute admiration. I admire not just her work but her as a person. Please visit her blog and you will see this dynamic woman for yourself.

The work I have pictured, I believe, is called “Bopped Flow.” Yes, it’s all crocheted!

When I saw today’s Pin-Up, I honestly didn’t understand why it was posted on a crocheting community website. Then I realized what the crocheted item was and my jaw dropped! I found a “pattern” here. I use the term pattern loosely because it’s a graphed chart. I have no problem with graphs but this one has no other directions except to start with 15 chains. If you figure it out, let me know. The crocheter, Petra, is from the Czech Republic. Those and the Russian girls can crochet their butts off!

So stand by for today’s Crochet Porn: A gorgeous crocheted lace umbrella!

What is a blog about crocheted fashion without a crocheted purse? I must warn you, the bag pictured below is HOT!! One word of caution, the designer’s website states this bag is “hand knitted”. Look closely and you will see crocheted stitches that make this fabulous piece. I went to send them an email but they don’t have an address listed. My French is too rusty to call and correct them. However, people have been posting comments on bag blogs and websites that the bag is crocheted and not knitted.

So, now I present to you, today’s Crochet Porn Pin-Up, the Gerard Durel Dublin 24 Hour Bag!

I am a black woman with relaxed hair. Granted, my hair has always only been relaxed every 6 months compared to 6 weeks but still. relaxed. I decided to go natural a couple of months ago. I was too scared to do the “Big Chop” and got braids instead. When I took them out, my hair seemed…better(?) I can’t articulate it. My hair just about had a vacation with the braids and it seemed more calm (or was that me giving up fighting my hair?)

After having the braids removed, I thought I wanted locs. Then I started working with my hair and using some natural products from neosoul essentials. What can I say? I don’t want locs anymore! My hair now has new growth and relaxed ends. I wear it curly or blow it out straight. As it grows and I give myself regular trims, I expect to see even more growth than what I have now (shoulder length).

The other thing I have noticed on my hair journey are the myths I have encountered. I came across this Natural Hair Myth Buster on MotownGirl’s website and wanted to share it with you.

This picture is of me in Spring 2008; April or so.

This was me with braids from July to September 2008

This was me right after I took out the braids early September 2008.

And this is me as of September 22, 2008.

Let me know what you think of the progress!

I love looking at new things. Be it rearranging the living room, a new dish or clothes, I like looking at other people’s creativity. And when it comes to crochet, I have a new term for it: Crochet Porn. So, with that in mind, it’s my goal to bring you a photo of a new, awesome crocheted item every day. How long will this last? I’m not sure but I’m looking forward to what I can dig up!

The very first item chosen to debut in Black Pearl Creations’ Crochet Porn is a design normally done in knitting. I love converting knit designs to crochet! It just shows how versatile crocheting really is! I found this piece of work on Suprstatic Woman’s (that’s right, no ‘e’) ravelry page but she has an entertaining blog as well! Visit her and let her know you think her work was worthy as Crochet Porn!

I remember years ago my mom telling me she could not do what I do. I told her “Yes, you could.” What few understand is that anyone can do what I do. The simple fact of the matter is no one WANTS to do what I do. Forced against a brick wall, it’s amazing what one can accomplish.
A girl at my job is pregnant and she came in to give me the mail and her, myself and my boss started chatting. My boss always has a “stupid” (as I call them) comment to make. This time, he wanted to extol the fact that I probably “whined” during my pregnancies. That touched a nerve. As I restrainingly told him, I had no choice but to be alone in my pregnancies and to raise my children. Unfortunately, I didn’t choose that “perfect” man to be my husband and father to my children. Yesterday, at the rally for Barack Obama, I saw an ex-girlfriend of mine (that’s another post in and of itself). She has one teenage son. No toddlers, no working 24/7, no daycare, no potty training, no crying. She could have had more than that one son but she “chose” not to. Jealous? Of course. I long to be able to just up and go, have extra money, have a clean house and car.
I’ve always been told that I am a super woman. I (now) have 2 children. I work a full time job. I attend an Ivy League school on a part time basis. I am also creating and maintaining a clothing line and the responsibilities that go with promoting and growing the line on the business side. Sometimes I feel like Black Pearl Creations is another child of mine.
Now with the holiday season staring me in the face, I have orders to complete, events to prepare for, programs to set up and I am now 5 days away from my self-initiated deadline for completing the Iola sweaters (notice the plural) for reviewing. I set a 4 week deadline for each order. With my son’s football, his school, crazy neighbors and more responsibilities at work, I am way behind schedule. I am now at a point where I have to reassess my priorities and obligations. However, if I don’t complete the tasks and accomplish the goals, no one else will.
Obviously, my first obligation is to my children. Their physical, mental and emotional well-being are paramount to my own peace of mind and sanity. After that, my obligation is my outside job. Right now, it pays the bills and I can’t afford to lose it. My next priority is Black Pearl Creations. I want to grow the company to the point of having a “signature” look. This will aid in making Black Pearl Creations so successful that I can actually pass it along to my children.
I want 2008 to be a breakthrough year for the company. The Alvirne Craft Fair is October 25th. The Holly Day Fair is December 6th. For both events, I want plenty of the Hat and Scarf Sets. Since my environmental awareness, all of my creations are made with more luxurious fibers. So cashmere, mohair, merino wool silk and other fibers will be staples of the Hat and Scarf Sets. I plan on having a couple of the Iola sweaters available at these events as well. I know how I want my booth set up but if I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise would it? I just found out from Kim Beasley on Twitter about another option on getting my line in front of more people. It takes time to set up and it looks like a good non-date Friday (which is every Friday) night project.
Seeing my ideas/plans in writing and in public view now makes me accountable to get these goals accomplished. I guess I am against the brick wall again.

