insatiable need

new product: hostess aprons!

2009-07-18T14:50:00.003-04:00

I've introduced several new products to my lineup in 2009, but my favorite might be my hostess aprons. Just like my jewelry rolls, these began their lives as gifts to friends of mine. I had absolutely no intention of ever making any for sale. Hostess aprons have been all over the place for sometime now, and true to form, I am so late to the bandwagon that it's not even really a bandwagon anymore!

Nevertheless, I was happy with how my gift aprons turned out last Christmas, so when I was preparing for this spring's shows (the 2 outdoor shows I did, specifically - Vis Arts in Rockville and Art Star in Philly), I thought I would make a batch and see how it went. Well. Those of you who were following me on Twitter at the time got the blow-by-blow of how they were received in Rockville - everybody thought they were skirts! Or beach cover-ups, or tops (!). Although I did end up selling one (it's always so thrilling when the first one of a new item sells), it seems like Rockville was not generally "getting" the concept of a hostess apron. One lady declared them "too pretty" to get cake batter on. Only...that's the whole point!!! To have something pretty and colorful and more exciting than the plain canvas/cotton of a regular apron! The way I see it, this is not only the kind of thing you put on to serve tea or cocktails or dessert to your genteel guests, but also something functional that you can use to wipe your hands on/protect your favorite jeans while you are actually cooking or baking. The fact that you will be super stylish and very colorful at the same time is a bonus, really. Customers in Philadelphia and in Raleigh were much more keen on the concept, and because they did so well there, I made a whole new batch for the Etsy shop.

These are currently available in the Etsy shop in eight colorways. I have another batch that I will probably post next week, or the week after. The coolest thing about these aprons? Besides being 100% cotton and therefore machine washable? Is that they are all completely reversible. It's like having two in one. Switch patterns along with your mood/guests/events! No tags or seams or anything visible, so you can wear them anyway you like! The ties are also fairly long (42" each), so you can wear them a variety of ways:

You can tie them in the back, of course, and let the pattern of the apron speak for itself. Or, you can tie them in a bow in front, a knot in front, or my favorite, in a jaunty knot/bow combo off to the side.

As always I'm happy to do custom orders, if you're looking to match your kitchen, or a friend's. These make fantastic gifts, too, for the foodies you know or for your friend who is always having you over for fancy dessert or swank cocktails. Let me know what you think!

one yard wonders!

2009-07-14T21:29:00.003-04:00

I am thrilled to report that one of my original patterns will be published in an upcoming sewing book of awesome: One Yard Wonders! Those of you who knit are, I'm sure, very familiar with the amazing One Skein Wonders, a collection of knitting patterns that require one skein of yarn or less. Well, the publishers of those books had the brilliant idea to apply the same principle to sewing and fabric, and I am really excited to be a part of it!

My handbags are small and rarely use up more than one yard of fabric, but buying fabric for non-handbag projects is a totally different ballgame for me. Many times have I only bought one yard of fabric, knowing there are precious few things I could make with it, because either (a) it was pricey and I could only afford one yard or (b) I really didn't need it at all and could only justify buying one yard. Those of you who are more responsible fabric shoppers (i.e., purchase fabric only when you have a designated project in mind) may still find yourself with leftover yardage without home or purpose. Not anymore!

One Yard Wonders is a collection of 101 sewing patterns requiring only one yard of fabric or less. My contribution is my jewelry roll, which I designed in 2008, first as a Christmas gift for friends, and later as an addition to my collection of "handmade classics" accessories. Completed jewelry rolls are available for sale in my Etsy shop, where you can also see pictures, showing several different views, inside and out. I am also thrilled that my project was featured in the promotional brochure for the book! Check it out - on the second page, on the left-hand side.

