Does it send anyone else into a mild panic attack when the stores start showing cold weather fashions in the middle of vacation season?  Why am I staring at a turtleneck on a mannequin as I gulp down iced-t to stay hydrated for window shopping in 90 degree weather?  I love Fall, but I don’t think any of us are ready to part with tank tops and afternoons by the pool yet. So fire up your grill —  here’s a quick round up of the current hot weather trends that everyone’s basking in. Let’s revel in the remaining Summer weeks. Tallyho!

Colors —  In terms of hues, nothing is new: not the trends since this past Winter and Spring, and not the vintage inspired colors being sunbathed and grilled in this Summer. Vintage fashion inspired by the 70s is still around, which means that taupes, neutrals and pastels adorn cooling looks. Light pinks and greens definitely suit billowy tops and dresses to a T, like on this Silk Willow T, pictured to the left, by By Rachel Rose. But conversely, bright blues and reds also seem to be perfect for the weather — no one can deny that somehow, nothing screams “BBQ! Beer!” like a bright cherry red.

Cloth Accessories — Avoid that gross feeling of sticky, sweaty jewelry by jumping on the cloth jewelry trend this Summer. They’re eco-conscious, feature unusual textures, and are physically lighter to wear. They’re also a little bit bohemian, a little bit old-world, and a little bit ethnic — which hits 3 birds with one stone in terms of what’s been in vogue thus far for 2011. Just look at the bracelets on the right by Etsy seller Thief and Bandit to see how a colorful mix of patterns and colors on these woven fabric cuffs are being worn this season.

Dresses, skirts, and things that flow — When fashion meets function, especially in potentially sweaty weather,  it’s a refreshing relief. That’s why flowy and cropped items seem to be populating the masses during these searingly hot months. Billowy 70s style dresses, maxi skirts, and crop tops all allow for plenty of breathing room. The Sage Chevron Dress by  designer Jamie and the Jones makes me feel comfortable and cool just on looks alone. Sweat it out in style, ladies.

Skinny Dipping — We can’t have a Summer Fashion roundup without a mention of bathing suits, right? For the past few years it seems like vintage inspired skimpies are the styles of choice, even in high fashion. Relax poolside with bandeau tops, high waisted bikini bottoms, and halter necklines. For a sample, to the right is a feminine summery throwback style by designer Amourouse.

Accoutrements for Outdoor Entertaining – I’m convinced that Summer weather is made for the hedonist, with lounging on porches and in gardens — usually with burgers and beer in hand — the number one activity of choice. As such, outdoor lighting and  furniture is heavily scouted by shoppers this time of year. Make the most of the nights spent outside with the  many clever lighting options out there, such as this recycled glass jar garden lamp by Boots N Gus.

Are there any other items that you’re melting over this Summer? Speak in the comments! And don’t forget to hydrate.

This dress by Rodarte takes inspiration from vintage fabrics, playing on the retro textile trend popular in the handmade community. Image from Style.com

New York’s Fall 2011 Fashion Week has wiped off the mascara and shut off the high bass techno music for the season. While I definitely enjoy the glitz and showmanship of it all, it’s hard not to chuckle when comparing the highfalutin designs to the more wearable, relevant fashions already in motion in the handmade community. Crafters are constantly in conversation, developing emerging trends and motifs without the confines of “seasons” or the pressure to create something earth shatteringly “boundary breaking” or “now”.

But having just reviewed Craftster.org’s 2011 trend report (available here if you’d like a refresher), I was eager to see how the predictions for the handmade world are linked to these new catwalk displays. I know it’s unbearable to think of next Fall when we’re eagerly anticipating the slow thaw of winter, but here’s a compare and contrast of the two separate but related style-ospheres, going off the major 2011 trends that were outlined for the handmade community:

Marc Jacobs Fall 2011. Image from Style.com

- Renewable and found materials: While the fashion houses weren’t exactly making skirts out of recycled tarps this season (that’d be kind of awesome, though), more and more were using retro and folklore inspired fabrics and industrial looking textiles to compose the overall aesthetics of their designs. Marc Jacobs, for instance, perpetuated the illusion of rubber with the tactile effect of his latex skirts, sheaths and trousers (photo to the right. I cringe thinking about the chafing going on there). Other designers, such as Rodarte, whose dress is pictured above,  used Native American blanket patterns and appliques inspired by Little House on the Prairie for a nod to vintage fabric hunting and upcycling.

