Category Archives: Throwbacks

Show Life

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The way we do business, participating in juried shows over the years , traveling to different areas of the country, to often very interesting locations, most recently The Chicago Botanic Garden…. is a very personal experience……we make friends with other Artisans, meet their families, many of who come to help out at the show, or just drop by to catch up. Friendships also develop with clients and and their famillies……..that have followed our work over the years.

We just finished our first 3 show of this season, and I wanted to share some pics of good times, good friendships and families.

We are headed to Purchase, NY Oct 28-29 for

Crafts at Purchase

an event put on by Artrider, a family owned business we have been showing with for about 30 years!

And yes, we will all be catching up on whats been going on!

Craftspeople in Their Own Words

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Our copy of this wonderful book, written by our peers, under the editorial guidance of David Bacharach, Valerie Hector, Ken Girardini and Susan Levi-Goerlich, arrived this weekend. A very ambitious project by all involved to document some of our stories and history of this modern Craft movement, is beautifully put together. All profits from the sale of the book will benefit CERF+, an invaluable safety net for artisans.

And if you participate in this movement as a collector, you have kept us going, and this is part of your story too! Pick up a copy.

Thank-you all!

History is being written every moment, and this week we bring our new work to ACC Baltimore, we are in Booth 1601

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Here we are, visually. We did not submit a story, this time.

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Spring Wrap Up

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Wow this Spring has been a whirlwind, busy, and lots of fun!

Baltimore, Morristown, Marlboro, Saratoga & Chicago…Thank you!

Many of you have new coats to finish up this chilly spring, and start off your fall fresh.

We are off for some R & R, & designing new work, so stay tuned for that

and refreshed upcoming events page.

For now I will throw it back to a few weeks ago, to the finale of our show at

Electric City Couture in Saratoga Springs

ECC finale

Young Collectors, Women of Style

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I have so much fun in the booth with the wide range of women who love our work.

It is so exciting when the right woman and coat find each other, the work is complete!

Recently more and more younger women in their 20’s-40’s seem to be finding us, and I’m thrilled they feel sexy and fashionable and comfortable and warm in our coats!

This young woman in her 20’s was smart enough to encourage her parents to go to the PMA Craftshow a few years ago, and she wound up with this coat. It was love at first sight!

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And these two beauties loved our Peplam jacket, both making statements in style

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See us next at the fabulous

ONE OF A KIND SHOW

at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago

Dec 3-6

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All That Stitching! tbt Quilted Leather!

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When Marcello had his Salon and lived in East Hampton, when an inspiration hit, and being a “have to have it” kind of guy,

he would hop in his car and zoom over to order a jacket.

Here was one of his all time favorites, and he wore it so well!

So for throw back thursday, here it is, as we are in the studio creating the throwbacks for the days to come.

See us Oct 31/Nov 1  in Purchase, NY  and Nov 7 in Bridgehampton

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It’s Thursday, So Let’s Throw it Back to the Early 80’s

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Just found these pics of one of the first pieces we made shortly after we met, when I was a weaver, and Toshiki was a young fashion designer having just arrived in New York from Tokyo.

 

We were cutting our teeth in the business, and life; full of love, joy and idealism.  This piece constructed of of a wool fabric I wove, and trimmed in leather (the beginning of it all) was shot on a good looking friend in front of our studio on Elizabeth St., which was at the time, a gritty, gritty (pre calling it NOHO) neighborhood.

 

A lot, and not so much, has changed since then. (Just a little more cynical!)

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TbT to Last Summer at The Hampton Classic!

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An event that has become one of our favorites to kick off the season, our booth in

the Boutique Garden section of The Hampton Classic Horse Show in August

Everything about this show is a fabulous summer good time, and great shopping

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This year we are partnering with Kelly Bailey and Brennans Bit & Bridle

to host a special event to preview our new designs in Shearling

“Under the Red Umbrella”

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Stay tuned!

Email us to be put on “The List”!

Wow, Those 80’s!

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TBT, who remembers these leather jackets we made in the rockin’ 80’s?

So much color! And shoulder pads!

This was one of our more subdued “bomber” styles.

It was a fun time, but I wonder if that era will come back in fashion?

This image was scanned from a slide (remember those?)

taken on our “in house always available” model.

Remember her?