Preparing my submission was the first time I ever wrote out a tutorial - I'm assuming the publishers have testers and what not to make sure the directions made sense? Because I've never had to show anyone or teach anyone how to sew or how to make something, so I have no idea if what I wrote out worked at all! Actually I'm working on my very first tutorial for this blog right now - I've taken the pictures and everything, I just need to edit them and write out the directions. I'm hoping to post it here sometime next week, so I hope some of you out there are willing to test it out and see if it works! Stay tuned...

paris couture week, fall 2009

2009-07-13T15:52:00.003-04:00

Last week was couture week in Paris, and I bet you can guess, without me having to tell you, which show was my favorite! If you have read my blog at all, you know how I feel about John Galliano and the amazing things he does over at Dior! But, more on that later. I have to say, I was digging these collections a lot more than the spring couture collections, with the notable exception of the Christian Lacroix show. You could tell by looking at the clothes (and the drab runway background) that everyone over at Lacroix is depressed. Visit New York Magazine online to read the sad story of the idiots who decided to invest in the Lacroix brand without knowing what the heck they were doing, and promptly ran the legendary couture house into the ground. It's bad news for couture fans everywhere.

Anyway, like last fall's couture shows, there was a lot of black and a lot of white. Normally I would complain bitterly about this, but the clothes themselves were so interesting that it was easy to ignore the fact that there were only splashes of color in a handful of shows (Dior being the exception, of course, as always). In fact, the Elie Saab show was completly white/off white/eggshell/whatever, but I absolutely loved it! The biggest trend I noticed was the abundance of sheer and lace fabrics, with the inevitable effect of making everything look like lingerie. Right now you're thinking: "didn't we already do that in the '80s?" Not like this we didn't! It's much prettier and ladylike, and not at all as obvious "underwear-as-outerwear" as it was back then. Once again, Galliano's interpretation of the trend is the best. We'll get to that.

It being fall, let's start with coats, and the only uses of fur that I saw that didn't make me gag.

This is (from L-R) Valentino, Chanel, and Gaultier. I love the giant ruffles all over the Valentino jacket. I would have loved to see this in a deep, saturated jewel tone like purple or dark green. Anyway: there was lots of fur all over all the collections, and most of it was awful. I'm not necessarily anti-fur, only these particular incarnations were all hideous. The only exceptions were this long Chanel jacket with the fur trim at the hem - very 1920s - and two jackets from John Paul Gaultier's show, one of which is above. You know I could not resist that bright purple!

The only thing keeping me from my usual bellyaching about the extreme lack of color in these collections, is the fact that the level of detail on practically every peice was just amazing! In some cases, I found myself wondering what the texture/embroidery/lace/whatever on a certain outfit would look like in color, but in others I was glad to have a neutral background, so the detail could really stand out.

This is (L-R) Chanel, Givenchy, and Elie Saab. Three amazing examples of couture, I think. The first is just classic Chanel, isn't it? The volume, the silhouette, and even the rich creamy color paired with black. The Givenchy gown is a little bit Darth Vader, but what's wrong with that? Sometimes you want to dress in head-to-toe black and have everyone back away as you glide into a room! This Elie Saab mini dress reminds me of a frothy dessert of some kind. I think if you wore this, you'd have to be prepared for people wanting to touch you all night, just to see what your dress is made of.

Finally, a pair of examples of the sheer/lingerie trend I mentioned. It's so easy to wear sheer fabric the wrong way and end up looking ridiculous and/or trashy, but the key here (and really, the whole point of couture, am I right?) is extremely high quality fabric, and exquisite tailoring. Hard to achieve at the local mall, for sure, but that's why couture is special. You can do things with couture fashion that are simply impossible with ready-to-wear and/or mass produced clothes. These are from Valentino (left) and Elie Saab.

The best examples, are naturally from the Dior show. Can it be overstated how brilliant John Galliano is? No, it cannot. Who else could make a completely sheer dress look so elegant and ladylike, and not at all trashy? If I were a size 4, and I had $500,000 or so lying around that I wasn't using, AND I had someplace to wear a sheer Galliano gown from Dior, I would *totally* wear that first one.

I just love all of these. This brings me to my last group of pictures (all from New York Magazine online. Check out slideshows from all the runways!), my favorites from some of the shows. These are (L-R), Armani Prive, Gaultier, Chanel, Saab, and Valentino.

The gowns are just amazing - the silvery Gaultier is so old Hollywood and just beautiful. Is there anything more elegant than a perfectly cut bias skirt like that? The Elie Saab and the Valentino are two more excellent examples of how amazing detail and texture can make neutrals just as exciting as color (for me, anyway, who loves color).

