11.29.2010

WATER TOPS NOW ONLINE

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I just added two of the hand-dyed silk 'Water Tops' I made to my Etsy store, one pink one and one blue. By all means head over to check them out!

Now I need to make one that I can keep for myself....next up? black dye!

11.25.2010

DYE JOB

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My first two years of university were spent in the textile/fibre arts program at ACAD and that's where I learned everything I know about dying (the fabric kind, not the no-living kind). It's probably also the last time I dyed any fabric until this week, which is weird cause I LOVE dying.

I'm so happy with how these pieces turned out, I hardly want to sell them. I used a shibori technique I learned in school on a habotai silk. The process is a lot of work and destroys my fingers but I totally think the results are worth it. The pattern is a super loose tank top I made myself last winter and which I love to wear thrown over black skinnies. The pink top is double dyed and it came out that perfect shade of pale peach that puts roses in your cheeks, which is good, I was worried it might turn out orange. The blue tank is my favorite though, I'm finding it hard to let it out of my sight.

Now I just want to dye everything.

Here's the before shot:

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And during:

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And the great reveal:

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Though it pains me a little, I'll have four of each for sale at Smart Design Mart and will be putting them in my Etsy shop early next week. I know I'll be making more of these soon.

11.22.2010

LOG DRIVER'S WALTZ

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OK, so these are obviously not the photos I promised last week but I still haven't finished that project so hopefully I can show it off, completed, in the next two or three days. In the meantime, here's a glimpse of what I got up to this weekend.

I've had this project in mind for awhile and, what with Smart Mart and Puces Pop fast approaching, have found myself much in need of a garment display rack. I think RB and I were also in need of an adventure so Saturday afternoon we took a drive out to the country in search of fallen branches and natural building supplies. We stayed away from the sugar maple lots (no need to get shot) and ended up finding some really nice pieces of wood by the side of a country road just across the Quebec/Ontario border.

Amazing what a full weekend one can make out of a windstorm, a full tank of gas, a handsaw, measuring tape, 4" screws and some addictive treats from Andalos bakery.

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Like I said, this is just a glimpse of the finished project, I still have a lot of work to do. Nevertheless, hooray for things coming together so effortlessly and hooray for organic solutions.

11.17.2010

SNEAK PEEK

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Hopefully I can post full photos of this project tomorrow. In the meantime, here's a tiny sneak peek of a new style I've been working on. This one reminds me of my friend Amelia and vintage underpinnings turned bad.

11.16.2010

JOINING THE RANKS

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Oodles of overthinking and two months of hemming and hawing later, I've finally made the leap to Etsy and officially have items in my shop. I hope to upload more photos this week as well as continue to make new styles available directly to you.

Etsy is such a great resource in that it allows independent designers and business people to link into a fantastic network of like individuals and to get their creations out to the public in one of the most direct ways possible. It's quick, it's painless, it allows me to continue to develop my line in the organic way I crave and it's a great sounding board for new ideas and designs. It's good for me and it's good for you!

I invite you to come visit my shop regularly, especially over the next month as I crank out more styles for Smart Mart and Puces Pop. Follow the link to the right to explore more and keep your eyes open for specials and promotions.

11.10.2010

SIDESWEPT

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I sampled this Sideswept top in a linen knit yesterday. I love this fabric, it's kindof sheer, kindof nubbly, has the slightest sheen and it's 100% linen, the cloth of Egyptian royalty. Anyway, just a pattern I've been playing with for awhile. I want to make some more simple pieces that I can retail for under $100. I'm going to wear this one around today and see how I feel about it. And modeling, ughhh, not my favorite let's just say.

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11.06.2010

SHE'S GOT LEGS

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After what feels like a million pairs of leggings later, I finally have a stockpile of sizes for sale. They'll be available at SMART MART and also directly from me anytime you please. As I mentioned previously, the back leg is a soft bamboo/cotton french terry, the entire front is made of supple black calf skin. The waist is finished with a 3" elastic band which sits at the natural/high waist. I wear mine constantly.

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I've just sent out packages to both Nokomis and lovely Kara in Vancouver, keep your eyes open for them friends.

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