Sarah Ashley Charit

LWD January Edition: Stuffed Mushrooms

2012-01-21T14:03:00.000-08:00

So a couple of months ago, a group of friends and I started a monthly dinner club called Ladies Who Dine (yes we are poking fun at ourselves!). For this month's LWD edition I made stuffed mushrooms for the first time, and the ladies thought they were a hit!

Rough Recipe

*preheat oven to 400 degrees*

-a handful of broccoli rabe (leaves and broccoli pieces)

-a handful of fresh basil

-2 Tbsp. parsley

-1/3-1/2 c. of pecorino cheese

-herb goat cheese (I added a little to each mushroom)

-3 garlic cloves

-1/4 c. bread crumbs

-salt & pepper

-handful of nuts (I used almond)

Mince 2 cloves of garlic and trim and chop broccoli rabe. Saute in a pan with olive oil, salt and pepper for 2-3 minutes. Add to food processor with basil, parsley, half of the cheese (not goat), last garlic clove, nuts and olive oil. Pulse until the ingredients are combined (not too fine). Remove the stems from mushrooms and place in pan coated with olive oil. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil onto the mushrooms before adding the filling. Then stuff the mushrooms, and combine the remaining cheese with bread crumbs and sprinkle over the mushrooms. Add a little bit of goat cheese on the top. I also sprinkled a pinch of red pepper flakes on the mushrooms and did a final drizzle of olive oil. Place in the oven for 30 minutes and enjoy!

Valentines cards, now added to the shop!

2012-01-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

I just added some screen-printed cards to the shop. Go get one, or two, or more for your Valentine or Valentines! www.toddyandjude.etsy.com

Woop woop!

2012-01-18T18:14:00.000-08:00

I did the intarsia layout for this cooool sweater for Anthropologie. Woop Woop!!!!

New Year, New List

2012-01-06T18:42:00.001-08:00

I hope everyone has had a wonderful past year and rang in the new year in style with some bubbly, glitter and tunes! With a new year comes a new list of goals. So here goes the list...

1) practice patience

2) create a card collection to put in the shop

3) create a spring/summer and fall/winter print collection

4) create 6 weavings

5) blog weekly, more varied blog posts (life, art, inspiration, recipes)

6) broaden my social circle, and learn how to use social media to elevate my shop on etsy. (www.toddyandjude.etsy.com)

Wish me luck on completing these tasks and good luck with yours!

-ashley

DIY Holiday cards

2012-01-06T17:47:00.000-08:00

So this Holiday season I decided to take one step closer towards adultsville and with the assistance of my man friend, made these lovely block printed Holiday cards for my family and friends. I also made the envelopes with a template the most amazing patterned tape. Thank you Kerry for the kind gifts.

Now Selling at Franklin Square!

2011-12-13T16:20:00.000-08:00

I am now selling a few new woven accessories (seen below) at Franklin Square Boutique in Olde City Philadelphia. If you are in Philly and want some wonderful hand-made goodness, head on over there!

The address is:

128 North 3rd Str.

Philadelphia, Pa 19106

New weaving and New Shop!

2011-11-14T19:40:00.000-08:00

So over the summer I purchased another loom. This time a 4 shaft Nilus Leclerec loom. It has been a bit of a challenge working with a different loom, but now all of the kinks have been worked out, and I am back in action. I just completed my first weaving a few weeks ago, and crafted a few cowls out of the weaving, which turned out to be around 137"x12". As you can tell from the photographs above my color choices this time around have been influenced by the bright neon colors that are trending in fashion. I feel some more bright work coming soon, perhaps in warmer tones. Think pink!

More to come soon after I move the loom and set up a new work space at the folks house. All of the above is available in my new shop...www.toddyandjude.etsy.com.

Materials: ashland bay superwash merino wool, alpaca silk, cotton alpine, alpaca, and cotton organic inca.

Photographs: Drew Shipe

Garden party

2011-07-22T17:06:00.001-07:00

An abundance of flowers

2011-07-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

Abstract Floral

2011-06-20T18:09:00.000-07:00

Recently I've been craving bright, bright colors!

Punky Plaid

2011-06-13T19:40:00.000-07:00

After reviewing the fall 2010 Prada collection, I only felt it necessary to have fun making a funky plaid of my own!

Jungle Print

2011-06-13T19:37:00.000-07:00

This print was inspired by a Salvatore Ferragamo printed sweater.

Tribal Print

2011-06-13T16:45:00.000-07:00

This print came from a vintage post card which I played around with and made into patchwork tribal print.

Etching

2011-06-12T18:53:00.001-07:00

For the past month or so I have been taking an etching class at the Fleisher Art Memorial in Philadelphia. The etching above is my first successful print! It was inspired by a very special kitty, whom I live with and a little dog that I would like to own one day haha. For some reason I have had this mental image of a boston terrier sitting on my couch with my roommates cat, Olive, for a while now and thought it was time to bring my mental image to life. This image is going to be part of the branding of a new line of work coming soon!

Floral Print for a scarf

2011-06-12T18:10:00.000-07:00

This was a floral print I worked on for a scarf; the original artwork was done in water color, ink, and graphite.