-  Colors and patterns: I like talking about these trends because they can be relevant to anyone, not just those who make clothes. If you remember, Craftster predicted that neutral colors and bright jewel hues will feature big this coming season. Well, they were right about their presence on the runway as well. The very now colors to incorporate into your styles are: jade, cobalt blue, crimson red and a mustardy yellow. Also huge: very brightly colored pants in the aforementioned “hot” colors, as pictured below. Phew, you got all that?

Styles by Yigal Azrouel and Karen Walker featuring the bright pants trend in two of the seasons' colors. Photo from Refinery29.com via Style.com

In terms of pattens, the super bright zig-zagging geometric prints, which were popular on the Spring runways, are still setting off epileptic seizures for Fall. I think this trend is a close cousin of  the Navajo inspired patterns that are all the rage right now amongst normal, less “high fashion” clothing lines. This look also has the potential to spin off into “tribal” influenced patterns and designs, which I predict will be huge this year. J’adore that sartorial vein–those modern bohemian mashups are a lot easier to wear. They also make me want to burn incense, buy a pet cactus and plan a spring break trip to pastel desert terrains.

This dress and coat combo from Duro Olowu highlights the mixed patterns and long dress trends popular on the Fall 2011 catwalks. Image from HarpersBazaar.com

- Architectural Designs and Details: When I think of architecture, I think bold and geometric. So from an abstract perspective, a lot of the dramatic silhouettes featured this season reflect the engineered and imposing nature of architectural structures. The large ponchos (the fashionably acceptable way to wear a blanket for long sweeps of time in public!) and peplum details that were everywhere are two examples. Also, sheer fabrics in long layers and the resurgence of floor grazing coats and dresses could be another reflection of a desire for statement pieces, with the sheer fabrics adding a unique peekaboo aspect to each design.

Statement coats are the rage: ponchos by designers ADAM, Band of Outsiders and Edun. Image from Glamour.com

- Masculine/Feminine Looks: I find a lot of this seasons’ “trends”  to be a little whip lash enducing – for example, the mixing of super bright and complicated patterns, with the completely converse idea of minimalist clothing and pants in block colors. Uh, what? Well, the same is happening with popular “looks” this season. 60s and 70s hyper-feminine dresses and wide leg pants are still here, now with the addition of sexy librarian style pencil skirts and thigh grazing slits, which I’m sure all the boyfriends out there will be loving.

Tuxedo looks from Ralph Lauren, Alexander Wang and Prabal Gurung. Photos from Stylist.com by Getty Images

On the opposite side of  the spectrum, androgynous black and white tuxedos are also cool for women. If you’re interested in a less ritzy version, clothing lines for us plebes are also paying homage to Annie Hall’s effortless urban nonchalance.  The take away message from all of this is that dressing up is finally okay again, albeit with economically conservative materials. That means that jewelry, clothing and even accessories will become more luxe and to-do as the seasons progress.

So in a neck and neck comparison, I’d say that we live up to the hype: the crafting world’s trends are right on target, if not ahead of the game. I wish there was some algorithm to see who inspired what first and when. But there’s no competition here: All’s fair in design and war.  I hope this trend roundup provided some insight into the other side, and a few glimpses of what’s to come!

Tube Necklace No. 2 by Etsy seller artbywinona, features both the neutral tone and the eco-minded supply trends that are predicted to be popular in 2011.

The craft world is a living, breathing, constantly changing and evolving organism, and there are definitely major trends that course through it’s veins. But my they are tricky. They’ll surface for months only to be stuffed to a storage closet’s backward depths after they’ve reached an arbitrary and unexpected expiration date. What dictates these enigmatic, yet powerful forces of economics and design? How can we predict them so our items are on the forefront of a rush, rather than ignored in online shops or stuffed behind a row of boots in a buyer’s closet?

