Umbrellas, shower curtains, neckties, and sweaters are just a few of the unlikely objects that inspired the stylish and eco-friendly purses in the new book, Refashioned Bags: Upcycle Anything into High-Style Handbags by Faith and Justina Blakeney (Potter Craft, November 2009). But these quirky, crafty goddesses, sisters from Berkeley, CA who together founded and run Compai, draw their inspiration from a wide range of sources in art, music, and more, and they dropped by to share some of their most recent inspirations with CrafterNews.

Birdsong Radio
We at Compai travel a lot—we’ve lived all over the world and love all sorts of music. So, when we discovered iTunes radio, we were of course thrilled—constantly streaming radio stations from all over the world in all different languages…it’s heaven sent! Not too long ago we made another discovery that could save anyone during a stressful evening in the city—not to mention a long night of making purses! Birdsong Radio is an online radio station online that features the sweet songs of birds chirping. You’ll feel like you’ve been airlifted straight to the Amazon—no frequent flyer miles necessary.

Tim Walker Photography
To call Tim Walker merely a photographer would be an offense. Tim Walker is a magician with the power to creates worlds—surreal, beautiful, thought-provoking worlds which he then immortalizes through photography. Tim’s work is unmistakable, and his fashion spreads leave you feeling as though you just had the sweetest dream ever—that is why we love him.

Style Rookie
After just one year online, the fashion blog Style Rookie has over a million followers—a fact that’s even more incredible when you learn that Tavi, the “new girl in town” behind the site, is just thirteen years old! We love Tavi because she dresses up and does funny dance videos, and because she’s passionate about politics and not afraid to speak her mind. We love her because she raps about her shopping expeditions, and because she has mad, mad, style! Tavi has been hailed by many as the new future Anna Wintour, and the fashion world would certainly be a better place if Tavi is next in line for the post!

Yinke Shonibare
We at Compai are always in search of the latest and greatest on the fashion and art fronts. About a year ago we attended Art Basel in Miami (talk about inspirational!) and saw a plethora of incredibly talented artists’ work, but one stuck in our mind: Yinke Shonibare. He is a London-based artist of African decent who, among other things, creates dresses using traditional-looking African fabrics and Victorian patterns. The combination is truly revolutionary. We are greatly inspired by the transformation and recontextualization of every day commodities. We all have the power to turn anything into ART!

Ecoagents
Have you ever had food delivered to your house, only to find that along with your tacos, the restaurant has sent enough forks, spoons, and napkins to last a week? If you’re eating at home, you usually don’t need any of that stuff. Try asking for eco-to-go, which means, “no thanks on the plastic utensils and napkins. It’s a grassroots movement that promises, with your help, to reduce massive amounts of packaging from becoming waste. Your local restaurants might not know what you’re talking about, so explain it—and then pat yourself on the back. For more info on the Eco To Go movement, check out the Ecoagents website. Welcome to the movement!

For more of Faith and Justina’s amazing inspirations, please check out their blogs: compai.blogspot.com and www.justfordesignblog.com.

Categories: Sewing |

Tags: compai, eco-friendly, Faith Blakeney, Justina Blakeney

Browse all articles from December 2009