I had to put in a sharp, sexy Armani jacket, because that is the whole point of Armani, and I think this one is a great example: I love the curvy neckline. Finally, this long line coat from Chanel is just perfect. Another great example of beautiful couture tailoring. Also, the combination of lace tights plus high heeled, lace-up oxfords is just awesome. AND a look that we regular folk could successfully achieve at home. I believe that the high heel oxford is the perfect, all-purpose autumn/winter shoe, and imagine having a pair from Chanel! You could leave them for your great grandchildren and they would still be beautiful and stylish. That's all from me. What were your favorites?

setting a good example

2009-07-10T14:15:00.009-04:00

I have already noted repeatedly how much I am looking forward to finally seeing the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, so this post is NOT about my obsession with said books and/or movies. It is, however, about my obsession with clothing and why some people refuse to try/care even though they are filthy rich and can literally hire someone to care for them.

I am happy to report that I am NOT talking about the almost-not-anymore teen cast of said movies, based on their appearance at the London premiere earlier this week. Look how adorable they all are!!!

I love all three of these dresses, and the girls look absolutely amazing in them. Imagine starring in a huge summer blockbuster and then going to its world premiere dressed attractively and appropriately! What an idea!

I confess I have a weakness for the maxi-dress, so Evanna Lynch and Emma Watson get extra points from me (Emma is wearing a vintage Ozzie Clark from the 1970s - I will always give extra points for '70s vintage), but I love Bonnie Wright's dress just as much. It is just right. And how awesome is her hair? The way she looks here is so perfect for her role in this movie: it's all about holy heck when did Ginny grow up and get hot?

Look, even the boys did well: no t-shirts or ill-fitting blazers or inappropriate shoes. Instead, nicely tailored dark suits. Lovely!

Sadly, we can't all be winners. Check out what the Fug Girls had to say about Daniel Radcliffe's sartorial choice, and the notorious Helena Bonham Carter. I was equally confused by Dan's premiere outfit, but I confess I wouldn't have HBC any other way but crazy...even if the crazy includes a purse in the shape of a castle (I am not making that up...click on the link, I'm begging you!). Enjoy!

more handmade classics

2009-07-07T16:45:00.004-04:00

Over the years, many craft show and trunk show customers have been sad to find out the wallet or headband or other accessory they were admiring at the show was not available on my website, www.hollandcox.com. Well! The time for such disappointment is over! I have opened an Etsy shop dedicated to the accessories: http://handmadeclassics.etsy.com (can you believe "holland cox" was taken? whatevs...)!

Right now, you can find the jewelry rolls, the skinny wallets, the new-for-2009 eyeglass cases, the redesigned 3 pouch set, the mini pouch, the pencase, the eyemask with matching pouch, the card case, and the also-new-for-2009, mini flower clip.

Just yesterday I added some other new-for-2009 items, fabric greeting cards and gift tag sets. I made a bunch of the gift tags for my holiday party goodie bags last year and they went over very well, and they are much fun to make. Also, I find making fabric collages very relaxing, and figured I should share what I make, thus the greeting cards featuring one-of-a-kind collages! So far, I've sold only a handful of the cards, all of them to a guy who told me he plans on framing them and hanging them on his office wall. I think that's awesome! Since there are no Holland Cox Police to make sure you use your handmade classics the way I intended them to be used, I say do whatever makes you happy. :)

I have grand plans to add new things to the Etsy shop every week. Is that crazy? I have no idea, but I am the Queen of long to-do lists so I'm sticking with that plan for now. Next up will be more wallets and pouch sets, the notepad, and a bunch of my hair accessories. I need to arrange a model shoot so people can see them in action, but once I do that you'll be able to pick up the headbands, ponytail sashes, plus the flower clips in two sizes. Oh yes! Last but not least, will be the hostess aprons. The last several shows basically wiped out my inventory, so I have a bit of sewing (and pictures to take) before those will be added. Looks like I will be quite busy for the rest of July (and August...)!

Anything you wish *would* be available in the Etsy shop? Drop me a line (or comment here) and let me know!

hello, gorgeous!