The team at Craftster.org aims to answer those questions, or at least get a jump start on possible predictions, with a comprehensive run-down of all things trendy in 2011. Titled 2011 Indie Craft Trend Report, it was composed, according to the table of contents, “using anecdotal evidence from a community of 225,000 crafters, and analyzing data and trends from the collective 1.3 million visitors a month to the Craftster.org website.” Here’s some highlights from what the report has to say:

• The upcycling, green craft trend will continue to grow in 2011. Eco-minded supplies, such as naturally sourced woods and recycled metals, as well as found or reclaimable objects, like altoid tins, glass bottles, and old books will be popular crafting materials in 2011. Necklace no. 2, pictured above by Etsy seller artbywinona, is one such example of an item that incorporates eco- friendly materials, in this case metal tubing, to create a modern jewelry piece. The green trend will also have an impact on fashion, as many clothing oriented crafters will hit vintage shops for the reclaimed fabrics of sheets, curtains and apparel. Prepare to see old school fabric patterns making a comeback!
• The colors du jour will be natural and earthy tones, such as browns, greens and grays  as well as bright jewel hues like fuschia, deep red, plum, and teal. Think back to the basics with pops of colors for easy and contrasting palettes.
• Fashion. According to Craftser, the masses are screaming for shorter hemlines for the ladies, lots of layering, and for details, details, details on all pieces. Embellishments, pleasant finishes, and structural pleating will be lavishly and painstakingly constructed to make potential customers sit up and notice. Take note to the right of the A-grey marl mini skirt by Polish designer Arc Square, which mixes an earthy palette with lots of leg and an impressively complex, architectural pleating. As for the rest of fashion this year,  a mixture of 1940’s and 1970’s looks, which we’re already seeing now, will continue to be popular. Leggings will become a dress staple in 2011, possibly taking a wardrobe defining turn. Bolder prints, colors, and textures mean they will demand to dominate any outfit as a signature piece.
• For the jewelers out there, material imitations out of clay, fused plastic and resin will be the current take on baubles. Millefiore technique is also scheduled to make a comeback. Also, buyers are craving pretty and luxurious. Lavish, expensive looking designs will be remade in more economically friendly fashion this year, which is what the customer wants.
• All the fiber obsessed artisans take note: newer creative techniques, like stitching on mixed media, free form needlework, and vintage embroidery transfers means embroiderers will be bringing it this year. A mixed media embroidered diorama piece, Hello Old Friend by Etsy seller Mary’s Granddaughter, pictured to the left, offers one such example.  For the quilters, there will be a major increase in the use of creative embellishments. Also in the future, detailed, labor intensive art quilts will be very “hip” and intended to impress.
• Knitters and crocheters, on the other hand, will love soft acrylics, wool and natural yarns when churning out pieces on their double-ended crochet hooks in 2011. Cable knit items and amigurimi patterns will be in high demand year round.

That’s only the tip of the iceburg. For more to this report, such as trends in baking and cooking, handmade gifts, inspiring muses from pop culture, and the top 20 most visited websites by crafters, download the PDF of the full report here.

What do you think about these trends? Have you seen any of them already? And how about trend reports and forecasts in general? Do you find them helpful? Please comment below!

I wanted to offer some concrete examples of what I was talking about. Here are some creations already applying the 2011 “high designer” trends in various down-to-earth ways. Note the 70s looks, geometric patterns, fall colors recycled for spring, and eclectic pattern mixing — all in handmade action!

Rosette Tan Plaid Shoe … Brydferth $30.00	Lulu Dress miablaz $73.00	Gray Wristlet Upcycled … groundsel $50.00
Fall Bonita Bottoms BrunoPolo $30.00	magic number spinthread $65.00	Florence Broadhurst Pri… AlfalfaBunch $14.00
Zackengebuesch // Spiky… karamelo $9.00	Pink Fire Hoodie / by R… replicca $75.00	Small neon orange trian… essimar $14.00
doily coasters uncommon $	Beaded woven barrette u… ThunderBoltBea… $55.00	Romantic Wrap Top With … Lirola $75.00
Chocolate Stripes with … FA2u $32.90	NEW The Love Fox limite… inaluxe $33.00	Eclectic rustic gold fi… tinahdee $

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Geometric Stocking by Etsy seller rikrak

Everyone already seems a tizzy about the upcoming holiday season, and perhaps rightfully so. Inventory doesn’t just magically generate itself, you know. So with world-wide fashion weeks finally over, I thought that now might be a good time to sit back with a cup of tea, take a breath of that fall air, and assess the current “trend” situation before the full-on holiday feeding frenzy ensues.