Tissue Paper for Anthropologie

2011-06-12T17:28:00.000-07:00

So I have been meaning to post this...Anthropologie used one of my prints for their holiday tissue paper for last winter's holiday season! This print came from an old print I created in college that I reworked and recolored for Anthropologie. The tissue paper was used for online purchases and if you feel the need to buy something on Anthropologie.com anytime soon they are still shipping their wares in my lovely design! So get shopping!!!!

Geometric block prints

2011-06-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

I worked on these block prints over the winter, and plan to go back into the first one and color it. For some reason I am loving bright colors right now, so the final print should be quite fun! I have been craving a bedroom makeover and I am planning on printing this to make a duvet cover and some pillow cases to give my bedroom a much needed update and a lot of umphf! (is there a correct way to spell this?)

Last Weaving!

2010-12-01T17:30:00.001-08:00

Me having a great time in the loop!

Irish lace/silk twist versus silk.

So I sold my loom...and I miss it more everyday...

With my last weaving I made three cowel/loops so I could stay nice and cozy while venturing through the city this winter. The other two are for sale in my etsy shop...(www.sacharit.etsy.com). Tis the season to be giving! For the warp I used a mixture of two yarns a crinkly yarn known as irish lace and raw silk. When I made the warp I used both yarns for most of the warp, and then broke up the two yarns so that the weaving could showcase the mixture of the yarns, and each yarn separately. I think the result of doing this turned out great; the pattern is clear on the silk side and broken where the irish lace is mixed in with the silk. For the weft I used mainly a handspun cotton yarn which I dyed a faded seafoam color and a finer cotton yarn (berry color) in some spots for contrast.

Corroded Wall Paper Design

2010-08-18T08:34:00.001-07:00

There is something wildly beautiful about the texture and appearance of corroded walls and the surfaces of industrial structures. These two prints were inspired by this picture at a fortress in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. It made me wonder what it would be like to screen print or place wall decals on a corroded wall surface instead of using white or another ground color for a wall paper design. Since I currently do not own a corroded wall of my own, I used this picture to make a faux corroded wall paper design until I own a wall of my own...

Under the Sea...

2010-08-18T08:14:00.001-07:00

A card for the Queen

2010-07-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

Recently, I have been into card-making. This one in particular was for my friend's birthday. She is a bit of a character needless to say...

I Miss You!

2010-06-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

The Owl and the Cat

2010-06-16T19:16:00.000-07:00

This is the cover of a card I made for my two friends who recently tied the knot.
Congrats Lindsay and Russell!

Bear Hunt

2010-04-05T19:55:00.000-07:00

This western-inspired print was block printed on china silk and will be the lining of a blazer. I wanted to try out a new way of printing other than silk screening since I do not have an exposing unit or have access to print facilities. I think silk screening is a more difficult process, but has better results on fabric than block printing; however, I enjoyed the process of cutting away from the blocks to create line variations. I think I will attempt to utilize this technique again and see if my results improve.

2010-02-16T10:42:00.001-08:00

I just started a new blog that covers current trends in fashion. Take a look! www.sassyyetclassy.wordpress.com.

Happy Valentines

2010-02-14T21:17:00.001-08:00

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2010-01-09T15:09:00.000-08:00

This print was printed on cotton/rayon fabric. Shirt dresses should be a staple in a girl's wardrobe for all seasons. It can be worn dressed up or casual and even in a professional setting.

2010-01-09T14:45:00.001-08:00

This dress also looks great with a belt for a more structured look.

2010-01-09T14:25:00.000-08:00

This is a variation of the birch tree print on an organic cotton interlock knit.

2010-01-09T14:12:00.000-08:00

This dress was digitally printed at Spoonflower on cotton sateen, and incorporates some of the fabric from the weaving I used for the woven sweater.

2010-01-09T13:40:00.000-08:00

This woven top came from a weaving I finished a while ago. All of the fiber was hand dyed and was made with hand spun inca cotton, merino wool, and superfine merino wool. The top can be worn with a dress, as pictured above, or with jeans and a tunic top. Although it has short sleeves, it is super warm since its fiber content is mostly wool.

2009-09-01T06:28:00.000-07:00

So I discovered yesterday that one of my garments is on the Etsy gift guide fall fashion pages! Check it out...http://www.etsy.com/gift-guides/fall-fashion/133.

2009-08-13T09:35:00.000-07:00

Soooo...I have started making a warp for my new weaving, and I have chosen to use some different materials. The warp will be made out of a mixture of two yarns, irish lace (cotton), and a natural silk that is unscoured. The weft material will be a handspun inca cotton, medium weight. I think the three different materials will combine to create a wonderful texture. I may do a faux ikat surface pattern by painting the warp and leave the majority of the weaving natural. Here are some pictures I thought I would post to share the process of weaving. Step 1) create warp on warping board. Check!