2009-06-24T18:08:00.003-04:00

I have pretty much given up on de-stashing. I wasn't very good at it, anyway. Well, I was good about the using-up-fabric-I-have bit, but very, very bad at the not-buying-more-fabric bit. I've given up on that second part. To my credit, I have come up with several new things to make to use up fabric! But I definitely have not, in any way, stopped buying fabric. A few of my newest acquisitions:

I'm saving that last one for the fall collection, not sure what I'm going to do with it yet. I've already cut into the Chinese dragon print and sold a few sashes, ponytail sashes, and tissue cases made out of it. I have plans for an apron featuring the dragons as well. The second one will for sure end up on an apron, and definitely some hair accessories. Not sure what else though...

Anyway I wish I could tell you this would be it for a while, but I have a hugely long wish-list at equilter.com, plus there's a sale coming up at G Street, plus Joann's insists on sending me 40% off coupons every month. What else can I do but give in? It's not really a vice if this is my job now, right?

it's showtime

2009-06-10T18:09:00.005-04:00

...again! It's been showtime for months now. All I've been doing lately is sew frantically to prepare for shows, sew frantically to restock for shows, and then not sew at all in an effort to recover from shows. The last one of the season is coming up on June 20, back in Raleigh, NC: the Rock & Shop Market. I've never done this one before, but I thought, why not? I have a free place to stay down there now, and I *heart* the people of Raleigh and their indie-loving ways. We shall see!

The season began in Richmond with the Spring Bada Bing, hosted by the Richmond Craft Mafia. I've been doing this show since its beginning, and the RCM ladies make it better & better every year! A one-day, indoor show is an excellent, low-key way to begin the show season, and the Bada Bing did not disappoint! There were people lined up outside to get in, and once they got in they were not shy with their wallets. I'm telling you, the "recession" is a big lie, at least in indie-land. The place was mobbed (no pun intended)! I met so many nice people with sweet things to say about my things. It's so great to meet customers in person, and to see that people love the same fabrics that I love!

Leading up to the Richmond show, I had been experimenting with a number of new products, and I ended up bringing a handful of the successful experiments with me...flower hair clips, tissue cases, and some fabric collage cards. People went wild for the hair clips & the tissue cases, it was awesome. The cards, not so much. What can you do, right? But I was encouraged nonetheless.

Next I headed further down south to the Handmade Market in Raleigh, NC. As always, it was a fantastic show with amazing customers. I nearly sold out of my hair accessories, the new flower clips included. Apparently there is a great lacking of pretty things for one's hair in NC, and I am happy to fill the void! One cool thing about this show is that I had a number of male customers shopping for themselves. Luckily my inventory of skinny wallets included sufficiently manly fabrics, so I sold several of those. I've been mindful to ease up a bit on the extremely girly florals in my restocking efforts since then. At least I've alternated the extremely girly florals with some not-as-feminine options. See, guys? Just because I refuse to make man bags doesn't mean I don't want you as a customer! :)

You see from the picture I managed to add a little flair to my table. I know that I should have a banner with my business name for my table, but I somehow never get around to making one/ordering one. I know this is bad/terrible/wrong. Anyway I started making this little flag banner before the Richmond show but didn't finish in time (isn't that always the way), but had enough to drape across my table in Raleigh. It's a feeble attempt at flair, but better than nothing. Also, its an excellent way for me to satisfy my desire to hoard my favorite fabrics, since I can keep the flags with me always, and look upon them fondly long after I have used up every other bit of yardage. Hooray!

Next I was off to my own backyard, Rockville, MD for my first time at the VisArts Fine Arts Festival. It's a two day outdoor event, which is a heckuva lot more complicated to prepare for/execute than my first two shows. Even though it's a much shorter drive, being outside and two days long makes it somewhat of a bigger deal to do, especially without help. I'm totally spoiled by the Richmond & Raleigh ladies supplying tables and booth sitters and what not. However! The VisArts staff did not disappoint! Not only do they supply the tent (for everyone! included in your booth fee! so awesome), but they had an army of volunteers that helped us unload, and checked on us regularly, especially people like me who had no booth buddies.

I brought even more new things to this show, including hostess aprons and eyeglass cases. I had received literally a dozen requests for eyeglass cases at the Richmond & Raleigh shows, so at the top of my extremely long "get ready for Rockville" list was to come up with a pattern and make a handful of eyeglass cases. Well, they did splendidly, and I am currently working on editing some photos to add them to my brand-new Etsy shop (more on that later)!