“Trends” are sometimes thought of as vague, fickle, and fleeting, but it’s possible that incorporating them into your wares, or at least educating yourself as to your products place amongst them, could poise you ahead of the game and grant you a competitive edge when selling this holiday season.

For example, the Geometric Stocking by Etsy seller rikrak, featured to the right, manages to combine holiday cheer with the very popular geometric and color blocking look. So unique! So now!

Here are three trends that I believe bridge the “so hot right now” with the “up and coming” spring trend cycle.

Trend numero 1: The 70s are back

The Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2011 collection was full-on 70s. photos: Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com via Style.com

Ever since the show Mad Men has reached near-cult-like status, the 50s look has been all the rage. (On a side, did anyone watch the season finale last Sunday?!) This retro trend continues this spring, progressively, with a focus on 70s fashion.

Yes, Saturday Night Fever inspired white suits are back, and I don’t know how I’m feeling about that. And no amount of convincing from Anna Wintour is going to grow me the confidence to rock a silk jumpsuit in public.

But there are some more toned down and wearable looks featured this season, such as: halters, wide trousers, full skirts with belt cinched waists, and dainty lady-like accessories. Basically, put flowers or bows on anything and you’re down to channel a young and stylish version of your grandma (or mom) via 2011. Prepare to watch Jodi Foster circa Taxi Driver share a sartorial handshake with Sally Draper or a Hitchcock heroine.

Trend 2: Geometry 101

Prabal Gurung Spring 2011; 3.1 Philip Lim Spring 2011. Both photos: imaxtree.com via elle.com

Bent, carved, sculptural, the square root of Pi. Math is all around us, my calculus teacher used to tell me. Geometric patterns and shapes are everywhere you look right now (hello, bunting trend!) and will continue to be during warmer times.

Bold, minimalist designs pack a lot of punch, affording dramatic blocks of color or sculptural forms without any bells and whistles. Reflecting our trying economic times, designs need to go farther with less, and geometry definitely takes us there.

But reasonings aside, the great thing about this look is that it’s easily transferable to a slew of designs and products. Whether it be  jewelry, home wares, fine art, or textiles, right and obtuse angels can and probably will be everywhere, even in the most subtle of ways. Take note.

Trend Trois: Fall colors recycled

Spring 2011 runway looks from 3.1 Phillip Lim, Richard Chai Love, Yigal Azrouël, Rag & Bone. Photos courtesy of the designers. Image via refinery29.com

While spring 2011 collections definitely celebrate blinding pops of color (please refer to the geometric trend discussed above!) warm and neutral fall tones will be reincarnated fresh for springtime. Fashion is actually learning to recycle! White and taupe are “so major” during the 2011 spring season, as well as: greys, browns, beige, mint, and muted pinks and blues.

Dress by Proenza Schouler. Photo: Imaxtree via Elle.come

But if this color palette is your aesthetic equivalent of reading War and Peace, you’ll be happy to know that the color of the year is a kinetic orange, so intense it causes Adderall cravings. Please observe the decidedly Halloween Proenza Schouler dress to your right. And to think, this dress is for spring, not fall!

Final fourth trend: Pattern Insanity

Miu Miu Spring 2011. Photo by Imaxtree.com via Elle.com

Rodarte 2011 Spring collection, photo credit: Dan & Corrina Lecca via harpersbazaar.com

Coming out of left field, schizophrenic looking pattern mixing is also on the map in 2011. These looks combine crazy, colorful prints and textures to put some jazzy unpredictability back into fashion.

With this trend, there’s a delicate balance between looking “fun” and like you dressed yourself while drunk, but when it works it works. It’ll be interesting to see the handmakers’ take on this risky but outside-the-box style. I salute anyone who boldly dons this look (or those silk jumpsuits.)

There are many more spring 2011 fads to study and ponder — lace, denim, animal prints, and stripes, oh my! — but I’ll save them all for a later post. Halloween may be near, but I don’t want to cause any Zombie-like head explosions from fashion information overload. I do hope, however, that these three trends get the creative juices flowing for relevant and modern looks that add extra panache for your holiday sales.

