jill2day

And then there were pins...

2011-11-08T18:09:00.000-06:00

Just added to the jill2day shop are pins! These little brooches are made from bases covered with my sweater knits, and vintage buttons that I have gathered from various sources.

These pins are great for giving; to sisters, to teachers, to hairdressers, to buddies, or to yourself! They will decorate your hat or purse, they will hold your scarf from flying in the wind, they will add a little pizazz to you plain old coat!!

If you really want to make a statement you can add a jill2day ring to go with your pin - or to wear on its own. Made with the same eco-friendly materials as the pins, but scaled for your hand. A great little bauble for your upcoming holiday parties!!

Now is the time to go to the new "brooches and rings" section and take a look!

End of summer sale!

2011-08-22T21:33:00.000-05:00

I love fall and winter.... can never wait until we are done with this summer nonsense! To celebrate the first hint of cool in the evenings, and the sumac starting to turn red, I decided to give a 30% off on all my tshirt tunics between Wednesday this week and Sunday at noon. After that, they will be taken out of the shop and it will be all sweaters for the fall and winter seasons.

Take a look at my Etsy shop and use the coupon code "NOSUMMER" to deduct the 30% discount when you check out. Check out all the tunics in the Tshirt Tunic section. You can still use these tunics all fall and probably well into the winter... but I will be happily working and offering sweaters!

August is here and Mama Nature is preparing

2011-08-03T08:38:00.000-05:00

The Queen Ann's Lace is past its prime, and the Coneflowers are in their heyday... that can only mean that summer's apex has been reached, and fall is almost here. For some of you that may be melancholy, but for me it is pure wonderfulness. It might still be 80+ degrees out, but the sun is just a little more golden and not quite as harsh at 8:00 AM. The baby birds - even from the second nestings - are in flight and on their own.

And every where I look I can see the flowers give way to the seeds and nuts and fruits. Each of these have their own unique form and point. I love the swirly seed pods and the milk weed pods that will soon explode with "fairies". The nuts will soon be buried in little mounds all over our yard. and the birds will find the berries for months to come. Ahhh fall in Wisconsin!

The preparations for winter survival are well on the way. I have always loved fall. It is my inner clock's New Year. While others find hope in spring, I love the crisp and clean breath that is Autumn. It is a glorious romp of color and bounty before Winter sets in. It is a lesson in preparation. It is the end of summer slothfulness.

And, most importantly, it is the beginning of sweater season for jill2day!! And so I head to the studio to start serious reconstructing of afghans and sweaters; to wander through the bulky and the cashmere, to imagine the warm cuddle of a selected grouping, to sew new and fabulous garments for you!

Challenging "Scrappy" stuff

2011-07-28T14:00:00.000-05:00

One of the teams I belong to on Etsy is doing a challenge this week. We are trying to use up scraps in new and different ways. I have done three items so far.

The first was this reconstructed pillow I made with upcycled fabrics. It is the first pillow I have done for jill2day, but probably will not be the last! It was really a fun project and would go so nicely with my afghans and blankets that I am now listing in my reconstructed BLANKETS section.

I picked up some more pillow forms this week, so I am sure more pillows coming soon. You can see more views of this one by clicking here.

Today I made a lamp! It is made on a lampshade and lamp purchased at a thrift store. It has four different animal skin sweater fabrics for the shade, and tons of decorative buttons from my stash of vintage buttons. I am not putting this in my shop. I want to test it out in my own home, to make sure that the glues are stable and will hold. But I really like the idea, and if you agree let me know... Always looking for new ideas to make with my reconstructed sweaters!

Lastly I tried a clutch bag. This was a fun projects, but again will not be in the shop. I am not a bag maker, and really have no idea if my interfacing and seaming will hold up, so I think this will be my own little treat for myself until I decide to up my expertise!

This has been a very fun way to get me to "think different" and to break out of the creative rut that can occur occasionally. However, I do think it is time to get back to my sweaters, scarves, skirts and tunics.... with a couple of afghans and pillows thrown in for good measure! But you never know what the spirit may move me into next!

Reconstructed afghans; New product introduction today!!

2011-07-17T19:03:00.000-05:00

I have just listed four new blanket afghans in my shop. Two of them are inspired by crazy quilts, and contain small pieces from 20+ sweaters... These are designed to keep yet more sweater knits out of the land fills and on a special place on your sofa.

This item can be found in the new reconstructed BLANKET section of my shop. It measures 58" x 56" and is made of a wide variety of fabrics... but is washable, dry able and very soft and cuddly!

Also listed today are a copy of more specific color designs. One is a "chocolate sundae" design in vanilla, white, tan and chocolate brown. It is 74" x 52" and is a great combination of textures and fabrics. take a closer look by clicking here. There is a lovely blue and gray lap blanket as well. It is very soft and although a bit lighter weight than the others, it is very warm, due to a high wool content. To see all the info on this patchwork sweater quilt, click here.

Like all jill2day items, these are washable and can be put in the dryer. All the fabrics for these afghans, have been purchased from charity based stores, and the entire blanket has been pre-washed to prove the seams and to soften the fabrics.

And as always, keep your eye out for new reconstructed tunics, made from recycled t-shirts and upcycled sweaters - both cardigan and pullover styles.

Heads Up: going up this weekend!

2011-07-08T11:01:00.000-05:00

This is just a quick taste of what is coming up new in the shops this weekend. I will be posting on Facebook when they are actually listed and where you can find them. I will also add the links to this posting. All items should be up by Sunday evening, many before that.

lavender and blue scarf

I was notified that my new jill2day.artfire.com was in my first ArtFire collection this morning, Take a look at it if you want to see some beautiful lavender items... you can almost smell that wonderful scent! This scarf is what was featured. click here if you want to find out more about it!

Art Institute of Chicago today!

2011-07-03T21:12:00.002-05:00

I had a great day today with my friend. We drove down to Chicago in her spiffy new little Honda Fit (flashy bright red, of course). We spent the day at the Art Institute of Chicago.

I have been there a zillion times, and it is always a wonderful adventure of new found friends and inspiration. Before I go, I have to make the big decision. Do I visit all the old friends, Monet, Sargent, Degas, Picasso, Cassatt, or do I run with a new crowd.

Today I started with the African room and the Folk Art, here are three of the new friends I made. The left and right are African sculptures, and the center one is a ship's masthead sculpture. Just loved all three of these pieces.

Then I really took a leap. For years I have heard about the Thorne Miniature Rooms, but I have never set foot in them. Today I did. They are amazing. Tiny little room after room of historically correct and detailed reproductions of European and American design. All are lit beautifully and are complete down to every crystal on the chandeliers! So glad I finally wandered in.

The real reason we went was for the Spider weaving. You must check this out- click here.
This is a weaving done entirely with threads spun by the Golden Orb spider. The color was the most beautiful yellow I have ever seen. It was the natural color of the thread.

I always just love visiting the building. The original building has always been elegant and classic. Now there is the new Modern Wing, too. It is a magnificent piece of architechture, and I can't figure out how the two areas can be so totally different, and blend so well. The way the new wing looks over the sculptures in Millineum park is perfect. It seems like the museum just continues right through the windows.

There was an exhibition of Avant-Garde art in the modern wing. I stumbled upon this exhibit, and all the wonderful players of early graphic design. Piet Zwart - you are genius. El Lissitzky's work is awe inspiring... typography as it is meant to be.

A good friend, some ancient art, perfect weather, some old acquaintances, and a spider's work, who could ask for more!

Spring Green was great!!

2011-07-01T09:13:00.006-05:00

Last weekend was the Spring Green (WI) art fair. This is a show that, as a customer, I have loved to go to for many years. I was very excited to participate as a vendor. They have a great set up, a wonderful organizing committee of volunteers, and a wide variety ofartists juried into the show.

We have been having less than optimal weather this spring, so wasn't sure what to expect, but both days were perfect. There was a great crowd! I think people had been waiting for a good day to get out - and they did!
I had a brand new booth to use. It is HUGE (10x20) and very high and spacious. Plenty of room for my garments, a changing room and for groups to congregate and commiserate while trying things on.

I had practiced setting it up at home, so it set up went well until a bungee cord attacked me... so I had a beautiful purple eye for the weekend!
The show was so fun! I met so many new people - both customers and fellow artists. Carol Broadley an Etsy potter and fellow exhibitor was there with her beautiful pottery. A couple of other Etsy sellers came by the booth - nice to meet you Copperheart! The jewelers next to me will be at the Holiday show I will be doing in Madison, so it will be great to see them again.

There were an amazing number of well behaved dogs at the show also. These two "lions" napped in front of my booth for a while enjoying any coolness that the asphalt provided.
I introduced some new reconstructed skirts at the show, and they went over very well. They are mostly waffle weave cotton knit, and so soft! I have added them to my Artfire shop that I just started to populate. Some cotton knit summer scarves are there also - take a look!

Can't wait to do this show again next year. The only problem came when I went to leave, and couldn't find my keys anywhere!! Turns out I had dropped them on the way from my car Early in the day, and someone had turned them into the police. So all ended well! (Lesson learned!)

Hope to see you all at a show sometime soon.

Virtual Studio Tour!

2011-06-07T13:44:00.002-05:00

This weekend I will be participating in the open studio tour for the Mount Horeb Area Art Assocation. I have been frantically cleaning and organizing my studio, so that visitors can see exactly what a real fiber art studio looks like! Ha Ha! While it has this moment of almost perfection, I thought I would also let you take a peek!

This is "Sasha" my employee, confidant, and uncomplaining comrade. She has resided in various locations around the house, but is presently located here by the back door where she can catch beautiful light at this time of year and welcome anyone coming in the door. On the left is the door into the room where all the magic happens!

Looking into the studio you will see my ball/chair both ready to roll and, also, to occasionally buck me off. I would love to say that it is there for my exercise program, but actually I have just found it the easiest chair to kick out of my way! On the right is my main serger and my back-up; they overlook the backyard through the window. The little radio/CD player gets a real workout with all the audio books, and the pottery vase holds my retired paint brushes. The bundles on the shelves are t-shirt tunics waiting to be made!

The shot above shows some of my sweater "stash" (more is hidden away) and the "three sisters" who help me size and sculpt my garments. The vintage laundry card holds extra sleeves from previously cut sweaters. The license plate, "SIQUIS*", is a souvenir from long ago. That was the name of my graphic design business back in the day, and the plate was on my sporty little Mazda RX7.

The smaller photo on the left, shows some of the sweater bundles that are ready for sewing. There are about 90+ more of these hiding in other storage areas! The shorter pile is a group of skirts ready to have waistbands added to them. The top two drawers are filled with my thread cones.

Please also note "Mr Cat" by FranieFran . She is both a customer and a fellow shop owner on Etsy. Mr. Cat brings a smile to me everyday.

So there it is... lint free and organized. I am scared stiff to go inside! I am very lucky to have this space, and for the customers who help me to be there every day. Thanks to all of you and I wish I could sit and have a cup of coffee here with each of you.

*Si quis means "if anybody" and was the name given to some of the first advertising bills displayed ancient rome.

T-shirts: tomorrow at noon, and more on Saturday at 8:00AM

2011-04-28T19:19:00.000-05:00

This is just a few of the new T-shirts that will be going up tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday. Some long, some short, some large, some small, some hoods, some pockets...Come to my shop, jill2day, and check out these reconstructed T-shirts made from recycled shirts!

A Houseful of Creative Construction by Hand!

2011-04-26T06:13:00.001-05:00

We are having a much delayed remodeling project done in our home right now... It is fun to hear the sawing and hammering and drilling going on while I am elsewhere in the house sewing and cutting and sculpting my T-shirts! Lots of creative construction happening in our home!

The contractor we are using is also a "reformed" graphic designer. We were talking the other day about how we went into GD when it was still a "hands on" craft. Back when you cut and paste type, used markers to draw layouts, and glued presentations together for mock-ups. Now it is all on the computer. We agreed that much of the tactile joy was sucked out of the process (but also admitted to the glory of the "undo" "redo" abilities of the computer!).

We both find so much more satisfaction in the tangible construction that is now part of our process, and feel so lucky to be in occupations where we use our hands as well as our heads. (The lack of cubicles is also a plus!)

But to be a real craftsman, I might have to get myself this tool apron!

MAY DAY the Tsirts will appear!!

2011-04-25T07:10:00.000-05:00

I am sewing away on new Tshirts for this spring and summer. Here are three - one in progress and two finished. I have some done already, ranging from small through 3X...hopefully something for every one!

I will be photographing these later this week and plan to have them all available in my Etsy shop next Sunday, May 1.... If you are on my facebook fan page, I will be posting the exact time later this week. There should be at least 15 or more available at that time, with more following weekly! Enjoy!

Some thoughts and answers....

2011-04-21T08:31:00.000-05:00

Just want to let you in on my plan for the next while... many of you are asking where are the Tshirts and other new things. I am new to doing shows, so still working on how to manage inventory for those and keep Etsy supplied too! Here are some of my thoughts and plans:

What have I been doing lately?