It must be said, doing weekend shows without a day job to return to on Monday makes the whole endeavor a lot more tolerable. Don't get me wrong...I was still exhausted leading up to and immediately after the Rockville show - but it was different. Seriously though, I have been doing an unprecedented amount of sewing in the last two months. Just as an example, I made about ninety headbands for these four shows, and I have exactly 7 in stock right now, so I'll be making a whole bunch more for Rock & Shop. I'm not kidding people, a LOT of sewing...which is what I've always wanted to spend my days doing, so you'll hear no complaints from me. :)

Finally, I was off to Philadelphia for the Art Star Craft Bazaar. This was my third year at Art Star, and by far the best. The last two years the show was plagued by apocalyptic rain, but the weather did not keep away the customers! That fact alone sealed my decision to reapply this year, and I was not disappointed because the weather was gorgeous, and the number of customers increased exponentially. This show is also two days long, and also outside, and I also did this one without any help. Thankfully the Art Star ladies have a ton of generous volunteers who helped me schlep my enormous amount of stuff from my car all the way to my booth, which was literally in the furthest possible corner from the parking lot. Awesome! It may have taken me over an hour to breakdown and pack up my car at the end, but I think I deserve some kind of award (spatial relationships?) for fitting all that stuff in my little car.

The show was absolutely fantastic, and Philly is full of fashionable and stylish people. The best part was when I met a lady who had bought from me at last fall's Handmade Market in Raleigh! How wild is that?! I didn't remember her face, but I remembered the wristlet she bought when she described it to me (it was this one). On the second day of the show, I got a text from a friend who was in NYC for the day and had met a lady in Central Park who had bought a headband from me the day before. What are the odds!?!?

Upon returning home from Philly, I slept/lounged around (nowhere near the sewing machine) for nearly two full days. For the rest of the week, I decided to keep avoiding the machine. My wrist hurt anyway, so I wanted to give it a rest. I had lunch, coffee, and dinner with various friends, caught up on the phone with out of town friends, went to the movies, got my hair done, and did all kinds of fun things that normal people do when they aren't confined to a sweatshop! It was divine. Starting on Monday of this week, I was back into show-prep mode. I've also been taking pictures and editing them for my Etsy shop, as I mentioned. Right now the only thing in the shop are the jewelry rolls, but I'm in the process of adding the skinny wallets, eyeglass cases, pencases, mini pouches, and much more! Should be up in the next day or so. As always, the perpetual to-do list remains, and seems to grow every time I look away. Hooray! More later on what's coming next. :)

costume institute gala

2009-05-06T16:36:00.002-04:00

The Costume Institute Gala was on Monday at the MET. Somehow, my invitation got lost in the mail, but what can you do? Anyway, browsing through the photos, as I always do after a high-profile fashion event like this, I found myself liking nearly everything. I know, weird, right!!!?? Am I becoming a big softie? Am I just in a really great mood? Did everyone just have a stroke of genius Monday night? Who knows. But outside of Rihanna's Dolce & Gabbanna tuxedo with leg-o-mutton sleeves (which I *hated*), and Madonna's ridiculous Louis Vuitton get-up (my love, you are not supposed to copy the runway looks exactly. No, not even you!), I really did kind of like almost everything. But here are my favorites:

You know how I feel about the classic ballgown - and this is a perfect example. Jessica Biel wore a gorgeous Versace in lipstick red and it was just divine. Love! Also, it appears that she has washed her hair, so hooray for a step up from the Oscars!

Next we have Anne Hathaway wearing a color!!!! I can't believe it! And like I have always said, she looks gorgeous in it. She has such the perfect face to pull off that big '60s hair and I love it. This little purple dress is Marc Jacobs, and she wore fantastic strappy pewter sandals with it. Good times. Cindy Crawford is still looking like a supermodel in this bright blue custom made Versace gown...if I look half as fabulous as she does when I'm 43 I will be quite pleased with myself.

I don't know what it is about gold lame, but this is the third time (after Viola Davis at the Oscars and Katie Leung at the Order of the Phoenix premier) that I am posting gold dresses with a thumbs up. What is coming over me??? Aaargh. But, I saw this shiny beaded Stella McCartney dress on Kate Hudson and just thought she looked really cute...all golden and sunny like a California girl should. Kate Moss is wearing a gold goddess-style gown of Marc Jacobs' that is actually very stately (despite/because of the turban? Who can say?). Anyway, she wins the award for best arm candy; Marc Jacobs looks mighty fine in a tuxedo, I must say.

