andreas linzner and his terry creations

i'm really happy that hamburg-based designer andreas linzner has stopped by today for an interview. andreas creates magical one-of-a-kind monkeys, elephants, polar bears, and other custom animals and accessories from vintage terry cloth that have an emotional resonance with anyone who grew up in the 50s, 60s, or 70s. but i would venture to say that kids who've never even seen vintage terry love these adorable animals.


check out his wonderful site at www.andreaslinzner.com

originally a men's tailor at the nuremberg opera, andreas studied textile art at the nuremberg academy of modern arts and earned a following because of the small runs of vintage terry he continues to use on his cloth menagerie of animals. but he also has his own original prints. the bunnies shown above are dressed in his signature pucci-esque green print (which he calls "leaf"), and the blue print (he dubs "ocean"). make sure to check out his special edition art collection (click on the highlighted link).

mj: how did you get into doing the animals and come up with the idea of the
custom vintage ones?



andreas: i love the towel fabrics especially the vintage fabrics. when i started my showroom in november 2000, i experimented with the material. i made a painting with it, designed clothing, and i sewed a bunny for a friend. the animals are one part of my work with vintage towels.

mj: when you design, what is your inspiration?

andreas: my inspiration is very different. i'm observing with my eyes wherever i am and it depends how i feel. when i look around, it is my world, like a dream world, i see so much that i like to see. i like the flowers in the park and road works.


send andreas your favorite towel and he will make your favorite terry pet.

mj: which is your favorite design that you've done?

andreas: a digital camera made of towel fabrics and toweling painting.

mj: what do you enjoy most about designing?

andreas: the way an idea get real. to show something from my world of thinking, feeling and observing.



mj: are you working on anything new?

andreas: i'm writing a book about toweling, and arranging an exhibition about toweling and the cultural history, also i created a toweling collection for him and her.


i heart these polar bears!

here are a few things you might not know about andreas linzner

a) the four most stylish people that influenced me:
there is no influence from people

b) four ways that style makes the world a better place
1 to talk more with people that you didn't know and have an open mind
2 to be not so self-absorbed
3 to share
4 love and peace

c) four of my favorite designers
1 joseph frank
2 stig lindberg
3 karl lagefeld
4 yoshi yamamoto

d) four jobs i have had in my life:
1 dressmaker
2 dresser
3 postman
4 cleaning lady!

e) four movies i would watch over and over (and do):
1 movies from pedro almodovar
2 the women with joan crawford
3 muriel's wedding
4

f) four places where i have lived:
1 wuppertal
2 eskilstuna
3 pforzheim
4 nuremberg

g) four tv shows i love to watch:
1 six feed under
2 queer as folk
3 desperate housewives
4 arte

h) four places i have been on vacation in the last four years:
1 rugen
2 sylt
3 mallorca
4

i) four websites i visit daily (or at least weekly):
1 dict.leo.org
2 google.de
3 hamburgerabendblatt.de
4

j) four of my favorite foods:
1 kaiserschmarn
2 dark chocolate
3 ribbeles suppe
4 roulade

k) four places i would rather be right now:
1 in a house at the beach
2 stockholm
3 the "herrenhauser park" hannover
4

labels: andreas linzner

andreas linzner will be monkeying around at trust your style tomorrow!

my favorite animal-maker andreas linzner, will be stopping by first thing tomorrow for an interview, so please check back, his work is so fun, i think you will enjoy it! also, i want to thank coutorture, who picked trustyourstyle as a must read on friday!

so sorry for the late posting. today slipped by the way mondays sometimes do. it was also the last day before the shopstyle.com contest ends, so i felt compelled to put together a few last outfits.

my last shopstyle.com entries (i promise!):

choc/strawberry cupcake

this easy little chocolate polka dot dress would be fun to slip on with the brown/pink flats, and harajuku watch. add a fun little bracelet, tortoise shades and a simple chocolate leather tote and you can head out for a busy day of running around town.


gold/white redux

the possibilities for white/gold combos are endless. i love this beautiful but weighty looking angel locket paired with the gold watch which echoes the round locket, and the big gold chain sandals tempered by a cute eyelet shift dress. the turquoise drops add just a touch of color and golden aviators give the whole look a little cool sophistication.


clearly stoned in black

this is a fairly simple look: a ruffley black dress worn with chunky lucite accessories. the lucite heart pendant and lucite gem on the flats are the two main accents, but lucite hoops, and a simple black clutch round out the look, plus black crystal trimmed shades add a shot of glamour.


polka dot retro girl

i love the navy polka dot dress by nanette lepore paired with these tory burch satin sandals. the ponytail holder and cream satchel update the look, and the red sunglasses and pretty gold charm bracelet have a retro feel that is thoroughly modern.


gold n' brown

this cute missoni cardigan and halter dress would like great with these chloe slingblacks, a long gold pendant (love the birdcage motif!), and i like the contrast of the ruffle on the soft brown bag with the missoni zigzags. add a pair of big brown tom ford shades, a couple of dangley gold earrings and pull your hair back with a brown snakeskin barrette to complete the look.


