Pandemic connections are challenging. We miss the way things worked “before”, almost as if we are part of some insane dystopian novel. I really miss attending class in person, especially when it comes to pattern drafting. There’s an extra set of challenges that presents themselves when you are standing there, clad in your tank top…… Continue reading The challenge of hard-to-reach places.
I’ve now made over 30 of these masks for family members and those in the community—as of tomorrow everyone on our little island will be required to wear them in any social settings so in between working my full-time job and homeschooling my two wild kids, I’ve been trying to sew as many as I…… Continue reading I have updated my mask pattern to include the adult size
I’m really picky about color. In every aspect of my life. From my design work, to the interior of my house, to the specific shade of my black clothing. Blame it on the extra cones in my eyes, whatever. I just see color a little differently. My right eye sees things with a slightly warmer…… Continue reading “Good Enough” isn’t Good
My days are so packed full with work and school, it’s rare that I get a chance to read. So I have started using my lunch break for just this purpose. I was really excited to receive my copy of Feedsacks: The Colorful History of a Frugal Fabric in yesterday’s mail. At almost 600 pages…… Continue reading Lunchtime Reading
Yesterday I spent the day hanging out with an amazing team of people from Fibershed and Apparel Arts for the Re:Fashion workshop in Oakland, CA. Attendees learned mending, embroidery and eco-printing techniques to turn lifeless old, and sometimes beloved, garments into new ones. I took the opportunity to learn a bit of Boro style Sashiko…… Continue reading Re:Fashion
When walking through museums and galleries, I often hear people commenting on how “tiny” people “back then” really were. Often times this observation is based on just a few examples available on display. While the individual whose clothes are displayed was perhaps “tiny” it also means that she, or he, was wealthy or at least…… Continue reading “Waist” and Waste
Over the last few years I have been really excited to see an uptick and renewed interest in what I call the “mending trend”. Whether it is commentary on the current political climate, a response to the environmental impact that “fast fashion” has on both our planet and it’s population, or just a omnipresent sense…… Continue reading The Mending Trend
In this case I am talking about those little gadgets I keep in my drafting and sewing kit that make my life easier, make me more efficient, and help the whole experience be more pleasurable. I’ve included links below to where you can find these, if you are interested. These are, of course, in addition…… Continue reading It’s the little things in life
I’m done and fairly happy with my entry for the Unconventional Fashion Challenge. The process of creating it was really reminiscent of the painting process for me, probably due to the familiar materials I was using more than anything else. I started out planning for one thing, made some unexpected discoveries, adjusted due to some…… Continue reading Ode to my first love… painting (a.k.a my Unconventional Fashion Challenge entry)
After seeing the competition pieces turned in by my classmates, I honestly debated whether to even spend the time finishing up my dress. They’re just all SO GOOD. But here I am, down to the last long evening. I have no good reason, aside from self-doubt to give up. Since self-doubt is not a good…… Continue reading Down to the final hour
refashioning history 