I needed to buy a lot of supply stock now, to work with this summer, so that I will have inventory for fall. I have now been around for a couple of seasonal cycles and am finally getting close to the "make in summer to sell in winter" model! But it takes a while to get to this cycle! When one chooses to use 'found' materials like I do, I also have to get them when I can.

During the summer months it is tough to get sweaters, so I have been off the machine and doing major supply buying the last couple of weeks. Once I have the material inventory, it is really efficient to make up my "bundles" right away rather than put everything away and then drag it out again later to do so. (My family has this thing about wanting to actually use our living room for a living room now and then!!). So I have also been doing that. I now have about 150 bundles ready to start producing sweaters during the summer for fall shows and Etsy.

Where are the Tshirts?

But what about those summer weight Tshirts you all love? Well I do have some bundles ready to go for those also. Now that my sweater bundles are in order, I will be starting some Tshirts next week. I will start stocking them in my Etsy store on May 1rst. I had almost decided not to do Tshirts this year. They are not as fun for me to work on as the sweaters, but I know many of you really love them, so I decided I will offer them again both as shirts and dress length. I can't say that I will be doing them full time though. last year I did that, and it really hurt my sweater inventory when fall came.

My plan is to keep offering and making Tshirts while also building up my sweater inventory, so when September comes, I am prepared with tons of goodies for you. Then, hopefully, during the fall and winter this year, I can start building up the Tshirt stock for next spring. Then I will really have the timing and production on track for both seasons.

List in waves or often, that is the question!

Then there is the timing of listing garments for sale... I go back and forth on this one. The most efficient thing for me is to make a bunch, photo a bunch and then list a bunch... but that makes for waves of new items, rather than new items on a more frequent basis. I could hold the listings and dole them out a couple at a time, but I get so excited to have them for you I just want to list as many as possible! Hope that is okay for you!

At the shows recently, I have realized that I am not the most efficient maker on the block. if I had standardized patterns or jobbed out the sewing, I could be much more proficient. But my items would be far less unique and far less fun to make. There would also be more waste in my process. Right now the materials usually dictate the design and often the size, so that I can use as much of the fabric as possible without providing more fodder for the landfills. Again, not necessarily efficient, but in step with my ideal. So my road to efficiency is the wave approach to making and listing.

FInally, shop affected by shows

My Etsy customers are my 'first born' and I feel an intense loyalty to each and every one. However, shows are a very important part of my sales base. One of the great parts of shows is that while there is travel and displays and numerous other factors involved, there is no photography of the items, description writing, uploading or shipping of the individual items involved. So, I see many people that have separate inventories for show and on-line, or have very little of their show inventory represented in their on-line venues.

I have tried very hard to put up the vast majority of my show merchandise in my Etsy site for at least a short time before taking it to the shows. I hope to continue this, even though it does require a lot of photos and time to list items that would probably sell at the show, and not need this effort. Like I have said, my Etsy customers are very important to me, and I do not take it lightly that they are willing to buy and trust from the internet, so making sure they have the best selection of my inventory is important to me.

Other on-line venues coming up?

It is never a good idea to have all of your eggs in one basket. So beyond Etsy, I have been doing the shows. But so far Etsy has been my only on-line outlet. I do have stores in both Zibbet and Artfire, but as of yet have not put any inventory into them. I will be trying some of these venues out as the year progresses. I may just put scarves and cuffs in those, or may put sweaters in some... I really haven't decide yet. Again, I love Etsy and hope to continue with it as my main on-line venue, but am also open to expansion ideas. I will certainly keep you posted if I do anything.

Madison WI politics, an update

2011-04-17T09:19:00.004-05:00

As many of you may have heard, we in Wisconsin are in the heart of political news at the moment. I posted about this in March, but thought I would update a bit. There have been weeks of protests here in Madison, odd phone calls, senators temporarily moving to other states, strange ballot counting and recall petitions (for any and every elected position holder) on every corner.

just another day at the rallies

I have my views and have participated in my way, but generally try to keep those opinions separate from jill2day. But, I thought some of you might like to see some of the more fun photos I have taken. I have posted a few of these on my facebook, but some are also new.

Yesterday Sarah Palin was in town, and this sign on the left just about summed it up for both sides of the rally!

I took my niece's Flat Stanley to the rally, and he met one of the WI state troopers - who was a real trooper when asked for this photo posing with Flat Stanley. Speaking of the troopers, they and all of the law enforcement officers involved controlling crowds of up to 100,000 people, have been exemplary. They have bee both cordial and professional - a fine line for them considering the politics involved and their unionized status.

Another memorable day was a flashmob singing of the song from Les Mis "Can you hear the people sing". If you want to see/hear it I have posted it on youtube. Click here.

The Capitol is probably my favorite building in the universe, so to witness this event in the three story rotunda was awe inspiring!

There have been a number of artist centered events, and fiber artists have been well represented. Here is a beautiful quilted protest sign!

So it is not hard to guess my politics, but the more important thing to me is that we all look at the issues and take an informed and respectful stand for whatever side you may be on. There is a lot or rhetoric and fear right now, but we are all wanting what is the best. It is guaranteed not to be your way, or my way, so some how we have to find that which is common ground for all of us.

Yesterday at the rally and counter rally, the man next to me was in direct opposition to my political hopes. However, when the National Anthem was sung, we both sung with all our might. After the song was done, we each continued with our partisan chants, but hopefully will also find some way to find bi-partisan ground.

Thoughts on Production and Shows

2011-04-16T07:53:00.004-05:00

Hello from my mirror!

I had a great time meeting the people in Maryland while doing the Gaithersburg show. It is so different offering my garments at a show than it is on line. On-line I get great feedback from my customers, and occasionally a photo, but often never really see the garments in action! At the shows, it is so fun to watch people try things on, twirl and check it out in the mirror. Sometimes a garment gets tried on several times, but then just the right person comes along and BINGO it is "made for them"! So fun.

I also get a kick out of the varied of reactions; "Oh, I would never wear pink" vs "Oh pink is my favorite color!"; I really like the way you make things longer in the back" vs. "It is beautiful, but I like even hems"; "Wool!-never touch the stuff" vs. "can't have enough wool to keep me warm"! When I first started out on Etsy someone told me that if you leave something up long enough, there is a buyer for everything! Thank goodness we all have our idiosyncrasies and likes - that is what make life interesting and my work fun!

Let the sorting begin

I have also realized that I am one of the few garment makers at these shows that actually make the garments from beginning to end. There are many who buy "blanks" and then paint/stamp/print them (weavers and other reconstructors may be exceptions to this!). Others who have designed the patterns and picked out the fabrics, but have seamstresses who actually sew the garments. And other multi-person means of production. It also accounts why they start the show with many more garments than I usually do!! I respect their process, but I can't imagine not doing the creation myself. (Okay in true disclaimer, my son does cut scarf parts for me now and then). Because each of my items is unique, and from unique materials, it is not possible to hand over the sewing to someone else.

Here is a peek at my the early stages of my process. I purchased a hundred-plus sweaters the other day, and then brought them home for the sorting, sifting and bundling. My living room was quite a mess as it was the staging area for the sifting and winnowing.

The color coordinated bundles each contain a group of sweaters for the constructions of 1-3 sweaters.

Well I better get to work now!

We've got Sunshine on a Cloudy Day!

2011-04-14T12:07:00.002-05:00

It is cold and overcast and not very spring like today, but we still have sunshine yellow! The Finches have made their transition from drab winter neutrals to the brightest yellow and the daffodils are bobbing in the chilly breeze!

Actually this remind me of a yellow and gray sweater that two customers where "fighting" over at the Sugarloaf Craft Fair in Gaithersburg last week!

But, never fear, I picked up some more yellow fabrics yesterday, so there will be more yellow coming from the studio too!

Home to the Pasque flowers!

2011-04-13T18:25:00.004-05:00

For me, the first sure sign of spring is the appearance of the Pasque flowers. They come sometime between the big melt and tax day every year - seemingly out of nowhere. One day the blooms just cover the hillside near our house, and are followed later by the leaves. I was sure that I would miss them this year because of my two weeks out east, but here they are waiting for me to get home!

After almost two weeks of city and highway life, it was glorious to be back in our rural home. While I really love visiting urban life, I did miss my birds and earth!

Once a year Mother nature allows us into the woods behind our house. The rest of the year it is too full of brambles and other ankle eaters and pant rippers, that we let her have her privacy. So today I went to check out this year's changes and occupants.

We see many birds at our feeders, but it is also fun to see where they spend the rest of their time. The woods and surrounding territory is governed by our resident red tail hawk. This is the only time of year the nest is visible in the tops of the trees. The feather in the second picture is probably a leftover from a recent dinner at the hawk home. The right photo is the condominium project in the woods. I can't even imagine how many woodpeckers are living in this one tree!

Along with the Pasque flowers, I found these little blue beauties (sorry I have no idea the real name of them) They are so tiny that from a distance they are just a blue blur amongst the neutral dry leaves and underbrush. They are beautiful, and I don't remember them here last year.

Then there is the evidence of those who didn't make it through the winter. We have many deer around us here, but it looks like one of last year's fawns didn't make it, and some little bunny lost some fur, if not his life, recently.

Children at the National Gallery

2011-04-08T20:27:00.000-05:00

I went to the National Gallery with my 23 month old grand son the other day. I love having a theme to guide my looking when I go to museums; sometimes painting technique, sometimes composition, sometimes faces, etc. If you have been following this blog, you have heard this before. So, seeing as I had a child with me, we decided to look at children. Here are some of the conclusions we drew:

Siblings. I sincerely hope the group on the left was a retrospect, painted after all of the children were already adults! I decided that the group on the right were their generations version of the Kardashian sisters.

Family Portraits. Obviously these painters had experience with kids, and how tough it is to get them to sit still for the family portrait! (except of course for the obedient oldest who is holding the pose while her siblings keep mom and dad busy)

Madonna and Child. No discussion of kids in art would be complete without a look at the most famous mother and child in history. On the left we see an infant who obviously had a Nautilus available in the womb. However the sculpture on the right was done by someone who knows about wonderful baby bellies!

Home Life. If I had to choose to have the childhood of the Dutch peasant on the left or the English future king on the right, the choice would be easy... I would go for the windblown hair, big smile and rosy cheeks.

Me and My Grandkids. Finally, we found one we could relate to. Here is a painting of me working on a painting of my two grandsons.
It was a fun day. Thanks for the tour, Liam.

and now.... food for the heart.

2011-04-03T12:15:00.002-05:00

grandma pile!

Yesterday I updated you on the feeding of my soul and tummy. Today I ask your indulgence as I relate the food for my heart... grand kids! One's own children are wonderful, and raising them is a constant awe-some experience, but then (if you are lucky) comes grand parenting. It is a whole different realm of wonderfulness. My grand guys are Finn and Liam, sons of my son. And at times, when I am with them, I am transported back to when their father was their age.

corn at the fish market

But, they are not their father, and their world is so different than his was at the ages of 2 and 4. They are comfortable with computers, when Pong was just emerging for their father. I talk with them over Skype with the video feed, Brian's Grandma wrote letters. They eat foods that I didn't even know existed until I was an adult, and so on and so forth. But the basics never change.


"Pay hockey, peeeese?"

The pure and instant laughter that rolls from their bellies is the same. The courage they get when one parental (or grand parental) finger is gripped in their tiny hand as we walk down the street is still welcome. The wonder in their eyes when the merry-go-round horse takes its first lurch forward sparkles again. And the sweet aroma of youth and sweetness is something shampoo will never replace. Blankies are still loved, stories still need to be read, and spaghetti still paints faces.

However, now it is my son and his wife's turn to get up during the night, find the band-aids, teach "please" and "thank you" and make sure veggies come before dessert. It is my turn to "spoil" now and then. I have license to flit in and out of these young lives leaving a trail of hugs and kisses, pennies for the piggy bank, and indulgent gifts and treats. Such is the wonderfulness of grand-motherhood.

Food for body and soul!

2011-04-02T17:05:00.002-05:00

blossoms at the Smithsonian castle

Today I spent the majority of the day amongst the cherry blossoms, magnolia blooms and tourists in downtown Washington DC. For lunch, we visited the Fish market on the Potomac.

such a pretty pattern!

I must give a disclaimer at this point. I love fish. I love to watch them. I love to swim with them. And, while it may seem ironic or hypocritical, I love to eat them. So I found myself straddling two ideas of heaven today; One resplendent in the smell of hyacinths and the beauty of the aforementioned cherry and magnolia flowers, and the other, an abundance of sea life not normally available to one who is far more accustomed to cows and other terrestrial food surrounding them.


the deadliest catch - east coast style

While one seems to be food for the soul and one food for the body, they both nourished me with beauty. The colors of one soft and creamy and pastel, and the other patterned and striped and far more varied.


no mistaking where I am!

