When I was in New York last year, I also got a change to catch up with my second cousin (first cousin once removed? My mom is cousins with her dad) Susan Springer Anderson. We hadn’t seen each other since a Springer family reunion at my childhood home in Wisconsin in 1990 (I think!). I dug through all the family pictures looking for the one of us as twins (Due to being second cousins we looked very similar to each other as 10 year-old girls. And I always had wanted a twin so I probably begged her relentlessly to wear a matching outfit and pretend with me.) This was the only thing I found — taken by yours truly, this is an illustration of how horrible I am with a camera.
Yep, I took that picture on an angle, trying to be all artistic or something.
Anyways, back to the story at hand. JT and I met up with Susan at the Candle Cafe in NY. (Turns out my “twin” is also a vegetarian like me!) I found out she is up to some pretty awesome things. Besides having the guts to move to the Big Apple and make it work, she is also an artist!
Check out more of her work at her blog, Delicate Utility. I love the 3D armatures with found plant materials (above).
Although I will admit this one kind of gives me the willies, I love seeing the process and work that goes into Susan’s pieces.
The dresses are my favorite . . . .
The one on the left (above) is made of coffee filters and the other is the New York Times. Project Runway anyone?
Here’s my “Project Runway” moment:
Me and my co-workers crafted the front outfit for the International Interior Designers Association “Unravel” fashion show. It’s made out of all Haworth furniture parts and pieces. Enough with amateur hour — back to Susan.
She’s on Etsy as well. Oh how I love Etsy. Oh the hours I spend looking at the wonderous assortment of vintage scarves, vintage shoes and delightful artwork. (What can I say, I have very specific tastes.)
I pulled a few things to show from Susan’s current Etsy shop. Obviously I have teal/turquoise on the brain . . . this Gloria journal is great. I always have a little journal with me to jot down things when I’m out and to keep all my measurements and such in.
Here’s what I’m sporting right now — a free paper one from the latest NeoTini (design trade show in STL). Even though I use my iPhone for a lot of things, I still need to physically write things down as well. I can’t seem to let go of that. (Maybe because it’s so satifying when you cross something off the list?)
Although I think the Gloria would be a much more stylish option, don’t you?
I think this next creation might go on my wish/covet list. I think the artwork that hangs in one’s home needs to have special meaning for its owner. I think the fact that my “twin” has created something so unique would make it special to me. Plus the colors and textures are sophisticated and read as both muted and fresh at the same time. 
JT if you’re reading this, we need some more anniversary artwork! I think that sounds like a great tradition to keep going.
Thanks to Susan for a) humoring me and dressing up like my twin back in the day and allowing me to blab all about it on the interwebs and b) for letting me use all these images. I wish her continued success but know that with her talent it will come regardless of any wishes. Cheers!
Living Analog 