2009-06-22T17:30:00.001-07:00

I finished this weaving about a month or two ago. The weaving was created on a four shaft loom with superfine merino wool, merino wool, and cotton. All of the material was hand dyed in an immersion bath. 4'x6'

2009-06-16T08:33:00.000-07:00

For my second print I chose the migration of geese as my source of inspiration. Every fall or spring I am reminded that the seasons are going to change when I look up into the sky and see a flock of geese moving through the air in a v-formation. Their ability to adapt to new surroundings every couple of months and make a new home without hesitation or fear is amazing. Most people do not pick up and leave unless it's necessary.

2009-06-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

Birch trees were one of the sources of inspiration for the prints for my fall 2009 collection. I chose to use birch trees for my prints because they are a pioneer species and symbolize purity and serenity. With our present economic situation I thought it was important to address how people feel and create an image that made one feel refreshed, and re-energized. The colorways give the prints a nostalgic feel with their vintage hues. The prints will be printed on cotton, and made into garments for my fall 2009 collection.

2009-03-14T20:51:00.001-07:00

These are two prints I have been working on recently.

2009-03-02T15:28:00.000-08:00

Flowers

From: El

I entered a recent design I had been working on for a while in a t-shirt competition. If you like it...please vote for it at www.moderntee.com/vote/, and the design will be printed! Thanks. I am also thinking of using the design for an upcoming line of tote bags, so stay tuned.

2009-01-26T19:41:00.000-08:00

Holiday Display

2009-01-26T19:38:00.000-08:00

This past holiday season I helped out the visual team at the Anthropologie store in Philadelphia with their holiday display. I worked mostly on the creations hung in the bottom windows, but also helped out with the decorations hung in the upper windows of the store and inside. I made stockings out of a variety of materials such as upholstery fabrics, bubble wrap, cord, trim, old sweaters, cardboard, etc.

2008-11-24T08:39:00.000-08:00

2008-11-24T08:32:00.000-08:00

This set of tea bowls thrown with porcelain and glazed with two different types of blue. There are small flower reliefs on the front, and a groove in the back for the thumb to rest.

2008-11-24T08:31:00.001-08:00

2008-11-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

I finally created my first weaving on my new loom! It's 12 inches wide, and 24 ends per inch. I used yarn left over from my thesis work to create this weaving.

2008-10-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

This is another scarf I designed for a friend.

It can also be purchased off of my etsy site.

2008-10-07T09:06:00.000-07:00

This is the Steps for the Cure scarf I designed.

This scarf can be made to order and purchased from my etsy site, www.sacharit.etsy.com.

2008-10-07T08:58:00.000-07:00

This is the original sketch of the design. The golden yellow color of the silk material has changed to a navy blue. The engineered scarf also has a violet-blue color as one of the background colors.

2008-10-07T08:41:00.000-07:00

This is a copy of the press release for an upcoming event I am participating in.

MICA Designers Dress Breast Cancer Survivors for October 10th Celebrity Gala!

BALTIMORE- Steps for the Cure, a benefit fashion show and fundraiser at the American Visionary Art Museum, will feature original designs by Maryland Institute College of Art

(MICA) faculty, students and alumni modeled by breast cancer survivors. Celebrity guest, Christian Siriano, winner of Project Runway, will emcee the fashion show. Siriano has donated an original design for the Steps to the Cure auction, which also features 11 shoe-inspired cakes from Ace of Cakes star Duff Goldman and his talented Charm City Cakes staff.

Steps to the Cure, hosted by The Larry and Lori Lickstein Foundation, benefits the Maryland affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Fuchsia Foundation, Kids Konnected and The Red Devils.

Among the featured designers is Whitney Sherman, a MICA alumna and chair of the College's illustration department. Sherman designed a dress inspired by the illustration of the mythical goddess of the hunt that she created for the Breast Cancer Research fundraising or "semipostal" stamp. The stamp, designed by MICA alumna Ethel Kessler, was first issued on July 29, 1998 and features Sherman's illustration and the phrases, "Fund the Fight," and "Find a Cure."

MICA students Kare Boyer, calvy Click, Katie Coble, Hayley Griffin, Gabrielle Jolly, Christina Kaputsos, Melody Lin, Erin McAleavy, and Candace Steiger, as well as alumnae Ashley Charit '08, Jillian Coratti '08, and Avelina Dougan '08, have also designed outfits specifically for the local breast cancer survivors who will model them on the catwalk.

Steps to the Cure takes place Friday, October 10th at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. for VIP cocktail hour) at the American Visionary Art Museum, (800 Key Highway).

Tickets cost $200.00/300.00 (V.I.P.), and $100.00 are tax deductable.

Spring Collection 2008

2008-09-23T18:47:00.000-07:00

This collection of work was completed in the Spring of 2008 and was shown at the BSU Fashion Show, and became a part of an installation during the Senior Commencement Show in May. I created a series of patterns from photographs of architecture, landscapes, and people in Italy, which were silk-screened and digitally printed, and transformed into garments. I also created three weavings, which were incorporated into the final collection.

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2008-09-23T18:27:00.000-07:00

2008-09-23T18:23:00.000-07:00

2008-09-23T18:19:00.000-07:00

2008-09-23T18:15:00.000-07:00