It was a lovely day.

Some Upcycled Favs and the TCC

2011-03-28T08:37:00.002-05:00

There is recycling and then there is RECYCLING!! As I wander through the sellers on Etsy there is the good, the bad, and the ugly, but I am always amazed at the number of us junk collectors and thrift store haunters!

When I was about 8 years old, I was one of the founders of the TCC. That, to those of you who might not have lived on Piper Drive during the late 50s and early 60s, is the Trash Collectors Club. It all started on the day one of the neighbors oldest child left for college, and the Mom purged their room. The curb was alive with treasures which were immediately found by my young friends and me and then dragged to our homes. Why would anyone throw out a perfectly good huge Mexican sombrero? As I remember it, the TCC only managed to stay in existence for one week until the tyrannical mothers of the block banned its existence and made sure we didn't get out until noon on trash days, but it was fun while it lasted.

Here are a few of my upcycled favs from ETSY sellers.
Things that I recognize as the fruits of the labor of kindred TCC members:
1: Coffee filters upcycled into a lamp by Lampada
2: Boot (but he will use ANYTHING) made into a clock by Imotime
3: Forks now as useful and peace full hooks by JJEvensen
4: Thrift store blouse reincarnated into an elegant clutch by Elegant Green
5: Cowboy boot turned purse by Koop Designs
6: An Ottoman (I am sure it is easy to move when flipped on its side!) by Motomotif

Lunch shadows

2011-03-27T07:16:00.002-05:00

Yesterday my friend and I were seated at a very nice cafe for our lunch. She was seated looking towards me and out to the world through huge front windows. I was seated looking past her at a huge blank wall (albeit pink). However I definitely got the better view. The sun outside projected constantly changing and very dimensional images onto my wall. It was both beautiful and fascinating. Luckily my friend, Judith, has long embraced my ADD (defined as either Artistic Detail Diversion, or Attention Deficit Disorder - you choose) and was not offended by my constant distraction during our conversation!

When I got up to use the facilities, I discovered this little corner of the world... glad I had taken my phone/camera with me! What a beautiful display it was and one that must change everyday with the people and the light. Congrats on a great spontaneous art show to Nosh in Geneva IL!

TONS of new stuff added yesterday - but there is a catch!!

2011-03-26T07:00:00.002-05:00

aqua coat

I will be taking most everything out of my shop on Monday 3/28 for my show in Maryland. I will return anything that doesn't sell by 4/a5, but just so you know that this abundance is temporary! I just don't like to take stuff to a show without giving all my Etsy loyalists first crack at it! Here are a few of the items- click on the captions to go to the store:

The Space/Girdle connection!

2011-03-25T15:04:00.002-05:00

Today I was listening to NPR's Science Friday and they had the best story about one of the ultimate clothing designs ever made. It turns out that Playtex (yes THAT Playtex!) actually designed the first space suit! the following is a caption and a video from Ira Flatow's SciFri website. The video shows numerous less successful designs! Enjoy (I am glad sweaters are far less complicated!)
----------------------
Of the suit he wore on the moon, Neil Armstrong wrote, “it was tough, reliable, and almost cuddly.” But that cuddly suit, made by the company Playtex, had some stiff competition (literally) from rival rigid, metal designs. This video features archival NASA footage of mobility tests for several spacesuit prototypes. Music is from the band One Ring Zero’s album "Planets". Music courtesy One Ring Zero. Footage courtesy NASA, and thanks to Nicholas de Monchaux. Produced by Katherine Wells.

On Wisconsin!

2011-03-25T08:34:00.008-05:00

Crowd of 100k+ the Saturday AFTER the bill 'passed'.

I may be stepping on a few toes here, but I have decided to post about WI politics anyway. (It is that 60 year old crone freedom emerging!) For those of you who are friends/likers on my facebook this isn't new, but for the rest of you here is a snippet of life in WI lately. I will admit that this is both a biased and simplified synopsis of the activities, but it's my blog and my opinion!

As you may have seen or read, there has been major political upheaval here in the dairy state (and in many other states as well). Our new governor has taken upon himself, with backing from some major corporate supporters and some quasi-legal (that is being generous) activities, to rid our state of most collective bargaining (contrary to many reports, something he never mentioned while campaigning), reduce many benefits for the disadvantaged, cultural and educational parts of our society while also reducing corporate taxes and making many previously public sector services now private sector "opportunities". He has tried to drive a wedge through two segments of the middle class majority of Wisconsinites, and has succeeded in many ways. However there is also a resurgence of activism and unity that has not been seen in a long time.

Thug" is what some called the protesters

There have also been major hits to the arts and arts funding. In one of the most recent protests included a March of Art Employees and groups. One of the things that has happened is that our 12 person WI arts board has been reduced to four people and those employees have been assimilated into the Tourism department. The budget for Arts activities was reduced by 70+%. I heard a telling interview with the head of tourism that stated (paraphrased here) in two sequential sentences: "We will keep the funds for the Arts board going towards the arts" then "We are excited to have these additional resources to promote tourism into WI". These comments did not instill confidence that the art activities would remain a priority or independent.

Troopers were helping families take pictures!

I sat for more than 16 hours in the Assembly gallery during the "debate" on the budget bill (debate is in quotes, because the Democrats inquired, argued, presented and lobbied, while the Republicans - knowing they had the majority - sat it silence, not answering or rebutting). I sat another 4 hours watching the Senate Republicans issue warrants (without the power to do so) for the apprehension of the Democratic Senators who had left the state. Without this action by the Dems, this bill would have passed before most people would have known what had hit us. While one may argue the action taken, the result was that many people - both in WI or outside of the state lines - would not have understood what is really at stake or the motive behind it without the borrowed time that the Senators gave us.

I attended a very moving rendition of "Can You hear the People Sing" from Le Mis as it was sung by a throng of people in the rotunda of the capitol, (Click Here if you want to see/hear my video of that) and "We shall overcome" had been lead by Jesse Jackson in the same setting a few days earlier.

Bipartisanship at work!

Doors closed, notes left!

I wept when Gov. Walker closed our state capitol to the public (something that has never been done before and is illegal - as was later verified by a court order). (Click Here if you want to read more of my thoughts on this). This was an act I took very personally. Days later I watched the only bipartisan act I witnessed during the whole time - I saw a Democratic Representative help a Republican Representative gain access to their jobs (representing US) through an office window. They had been unable to gain access to their offices through any capitol door! When I finally gained access to observe a Senate hearing (an activity guaranteed by law) I was escorted through the capitol halls by a legislative page and an armed state trooper after going through security (something again that has never been required before - even after 9/11).

Protesting knit-ins!

Angry and Proud.

There have been weeks of respectful and peaceful protests. Throngs of people from 8 days to 80+ years old attended and I can attest that while many were in fact bussed in - the buses came from Superior (WI), Milwaukee (WI) LaCrosse (WI) and hundreds of other small and large WI towns and were filled with citizens, not outside agitators. Estimates for three of the Saturdays were over 70,000 people. Never once did I witness anything but respect for each other and for the capitol grounds and police officers. Numerous kudos were given to the protesters from various law enforcement officers in regards to the demeanor of the crowd.

As an aside... Fox news was just about alone in "reporting" any violence in the streets, and in the background of their video footage were palm trees waving in the wind and people in shirtsleeves.... not a sight you often see in downtown Madison while the snow falls and it is 20 degrees outside! In true Madison form, the next day there were inflatable palm trees throughout the crowd!

This post is not trying to politically sway any of you. Maybe I can set the record straight on some of the erroneous press coverage, but beyond that, it was mostly an update on where I have been these days!

I will end this by thanking you for your attention and asking your for your continued attention to the political debate taking place in your own area. We may be in perilous and pivotal political times right now and, what ever you opinions are, I hope you are making them heard and are open to respectful and intelligent discourse and action. It will be only by listening to each other and combining our efforts for a better society that we will have such a legacy. We are supposed to be governed "by the people" and "for the people" so we must do our part in making sure we are defining "people" and the direction we want our country to take.

Now back to sewing....

60... whoda thunk it!!

2011-03-24T07:27:00.001-05:00

Today I turn 60... Imagine that. And at one time I, like many of my generation, thought life ended at 30. But now I realize that every age is just right. There really is “a time for everything”.

Sure my knees are crap, and my middle is heavy, and, yes, I can never find my keys (but I just ordered a new key lanyard on Etsy that should solve that!). But my heart is full and my mind still questions and I could do more sit-ups lunges and knee bends if I wanted to. But mostly I now have “history” on my side. I survived being a teenager, I explored the vast horizons that opened in my twenties, I was oh so productive in my thirties - all energy and potential and goal. My forties were spent learning about family and generations and continuity. And my fifties have been about learning to be gracious and grateful for life for whatever it is presently.

Recently, during my political protesting, I was sitting in the WI Assembly chambers. There was a brash, arrogant and wonderful young man sitting next to me. At one point we were both defying the rules and texting away on our banned phones. The guard came over and chided the young man and walked away, the young man looked at my phone and then me. I snickered and leaned over and told him - “Nobody scolds an old women!”. My beautiful sister has forewarned me about this phenomena. There is a certain crone power that comes with age!

So this birthday is just another day in what, for me, is the great adventure! I could never have imagined all that has happened to me in the previous 60 years. I never would have anticipated how deep marriage becomes after 36+ years; Little did I know that I would continue to worry, enjoy and take pride in my adult children as much as I did when they were infants; I have gained friends and lost friends; My family has grown with new generations and it has shrunk with the loss of previous generations; I have been a teacher, a cubicle sitter, an entrepreneur (but usually an artist of some sort) and both an athlete and a couch potato. I have seen the Beatles in black and white and the most recent wars and tragedies in high definition color. Life has not always been easy or as anticipated, but it has been real and full and fecund.

I will not bother to worry about or excessively plan what comes next. But I will anticipate with glee. I will be open to whatever it is. I will remember that I have learned more from adversity and loss than I ever did from prosperity and health. I will know that my life is a book both to be written and to be read. I can’t wait for the next page to turn.

The Springtime change over!

2011-03-21T17:28:00.000-05:00

Check out this pink and sherbet orange sweater!

Spring is just around the corner, even though the robin in the last post is still waiting for all the snow to go away! I have moved most of my wools to the side and have pulled out all my cotton and cotton blend and poly blend knits.

This change of season also means a change of style and color choice as well. Good bye to the soft heathers and marled oatmeals of the winter wools and hello to the pastels and brights of the warmer seasons.

Check out the green ruffles!

The styles need to be lighter, maybe shorter, and often sleeveless. But the flowy swingy styles are still great for letting the spring and summer breezes tickle your skin!

I am sold on sweaters through the entire year. I love the loose cotton knit during the summer as much as I like wearing the cozy wools of winter. Knits are always comfortable, forgiving and just a little more dressed up than my sweatshirts! Check out my shop for the new summer items that have appeared in the last few days. more will be !through this week.

I love this long flap front!

One of my new favorite styles for transitional weather is the wrap front sweater. it overlaps in the front, hangs loos in the back. It can be pinned with those brooches we are always looking for excuses to wear! Or it can flap back like lapels... I will be wearing them over my capris and linen skirts this summer!

SHEEEEES back!!

2011-03-20T11:47:00.001-05:00

Sorry I have been neglecting all of you for so long... I have become a facebook addict (my fan page), and so that is where I have been posting lately, but now I am going to start back here!

I have just added a couple of new pages to this site. If you go up to the top of this page and click on "Notable Projects" you will see a collection of pictures and descriptions about some of my more unusual projects. The other addition is the "Upcoming Show Schedule". Here is where I will be listing the shows that I will be in over the next months. Hope I get to see many of you at some of these shows!

I have also been involved with the political upheaval that has been happening in the State capitol in Madison, WI. This is my hometown, and the capitol is my favorite building. So many of my friends and family have been and will be affected by the strange laws and circumstances happening here, that action was required.

But this last week, I saw my first robin. Walked the trail for the first time since the snowmobiles have left. And saw the first green sprouts of spring.

Hope. Even though Japan and Lybia still loom large under last night's full moon, here is hoping for hope and renewal.

Viva la [design] Difference!

2010-11-15T08:01:00.000-06:00

During my recent visit to New York, I spent a lot of time just looking about. One of the things that was so evident is how much more specialization a place can offer when there is a large populous. In the Midwest, or other places of less dense population, there is the same spectrum of tastes for aesthetics and invention, but businesses and entertainment venues that cater to the ends of the spectrum can be scarce because the numbers to support them are small.

My last post addressed this from the "abundance" side, but it also applies to the design side.The hotel I stayed in was the Pod Hotel. It caters to the more independent trendier traveler who appreciates good design, but also is frugal! Right down the street was the Waldorf Astoria, with a very different aesthetic and function.

