Final fashion show at the Sashay Shantay

It was amazing! I was completely blown away by what my fellow designers produced for the last on-ice runway show at the shantay. We were also lucky enough to have photojournalist Nate Howard at the show. He took some beautiful black and white photos not just of the runway, but also behind the scenes in the shanty and the hair & make-up van. Please do yourself a favor and view his photo galleries here and here.

Nuclear Winter themed Shantay show

Polar bear pants, a quilted pullover and an embroidered sheepskin hat. Yep, should be enough to survive the apocalypse.

WithChild on-Ice Runway Show at the Sashay Shantay!

My second look for the on-ice runway shows was modeled by Ashley Kuehl. In keeping with the theme, Ashley is 9 months pregnant. Doesn't she look great? The garment was woolen tweed with a hand knit collar by Bridget Thuemmel. Thanks, Bridgie! I also made her windproof & waterproof choppers, they were super warm. Again, this look will be shown again at our Grand Finale fashion show on February 5th. See you there!

Sparkle Beautiful Ice Skating Runway Show

For the first of four runway shows from the Sashay Shantay out at the Art Shanty Projects, I made this skating outfit. I was inspired by the night sky, especially the big dipper. Made out of navy blue satin, and hand studded, it's a simple sheath dress with severe shoulders and crisp folds. If you missed the Sparkle Beautiful show, you'll be able to see it (and many other designs) again at our Grand Finale show on February 5th.

Artists on Ice

We have arrived. The Shantay now resides on Medicine lake! Check out thee Sashay Shantay website for a bigger, longer update. I must get back to work.

The Winter Blues and Golds

My mother is a talented quilter, did you know that? Well, as part of my winter line that will debut at thee Sashay Shantay, I asked her to learn me some quiltin'! Thankfully, she said yes and we headed up to the north woods for some intensive designing/quilting magic. My sister Hannah came up with us to lend a sewing hand too. I'm so lucky to have such an industrial, artistic, and helpful family!

The views were great from our sewing room.

My mom teaches me all about piecework.



Off to Kansas City for more family time over the New Year. Wishing you a happy new one and to stay tuned in 2012 for more and more awesomeness. I have great plans in store for this blog!

Introducing Thee Sashay Shantay

Well, I've been busy busy busy working on this Art Shanty Project. Last you heard, we were just accepted to the Project. Well, much has changed since then. First, and most excitingly (is that even a word?), we have officially christened our shanty. Yes indeed. Construction, promotion and outreach of Thee Sashay Shantay up and running! We've started construction on the shantay and our clothing designs, we've put out a Call for Submissions (check it out below). We've also joined the digital world with force. Check out our website, view our photos on flickr, like us on facebook, follow us on Twitter @_SashayShantay, and send us an email at TheeSashayShantay@gmail.com. We're nothing if not virtually connected.


Stay tuned for updates on our Shantay Preview Partay which is scheduled for late December and will feature a few really awesome bands in an awesome space and one look from each Shantay designer's final runway show lineup.

There has also been some exciting updates to my own studio. Namely, the addition of a walking foot Pfaff industrial machine. This machine will surely be my savior as I've designed some heavy duty outerwear for thee Shantay. Canvas, leather, batting, quilting, fur - it's all in the mix. I'll post some in progress photos in the upcoming entries. I'll leave you with a shot of the construction site and get myself back to work. Enjoy!

Life on the Ice

Just got word today that my team and I will be building a structure for this year's Art Shanty Projects on Medicine Lake. From their mission statement, the ASP is 'an artist driven temporary community exploring the ways in which the relatively unregulated public space of the frozen lake can be used as a new and challenging artistic environment to expand notions of what art can be.' The ASP is heavy on audience interaction, and so each shanty is meant to have an activity or to present an idea that art is not only in galleries, but is being made by people like you, for you and is not so separate from real people that it can't be a part of everyday life.


Our structure, which is under the working title of Fashion Attic will be in the style of some adventurous and fashionable person's attic which visitors will be invited to nose around, open trunks, play dress-up, and document their looks in a photobooth. All the clothing pieces will be made by my team of artists (including designers Danielle Everine, Rachel Blomgren, Lela Horst Baumann, Emrys Stramer, and Lynsey Rhyner). Each day of the project we will produce a mini runway show for ASP spectators, and the last day will culminate in a full length runway show out on the lake with each designer showing five looks.


I am so looking forward to working with the artists above, not to mention our building/construction afficionados Leif Ogren and Alex Schroedter. This is definitely a creative super group. We are so pleased to have something to look forward to this winter. See you on the ice!