If you’ve eyed any trends that I’ve missed, or if you’d like to comment on how trends affect business, please write to us below. And remember: always be true to your own tastes, though it never hurts to keep your eyes peeled for what’s next!

photo: Steve MacDonald

Ok, ok, so maybe you think the cuckoo clock trend is so 2006. I’m sure the one at Urban Outfitters has been out of stock forever.  I’m also going to pretend that they were never available at Walmart but that’s not what we’re here for. No, I’m not done with all things from The Black Forest.

Let’s check out some versions that maybe you haven’t seen before.

The photo above is an embroidered painting made into a cuckoo clock by artist Steve MacDonald aka Ramblin Worker.  Check out more of his work here.

photo: Krauts Gallery / Stefan Strumbel

This technicolor cuckoo clock by German artist Stefan Strumbel is a great updated version of the traditional cuckoo clocks from the turn of the century .  Check out his blog for more photos.

photo: Riccardo Paolino e Matteo Fusi

Looking for something a little more modern?  There are some great mid-century inspired modern cuckoo clocks available at momentoItalia

photo: Mudstone Studios

This two foot tall ceramic sculpture bear cuckoo clock by MudstoneStudios has been one of my very favorite things for a while now.

Not inspired yet? I think a little trip to the cuckoo clock museum might be in order.  That’s right there’s a Cuckoo Land.

Your assignment is to get to work.  The world needs more cuckoo clock inspired arts and crafts. The future of kitsch depends on it.

photo: Hella Jongerius

In 2000 I stumbled upon the work of Dutch artist Hella Jongerius in a magazine. At the time I had recently started teaching myself to work with clay and was stuck in a very commercial and static mindset. Her embroidered porcelain dishware definitely gave me a moment of “joyous jealousy”. Jongerius takes a historically functional craft and pushes the limits. She doesn’t stop at merely embroidering her dishes but continues her thread work from the dish directly onto the tablecloth.

photo: Diem Chau

Another amazing artist working with embroidered porcelain is Diem Chau who is originally from Viet Nam. Her work is especially appealing because of its figurative images. Each piece is like a snippet from a storybook.

photo: Claire Coles

Claire Coles is an incredible designer who makes these alarmingly sweet embroidered teacup and saucers. Be sure to check out her website for her amazing embroidered wallpaper too.

photo: Emily Jull

I bumped into this seller on Etsy, Nesting Emily, and fell in love with her “stitch porcelain”. I love the organic shapes of her vases and the simplicity of the embroidery.

I wouldn’t call embroidered ceramics an actual trend yet but I do think that with the explosion of hand embroidery and the resurgence of ceramics as fine art we are in the happy position to be seeing some fantastic innovations that combine these two mediums.

Perhaps this will become a new category of ceramic, Stitchware anyone?

When I was in high school, I was fairly preppy. The early 90’s were the days of v-neck Gap sweaters and pegged jeans. I fell in line with my geeky friends and lived a happy, although boy-less existence. That is until Paul started working at the craft store in the mall. I worked one store front over at the movie theater concession stand and Paul was the slightly odd, drama guy in all black who worked at the craft store. He started sending me cryptic notes about dreams and wolves and vampires during the long work days. I thought they were funny and interesting and Paul in his quirky way was as far from the Gap as I was going to find. He wore vampire teeth for fun. He wrote poetry about crows. He was different. So the preppy geek started dating the happy goth and my tastes in fashion and entertainment and nearly everything else changed forever.

I will admit it, part of me is still secretly goth. And I am drawn to buying (and making) handmade items that are secretly goth like me.

This vampire ring by Richmond Art is on the top of my secretly goth wish list.

I could wear this ring and still be my usual sunny self. I don’t need to express my dark side with black eyeliner or fangs if I can just wear this little ring made of polymer clay.

Speaking of polymer clay, I wear these eyeball ponytail holders by Polymer Posies nearly every day.

No one has to know that I am crocheting the grim reaper with a pattern from Creepy Cute Crochet by Christen Haden.

And the strange creepiness of Sarah Ogren’s Cat Twins Pendant is perfect for the secret goth in me.

And for the record, as a secret goth, I tend to shy away from rotting doll heads like this one from Blarg.

I like to think that if Paul still knew me now, he would be proud of how much he influenced what I make. I know I would have never thought about zombies ruining Christmas if it weren’t for him.

Hello Craft wants to know how your life experiences influence your style and what you make. Tell us in the comments!