I found them both to be great examples of wonderful design for a specific part of the aesthetic spectrum. They are examples of businesses that need a customer base who looks for the specificity they offer. The Marriots and Hampton Inns can survive most anywhere because, while they may not have anything that would make them unique, they do provide an aesthetic and service that is both functional and useful to a huge number of people, but only in the dense population centers will you find the Pod - where people are still willing to share a bath and have small spaces in exchange for contemporary design and a global feel or the Waldorf Astoria, where opulent exclusivity reigns.

This same can be true for so many things, fashion, entertainment, food, etc etc... You guys in the city have such a great choice... but, as my husband said, you have to share it with about a million other people! One day I saw Bon Jovi playing (Today Show) on the Rockefeller plaza and that evening heard a Requiem concert in a cathedreal, more ends of the spectrum!

Loved my visit, but sure am enjoying the quiet and the landscape today! And for my abundance and specificity there is always the internet and Travelocity! "I'll be back".

Abundance in NYC

2010-11-10T14:22:00.000-06:00

I am visiting NYC and am overwhelmed by the abundance of inspiration and just stuff!!!
Bolts and bolts of fabric on floors and floors of store at Mood Fabrics, Bins and Bins of thread next door. Down the street aisle after aisle of zippers, buttons or snaps... and upstairs windows hint at the armies of mannequins and dress forms hard at work!

A visit to the F.I.T. museum showing the new fashion trends in Japan and Eco friendly fashion through the years. Walking down 5th Avenue. Marketing on Times Square.

Amazing food design in Chelsea Market. From the cupcakes to the lobsters... all are beautiful!

And that is only day 1 and 2!!!!

jill2day at work...

2010-11-04T08:42:00.000-05:00

I have been in high production mode lately. I am getting ready for shows in Chicago (December) and Chantilly, VA (end of January) as well as the holiday season on Etsy. Boy has it been work and fun... Here is a little peek into my day(s).

I head down to my studio each morning and line up Nellie, Doris, and Evy (my three dress forms) and we get started. I have shelves of previously bundled sweater parts. So I decide what this particular day should be... a red day? a tweedy neutral day? or a multicolor fun day? Once my color appetite has been identified I grab the appropriate bundle.

I then spread the parts out and look for a starting point. Sometimes it is a unique collar structure, sometimes it is a pattern that has a particularly intriguing color combination, sometimes it is a unique "hand" that the fabric has. The I start sculpting the parts and pieces together. I don’t use patterns, because each reclaimed sweater is different and has different idiosyncrasies that must be honored and exploited! If I am using an existing bodice or neckline, that may determine the size… and which of my ladies gets to go first. If I am using color as my starting point, I have to decide what ratio of each of the different fabrics will go into the scheme… and sometimes hunt through my stash for the little extra dash of purple that wasn’t in my original bundle. Slowly but surely, the dress forms go from naked to covered with pins and pieces. During this process there is a great deal of stealing from Nellie to give to Doris, and the like…

Finally the ladies are prepped. One then steps up to the serger machine. The machine is threaded with the appropriate color(s) and the sewing starts! A seam here, a tuck there, a replacement here, a new idea there, the garment is still morphing through this process.

At the end of the day, or the next day, or the next… the garments are sewn.

Then it is onto the “proofing”… into the washing machine while I hold my breath. They tumble about in the Dreft detergent and the hand wash cycle for their allotted time and then on to the dryer for the delicate dry cycle. Most make it, some don’t. One of the hazards of using reclaimed fabrics is that it has had a previous life… if there were wear spots or tiny moth holes that didn’t show up before, they will be gaping after the wash cycle. Threads that were cut short grow in the agitation. And some stains actually appear after washing!

Once they are out though, they are soft and have a cohesiveness that just didn’t exist before the individual pieces had this shared experience! Then they are tagged and rechecked, photographed, described and then listed on Etsy or packed up for a show.

Then it is time to find them homes and get them on their way to their new life! These photos are some from some of my latest "litters"! Spicy is a great coat inspired by the color combo in the print panels. Bay is a shorter jacket that where the existing bodice and collar was the starting point.

My time of year!

2010-10-12T04:40:00.014-05:00

If you were around here last year, you know my affinity for Fall. Some people love summer's heat, some love January as a new beginning, some can't wait for the first snow... but for me it is when the leaves change and the cool breezes flow all night!!

Sunday we had one of those perfect fall days. Warm weather you know that you don't deserve and blue sky that sets off every color with a vibrancy that contain just a drop of orange in every highlight and violet in every shadow.

I took a long walk and brought my camera with me... here are some shots of the things that inspire me and the reconstructed garments that are a result of this inspiration. They were all recently posted in my Sweater section on jill2day. Hope that you enjoy this brief look through my eyes.

For those of you who don't get to walk through the woods kicking the leaves as you go, here is a short video (be sure to have your sound on if you want the full leaf kicking experience!) of my trail:

Do you FACEBOOK?

2010-10-11T04:10:00.001-05:00

I have found facebook to be so much easier to post in than this blog, that I am afraid I have been derelict here. It takes just a second to say "hi" or post something there, and I am on my personal page everyday keeping up with kids, grandkids and friends (real ones!).

I am just letting you know, that you are welcome to join the fun on my Facebook fan page (facebook.com/jill2dayfans). I will continue to post here too - I know that some people just do not like using Facebook, and I understand that.

I would really like some feedback from you about this... do you do both? Prefer the blog? I want you to be well informed and in contact! Thanks! Jill

Chasing the light!

2010-10-10T16:09:00.001-05:00

Photography is always a challenge for on-line sales! It requires lots of photos, and they have to be well lit and show the product well. That would be so easy if one could hire professional photographers, but alas, that is not financially feasible for one-of-a-kind products. So that means it is a DIY project!

I am fortunate to have photo direction experience, but what that really means is that I have lots of experience telling experts what to do with all their professional equipment in their studios... not doing it myself. So Sasha, my mannequin and I have a good time struggling with where and when to shoot. Natural lighting is by far the best for shooting, but my house doesn't rotate with the sun.

That means that at one time of year, the loft area is perfect, but as the sun gets higher, Sasha, my tripod and I move to take over the bedroom. In the fall, the sun lowers, and all of the wonderfully indirect light there becomes flood lighting.

Last week, we decided to look for a new spot. At one point we found our desperate selves nestled in the bathroom!!! The lighting was great - we have solar tubes in there that create perfectly diffused light (maybe a bit too straight down though). After a shot or two, neither Sasha or I could take the humiliation anymore. It is one thing to have the pile of bills and printer just out of the shot (loft) or even the laundry basket or bed just behind the tripod (bedroom). Fighting the wind is also not too bad when we decide to shoot outside. But, neither of us thought the bathroom was dignified enough for jill2day photos, so we headed back to the bedroom armed with huge mirrors and smaller time frames...but I did take this shot to commemorate the try!

Virginia Beach Neptune Festival

2010-10-02T08:31:00.001-05:00

I just got back from showing at the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival... It was great!
Those of us in the Midwest don't get to watch the waves too often, so that combined with a full moon, wonderful customers, dolphins jumping, a hotel right across from my booth and great (even if hot) weather, made for a very enjoyable four days.
The show was along the boardwalk of the beach, so with the back flap open, I could watch "the waves roll in and then watch them roll away again" as Otis would say! There were many artists there, and I got to meet a few of them. One of the heartening things was how many people had both heard of and go on to Etsy to shop! I met a person who was familiar with my blog ("hi") and best friends of one of my great customers.

I was thrilled that even in 95+ degree weather people were open to the purchase of sweaters and scarves! It is so much fun to see people try on and discover jill2day garments. That is another thing I don't get to see too often because of the on-line shop. It is such a great way to get feedback on how I can make things better, or just what I should make more of for you all!!
So now that I am home, I will apply all that learning to my new items!!

Sweaters for the sweater challenged!

2010-09-17T08:19:00.002-05:00

So sorry for abandoning you lately... It has been a busy month or so for me.
Changing from the t-shirted summer to the cozy sweater winter stock has been more time consuming that I thought. I thought that I had the pacing of all this figured out. (Keep in mind I just started this venture last July!) I had planned sort of a kick-back summer; make a couple t-shirts a week and get a jump on sweaters for fall. Well thanks to the wonderful enthusiasm and appreciation of all of you, my t-shirt making turned into a full-time gig! What a wonderful surprise and fun it was, but now the strata of unsewn sweaters sit glaring at me from the shelves of my studio!
However, I have managed to come up with some new sweaters and some new concepts or, as I think of them, Sweaters for the Sweater Challenged!! There are many of you (us!) who for reasons of biology or regionality, find sweaters just too warm. So here are some alternatives:

DRESSES: I have included reconstructed dress designs in my new offerings. (see the Dresses and Skirts section of the shop) These are great because they are loose and twirly (think cool air flow!) but still soft and cozy - and of course made form the recycled fabrics. They really are like wearing a robe all day! Many of you loved the t-shirt dress idea this summer, so thought I would try it for winter as well. These are great over leggings, or pants as well. The one in this picture is Saturday.
SCARVES: I love these scarves both for self or gifts. (see the Scarves and Shawl section)They are great for anyone on your list, and they work as shawls or as mufflers. Each reconstructed scarf can be tied or looped or wrapped and are a great fashion statement over your turtleneck indoors or coat outdoors! The one pictured here is Arizona.

SKIRTS: This may be my favorite addition to the shop. (see the Dresses and Skirts section of the shop) I love these skirts... all the twirl of the coats, but with the option to wear what ever suits your mood (or temperature) on top! They all have an elastic waist band, and I will happily adjust it to fit your waist. Check them out! The one shown is Onyx.
SHRUGS: Okay I might not be using the term right, but I couldn't think of what to call these versatile little wraps.(found in the Shrugs and Boleros section) All different fabrics, but cropped (not too short - and usually longer in the back) and not buttons or snaps, they just slip on when the AC is too warm or the nights get chilly. For those of us in the cold area, they are a final layer of warmth against the winter chill. These are great to keep on the back of the chair at the office! St Paul is the one shown here.
And, finally [insert drum roll here] are the TWO-PIECE DRESSES: Wear them together or separate for so many different looks! (they are also in the Dresses and Skirts section of the shop) The cut of some of the tops are a little shorter to elongate the skirt/leg, but they still have the lower back. These would be so great for travel. just add a pair of black slacks and a pencil skirt and you are ready for anything!

Anyway... I am excited about these and the new coats and sweaters... to check out jill2day if you haven't been there recently.

jill2day on Sense of Fashion

2010-07-30T08:30:00.000-05:00

jill2day on Sense of Fashion

NEW SHOP for Vintage finds!

2010-07-13T08:50:00.001-05:00

We have found (in our basement) and inherited a great number of "vintage" items in the last year. That, coupled with the many open hours that my college son has during the summer, made for an opportunity! He and I have opened a vintage shop on Etsy. It is Dot2day, and will feature vintage items of all sorts.

Some of the categories will include "cut glass" (Grandma Dorothy had quite the collection), Frankoma Pottery (my collection to be dispersed) and many knick-knacks, linens, and other things as we come across them.

The plan is to upload new things every couple of days, so you might want to check in often if these type of items are of interest to you! Enjoy, and know the proceeds from purchases made will be donated to the "Higher Education of Lanny" fund, and the experience will be helping to unleash another entrepreneur on the world!

Bundles of Potential added today!

2010-07-06T14:55:00.000-05:00

This is just one of the new bundles I posted today - INDIA. It is a great color combination, and would work in any of the three choices - a panel shirt or asymmetrical shirt ($57), or a dress ($77). There are lots more bundles to choose from in my size4you section.

I am doing lots of each these reconstructed garments for people who reserve a bundle. You can see these in either the custom reserved section, or the sold section of my shop... the photos may give you a better idea of the "before and after" of these bundles of recycled tshirts.

Real plants and memorable people on the Military Ridge Trail

2010-07-01T09:13:00.000-05:00

It is summertime on the Military Ridge trail again. This brings together my two favorite activities; non-running and non-gardening! I can walk the trail fast enough for exercise, but slow enough to enjoy the view. I can enjoy the plants without all that pesky digging and weeding!

Today, as I walked, I realized how many people were marching through my memory as I saw different plants. The sumac reminded me of my lifelong friend, Marta. She used to dye fabrics with natural things like the sumac and onions. These particular grasses remind me of Chris. He is my buddy who had the finest of parties every June for many years. We artists would congregate and do Plein Air for the day. These grasses appeared in all the paintings I did (and the seeds were embedded in the paint as well!) I love the very subtle color shifts this grass takes as it moves in and out of the sun.

Then there are the family representatives. "Acky berries" will always bring a smile to my face, as I now know that warning a two year old against partaking of dangerous berries can be generalized by that same two year old to all berries. But the edible berries remind me of Annie (niece) who loves them, Nernie (grandfather) who grew them, and Jon (hubby) who has an annual battle with the birds over them! The milkweeds are for my sister who loves their wonderful aroma and lets them wander through her garden.

Boy, I love my non-gardening and non-running and my friends and family!

