Craft2wear exhibit

Today is the last day in DC, and I went to the Craft2wear show at the Smithsonian. There were several very wonderful exhibitors. Go to the above link to see some examples.

Just what I needed to get myself ready for the "One of a Kind" show in Chicago... I sure hope I get to see some of you there. Let me know if you will be there!

The National Portrait Gallery and the father of the home sewing machine.

I recently went to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC. Of course, there were many wonderful portraits of famous Americans and others, but the first portrait that the guide talked about was one that should be of interest to all you fellow fiber artists: Isaac Singer (yes, that Singer)

Turns out that Mr. Singer had quite the life! He was a flamboyant man (check out his clothes in the portrait) who was also a polygamous. He had five wives (a few at a time) and 19 children. And  a complicated life filled with scandel and lawsuits.

Although he did not invent the sewing machine, he was instrumental in the fact we all have them in our homes now. He invented several improvements to the existing machine that helped it become appropriate for domestic use. But even that was not the true basis of his success (he left an estate worth 14 million dollars when he died). He also "invented" the trade-in and  time payments. It was these two marketing ideas that made the machine available and affordable - and upgradable.

He and his competitors were also the first to get a "group patent"; something that has since been used in the development of many major advances.

Who would have thought that a trip to see some paintings, would introduce me to the patent and process of the home sewing machine! (Oh yes; the painting, by Edward Harrison May, was also very nice)

Watch out Windy City!

I am going to be showing in the One of a Kind show in the McCormick Center in Chicago December 3-6. I will be showing in the Etsy Pavilion within the greater show. It should be a huge show, so I am a bit nervous, but far more excited!

I really have been working on preparing my stock of recycled sweaters for this show. I have been shopping like crazy for all materials, then surgically separating the sleeves from the bodies and sorting them all by colors and materials. The shelves look pretty nice for about a day after this is done ( before chaos sets in again).

After this sifting and winnowing is completed. I spend sometime just looking. I look for a texture, or a pattern, or something that sparks and idea for a color combo or style for a new reconstructed sweater. Copius amounts of coffee are consumed during this period, and the neat stacks become piles of potential.

Then comes the bundling. I know aproximately how many sleeves and bodies are needed per item, so I start putting bundles together (think of it as priming the canvas, or squeezing the paint onto the palette). Each of the bundles of recylced sweaters shown here are awaiting their turn to land on the "blue lady" - my dress form  -  to be arranged, cut, pinned, stitched, sewn, washed, photoed and presented as a new and glorious reconstructed garment to the [hopefully] buying public!

Orders like this will keep me out of trouble!

I just finished this wholesale order of multitudes of scarves and cuffs....
There is a new shop opening up in Minneapolis (details to follow!) that will be offering these items of mine. It was a challenge to go into "production" mode while still thinking with the One-of-a-kind spirit and freshness. But I think I did it! It will be very interesting to see how these go over - especially during the holiday season.

I must say that I am glad I didn't have to take 5 individual pictures of each of these items (like I do for an Etsy post!)

A couple of new custom projects

I just finished these two custom projects. The one on the left is all wool and just warm and swingy! The customer had seen a one on my site that had been sold, and asked to have a similar one made. She is very pleased and I am sure will get a lot of  enjoyment wearing it this winter.

The one on the right has more cotton and is so bright it just makes you smile. The  styleis inspired by others I have done, and the colors by the customer and some buttons she provided for inspiration. She said she liked dots and wanted a variety of colors in the coat. Shopping for the materials for this one was a challenge. I never know what will be available when I go "hunting" but fortunately found what we needed for this one!