gold and white/ladylike

delicate gold accessories like the lovely gold swallows kissing, the litle "heiress" box clutch, the thin gold plated headband, the gold chain watch set in resin, strappy gold sandals, and gold/white enamel earrings compliment the perfect dvf white eyelet wrap dress. so ladylike and pretty! almost forgot--add some gold shades that picks up the chain motif in the bag and the bracelet for a little glam!

cream of the crop

shades of creamy beige and bone layer together to give this breezy outfit a rich look. the ruffled temperley dress and enamel floral earrings are so feminine that i like the contrast of the simple cream gucci bag and glossy dior shades, which lend a little sophistication. metallic/suede cream sandals add a luxe but laid-back touch.

labels: andreas linzner, shopstyle.com

i was asked last night by daisy whitney, a journalist for worldnow, who syndicates to over 170 websites, to contribute some stylish gift ideas for little kids (ages 2-7) plus some ways to help kids enjoy family time/mother's day together. coming up with ideas was so fun i thought i'd share my picks with you since it's always hard to come up with a good kiddie present.

planning a fun family picnic for mother's day is one way to get kids really excited about celebrating, and cool picinic-related presents for kids are also a great way to help a mom make her big day go a little smoother.



superhero plates are just the thing for this special day. each set includes four 8 inch, melamine plates - one in each of four monster patterns. these melamine plates are dishwasher safe and shatter & heat resistant. $29 at www.sparkability.net.



i'm partial to these adorable tea cups for kids (and big people) at www.isak.co.uk. i ordered some for myself some months ago--they're just so cute! you can order them from the isak website and even though they are shipped from europe, sandra isaksson takes great care with her shipping and it's very quick.


serve lunch on the cupcake blanket, a special present for a child for being so extra-special sweet to their mom. an environmentally friendly cozy cotton blanket tells the world: "i dream of cupcakes." (who doesn't?) you'll feel good knowing that this adorable blankie is made from fiber clippings that are usually wasted during manufacturing. and no harmful chemicals are used in dying the heavyweight recycled cotton. so you help the planet stay green while keeping warm. the dense knit will be a cherished heirloom for years to come. made in usa. $79.00 at www.uncommongoods.com


bring baby to the picnic too! now everyone can join in the picnic fun. the kidco travel bed is great for indoors and out, they fold up to nothing and are easy to travel with. $44.95 at the babyaccent store on ebay.com.


don't forget the bilibo. deceptively simple and magically attractive, bilibo's iconic shell shape and bright colors immediately appeal to children. developed in collaboration with childhood development experts, bilibo's unique form arouses curiosity, engages the imagination, and encourages creativity. both boys and girls find unlimited ways to play with bilibos--using them to rock in, spin in, hide under, sit on, tote with, and peek through. bilibo provides hours of fun, indoors and out: at home, at the park, at the beach, in water, and even on snow. bilibo is highly acclaimed by childhood learning specialists and toy experts worldwide. it has received numerous design awards and has been included in museum exhibitions. bilibo mini $15; regular size $30 at www.kidonyc.com


if all else fails, bring your babal. babal, like much of what interests children the most, is both simple and surprising. babal looks like one ball, but is actually two. a large brightly colored ball holds a smaller ball in a contrasting color. when the two are fitted together, babal works just like any other ball; it's great for catching and rolling. when the smaller ball is removed, however, the large ball offers up a few unexpected benefits, it becomes stationary and stackable, making tall towers possible. the contrasting textures of the large and small balls also cater to the nesting desire of young children. whether it's being used for catching, balancing, or rolling, babal is designed for both boys and girls to stimulate creative play, nurture hand-eye coordination, promote motor skills, and spurs the imagination. for ages 3 and up. $18 at www.kidonyc.com

and if you need presents for all those toddler graduations coming up, here are some more fun ideas:


start good financial habits early with a march of the pennies ceramic penguin bank. this adorable penguin bank created by artist david desalvo is perfect for kids saving their allowances or grown-ups with pockets full of loose coins. saving money has never been so cool. handmade in wisconsin.
$24.00 at www.uncommongoods.com


for those kids who can tell time, (and those who can't) the omar the owl wall clock designed by george nelson is a hip way to keep both high-design minded parents as well as bird-loving kids happy. nelson's collection of kid's clocks have human names and fish and bird forms. $130 at www.dwr.com.


kids need giraffes! (and dogs and bunnies). if you are searching for the perfect very special gift for the kid who has everything, then check out andreas linzner's stuffed animals made out of vintage terry towels. you can order your favorite pet made from your favorite terry towel. you'll be ordering them from germany, but if you're craving something totally unique that no one in the world will have one except for your favorite kiddie, then this is the way to go. prices start at 39.90 euro at www.andreaslinzner.de



beautiful and practical, alexander girard alphabet blocks are a classic and collectible gift any child (or parent) will keep long after they can spell. $100 at www.sparkability.net

hope you found this little guide helpful. i'll be checking back in over the weekend to share some lovely preview photos of my handbag shoot with model eve torres and a sneak peek at the first mary jo matsumoto home piece, which we shot earlier this week. i'll also have a giant spring fashions roundup next week along with those fashion questions that keep popping up, so stay tuned!

labels: alexander girard, andreas linzner, babal, bilibo, george nelson, isak home, sparkability, uncommon goods