Lots more bundles, lots of uses!

2010-06-29T18:07:00.000-05:00

Today I posted many more bundles, and with each of them you get to "choose your own adventure"! Each bundle can be turned into a panel style tunic, an asymmetrical tunic or a dress... whatever you need. There is a huge variety of colors and prints, and several have already been spoken for, but lots are left. so go check out the Size4you tunic section in Jill2day.etsy.

Celestial Seasonings Tea shop

2010-06-25T08:48:00.006-05:00

I am visiting the Boulder, CO area for some vacation with my sister's family. Yesterday we went to visit the Celestial Seasonings manufacturing Plant and shop. It is a fantastic place to sip away - tasting all of their different flavors. Iced or hot, fruity or spicy - it is all there for the tasting.

While one is sipping, one can also look at some great original artwork that was done for their packaging and promotional materials, a collection of original teapots done for a contest they once held, and a dress made out of their tea packages! All very fun.

I didn't realize that this company was also responsible for the line of TERRA veggie chips(one of my fav snacks). However, they don't "sample" those!

In the section about the history of their company, they still had the original Singer sewing machine with which the tea bags were sewn. Fun to see the humble beginnings.

If you are ever in the area, and have viewed all the natural beauty of the area, I would heartily recommend this as a refreshing stop.

Reconstructed Skirts now on jill2day!

2010-06-17T12:16:00.000-05:00

Here are my first skirts, reconstructed from recycled t-shirts. They are comfy, casual and easy care... just like the reconstructed, refashioned t-shirts and sweaters that are on jill2day

I really had fun with the variety here! Some primary colors, some camo fabrics, and some beautiful blues and purples!

I opened a new section in my shop for these SIZE4YOU skirts. These will be sized to your waistline before being sent to you. Thee wide elastic encased in the waistband will be adjusted once you have provided me with your measurement.

California here she comes!

2010-06-14T17:29:00.000-05:00

My buddy called and wanted some new duds for her upcoming California trip. She is both a great fabric artist and an adventurous woman, so she wanted something "fun" but yet "age appropriate"! (but with her that would be her internal age - which is many years younger than her external age!)

So we went through my reconstructed garment idea bundles of recycled fabrics and she chose my 'lion' and 'chocolate' fabric groupings.

We decided to maintain the asymmetry of the reconstructed t-shirts, but add the length so she can wear them as dresses or over leggings on cooler days.

They will pack well, be perfect for the weather, and show off her wonderful personality! Thanks, Nancy, it was fun working with you on these!

Thinking Winter Scarves

2010-06-08T19:10:00.002-05:00

It might be 90% outside, but I am already starting to think about the Holiday season. last year they came fast and furious not to long after jill2day opened in August. But this year I have some time to plan.

Several shops inquired about wholesale purchases of my reconstructed scarves last year, but there was no way I could produce enough to make it reality. This year, however, it will be different! My new industrial machine and a college kid home for the summer, combine for real potential.

I already have my son cutting hundreds of strips of recycled sweater fabric for me (at a price, of course!). Then I can take those and sort them into some really wonderful combos of color and textures to make into reconstructed scarves. Production on my new machine will take care of the rest. I have been shopping and storing fabrics for months now, so plenty to work with!

If you are interested in purchasing wholesale scarves from me (or know a store where they would be a good fit), please see the WHOLESALE page here in my blog, or email me at jill@jill2day.com.

Thanks, thanks, 1600 times thanks.

2010-05-30T12:11:00.000-05:00

On August of last year I posted my first item to the Jill2day store. It has been a joyful and thankful ride since that date. Today I hit 1600 hearts on my shop. I am never sure why those round numbers feel so good, but they do. I also know that there are many reasons for "awarding" a heart, but nonetheless I just want you to know that I appreciate everyone of you who has taken even a second of their life to look at my shop! This past 9 months have been almost as fun, and scary and anticipation-filled as previous 9 month birthing endeavors I have had!

I never knew what a wonderful group of people I would meet just by clicking one little "get started" button to open my shop. I have met wonderful people from all over the world - both Etsy shoppers and sellers. I now start my day connecting with three efriends made on the positive forum of Etsy. I have shared, in a small way, some of the joys and heartaches of my customers; The comfort of a cozy sweater during health issues; A sweater and scarf to help remember a Mom's hugs, A vest that holds memories of New York taxis; A fun and funky garment in a previously unfound size, A garment with a shot of confidence for that special presentation! And so many "just for fun" purchases were made from my shop.

I have made art most of my life. I have made my living doing graphic design most of my life. But never had I had so much fun and satisfaction making creations! I never knew that the "virtual world" of ecommerce could also be so personal and rewarding.

Thanks to all of you, for your enthusiasm, your inspirations, your kind thoughts and your continued patronage of my shop. I promise lots more to come...

Common threads presentation went great!

2010-05-26T16:01:00.000-05:00

This morning I gave a presentation to the Common Threads Quilt Guild in Menomonee Falls (just outside of Milwaukee) Wisconsin.

What fun!! It is a vibrant group of about 80 talented women. I knew a few of them from our bus trips to the Quilt show in Chicago, but many new faces. The best part was when they had their "show and tell". Some amazing quilts. Just so inspiring. I will be so tempted to break out the quilting UFOs I have and get to work! But, alas, nose to the sweater/tshirt inventory!

I had a Power Point presentation with about a gazillion photos of work, and work in progress and also included much info about Etsy. Only about half of the audience was aware of it, so hopefully this presentation will bring some new people to the Etsy shops.

I loved doing this, and the response seemed to be positive (and the coffee and cookies were great!) Thanks for the opportunity!

Natural Sculpturers

2010-05-22T18:41:00.003-05:00

Living out in the country has its challenges, but also its joys. Wasps, and other insects are both. While I will admit to still Being a bit fearful, I am also in awe of these insects.

Here are two of their newly started homes that they have attached to various parts of our deck area. Both of these are only about 2-3 inches wide, but absolutely beautiful. I am anxious to see how big they get in the next few weeks. Fortunately there is an alternate deck on the other side of the house!

Reconstruction as Ressurection!

2010-05-19T20:28:00.001-05:00

A customer contacted me, and said she had a favorite band shirt that she loved, but jst doesn't wear traditional tshirts very often. So she sent it to me, we added some additional shirts (one she sent, some I had) and made a new tunic for her. I love this one... funky enough to be fun, but constructed to be less casual and more useful! I can see it over pants, jeans, leggings. It's all good!

If you have any old shirts you would like incorporated into a new shirt, let me know and we'll work together to make something fantastic, and full of your memories.

I could see some running shirts, sport team shirts, or those shirts you buy on vacation but never wear once you get home... any of those made into a contemporary wearable art.

Reconstructed tshirts...Before and Afters

2010-05-18T20:22:00.000-05:00

The first of the "idea bundles" that I am offering in my jill2day Etsy shop's size4you section have bloomed into full shirts... thought I would share some of the before and afters with you.

These three were reserved, but there are many more available!! More coming soon!

size4you - NEW SECTION IN MY SHOP

2010-05-12T15:32:00.004-05:00

I am starting a new shop section today, SIZE4YOU, that I hope will help you, my customer, see what I have on hand and to have input on the size I should make it; and for me to be both productive and efficient. I have listed fabric bundles in my Etsy shop. They are listed in a new section called SIZE4YOU. These “bundles“ will be made into shirts within a week or two, so you have a chance to let me know what size I should make, and reserve them in advance!
The process will go like this:

If you would like to have one of these shirts made in your size, convo me (click “CONTACT JILL2DAY” on my shops home page) and let me know which one you want, your chest measurement, and the length of sleeve and hem you would like. If you are the first to contact me:
1- The listing will be temporarily reserved for you while I am making the shirt in your size.
2- I will convo you when the shirt is finished, photos are posted to the item, and the description is changed to show all measurements,
3- You (exclusively) will have 48 hours to purchase and pay for it.
4- If you do not purchase it within the 48 hours, I will remove the reserved, and it will be available to anyone.
This means that you can have “risk-free” input on these shirts and be the first to purchase the finished shirt.I will be limiting this unpaid reserve to two items per customer at any given time - but if you want to purchase and pay for the bundle right away, you may purchase as many as you would like! If I do not get any input on a bundle by the time I go to make it, I will make it up, photo it and move the listing to the “TSHIRT” section of the shop.

Why am I doing this? I have been trying to figure out how to better provide you with reconstructed t-shirts in the style and size you are looking for when you are looking through my Etsy shop. Doing one-of-a-kind shirts is efficient - doing custom items to match someone’s vision is not so efficient. That is because each item is dependent on the specific graphic and colors I can find at any given time - it is not always possible to find the right “parts” at the right time. The style of each shirt (I.E. the neckline) is also often dictated by what I find - not by pre-planning or by cutting fabric to a pattern. Recycled parts are combined into a new order, the garment is not made “from scratch“! That is why they are “reconstructed shirts” as opposed to “tailored shirts” or “sewn garments”. I also strive to keep the prices as low as possible, which means my production and shopping time has to also be efficient!

Hope this works for you all. I think it will allow you to always see what is coming up and what I have on hand.Here are few that have been posted: Shoofly, Mickey, Retro Beer

How sanity was kept during insane times.

2010-05-06T07:29:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I wandered through downtown DC. Great people-watching and conversation-snippet eaves-dropping. I came across the Renwick and went in. It is now on my list of favorite places. It is a small and intimate museum in the middle of the museum behemoths that surround the mall.
There was a special exhibit on the first floor (more about that later) and the second floor has one major room and three side rooms. The Grand salon is set up salon style (as its name would indicate) with the paintings side by side and stacked upwards toward the 40 foot ceilings! The ceiling itself is a large skylight .

It is admittedly not the best way to view the paintings (especially for someone who has been scolded by many guards for having her nose to close to the brush strokes), but it has just a great sense of history and place. The side galleries hold craft of all kinds, from the requisite Chihuly glass, through fiber, wood and a giant “game” fish, it showcases both the range technique and range of emotions in craft art.

The special exhibit, The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942-1946, was the real highlight. The range was again amazing. (sorry - no photos allowed) From some crude, functional furniture, to some exquisite carvings and stitched works, it portrayed the work of people of all ages, genders and occupations. The commonality was that search for beauty or/and sanity in the midst of some very insane times.

Dear Etsy Friends: One interesting part of the exhibit was some beautiful jewlery items - mostly brooches. They were crafted from found objects and trash... and were so finely done it was amazing. These were not made to be "eco-friendly" or "green" They were simply a product of necessity... it was necessary to create, and it was necessary to create with what you could find.

I will admit to being a true believer in “folk art” - that art that is made for no reason other than it must be made, by individuals who may or may not consider themselves “artists”. Folk Art, Tramp Art, Outsider Art, Craft, Women’s Work; call it what you will, but enjoy it’s genuine spirit.

New reconstructed tshirts ... and one dress!

2010-05-02T10:35:00.001-05:00

I just uploaded several new recosntructed tshirts... all made from recycled shirts. A little birdie or two the hugs and kisses tic tac toe (shown here), Elvis, some rock and roll... check them out!!

Along with the shirts I listed one new dress. Or beach cover up... or ??? However you decide to wear it, just make sure to eat your spinach first! I think I will make some more of these. I tried this one on while photographing it, and decided it is one of the most comfy hot weather things I could wear! Check them out at my Etsy shop jill2day and let me know what you think!

Two sure signs that spring is well on the way

2010-05-01T06:31:00.001-05:00

This morning the walk from the house to the mailbox was really beautiful. It stormed last night, so today the world is that specific color of green that only happens after lightning has reawakened the grass. On my way up the driveway I saw a bluebird, woodpecker, robin(s), and mourning doves. The songs of those birds, as well as many more unseen, was just an amazing chorus of notes.

Just before getting to the end of the driveway, Jon’s Lilacs welcomed me. There is no smell quite as evocative or sweet as lilac bushes. Here is the Midwest they usually appear at everyone’s Grandmother’s or parents, home, and their scent is as much a part of spring as is the increased hours of the day.
The apple tree by our front door is in full bloom. I haven’t seen our possum since the last of the apples disappears in January, but the tree is working hard to make sure that there will be plenty for him and the birds next winter.

Living in a log home has both it benefits and disadvantages, but one of the fun aspects is the many bird nests that nestle in the corners during the year. One year we had seven nests on the house and porch corners. Of course, the birds do not understand why we find it necessary to use our doors (or the garage door openers) and get very indignant when we go in and out of THEIR house.

Hope you are also having a good spring - whateverthat is in your area of the world!

The Bottom Line

2010-04-25T06:00:00.001-05:00

The devil is always in the details in my reconstructed sweaters! Here are three hems that I have recently used on my coats. Each has their own flair. The top one (used in Animal2day) is a scalloped hem that gently runs across the bottom of the coat. It is especially nice on a knee length or shorter coat or on the more petite woman that doesn't want a lot of detail on her garment.

