Eliza Jane Curtis first tried print- making as a little girl at the kitchen table with her grandmother.
Now, after studying textile design in New York and living and working in New York and Buenos Aires, Curtis is creating designs in her studio located in an old farmhouse in Limington. Her company is called Morris & Essex. Among the hand-printed paper and textile goods in her repertoire are eco-friendly bamboo-cotton jersey scarves in funky patterns and beautiful colors. Curtis works with a variety of techniques, including silkscreen, letterpress, linocut block printing, hand-cut stamps, paper, scissors and glue – and the computer. Her products are made from organic, natural and non-toxic materials as much as possible.
“I’m motivated by a love of creating color and pattern, and also by a desire to make beautiful things that are useful, practical and sustainable,” Curtis said in an email. “I use environmentally friendly, water-based printing inks, and many of my products feature organic cotton or eco-friendly bamboo fabrics.”
Curtis takes inspiration from the natural world, folk art, vintage ephemera and her own experiences and travel. One of her recent designs is a scarf printed with songbirds scattered among leaves and flowers. She also makes organic cotton canvas tote bags and zipper pouches, cotton tea towels and letterpress greeting cards.
Curtis’ scarves cost $36 each and are available from her website and her Etsy shop. They’re also sold at the Portland Museum of Art, Pinecone + Chickadee and The Merchant Company, all in Portland; at Archipelago at The Island Institute in Rockland; and a variety of other retail shops around the state.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