Finally, we have wee Katy Perry in a bright blue Tommy Hilfiger dress with a ridiculously long train. I confess I would never have thought of Tommy Hilfiger in the context of a red carpet gown, but here we are. I think this is wonderfully simple and dramatic. The wildly bright color and bronze accents fits Katy's personality without being too weird or obnoxious (like some of her other sartorial choices) for such a formal event. Hooray!

That's all my commentary for now. What did you think?

equal pay day

2009-04-29T15:30:00.002-04:00

Today is Equal Pay Day. The day when a woman's average salary catches up with that of her male counterparts for the previous year. Yes, it takes four extra months. Check out just one of many articles about the issue that I've seen today. . .I especially enjoyed reading the comments. Enjoy your Wednesday, contemplating inequality! :)

five days...

2009-04-25T13:04:00.002-04:00

Only five days left in the clearance sale, my friends. There are still some cute handbags available! The wristlets are no more, but there are four classics and three envelope clutches waiting for good homes.

I just love the faux bois...I wish I had more of it, because it would have made an awesome wristlet. Anyway...there will soon be new envelope clutches and new wristlets in the main collection, as several are on the verge of being sold out. Stay tuned!

blogoversary

2009-04-24T15:17:00.002-04:00

Today is my fourth blogoversary! It's funny to think I've been at this for four years. 2005 seems an awfully long time ago...eeep. A lot has changed since then, and except for not being able to fit into my snakeskin pants anymore (although, is that really a tragedy?), I'd say all the changes have been for the better. :)

Of course, I don't update nearly as much as I should or as much as I want to. I will vow to do better, I promise!

Last year, I *forgot* my blogoversary because I was so totally consumed with all the craziness of the DEKKA opening - I think I had an event every single weekend last April, plus two craft shows. It was painful, for sure.

The biggest change is definitely that I am doing this full time now! Yes friends, the day job is no more; we have parted ways, and I'm quite sure we are better off without each other. I think everybody knows (including those in charge at the day job) that I care more about sewing and handbags and indie business and craftiness than I did about the day job...sad, unfortunate (depending on your point of view), but also 100% true. So! Here we are, and not a moment too soon: I have three shows in May, new products in the works, plans for an Etsy shop featuring the accessories, and much, much more. It's nice to be able to spend all of my time on the things I love to do the most! Anyway, more to come on the Richmond show, the upcoming shows, and the new stuff I've been working on. Thanks for sticking with me all these years!

craft fail

2009-04-21T17:17:00.002-04:00

I have SO MUCH to share with you all. I am SO BEHIND on the blogging. I am WAY TOO dependent on Twitter for my online sharing...speaking of which, I came across this link via one of my tweeps @neurochic, who is a seriously awesome knitter in addition to being a neuroscientist (really): craft fail. How hilarious!!!! I myself have a few things I could add to this site...my experiments with earrings have not gone as well as I'd hoped...anyway that's one of the many things that I have to update y'all about. I just *had* to share this link, though, even though I can't get into the whole earring saga right now. I seriously almost cried at the "knitting that ate Tokyo" headline, I laughed so hard. Enjoy!

personal crusade

2009-04-12T15:16:00.006-04:00

You may have noticed this about me, but I love to sew. I'm obsessive about it, and can actually be kind of annoying about it as well, talking about it all the time and trying to get everyone I know to sew as well. One of things people mention as an obstacle when I try and get them to start sewing, is the lack of sewing machine. Well, there are two options to deal with that problem!

1. If I know you, you are welcome to come over and use one of my two machines!
2. If I don't know you, you can go to the Sewing Cafe!

Honfleur Home, a new incarnation of a store full of lovely things in Silver Spring, has added sewing machine lab hours to their offerings! It's a brilliant idea - for those of you who want to dabble a bit without committing to purchasing a machine, this is your place! They also have sewing classes if you want some instruction (another great source for sewing classes: G Street Fabrics, my fave local fabric store). They use Baby Locks at Honfleur and Berninas at G Street...both excellent, lovely, beautiful machines that are a joy to use.