The second coat is an example a my pieced hem on one of my reconstructed cardi coats (this one is Roar2day). It is a great hem on the "twirly coats" - this hem can add length to the bottom of the coat and is great on the longer coat to either add hem line interest and contrast, or continuity and length.

The third hem is a triangularly pieced hem. It doesn't add as much length as the above hem, but it does add texture and visual interest to the bottom of the garment.

Of course there are as many (or more) options in the front closures and the sleeves - that is what make jill2day garments truly one-of-a-kind!

Vogue and I agree!

2010-04-24T20:05:00.001-05:00

I was looking through my new Vogue (APR) today, and there on page 140 was a highlight of all of the "skin" showing for this spring! "Leopard prints on the prowl this spring"
Well who'd a thunk it... here I just listed two new "skins"! With some great encouragement from a custom client, I recently went hunting for all of the animal prints I could find. I made her custom coat, but had lots left over, and so I listed Roar2day - a grey, black and white long coat and Animal2day a shorter smaller sweater. Both are perfect for the spring cool nights and will be perfect come next fall, too!
Personally I think they have more flair than any of these fashions on the pages of Vogue!

For the birds

2010-04-24T18:14:00.001-05:00

The birds in our yard give me so much joy! Everyday they wake me with their singing, they flight about flashing their colors, the cavort and beg at the feeders. I figured they might like some special nest decor this year.

I have started hanging a few of my serger scraps out on one of the trees, so they can have some color for the nest building! I am hoping next winter when the nests are abandoned and the summer visitors have left for warmer climes, I will find some of the nests in the bare trees lined with these scraps!!

A new addition to the family

2010-04-23T19:13:00.000-05:00

Here is my new pride and joy!

I purchased a new super duper industrial strength serger this week. "Bessie" is an amazingly fast and heavy duty work horse that will now supplement the stable of other machines I have.

But, I did have to rearrange my studio to give her the window place of honor! The gianormous foot pedal is wonderful to keep my foot from cramping up, and when floored it goes to 6500 stitches a minute!!

One of the best things about the purchase was the wonderful family owned business that sold it to me. It was so good to deal with people (Milwaukee Sewing Machine) who are friendly, craftsman and knowledgeable - and will be there whenever I need them!

Groovy times in Chicago!

2010-04-19T07:41:00.006-05:00

There were so many beautiful quilts on display in both the competitive exhibits and in the vendor booths. They ranged from the traditional log cabins and historic Baltimores through the very contemporary art quilts. The things they all had in common was the maker's love of fabric and the incredible craftsmanship.

It was obvious that those women making quilts in the 1800s didn't have any TV to distract them. I think some of them could hand sew stitches that are smaller than my machine makes! They knew "green" before eco-friendly was trendy. Today's traditional quilters are almost as amazing. Some still hand quilt and some have adopted using the machines - with incredible precision. Some still stick to the traditional colors and some use contemporary colors in the traditional design - a nice juxtaposition.

The art quilts ran the gamut from the ridiculous to the sublime. Many of them were made by the SAQA (Studio Art Quilters Association) members. There were abstracts, experiments, humor and real artistry. Some had incredible workmanship, some had incredible concept and some had real artistic sophistication. A few had it all!

I am not including any photos of the quilts here, because the devil/beauty is in the details in these quilts; The way the light hits the quilting, the stitches, the subtle shifts of color, the difference between a fused or raw edge, the sheen of the fabric or embellishments. It is so very hard to get that from photos - especially lo-res on the web! Photos boil it all down to subject matter and composition - not always the strongest elements in quilting! However, many examples can be found on the show website

Beyond the exhibits were so many activities! Saturday night the “Make It University” (a hands on exhibit sponsored by Quilting Arts magazine and a million supply vendors) held a 60’s runway competition. We had about an hour to make a 60's costume out of the supplied craft supplies… It was goofy and frenetic… as we also had to answer trivia and dance to get many of the supplies. I ended up winning (and the judges said it had nothing to do with the granola bars I bribed them with - or offering a "toke" of my pipecleaner pipe!) first place - about a gazillion dollars worth of dyes, paints, books, videos, supplies etc. It was such sweet retribution to have all my misspent youth pay off!

My friend, Maggie, and I also walked the runway with a couple of my reconstructed sweaters in the “Stitch in Time” fashion show. It is were those who have created garments may model them for the viewing audience. It was very fun and nice support from the viewing audience! (Hope some of you that asked for cards and info are reading this!)

Anyway - it was all a fun weekend that will never have a repeat, the show is moving to Cincinnati next year, and the busload I have gone with to the show for the past 7 years will not be happening. Ann and Gloria - thanks for all the fun, and Goodbye to the “Bloomers”!

Report from Chicago

2010-04-17T09:18:00.000-05:00

I am at the IQA Chicago Quilt Show. Just me, about 700 vendors, 30,000 fellow fiber people, 400 exhibited quilts and a busload of good people that I see annually!

The communal breakfasts and happy hours are as fun as the show itself. Lots of great people/clothes/bags/ watching as well. I will take some pics of the show today to post later...

Reconstructed Tshirts for Spring and Summer!

2010-04-15T13:02:00.001-05:00

NEW - starting today jill2day will be offering reconstructed tshirt weight tunic tops! Check out the new section in my shop. These garments are made with the same swingy style and longer length of my sweaters so they are flattering and fun! They all have sleeves, but the sleeves are wide and breezy. That means coverage and coolness! Often these repurposed garments start with a graphic or pattern that sets the tone for the rest of the piece.

I will be including a few skirts in the mix, too. They will always be designed with the relaxed comfort of my other garments.

I was really excited when I found the oboe graphic (shown with the matching skirt) because I palyed the oboe back in my high school days and think it is the strangest instrument both from sound and sight!

Take a look and enjoy these eco-friendly clothes! As always feedback is appreciated. These are being listed based on the great feedback you gave regarding my "cobbler's clothes".

Garments shown are (clockwise from upper left): Oboe (shirt) and Patchy (skirt), Angel, NewYork, Raven, Letters and Fire

Busting out!

2010-04-14T18:29:00.001-05:00

Spring is busting out all over here in Wisconsin. It is amazing to me all the different ways that the green pops out from the trees.

My favorite is the Tamarak (American Larch) in the upper right.It is a beautiful 'evergreen' that turns bright yellow orange in fall and drops the needles, but then, in the spring, is the greenest of green as it sends out these feather soft "needles" and new cones.

I should not like this as much as I do, because it is also amazing how many different pollens these trees can produce - and how miserable they can make many of us. But, they are beautiful and Spring is so welcome.

A Little Skin in the Game.

2010-04-14T08:05:00.000-05:00

Things are roaring in the ole reconstructed sweater studio these days. Lions and tigers and bears - OH MY!!

The three sisters are showing off some of the newest of the new from jill2day. In the center is a custom project for a repurposed cardi coat that I am just finishing up. She is surrounded by two of her offshoots.

I have been dreaming of doing an animal skin coat for a while, then a lovely customer convoed me asking if I could do one for her... well the hunt for skins was so lucky that I got enought for her custom coat and then some.

This has really been fun! well - back to the studio to finish them all. Not only green and eco-friendly, but animal friendly too!! What more could you want!

Matisse and Folk Art

2010-04-11T07:41:00.001-05:00

I spent yesterday at the Chicago Art Institute. Went on a bus trip to the Matisse exhibit that is now in progress. In general, I am not a Matisse fan, so my expectations were relatively low, but I must admit to being pleasantly surprised. The show was very well curated, and was a great explanation for his processes and techniques. Very interesting commentary and a very large exhibit.

Along with that exhibit, I had time to wander through the Folk Art and Asian Art areas. These are not areas I usually gravitate to, and so decided to forgo the usual suspects for these areas. I am glad I did. The Asian potteries were amazingly contemporary and the craftsmanship is just superb. The Eastern diety sculptures were fantastic. The folk art section was a plethora of whimsy and fun! I must say, I have a soft spot for art created just for oneself or home without any intent of gallery display. Whether that is folk art, or kids art or "craft" it is good in its purity and directness.

The day was good; the weather was perfect the company interesting and the art inspiring. Next week it is back to Chicago for the Internation Quilt Assn. show. A several day extravaganze I have been attending for about 8 years now. It is a wonderful time to explore vendors and see quilting and quilters from all over the world. (not to mention enjoy an Embassy Suite (and their happy hours) filled with fellow sewing people and quilters!

Reports forthcoming.

The cobbler is now shod.

2010-04-09T09:35:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I make all these fun things, but have none of my reconstructed clothes or sweaters that I actually call my own. In a couple of weeks I am going to a 3 day quilt convention in Chicago, and decided maybe I should wear some of my own things! Well is is always about 90 degrees there (inside) so sweaters are out (tried that last year). So I spent a day making some reconstructed t-shirts and skirts for myself.

I used recycled t-shirts from Goodwill and a lot of the same principles used in my comfy coats and sweaters. Here are the results. I am happy... so happy, in fact, that I went to Goodwill yesterday and bought several more t-shirts to try some more. So we will see if they start showing up in my shops soon. Want to do some more experimenting first though!

Heidi Klum - eat your heart out and watch your back.

Easter Sunday Finery

2010-04-04T11:23:00.002-05:00

In thinking about Easter I can't help but think of all of the wonderful Easter Outfits I had growing up. My mother, Evy, loved clothes and accessories. She wasn't a clothes horse in the full sense of the word, but she sure knew how to put an outfit together. Born of the era when purses and shoes must match and no women would be seen in her best unless it included a hat and gloves, she truly believed in welcoming spring on Easter Sunday.

I remember a lavendar suit of hers that had a marvelously textured jacket over the slim skirt - all finished with a lavendar floral hat and purple Monet pin. As I grew, she took equal relish in helping me to learn the fine art of acccessorizing. My all time favorite Easter was the year of the white boucle coat (which I am sure was 100% plastic polyester) with yellow gloves, yellow patent leather shoes, and a yellow purse. I even can picture the yellow daisy pin on the coat collar. A little more vague in my memory is the year of the polka dots - might have been the new accessories for the white coat the following Easter! Mama taught me well.

Those were the days when "Sunday Best" meant something. When you could sit in church and contemplate the beady eyes of the mink collar shawl on the woman in the pew in front of you instead of listening to the sermon. It was when Dad put his business card in his Fedora, so that it would be returned to him even if the wrong guy picked it off the coatroom shelf at the end of church. It was looking down at the new shiney shoes and white anklets that you knew you better take off the minute you stepped back into the house so they would still look new next Sunday. It was when you big brother's crew cut stood straight and he wore a tie for at least an hour. It was belting out "Onward Christian Soldiers" while admiring the spectrum of hats parading out during the recessional.

Today my buddy Maggie and her husband are visiting. We will have an Easter dinner, and a lovely day with friends, but for fashion I asked her to do a little modeling for me. Here she is, showing off a little of my fashion and color sense that I am sure are a product of the yesteryear Easters!

New postings (this reconstructed sweater and several more) will be appearing in my Etsy shop tomorrow.
Happy Easter and Happy Spring.

Never Mind.

2010-04-02T07:49:00.000-05:00

I had a blast reading all the comments here and on Facebook. Although you all have great ideas and new holidays that you would like to celebrate, I have decided to stick with what I do and not continue with the proposed April Fool's change after all!

So it is back to the studio today and should have some new things up early next week.

It is 80 here in WI and I hope it is also a beautiful spring day wherever you are.

ANNOUNCING: Change of Direction of Business

2010-04-01T10:13:00.001-05:00

I was so inspired by this wonderful Holiday sweater that I found at Savers yesterday, that I have decided to dump the previous jill2day type of styles, and embark on a new venture. From now on, I will be only making holiday themed sweaters. I am particularly excited about the Ground Hog day sweaters and the Presidents' Day sweaters that I have in my mind, as those holidays have been sorely ignored by traditional sweater manufacturers.

I intend to also branch out into new colors for old holidays; neons for Christmas and greys and blacks for Easter will be my first forays into these trend-setting options that I will be introducing. I will also be introducing combo sweaters. For Christmas I will have sweaters that have your Christmas stocking integrated into the sleeve of the sweater. Easter sweaters will come complete with a built in egg carton for your convenience. And, of course, Thanksgiving sweaters will all be pre-meal and post-meal size adjustable.

But, as always, April Fools will remain my favorite holiday, so for that I will offer the Emperor's New Sweater at an exceptionally high price!

Wish me well on my new venture, and let me know any further ideas you may have. Happy April 1 to you all.

No longer work in progress!

2010-03-31T21:19:00.001-05:00

Here (right) is the "work in progress" from the other day, now done and on its way to its new home!

(Looks a little better with the seams in.)

Here (left) is another custom shorter sweater I just finished.

New category - Custom Starters!

2010-03-30T04:54:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I find truly wonderful/wacky recycled patterned sweaters that I know someone would love in one of my reconstructed sweaters...but many might not! I have not figured out exactly what to do with these yet! If I go ahead and make them for the shop, they will certainly be the wrong size or style for the exact person who loves them! But if I don't post them, they will never be used!

