DESIGNER HIGHLIGHT: MALENE BARNETT OF MALENE B CARPETS...

Today's Designer Highlight is on Malene Barnett of Malene b Carpets. Malene is a Brooklyn based carpet designer with a multi-disciplinary background in textile arts, painting and illustration and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Textile Surface Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. For more than a decade, she has created carpets for industry professionals and private label brands such as Nicole Miller, Martha Stewart, Nautica, Liz Claiborne, Nate Berkus and others. She launched her first collection at the Boutique Design NY Trade Show in 2009. 

Malene's designs are inspired by international travels, rituals and landscapes conveyed in her own fresh and personal way.  Her passion for all things cultural stems from world travels to places like Dakar, Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur, as well as her own African-Caribbean heritage. Each carpet is made from 100% natural materials such as wool, silk, and hemp and available in hand-knotted, hand-tufted or broadloom options. Malene specializes in creating custom handmade carpets perfectly suited for any residential, commercial or hospitality project. She works directly with artisans in Nepal, Thailand and India who carefully craft each carpet to a specific size, shape or color scheme.

The collections in Malene b carpets are known by travel related themes such as Transitions, Native, and Heirloom, with carpets dubbed Murano, Kyoto, Calabash, Marrakesh and St. Vincent. Some of my favorite designs are:

Fresco



Body Art

Chiapas

Moorea

Wolof

Amharic

Tap Tap

Mendhi

Masks

Malene b carpets are available through interior designers and architects and select showrooms throughout the US and Canada.  Click here for more information on Malene and Malene b Carpets.

Keep up the great work, girlfriend...

Peace and Blessings,

Tammy

CONTINUING EDUCATION AT FIT...

Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) has a precollege program for high school and middle school students called Summer Live. Its an opportunity for students to explore art and design, business and technology majors and develop art and design portfolios for 3 weeks during the summer.  My son Stephen is participating this year and I couldn't be more happy that he has found something that he is passionate about.

A large number of the out of town students travel with their parents to NYC.  FIT decided to offer classes for the parents to occupy their time while they wait.  Although I live right next door in Jersey, I decided to take the Photoshop Class as a refresher since I had forgotten most of what I learned while in design school. (The old adage is true - you don't use it, you lose it.). 

OMG! I didn't realize how much I missed being in school.  The thrill of learning and exploring new ideas and concepts, of being surrounded by youthful energy, and of challenging myself intellectually. I wanted more!  So I did some research.  FIT's School of Continuing and Professional Studies (SCPS) has programs that meet vital skills needed in the fashion and related industries, both for beginners and working professionals. Whether its obtaining skills required to develop a portfolio, looking to brush up on skills by taking a course, a hobbyist looking for a fun, new interest, or a professional looking to re-tool a technique, SCPS has something for everyone.

So to satisfy this thirst, I've decided to take the Google Sketch-Up Class this fall.  I would love to go on to get my Masters but that is highly unlikely (right now at least) with twins going into their senior year in high school.  Until then, I'll settle for Continuing Ed courses.

Happy learning...

Peace and Blessings,

Tammy