Now that you have a place to sew and a place to get tips (not to mention two excellent sources of beautiful fabric...they sell Marimekko at Honfleur!!!), now you need something to make, yes? Well, soon I will be able to help you with that too. I'm working on a few tutorials for simple sewn accessories that are perfect for beginner sewers. Look for them next month, after I have time to recover from the Richmond and Raleigh shows! Luckily, sewing is fun, useful, and therapeutic all year 'round. In the mean time, head over to Honfleur or G Street to learn the basics. Have fun!

geeking out

2009-04-07T19:03:00.006-04:00

I just got three new movies from Netflix. The only reason this is worth noting, is that I haven't gotten new Netflix movies since September. I didn't even watch all three of the ones I sent back; they were totally random, and it's been so long that I didn't even remember why I wanted to see them. Also, I felt I needed a fresh start, you know? Why haven't I been watching movies? I have no idea. But I am back on the wagon, and I am really excited about it! My queue has been re-ordered to feature all the Oscar season movies I missed, plus the '08 blockbusters that passed me by. Part of the rekindling of my love affair with movies is due to the fact that I am so excited about so many movies coming out this year!

watchmen
I know, it's sort of old news but I was anticipating this one for a very, very long time. A friend gave me the novel for my birthday many years back, and I loved it so much I have since gifted copies at least three more times for various birthdays/holidays. The story is so great. The movie...wasn't perfect, but I liked it in general. I know a lot of people didn't, and it's not like I'm going to argue with them (because I wasn't completely in love with it), but it did scratch the itch I had to see the story on screen, and I certainly left the theater completely blown away...it was extremely intense, to say the least. Also, the things I nitpick on the most (when it comes to adaptations of my favorite stories) - casting, costuming and art direction - were all spot-on perfection.

wolverine
This is when the squeeing fangirling begins! I was not at all pleased with the treatment of the X-Men movies (do not even get me started on Halle Berry and her ridiculous hair!), but one thing I loved was the casting of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine! Except for the fact that he is over six feet tall, he is absolute perfection as that character. Also, Wolverine is easily one of the coolest X-Men and is certainly most people's favorite. Add Liev Schreiber as Sabretooth and throw in Gambit (who is growing on me, although I am a loyal fan of Longshot from way back), and there is basically nothing not to like about this movie. Can't wait! (May 1)

star trek
Speaking of perfect casting...Simon Pegg as Scottie, Zachary Quinto as Spock, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Eric Bana as the bad guy...it's like a dream come true. Also, I will see any movie with Karl Urban in it (even after seeing Chronicles of Riddick - I am just that dedicated!). Although I am still mad about the final season of Alias, I do not blame JJ Abrams for what went wrong, and I trust him implicitly to execute this new treatment of Star Trek, because I know he is also a fan! I can't wait. (May 8)

terminator salvation
For some reason, lots of people didn't like the third installment of the Terminator franchise. I have no idea why because I loved it! I love all three of the movies, I think they are brilliant and never get old. I was thrilled to learn they were making a fourth and even more happy that Christian Bale was cast as John Connor, one of my favorite heroes who somehow did not make Entertainment Weekly's list. But when don't I have a problem with their lists? Anyway, part 4 is going to be awesome, I just know it. (May 21)

public enemies
The filmmakers don't realize this at all, but this movie was actually made especially for me. Gangsters + 1930s Chicago + Johnny Depp + Christian Bale + based on a true story, plus nearly a dozen other actors I love...what's not to like? I'll be there on opening night for sure. (July 1)

harry potter & the half-blood prince
Even though Warner Brothers broke my heart last year when they delayed this movie until summer 2009, I forgive them only because it looks like it's going to be so awesome! I have not been 100% (or even 90%) happy with all of the Harry Potter movies so far, but I really liked what they did with Order of the Phoenix and it looks like the same attention (and less of the ruthless editing) is going to be applied to the sixth installment. I really can't wait for this one! (July 17)

where the wild things are
And finally, I cannot express how excited I am for this movie. When I first saw the teaser pictures and read about the project, I actually cried a little. My love for this book knows no bounds, and when I heard Spike Jonze was the guy behind the project...let's just say I'm really, really really excited! (fall? winter? not soon enough!) It's going to be a really good year at the movies.

michelle and carla

2009-04-05T13:35:00.002-04:00

The fashionistas have been a-flutter recently over what First Lady Michelle Obama has been wearing on the Obama's first major trip abroad, for the G20 summit and related activities. In general, I've really liked what I've seen Michelle wear so far, except for what she wore to
meet Queen Elizabeth II. The dress was a black and white Isabel Toledo that wasn't special in any way, and was also sleeveless. Since bare arms are obviously inappropriate for Buckingham Palace, this put the First Lady in the unfortunate position to need something to cover up...and sadly, she chose a black, even-more-dull-than-the-dress Azzedine Alais cardigan.

