Family Circle Jan 2009 features the Black Barrel!

The editors at Family Circle magazine chose the RECYCLED CROCO LEATHER BLACK BARREL for a fashion page in the January 2009 publication. CHeck it out on page 100!

Let the holidays begin!

Here's a picture taken last week in NYC. Happy holidays!

Hollywood loves Flote, Flote loves Hollywood!!

New Bag That's Been Flote-ing Around Hollywood

We tracked down a great new bag that Hollywood is buzzing about! We first spotted the bag in Lucky magazine, and then saw a picture of Felicity Huffman carrying the clutch. So it was officially time to investigate!

The line is called Flote, and has great options from dressy clutches to casual bags you can use all day.

You can get the bag at Flote.net and ground shipping across the country is free!! Happy Hunting!

http://style.hollyscoop.com/handbags/new-bag-thats-been-flote-ing-around-hollywood_1046.aspx

Pottery, Halloween, etc~

Since I last check in to my blog I have been enjoying rowing, from NYC to NJ and back! I never seriously rowed before, but I found a funky little group called Village Community Rowing, which offers free rowing sessions for anyone that is interested! The boats are 26' long and most of them are built by the members of the organization! I first went on a weekend, and then found out that they offered sessions after work during certain work days. The season is over but I will be sure to sign up with Village Community Rowing next year!
A wonderful pottery workshop I attended in Ct was given by master potter Mark Shapiro. His point of view is one that I really respond to- beautiful pots, thoughtfully thrown with a few quick pulls. His decorating and glazing is simply amazing as well.
And, for the fun of it, I'll show a photo from Halloween in NYC. I worked late that day and on my way home passed several parties and participants.
(The photos on this blog were taken with my cellphone- a couple of them are not very clear)
I have really been enjoying corresponding with customers who enjoy Flote products! If anyone has photos you would like posted on this blog and/or the gallery on the website please send them over- you can contact us on the contact page at www.Flote.net!

Web Host

The web host I was using, is no longer a valid resource. Please know that I have a new host and my site will be up and running shortly!

Thanks bloggers!!

I am often notified about the wonderful bloggers that love Flote!! And, I want to say "thanks" to you all! Below are a couple~~

Stand Up To Cancer

We proudly listed a black Flote Varsity Bag on ebay with 50% of the purchasing price going to the non-profit organization Stand Up To Cancer. Start bidding at $70.00. As always, ground shipping is free! Check it out!!

Lloyd Boston covers fashion week

The always classy and brilliant Lloyd Boston will be covering the tent shows during New York's Fashion week! You can see him on Extra which 9/8+12 & Full Frontal which airs 9/7-18.

Looking for reps

Flote has generated great buzz in many special interest groups, such as pilates, scuba and equestrian groups. We are in the midst of signing on reps across the country that are enjoying and promoting the collection. If you, or anyone you know would like to discuss an opportunity to represent the collection please contact us!

Pink

We are proud to contributors to the Susan G Komen race for the cure. Our donation of pink Performer Pouches were sold at a Race For The Cure with all proceeds donated to the foundation. It's good to give.

Brooklyn, baby

This summer the East River, which runs along between Manhattan, and Queens/Brooklyn was decorated with 4 waterfalls. I wasn't quite sure what the thrill would be about until I went to see them myself. A good friend of mine, (who was elected President of the Brooklyn Women's Bar Association!) and I took a stroll along the Brooklyn Promenade. It is quite lovely there, with parks and walkways and some of the best views of Manhattan, Governor's Island, The statue of Liberty, The Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge and all 4 waterfalls. It is difficult to explain why the waterfalls are "beautiful"; they just are.
And while on the subject of Brooklyn, I thought I'd post a picture of the walkway on the Brooklyn Bridge. I participated in a couple of Brooklyn Bridge Bootcamp workouts this summer. The trainer runs us up and down the bridge, stopping at certain land marks, We stretch and do strength building workouts when we stop. It is no easy task as it is 1 mile each way, running uphill half the time and downhill the other half. But it sure is great to get out and see one of the greatest skylines in the world while exercising!

The Berkshires

One of the most spectacular parts of the country is along route 7, running from Litchfield Country CT (the upper west part of CT) thru Lenox MA. This time of year, the grass is green, the rivers are full, and best of all, the flowers are in full bloom. Iris', lilacs, and rhododendrons the size of houses, are common sites. Even the wild flowers look meticulous!! As far a business trips goes, it was stellar! Flote bags can be found in this area at Country Clothes (Kent CT) in Vlada (Stockbridge MA) and Canyon Ranch (Lenox MA).

Girlawhirl

With the daily influx of online blogs, I thought I'd let you know about one of my favorites! Check out www.girlawhirl.com. Articles regarding fashion trends, beauty products, restaurants, travel, shopping (and more) are written in a simple, easy to navigate, and informative way. There is something for everyone at Girlawhirl!

Pilates Style Magazine

The PURPLE PERFORMER pouch is features in the May/June Pilates Style magazine! The editorial regards organizing your gym bag. The Performer pouch, with its non-abrasive back clips and reflective tape stripes is a great option for the user to have easy access to their essentials. The neoprene fabric is sturdy and the inside zip compartment give extra security for smaller items, such as jewelry, cash, id, etc. Look closely and you will see a discount code. As always, www.Flote.net offers free ground shipping of all items shipped across the continental USA!

