News / handmade
Auntie Oti
Along with Spring, Diana Kane is happy to welcome the arrival of Auntie Oti! These handmade, multi-purpose textiles are what every kitchen/bathroom/closet needs.
Auntie Oti searches India for domestic articles essential to the everyday life of this rich and multi-cultural society. Ordinary consumer items are often produced on a local level. This results in commodities that differ not only region to region, but also village to village. Many goods are made at home on a lone loom and each piece is personified by the individual hand of a skilled artisan. While no two lots are alike, each is beautiful in its unique way.
Each piece can delight in its own singular way. Humble and practical items are often multi-purposed in their functions. A gent’s woolen shawl becomes an impromptu blanket. The utilitarian gamcha is a towel, a neck scarf, or a head wrap to keep the sun out. Unadorned simplicity and versatility is why they continue to endure in the pragmatic culture of India today. A seemingly infinite variety exists within a single category. Plain weave towels with their ever-changing borders, patterns, sizes and color combinations still serve the simple purpose of drying oneself after a bath or doing the dishes after dinner. Even mill woven and machine made goods differ according to the nuances of time, the availability of materials and the area where they are made. All are beautiful.
Jess Brown, handmade rag dolls
Jess Brown's one of a kind handmade rag dolls are a long time favorite of Diana. For the last 13 years, Brown has been making stunning dolls out of flea market finds, scraps from current designers, and sustainable materials in her small studio in Petaluma, California. It is so exciting to carry Brown's gorgeous creations in the store for the first time!
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"Jess has always been inspired by beautiful textiles. She began making dolls for her children 13 years ago using old cashmere sweaters and antique remnants. As committed flea market goers, they would search together for amazing antique pieces, trims, buttons and findings.This has now all come together as a small line of one of a kind and hand made rag dolls. Each doll is hand dyed in persian black teas to create variations in skin tones and is stuffed with a sustainable corn fiber stuffing. They are all made of cotton muslin and linen, and of primarily recycled and antique fabrics and findings... Jess also collaborates with several designers, using scrap remnants left over from a current season cutting. These dolls are created as limited edtion collections."
There is something truly beautiful about a threadbare, worn, and well loved doll that has been created with the finest materials.
gravel & gold goods.. and their boob bag!
There's nothing better than boobs right? Wrong! Boobs that are hand printed on a heavy canvas tote with luscious leather straps.. oh yeah, that's better. Our latest addition to the Diana Kane floor is guaranteed to brighten anyone's day. The 18 oz. canvas 19" x 19" tote with leather straps was hand made in San Francisco by the ladies of Gravel and Gold Goods.
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Gravel and Gold is a shop in the Mission District of San Francisco offering items made with "wit, utility, and beauty." They make a point to know where their materials come from and directly support the makers who create the one of a kinds items in their store. Focused on maintaining a relationship with their community, they often hold workshops and events. For more information go to http://gravelandgold.com/
"Mahalo hug a dolphin."
"Mahalo hug a dolphin."