I plan on starting an "ideas" or "starting points" category in my shop. I can post some of the unique patterns for repurposing, either alone or with some solids shown with them. I would like these to be the starting point for a custom sweater idea that the customer and I can than collaborate on for the style and size. This is a way I can showcase some of the more unique items I have in my stash, while not committing them to a size or style.

I know someone out there would love a cowboy themed sweater, but who?!!

I will also be posting some of my "bundles" there. These will be my groupings of colors that could be used in a custom reconstructed sweater. It will give the customer an idea of color ways - and readily available specific patterns and combinations that can be repurposed into a garment just for them. On the right are some examples of how the bundles may be shown.

I would really be interested in your feedback on this idea... please leave your comments!

Great looks are made not accidents!

2010-03-29T08:06:00.006-05:00

Today I thought I would show you a little WIP (work in progress) and tell you some of the reasons people find my reconstructed cardi-coats so flattering for every body style.

Before everything gets sewn up, I pin most of it in place on a dress form so that I can preview the colors. It is a great way to be able to not only size the item, but to really work with the colors so that they enhance the particular style of the coat and the unique body size of the item I am making. I don't use any type of pattern, so this part of the process is a bit like building a sculpture on an armature!

I was looking at some other reconstructed sweaters recently and realized that the bodices and upper sleeves were simply complete sweaters cut shorter and then additional pieces added to the skirt and sleeve areas. While that certainly would be more efficient for me, I really don't think it makes for an interesting or flattering look.

The piecing that I do on the back and bodice allows me to place brighter colors near the center to draw the eye there. If I piece the back with a center panel, it breaks up the expanse and slims the back - especially when the ribbed panel slightly above the waist is also used.

The skirt panels are not random. You will notice in most of my stock or custom sweater coats, the repurposed center panels have the pattern (if any) and the brightest color. (Lily2day, at left shows how that works!)That, with the length of the panels, elongates the look and again makes for a vertical look to the garment. That is usually further enhanced by darker panels put on the outside of each hip. The skirt backs are usually made with a colorful or textural or contrasting central panel - again for a slimming look - that is surrounded by more neutral panels.

At the same time that I am choosing colors, I am also choosing textures and weights. Heavier weight knits are used in the structurally important areas, where lighter weights may be used in the swingy skirt or sleeve areas.

I hope this helps you understand some of the decision making, and design that goes into my garments. It isn't by accident that I get great feedback about how these garment fit and make the wearer feel!

25 at 3:25 on 3/25 - is HERE!

2010-03-25T04:00:00.001-05:00

I will be posting the new items this afternoon, but thought I would give you all a taste of what is coming. Here are snippets of some of the new items:

Spring - It really is coming!

2010-03-23T18:29:00.000-05:00

Every spring I wait for the pasque flowers to bloom. They are wonderful fuzzy purple flowers that send out the flower before the leaves. They are very short plants and must get to the sun before the grass and other plants emerge. We have a very rocky west facing hillside near our house, that must be the perfect place for them. Every year the hill is more and more cover with this purple beauty. The best part is it usually happens right around my birthday. I just came back from the hill and am happy to report that there are buds that came up today and should be ready to bloom tomorrow. Tomorrow is my birthday, so the first ones to bloom will be my present this year!

The other thing I look forward to at this time of year is being able to get into (sort of) the woods behind our house. Most of the year it is a so full of barbed under growth that it is virtually impassable. But right now, it is possible (if you don't count a few bloodied shins) to gt back in there. Our neighborhood hawk family lives in the top of those trees. While we can see them flying in and out all year, it is only now that we can get close enough to actually see the nest. It is quite a good sized structure, and, considering the winds it must endure, a strong one too! If they are home when I visit, they will usually circle and screech while I am there, but today they must have been off hunting.

And finally. As I walked back to the house a flash of the most amazing blue went by. The bluebirds are also back. Like the red of the cardinals stand out from the snow during the winter, this blue was unbelievable against the greys and browns.

Heart to Heart

2010-03-19T11:47:00.001-05:00

I just finished this custom reconstructed sweater coat for Carolyn Jourdan. I am honored that she is going to be wearing it to her presentation to the city of Lansing Michigan. They have selected her book HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE as their city-wide read! This book is also a five star book on Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and it's a bestselling memoir at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Borders, Tower, and the Independent Book Stores.

I will admit that I have not read it yet, but have ordered a signed copy from her to read as soon as I get it... sounds like a great read while hubby is watching all the basketball!

So take a look at her website (and note the heart and heart buttons on her sweater in honor of the book.)

It was a pleasure working with you Carolyn and best of luck on your presentation.

My tools

2010-03-18T19:31:00.000-05:00

Tools of the trade. Everyone has them, that pen you have to use when you have serious writing to do. The knife that cuts the veggies just right. The screwdriver that has been through three generations. As I was working today I was thinking about my tools.

First is my Bernina Serger. Paying off this machine was my goal for the first year of my business. Done. But this poor, overworked thing just never lets me down. Whirring away through whatever I throw at it, it just keeps on stitching. (Yes, Carol - that is the pink thread from your sweater coat!) . Obviously it is my main tool.

But it is often the little things that make life easy. Here are three of my “can’t-live-with-outs”. In total they are probably worth $1.98, but to me they are worth their weight in gold! The magnetic pin holder is magic! I use it to sweep across the floor, under my chair and around my workspace. It stands ready to grab each pin as I remove them during stitching and is equally ready to distribute them when I am piecing. Shamefully I don’t even remember its origin. I think it was a “freebie” at a tradeshow that I attended in my previous life.
The little clippers, hanging on my son’s discarded lanyard, is my most frequently worn ”jewelry”! I can lose at least 5-6 scissors in the course of any day, but these are always hanging right where I need them as I start and stop each seam.
And then there is my chicken. She just makes me smile every time I see her, and she holds all my needles at the ready.

Working in my studio can be a solitary existence. But Winkin, Blinkin and Nod are the best non-complaining cooperative companions I could have. Looking at them is rather nostalgic; although they were employed to stand in for the range of customer sizes I sew for, they also remind me of the many sizes I have been in my life! They never scream when I pin them, they don’t call in sick and they rarely steal my lunch.
Tools are good. Those cave dwellers were on to something when they picked up a rock and stick.

Teaser and walks

2010-03-16T18:49:00.001-05:00

After a hard day of work in the studio, I took the dog out for a walk (the trail is finally free of snowmobilers!!). As we were walking I kept seeing my recent creations in the landscapes... or are the landscapes in my garments? Anyway, here are some peeks at what is coming on March 25th.

Guerilla Knitting - who knew?

2010-03-14T07:56:00.001-05:00

Sometimes creative people are just sooooo wonderful! Today I came across an article, in a UK newspaper; Police hunt 'The Midnight Knitter' wool graffiti bandit. Apparently they are after a “guerilla knitter” in England who is being hunted down for her exploits.

The article says that guerilla knitting has been an increasingly widespread phenomenon over the past few years, with yarn enthusiasts taking to the streets of cities around the world to encase parts of them in wool. Personally, I hadn’t known of this uprising until reading this article. But now could really see dusting off all of my ‘revolting tendencies’ from the ‘60s and participating in this underground revolution! The world could use more cozy anarchy right now.

Saltyknits also has a website where she has posted photos of her taggings be sure to take a look: Saltyknits.com

What she sent, what I did!

2010-03-10T20:14:00.002-06:00

A customer sent me the photo on the left for inspiration for her custom coat. This was great to work from...it let me know what she wanted, without too many specifics. It was great to look for the fabrics and once I found them I sent her this collage (right) of the fabrics I would use.
She thought they looked great... so I went to work. The final result is below. What did she think? According to her: "It's simply, absolutely, positively, beeeeaaaaauuuutttiiiifffuuuulllll! When I put it on, my whole being sang.... thanks so much." Thank you, too it was a great project!

Mosaics by Val... check them out!

2010-03-04T07:46:00.000-06:00

One of my new Etsy Friends is valnorthwoods.etsy.com. She has some vintage for sale, but it is her mosaics that are really wonderful! I just came across a video that highlights her philosphy and process that I think you all might enjoy seeing. Click here to see it. If you have any trouble getting to it just search "mosaics" within the site and look for the article named: Broken glass & tile transformed by Two Harbors mosaic artist.

Val has created a vase called the Celebration Vase (pictured at left), my "go to" piece when I just need to look at something beautiful. And yesterday I got a sneak preview of a table she is working on that wil be just perfect when it is done.

Just wanted to give her some "props" and encourage you to take a look at her votives, furniture, vases and vessels. Enjoy!

Spring is springing!

2010-03-03T11:46:00.000-06:00

... at least in my attitude, if not in the weather!

I just came home from a great visit with many family members in the Colorado area. Brand new babies, wonderful grand-nieces whom I hadn't been able to spend time with before, and watching the "kids" from the family becoming the parents and movers and shakers of the world.

The mountains were beautiful. The sun was warm on my shoulders. I saw one beautiful purple pansy bravely poking out from the snow. On the drive home I got to drive towards the biggest-reddest-fullest moon I have ever seen. Also saw herds upon herds of antelope and deer, a couple of eagles and the hawks that act as sentries along the highway.

So now I am ready for spring to get here and do the spring dance! In anticipation, I just posted a spring-green sweater coat named LEAF2day in my Etsy shop - jill2day. It is hooded and fun and mostly cotton - so perfect for now and through the summer.

In Print . . .again.

2010-02-25T08:50:00.001-06:00

I went to the mailbox the other day, and my new March/April BelleArmoire magazine was there. That was nice, but it got better! I started thumbing through it and voila... there were some of my cuffs. Dubbed "Rocker Chic Cuffs" and right there in full-page glory (page 43, just in case you need to know!) were two pairs of my reconstructed cuffs. I had no idea they were going to be in this issue, so what a nice surprise!

I love the lace and cashmere ones, and hope to be able to make more of this type. I found a lace supplier, so will order some lace soon. They are a lot of detail work, but very unique. I had a pair like them in jill2day.etsy.com, only in grey and black. I would love to see them in red or cream!

Makes me want to go hang out at B+N and just point!

Time Out!

2010-02-23T07:26:00.001-06:00

I am heading out this week to meet a brand new person and spend some time with 'kin folk' I haven't seen in a while. My niece recently had a baby and my nephew and his family will be visiting the lower 48 from Alaska. Everyone will be in the CO area, so I am headed out there too! (wouldn't want to miss the fun!)

It is a good time for a short break from the shop, and I hope all my wonderful customers will understand. I will make the wait worthwhile! When I get back, I will be starting many new sweaters for spring, gearing up for the 25 on 3/25 at 3:25, and also introducing a new category: custom bundles!

I am starting the application process for several art fairs this summer and fall, but Etsy will always be my first love! I am just not sold that people in crowds on a 90 degree day will want to buy sweaters, so I am focusing more on the fall and Holiday shows. This is my first time going through some of the jury processes, so we will see what happens... maybe I will be in a venue near you! (Looking at Alexandria VA, Chicago IL, Madison WI for starters)

I will "talk" to you all when I get back, hopefully hubby and dog will do fine while I am out and about.

A birdy Saturday morning!

2010-02-20T09:40:00.002-06:00

Well there is more snow coming... I don't need a weatherman to tell me this! One look out the window confirms what all the birds know. There are swarms of birds at our feeder this morning. The mourning doves, cardinals, blue jays, chickadees, finches, junkos, and downy and Flicker woodpeckers have all been waiting their turns (in a hierarchy only they understand). The squirrels patiently wait for the dropped seeds.

The feeder is right outside our window and right by our table, so the birds have all gotten very used to us being around. I love watching their antics!

25 on 3/25 at 3:25

2010-02-19T09:28:00.000-06:00

I will be heading out on a short vacation (shop will be in Vacation mode for a few days) and then when I get back will be sewing like crazy.

I will be posting some items, but will be having a real "opening" on March 25.... 25 new reconstructed sweaters will be uploaded to jill2day.etsy.com on March 25!

It is the start of spring here and the start of winter in the south hemi, so we are all ready for somehting new!! I Think this will also give me a chance to "clean up the shop", maybe a new banner, some new categories, etc... so I'm going to get started now!! See you!

The birth of my bundles of joy!

2010-02-16T18:21:00.002-06:00

Wow - what a day!! Yesterday one of my favorite thrift stores had a 50% off sale, so I went to buy recycled sweaters for my upcoming spring production! I bought mmmmaaaaannnnnyyy sweaters! The colors were so wonderful. So the next move is to then organize and prepare.

Luckily the Olympics is on!! So today I spent the day cutting apart sweaters, organizing them by color, letting them influence me, and then sorting through them to make bundles, all while enjoying the sports of winter!

