An Indie Biz: Fabric Scraps

2 Comments

One day I may be given the title of ‘hoarder.’ Not of animals or tasty gourmet cookies – but fabric scraps. I can never muster the courage to throw away a pile, let alone one piece, of usable textile. But alas – my apartment space is coveted by furniture, pets and a spouse, so rationale states that only objects for immediate use can forgo becoming refuse.

But in the past month I started a secret stash of scraps, knowing that I’d find some way to use them for the upcoming event season. Continue reading →

Events: Renegade Sneak Peak

Leave a comment

I always promise myself to stick to what I know in the weeks leading up to big events like Renegade – but then inspiration hits – and I can’t stop myself from making something brand spanking new! This past week alone I’ve made at least four new creations that I’ll be debuting this Saturday.

One is the “Bow Peep” belt which I hand-crafted using fabric scraps, unbleached elastic and a hook clasp. I made something similar a month back using t-shirt remnants, but this morning I gave the design a twist by making the bow out of a different cotton fabric. The result is better than I anticipated! I love how the solid color of the belt brings out the geometric chevron print of the bow. A job well done (if I’m allowed to say so!).

I’ll be making a bunch more of these for this round of Renegade. If you’re in Chicago – be sure to swing by my booth (#48) to see them in person!

An Indie Biz: Sign Me Up

Leave a comment

Every year I promise myself I’ll stick to last year’s show display plans – but then I start dreaming and become distracted by possibility. So I have once again undertaken the creation of new signs for my fair booth.

Last season I painted horizontal and vertical displays on balsa wood. The finished product was nice – but not large enough to catch someone’s eye from a distance.

So this year I’ve gone back to working in the medium I know best: fabric. Continue reading →

Item of the Week: Hello Doily

Leave a comment

I am absolutely loving on this new design! It combines many of my favorite elements in one simple and chic skirt. The soft upcycled cotton makes a perfect base for a flirty shape and hand-stenciled prints.

And for the gal who is obsessed with the peplum trend – but can’t find the confidence to sport the skin-tight pencil skirts they come on – this is the perfect solution! The a-line cut is flattering for many shapes, be it curvy or straight, and gives the wearer space to move.

Currently available made-to-order – this skirt will be debuting in a variety of shades as ready-to-wear in late September. So keep your eyes peeled to my Etsy shop.

Events: Renegade Sneak Peek – All About Ombre

Leave a comment

This ombre trend is contagious! I have been wanting to experiment with fabric dye for a long time and the melted color look has given me the perfect excuse to do just that!

Using a technique that calls for a slow dip and release process, I created the new “All About Ombre” dress that gives each frock a deep gradient toward the lower hem. An elegant way to revive pre-loved cotton fabric, this design forced me to keep the remainder of the piece simple so as to not distract from the color flow. Continue reading →

An Indie Biz: Unhappy Endings

Leave a comment

Not every design experiment results in a happy ending. I learned this myself after trying time and time again to create a new top that would feature my very-own wycinanki print. Let’s just say that creating a reusable stencil of a highly intricate pattern is not as resilient as it would seem.

After spending hours painstakingly bent over my first wycinanka I eagerly made the first (and final) print using the stencil. Why didn’t it work? Continue reading →