Flote recycled leather

When something good comes along we take advantage of it A high end handbag factory that had been in business, in the same location, for over 40 years closed their doors (13,000 sq ft!) when the owner of the building sold it. So goes the gentrification of Brooklyn, New York!

Everything was going to be thrown out. We were invited to take what we wanted the day before the factory closed for good. We found beautifully unique leather, linings and hardware that are perfect quality. We knew we could make something of what would have been trashed.

We created Flote- recycles, by merchandising the recycled, repurposed goods and hardware into our collection... and they look fantastic!

No two items are exactly the same-the pattern in the textures varies as it is the nature of the goods. All items are first quality and individually handcrafted in NYC.

(The item in the photo will be posted on the site shortly)

Spring Fever

Easter, graduations, Mother's Day, scheduled vacations, and over all spring fever are great reasons to spice up your already modern wardrobe with some new accessories! The JABBERWOCKEY (JAB) is a great option to carry your essentials in a manner that combine fashion and function. It is large enough to carry a phone, keys, ID, cash, etc. There is an inside zipper compartment for extra security. A great feature is that back snap tab that allows the wearer and option to attach the JAB to a belt (without taking the belt off), a messenger bag/ diaper bag strap, etc. There are also removable back clips so the JAB can be clipped to garment waist bands, larger totes ()how many times do your smaller object fall into the abyss of a large bag?), and a beach chair to name a few. Classic colors and high quality stands will allow the owner years of enjoyment combining fashion and function!

Lucky Magazine May 2008

We are so delighted to be in Lucky Magazine, May 2008 page 90. Featured is the deep red Varsity Bag! As a utilitarian, chic bag with a vintage vibe, they are "crazy" about it~ and so are we!!

Beneath the Sea

We are so excited to have a booth where we'll be selling our collection at at Beneath the Sea March 28-30!  Beneath the Sea, at the the Meadowlands in New Jersey, is "America's largest consumer scuba and dive travel show."  Being an advanced scuba diver for 17 years I am always amazed how unstyled and unisex all of the accessories are, especially for a sport that has been quickly growing in popularity for women!  In the scuba travel world, it is rare to find anything that is a color other than black or blue and that has a bit of style; everything is very functional and made in basic fabrics, such as ballistic nylon..  Our bright neoprene, and rich canvas and leathers will offer a fashionably unique option to the traveling, sporty crowd to carry their essentials!

The Dressing Room, NYC

If you haven't been to the LES (lower east side) of Manhattan, it's worth the trip!  A neighborhood that for many, many years has been know to be filled with immigrants living in tenement apartments, (my Grandparents were born and raised there) this neighborhood is as what I imagine Soho was before the masses moved in and the rents went thru the roof.  There are several unique fashion boutiques and wonderful restaurants and bars.  The folks that work and play down there are all gorgeous, but not intimidating gorgeous; just the type of people that have independent, interesting and chic points of views and love to express them.  

Our favorite LES store is The Dressing Room.  One third of the store is a fashion boutique, selling items from designers that sell to high end stores such as Barney's and from indie designers that sell one off items.  Everything sold there is hand picked by Nikki, one of he owners who is a fashion stylist and entrepreneur that expresses herself in fashion and interior design; she designed the interior of the store.  Another part of the store is a fully stocked, beautiful bar, where weary accomplices can throw back one or a few while the shopper shops. Downstairs is where the perfectly unique, hard to find vintage clothing is sold.    The Dressing Room is on Orchard St, just down the block from Delancey St.  Do stop by if you're in town!  On the right is a small photo of the full page that Time Out New York posted in this week's magazine, featuring The Dressing Room.  You can clearly see the black recycled Flote clutch in the window.  (See the press page on www.Flote.net to see a larger image)

Red Red Red!

Red is more neutral than you might think!  It can be the bag that goes with nothing and matches everything!  Although we offer most styles in black, because black will always be this year's black no matter what "they" say, at Flote we find our customers often respond to color.  Last year's fun color was Italian gold, and this year it's red.  While the Flote customer is individual and independent, we would be remiss to not mention that the Oscar awards were filled with red dresses and accessories.  Check out the Varsity and Jabberwockey- perfect red accessories!

Kudos to our North East rep!

Thanks to Mel D!  She is our rep based in upstate New York.  She presented Valerie Bertinelli with a PURPLE PERFORMER pouch the other day!  We're hoping Valerie enjoys using it on her long walks and during her exercise regimen!

Inspiration

Today I went to the Art Show at the Park Av armory.  Seeing the beautiful sculptures, paintings, drawings, photography, and collages by some of the most famous artists, such as Calder, Klimt, Avedon, and Miro, is always fantastic.  However, I found the color combinations of Frank Stella most inspirational!  Perhaps I am responding to color because this spring and summer are all about COLOR!  Look for new colors is the Barrel Clutch!  I will also have new versions of our Bedford Clutch as demand for it has been loud!  And we respond to what our customers ask for!

Welcome to my blog

Hello!  Welcome to my blog!  I am going to check in as time permits and fill you in on anything interesting that crosses my path.  

About me, I'm Jill, the creator and owner of Jill Mara Designs, Inc, home of the collection FLOTE!  Besides the collection, I am a freelance consultant and volunteer mentor.  I work with some of the most interesting and inspiring people who think out of the box and have interesting points of view.  

One of my friends, Lloyd Boston, is a well known fashion stylist. He will be on Oprah this Wednesday, Feb 20 telling women how to look stylish on a budget.  Tune in!