At the end of the day, my floor was covered with these wonderful "bundles" of color. Each bundle has all the pieces for reconstructing a sweater; big strips for sleeves, ribbing for backs, necklines for bodices, strips for the skirts and (for coats) chuncks for the the hem trim. Most of the bundles were influenced by one fabric of a multi-color tweed, stripe print that set the scheme for the rest of the colors. Each bundle/sweater ends up having parts from about 6 sweaters, so having a huge number of sweaters to chose from.is really important.

Soon my little bundles of joy will become full grown reconstructed sweaters! I am actually thinking about just posting some of the bundles on my Etsy site, so my customers could choose the color bundle they like, and then I could make their custom coat from that.... not sure if people could visualize or not though... will have to think that through more. Comments about that idea?

"TAXI!"

2010-02-14T08:03:00.000-06:00

One of my loyal customers contacted me not too long ago and asked if I had bright yellow and also black and white checked fabrics. I replied "sure" and sent her this pic of some fabrics. I asked if these were team colors or what was her inspiration. Turns out she used to live in NYC and loves the Yellow cabs... and bright yellow in general! She has sinced moved, and wanted a long vest to remind her of those days in NY.

She gave me the "go ahead" to do the custom sweater. Here is a picture of the finished project! I think it is so much fun! This is another reason I love doing custom projects... customers come up with the best ideas - and ideas I would never have thought of! Have fun, Stephanie, riding around in your "Taxi2day" reconstructed sweater vest!

Got a great idea for a custom project? Just convo (email) me through the "contact jill2day" button on my Etsy shop home page, or go to my shop and click on my custom project icon.

Etsy Help for Haiti

2010-02-13T13:38:00.002-06:00

There is a shop on Etsy named Hearts for Haiti. It was established as a central port for sellers and buyers who wanted to do something for the Haitian cause. Sellers have donated over 3000 items and of those over 2000 have sold raising almost $30,000 for Doctors without borders.

If you haven't visited this site yet, you might want to take a look. There are lots of great things available - including one of my scarves. Maybe you will find something that will be fun for you to purchase, and as a result your money will go directly to Doctors without borders. CLICK HERE to go to the shop.

Etsy Viewer poll...could use your vote!

2010-02-12T21:57:00.000-06:00

Etsy has weekly polls regarding their sellers' items. These are to find viewers favs amongst the items. This week is fashion week! My Avalanche2day reconstructed sweater made it through the first round of voting, and is now in the second round! If you want to cast a vote, please click here!

Summertime, and the sweaters are coming!

2010-02-12T07:58:00.000-06:00

Even though the view outside your window may not look like it, spring will be coming soon. I am starting to gather cottons for my spring and summer reconstructed sweaters for my etsy store. I scored lots of beautiful colors yesterday, and next Monday am planning a major purchaing adventure.

SO - help me out here - what "must haves" do you look for in summer sweaters? Short or long; colorful or neutral; cardi or pullover; any special necks or closures?

I know that I love my big slouchy cotton v-necks that can be either on their own or top a layer or two. They are my spring and summer sweatershirts! I also love big cardis that can go over anything when I am on the porch in the evening, or keep the AC chill off - no buttons or zips, just hug to close! Spring is also when I break out the vests. Great for that in-between time when a jacket is too much, but I need something....

Let me know your thoughts. Some would call this marketing research - I prefer just calling it fashion gossip!

How do you look at a museum?

2010-02-10T13:15:00.000-06:00

Today, on Etsy, there is a forum discussion about artists and how they view their own work and those of "their heros". It started me thinking about how overwhelming the museum experience is for many people. If I may, I would like to give some of you, who have trouble knowing how to make it through an art museum, a hint that helps me.

When I get to the museum, I set a goal for myself. It is impossible for me to survive or enjoy a museum for long if I just wander and soak! (Although that can be fun now and then) I usually set myself on a scavanger hunt. One day (when I was painting more) I spent the entire day checking out brushstrokes and paint application for making highlights. Another time I just looked at the composition of everything...breaking it into simple shapes. One day I just looked for blue. One time I went with my son, who was about 16 at the time, we spent about 2 hours just looking at the designs etched into the swords and other weaponry - an area I had only walked through on my way to the "real art" before!

I have found this is a great way to get me to spend time with artists and works that I may have otherwise ignored. It is a way to bypass any judgements made purely on subject matter prejudice and, instead, look at technique or process. It gives focus and adventure to the experience.

The last time I was in Chicago, I decided to check out the ways artists have worked on faces and eyes. Here are a few of my phone pics of some of the pieces.

Handmade shoes, a slide show

2010-02-08T21:26:00.001-06:00

I was checking the NYT today- hoping for some news about the upcoming fashion week. But found something better. Here is a great slideshow showing the process of a handmade shoe project. They are so beautiful, but I don't think I can handle the five-inch heel. The great goat-shed-making, ankle-breaking event of 10 years ago pretty much put an end to my stilletto days! (like they ever existed!)

check it out "A Vision in Five-Inch Heels"

Shades of Spring

2010-02-03T21:13:00.001-06:00

Might be time to start thinking of Spring... if for no other reason than we are all getting tired of thinking of Winter!

In looking for what the spring trends are the repeating word is Neutrals. The reports on the top trends from Fashion Week (Spring 2010) talk about all of the nudes and neutrals on the runways.

I have found numerous off-white and the light sand sweaters as I have been shopping. They attracted me mostly because of the textures. The lack of color allows the weaves and stitches to revel in the light and shadow and not be distracted by color or patterns. This new cardicoat - AVALANCHE2day - uses many of those materials. I like the way the textures work. I like the idea of it working through the winter and into the spring - all depending on the layers you pair with it.

Why Custom?

2010-01-31T16:06:00.001-06:00

I just finished these four custom projects, and each had a different "catch" to it....
Top left: This person liked one I had previously done, but wanted to make sure it had pockets and a hood so that she can wear it on chilly beach walks! I love thinking of my creation walking on the seaside!
Top Right: This one was for a fellow thrift store prowler and sewer. She, however, didn't want to tackle the coat herelf. She did the shopping, and sent me a box of sweaters to work with. That was a very different process for me, but it was a very fun - and successful - project.
Bottom Left: Ms, Diva wanted this one!! "Just give me color and go for it" was all she asked! She will be strutting through mid America like no one else in her town!
Bottom Right: This one was for someone having a hard time finding "fun" clothes in her size.

Today a customer who I have worked with previously asked if I could work with her "ugly Christmas Sweaters"!!! It seems her family has an annual event, and she wants to have the Ultimate Xmas Sweater Coat made from the "ugly" sweaters she has collected. I am ecstatic. I have though of this so many times as I see those sweaters on the racks... This should be fun!!!

So there are as many reasons for doing a custom sweater as there are people out there... Can I help you with one?

Courage.

2010-01-31T07:02:00.000-06:00

This is a picture of a wonderfully positive and fantastic woman. Her name is Karen, and she is a customer and a cancer survivor. At age 48 she had been through all colo/rectal cancer can throw at you - and she is now cancer free. She recently purchased this sweater while updating her wardrobe to accomodate some new bulges and equipment that are a result of her treatments and a new permanent part of her life..

Please check out her blog when you need to understand what courage and hope are.

Field Trip to Chicagoland

2010-01-30T19:08:00.001-06:00

My buddy and I headed off bright and early this AM to Evanston (just north of downtown Chicago) to visit Vogue Fabrics.

Rooms full of fabric (on sale) awaited us; rows of taffeta, bolts of wool, scads of cottons and home dec fabric by the roomful!

Such fun. This pic is my friend hauling the roll of fabric I bought to make the bags for my garments when I ship them to customers.

The day also included a great greasy burger at the Chitown diner next to the store and a quick stop at a Salvation Army - can't pass one of them up!!

Long ago in a galaxy far away...

2010-01-29T17:35:00.000-06:00

It is finally on the stands! Last summer, I submitted some cuffs to Stampington Publishers - for use in their publications. Today I received the Feb/Mar/Apr issue of Altered Couture and there on page 110 are mycuffs!

When I submitted these, I had not yet opened my Etsy shop, and really hadn't any idea what I would be doing in the future. They had just issued a challenge to design some cuffs, I had time, and I like a challenge, so I made these (and a couple of others) and submitted them.

It was in their pages that I saw Etsy as a venue for several of their contributors, and so started thinking about it as a selling venue... (and cuffs as a product!) The rest, as they say, is history.

It seems like a lifetime ago that I submitted these, but the thrill of seeing them on the page is wonderful. Thanks Stampington!

Cleaning Done, Modem Down, Goat Cheese Delicious!

2010-01-27T15:46:00.004-06:00

I am sitting here at the Sow's Ear writing today. This is one of those comfort places that we find sometimes. A place of kindred spirits, good coffee, mounds of yarn and wonderful music. (And today; fresh goat cheese!!)

(Dogdazzle, Madbear, Aprons, Pinque and everyone else... wish you could all come and have a cup of coffe with me!!)
It seems my modem died last night, and I am waiting for a new one. Much like how you flip switches even when the electricity is out, I kept going to my computer to check things out on-line even though I knew I wasn't connected. What a great excuse to come here!

I finally finished the cleaning of the studio yesterday, and gave it a trial run this morning. WONDERFUL. Before the studio had just sort of morphed from being a quilting/sewing place into my sweater studio. I finally made it through the quilting fabrics, and other items that haven't been touched since that fateful day last July when I opened jill2day. I sorted, stashed, packed, and donated until I have the dedicated working area I need now.

My three "ladies" (sm, md and lg dress forms) are in the corner ready for work or display, the sleeves are all neatly arranged on one set of shelves, while sweater bodies are classified by color on another set. Large dust/odor/insect proof tubs are all set to hold the items that are listed on-line, but waiting for new homes. And of course, NPR is all sety on the radio behind me!

I just put a "Sneak Peek" of two sweaters on my FB fan page. Finished them up this AM and will post them tomorrow.

Do you see what I see?

2010-01-26T18:13:00.002-06:00

Q: What colors do you like... ?

A: I like red, with blue and some green, then some pink for accent, oh, but that might be too much, so how about blacks and greys... ya, I really like neutrals... but make it really bright!

I taught color for a couple of years, and I really wish the Munsell system was taught in school with the same priority as multiplication tables! It would make talking about color so much easier. The love of color is so personal and describing it is so subjective. I can remember, as a kid, I used to wonder if what I saw as red was the same thing that everybody else saw as red...

Fast forward now to my jill2day custom orders customers. I am the artist; it is my job to understand color. Customers are the patrons; it is their job to thoroughly love what I make them. So to make sure we are both doing our jobs we need to commmunicate about color preferences. I have developed a process of visually communicating that seems to work. Many of my customers just either see a previously done sweater they like, or they pretty much know what they want, some just leave it up to me (a scarey thought!). But if a customer wants some idea of what I will be using, or just wants to get more involved in the process (okay by me!) I send them "color ways" like the ones shown here.

These do not assure that we are still having the same expectations, because because proportion has so much to do with the final result, but it gets us close!

My Clown Car!

2010-01-23T09:32:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I had to take my son back to college (sniff), but the good news is that on the way home I could stop at several thrift stores along the 180 mile trip home. By the time I drove into the garage, the back of my VW beetle was pretty much filled.

It was also very handy to have all this cushion available, bcause on the way home I had to stop and take a power nap at a rest stop, and I had plenty of pillow material!!

Last week I had organized my stash and taken inventory of what I needed. There was a distinct lack of color in my stash, so that was my target yesterday. Found some great items. This next week will be a production frenzy!! I have several custom items waiting for fruition, and my shop needs some new items. Can't wait to get started.

Here is my car filled with sweaters - not clowns, and me sorting out my stash - I thought I ought to post a picture of the unusual neat and tidiness of the studio!!

The Memorial Sweaters...and ramblings

2010-01-20T20:41:00.001-06:00

I previously posted about the memorial sweaters I made for my customer. She just sent me these pictures of her wearing one of the sweaters and one of the scarves. She said I could share them with you. It is so fun to actually see one of my garments on one of my customers! That is one of the very few disadvantages of selling on-line. Rarely do you get to see the customer wear, or react to, your product.

That was one of the really nice things about going to the OOAK show in Chicago last December. I had a blast watching people try on, react to and comment on my garments. (watching them purchase was also fun!) It is where I really got to "field test" my designs over a wide range of sizes of people! I was so pleased to see how they really did span several sizes, and were so flattering for almost everyone. That is something I have work hard to achieve, and the resonse was so positive.

Today I cut up about 100 recycled sweaters into useable pieces and then stacked them by color on my shelves. They look so pretty and just are begging to be made into lovely things. Now comes the fun part; holding "auditions" to see which ones will play which roles in my next round of productions. Then bundling each set of "cast members" together for the final production.

I also bought an petite dress form and ordered a full figure one, so I will have a complete set of "ladies" to work with while sewing my re-sweaters. Plus, it will be like having my own audience in my studio! This will be so much easier than padding my existing dress form up and down as needed, and measuring her about a million times!