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Throwing Back to the Time I was a Young Weaver

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Most of you don’t know that my life before leather and shearling was that of textiles.

Growing up loving all things Art & Craft, In college I found my way to the University of

Utah because of its 3d department, expecially the room full of looms, a glass cube set

in the foothills of the Wasatch mountains. I spent many all nighters in there,

for the shear love of it, weaving my heart out, watching the sunrise over those hills.

Taking semester breaks back to New York to take classes at FIT in fabric design,

I finished up at the U of U with a BFA in Designer Crafts

(guess I have actually used my degree!)

While in Utah , the great painter and professor Alvin Gittins captured me

with skeins of some yarn I had dyed,

wearing my signature style at the time, a turban and a jacket from Army/Navy surplus.

I love this painting, and feel so lucky for this time of my life spent in Utah.

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Throw Back Thursday, at The Show

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Of course I love it when customers come to shows dressed in Toshiki & Maryszka,

especially, when the pieces are years old, well worn and loved, one of a kinds & limited collections.

This woman came to Craft Morristown in one of our leather pieces from 10-15 years ago, along with a one of a kind Toshiki handbag from a small collection done also in that time frame.

Do you have a piece of ours?

We would love to see you in it, and give you your 15 seconds of fame on our At The Show segment!

So come wearing it, or email a pic of you on the street in it!

Happy Spring!

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Craft & Design News You Want, How You Want It!

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As we are in the studio today, creating the throwbacks of tomorrow, getting ready to pack up our booth and build a pop-up shop with our new designs somewhere, the question is,

 

How will you know WHERE to find us and the fabulous other creators we show with?

 

We all have our favorite Social Media platforms where we get our info, so pick one that is right for you.

 

You will get info on show locations, admission coupons, new designs, pop-up events, and yes, occasional sample sales!

HERE ARE YOUR CHOICES!

 

Follow this blog, to receive an email when a new post is up (once or twice/week max) Design, Show, and Inspiration News.

Hit follow button to the right

 

Email me to be put on show announcement emails (Show news only)

 

Facebook Toshiki & Maryszka where I repost blog entrys, repost other designers or show committee news

 

Twitter @maryszka , same as above, plus a good way to follow show committee tweets as well

 

Pinterest, @maryszka O, you know, a bulletin board for a wide range of Syle inspiration

Instagram, veryspecialjackets for a daily single image gem of design, process, and what goes on in a slow fashion studio!

 

and now for a tbt, me in a hand cut lambskin lace jacket, (early ’90’s?)

only about five or so made, if you have one, we would LOVE A PIC OF YOU IN IT!

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tbt to Last Week!-New Years Eve, Feeling Refreshed

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Ending the year with good friends, good food, art, and a walk on the beach.

We are ready to design anew, create a new collection!

To get the juices flowing we visited The Parrish Museum in Water Mill on the East End of Long Island, to see

Steven and William Ladd:Mary Queen of the Universe

Alan Sheilds:In Motion

and wandering all the exhibits in this wonderful space

Here’s a review in the NY Times

Take a peek at our day, or better yet, get there yourself before January 19

and check our 2015 show schedule……updated as we know!

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Berkshires Throwback

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I have often said The Berkshire Craft Show is my favorite show to do.

Kicks off our season in early August, and we are nonstop from then on.

So relaxed, and so much to do besides the show!

Culture abounds!

Here are some memories from 2012! The next show is coming soon, August 8-12

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Booth Shot

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Tailgating at Tanglewood with other exhibitors, Tregea Bevan and Sandra Miller, after the show, before the concert.

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Yup, in the blur, its’ Yo Yo Ma!

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Throwback, “The Geometric”

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Who remember’s these lambskin jackets we did in the “80’s?

All One of A Kind!

Booked our whole year making these with orders from “The Smithsonian Craft Show” that year….

Who has one? Would love to get your pic in it!

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Throwback Thursday + Summer Project

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Spending this off season and especially this rainy day trying to organize the ten thousand plus photos that have accumulated in my cloud!

Hopefully I will come up with some good ones to post over the summer.

For today, one in our “Cowboy Series”,  from some of our early years working together.

I was a weaver making jackets, Toshiki started trimming them in leather.

And so it evolved.

I want to say mid ’80’s?

Early Toshiki & Maryszka. Who remembers or has one? Would love to see your picture in it!

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