As you are finding out about now, I love to promote other independent artists. Whether they are paint artists, writers, concoctors of body lotions, fashion designers or bloggers I like to spread the word on interesting, upcoming, unknown talent! Well, I came across an artist that is absolutely amazing.

Sandy Schimmel makes portraits from magazines pages, junk mail, circulars and other recyclable materials. Her portraits can be of famous people but most of them are of unknown, ordinary people. As Sandy says on her site:

And, for those who pooh-pooh portraits as an art form – the most famous painting in the world is a portrait of an unknown woman… and, of the most expensive paintings ever sold, most are portraits of unknown people… artists such as Michaelangelo, Klimt, Van Gogh, Picasso, de Kooning, Titian… created portraits of Adele Bloch-Bauer, Dr. Gachet, Dora Maar… so, maybe you’ve never heard of my subjects… but they will look fabulous on your wall!

A couple of days ago, I received notification I was going to be featured in a fashion magazine! Imagine my excitement at receiving the email and preliminary questions to prepare for the interview. I couldn’t sleep and spent 2 days crafting answers that projected Black Pearl Creations image: I am an outsider to the fashion world and plan to stay there so as to be noticed and to continue to be noticed!
I thought it was a natural progression to be featured in an independent fashion magazine. I was a guest on an independent TV show in Boston so wasn’t being in print the next big step?
So now imagine my gut wrenching disappointment when I received the following email: “I apologize about the confusion. One of my interns got a hold of the shoutout e-mail before I had a chance to select the people and give her the questions. With that said, I do think your story is amazing and your collection is very nice. I have selected a specifically international grouping for this coming issue, but would love to keep your information for the next issue, where I can send you the proper questions. I do truly apologize about the confusion and the amount of time you spent on answering the below questions.”
So now that I am feeling a little better, I wanted to share the interview that never was. I hope you enjoy it!

How long have you been in the business?
I started my business in 2001 under the name Crocheting Tiger Hidden Dragon. I started out with making throws and pillows for people who needed comfort after 9/11. I participated in a couple of local craft fairs. At these fairs, I had soldiers coming up to me saying their parents sent them the flag afghan I was making at the time. Over the next few years, I sold out at various events with my throws and pillows. In 2003, I started making ponchos. I chose ponchos because they were fun to make and stylish with a twist! However, I get bored easily and that’s when I decided to move into all clothing items. I have designed and made bikinis, dresses, coats, skirts, pants, shorts and of course, hats, mittens and scarves.
In 2005, I surprisingly found out I was having another child and was subsequently fired from my job. I had to provide for my 11 year old son and my unborn child. From May 2005 to August 2006, I actively promoted Black Pearl Creations and received a positive reaction. I took an entrepreneur class. I then went from door to door to various boutiques in Manchester and Boston to get my collection in the door. I was able to get into a boutique on famous Newbury Street and some other boutiques in New Hampshire.
I did go back to an outside employer in August 2006. Working on my collection part time, I’ve been able to garner more attention and even receive some awards!

What do you provide to the industry?
I am not trained in fashion or design. My main course of study is economics! I did not intern in a fashion house for 10 years. I grew up overseas and was afforded the opportunity to express myself and experiment through my clothes at a younger age than most. I am not a full time fashion diva. I’ve built my line while maintaining a full time job, attending an Ivy League school and taking care of my 2 children.
I bring an unusual perspective to the fashion industry. A fresh, not of the establishment perspective. I don’t believe it is necessary to follow trends to be successful. It is necessary to have the fortitude to establish the trends for everyone else to follow.

Most embarrassing moment in the industry
My hair on the Style It up show. It looked good in person but the camera wasn’t as nice! You can see the video on my Events page on www.blackpearlstyle.com and tell me what you think!

Awards/Major Press/Story to share?
In August 2007, I was featured on Style It Up, a television show spotlighting designers in the New England area. At the end of every year, the producers and host of the show decide to pick their favorite designers for the year. I was chosen as one of the 2007 Fashion Designers of the Year. This was a great honor as the staff of Style It Up see many creations throughout the year. They bring these designers into their studio and interview them for their television show. I know some of the designers that were featured in 2007. They are very driven and creative. I am humbled to think my work stood out.

What and who inspires you?
Living in Italy , I crafted a style that could be considered neo-vintage. Living in England , I learned the fiber arts: knitting and crochet. Being a child of a member of the military, I became enamored with uniforms. The fit, what many people don’t realize is the most important part of any item or outfit. If it doesn’t fit, you shouldn’t wear it.
A lot of my inspiration comes from my parents. I was lucky enough to have parents who were trendsetters! My father, outside of uniform, was always a sharp dresser. My father loves the style of the 40s and gives it his own modern twist. My mother would be able to take unique items and make them into a glamorous outfit.