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!

Perhaps You've Heard

I've been busy. Very very busy. Artwise, and designwise. For example, I'm now working with Trash Bags. We're scheming and dreaming up new, super awesome stuff for all you bicycle messengers and bicycle messenger wannabes, and regular people who ride bikes alot. Just released, the Trash Picker Mittens. For the first week only, get them cheaper with the code 'mittenmadness' at the checkout. The jerks over at Bike Jerks seem to like them too.



Maybe the boys can get some decent pictures soon. I'm too busy sewing to do it myself, as it is :) Alright. Back to the studio.

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!

His

Remember a loooong time ago I said I was working on a commission? Well, I am pleased to announce that I have finally finished! May I present THEE pair of waterproof waxed cotton bibs. A foray into menswear, this pattern was based on some windproof snowpants I made for my bf last winter. A bit more involved (pockets! double-cuffs! rivets! snaps! hardware!), I'm very pleased with how this garment turned out.





Meant to last, waxed cotton is the stuff of Filson, Barbour, et al. Let me tell you, this textile is really great. Remember those rainpants I took to Alaska? Same amazing stuff. I can't stop raving about my experience with waxed canvases! The more you wear them in, the better they get. This photo shows how it wears, with my Alaska-tested pants over the new bibs. The best part is that you can re-proof them if they begin to wear out, which probably won't become a problem for about twenty years. In the meantime, you'll stay dry and stylish! Happy camping!

Rugged

This summer, I was lucky enough to spend 6 weeks driving in a Volkswagen Westfalia named Hildegaard with my partner Leif. We went to Alaska via the Alaska Highway which starts in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, goes through the Yukon and on into the interior of the Alaskan wilderness. Our ultimate destination was Sutton, Alaska for a stay with friends and the promise of a big backcountry hike. In preparation for this trip, and an upcoming commission, I made a pair of waxed cotton rainpants. What better place to test a new design than in the middle of nowhere in extreme conditions? Let's see these pants in action.

Speaking of bottoms, check out my Alaskan friend Jessica Swider's new underwear collection for her company Slippery Slope Bloomers. Entitled Your New Favorite Underwear, this line is just what you're looking for, if you're into super awesome arty unmentionables.