My time of year!

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?

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!

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

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!

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.