What?

You cannot wear a cardigan to meet the Queen! That is all. I have no idea why she chose black and white. I have no idea why she picked a sleeveless dress. I would've emulated my hostess and worn something pastel and pretty and extremely proper. Hopefully with gloves. I wish she chose something colorful, interesting, and understated like her inauguration day suit. Sigh. What's done is done. Onward to France!

After London, the Obamas went on to Strasbourg to meet their French counterparts, President Nicolas Sarkozy and his famously glamorous wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. You see above how exceedingly proper and demure the two First Ladies look. I was sort of hoping for something a bit more exciting from Carla, but I cannot deny that this suede Dior coat could not possibly be more appropriate, if not terribly thrilling. One could argue that it is not the First Lady's place (even if you're a former model who is the First Lady of France) to take fashion risks and make "statements," but I don't think it would've been terrible if she wore a color! (I know, I'm like a broken record with the color thing.)

It's like they planned ahead, because both of them were wearing simple, matching sheath dresses under their lovely coats, Mrs. Obama in Thakoon, a label by a Thai-born American designer, and Mrs. Bruni-Sarkozy in Dior.

I love the fact that Michelle Obama has so far focused on nearly-unknown and independent designers, as well as throwing in some simple store brands like J Crew. The NYC fashion establishment are totally bitter that none of them were called upon for this extremely high-profile trip abroad, complaining how the fashion industry is also in crisis, and it's her duty to help them out blah blah blah. But I see it another way - she is helping the fashion industry by focusing on the type of designers who will most benefit from this type of support. If nobody famous ever wore Donna Karan or Vera Wang (or anyone else you've heard of) ever again, they would not go out of business, they would be just fine! You know why? Because everyone knows their name and has heard of their labels! I think smaller labels and independent designers need the sort of attention the First Lady can bring them much more than established designers. Not only that, but Michelle Obama will probably attend literally thousands of high profile events in the next four years, so they can quit their bellyaching and feel proud of those independent designers and think back to their early days when they were in the same situation. Get over it!

Anyway, apparently Michelle and Carla are BFFs now, and Michelle was the only G20 spouse to get the double-kiss from her! They were even holding hands on the official visit to Strasbourg Cathedral. Perhaps Carla can get her to stop with the cardigans.

one year anniversary!

2009-04-01T11:37:00.002-04:00

DEKKA's one year anniversary is coming up! Last April was so hectic, I only blogged three times during the whole month. All of the post-fashion week/grand opening events/parties/fashion shows had me totally worn out. On top of all the DEKKA events I had 3 trunk shows in April plus 2 more in May! It was a crazy time. I'm sort of tired just thinking about it...but honestly, it was also wonderful! My life changed last February when I joined up with DEKKA, and I'm looking forward to celebrating with them, and looking forward to another year. Come out and join the fun!

When: Saturday, April 4, 2009 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Where: The DEKKA Showroom, 1338 U St NW Washington DC
Why: Celebrate with us, check out the new designers and artists who have recently joined up, and have a good time!

I'll have all of my new collection there, plus a handful of the evening bags, flight bags, and skinny briefcases that are not on the web site, AND a bunch of sale items too! See you there!

new stuff...in the works

2009-03-24T22:35:00.003-04:00

I found out today that I got juried into the spring Handmade Market in Raleigh. I'm so excited! I love Raleigh and I love that show. I always have such a good time. It seems people in the Raleigh area really get/appreciate handmade things. ANYWAY ~ this time I'm especially excited because lately I've been working on some new products that I hope to have out of the r&d stage by then.

The thing is, it seems like I always have a handbag pattern (or two) "under construction"...the one that I'm working on now (and by "working on" I mean I haven't looked at it since November when I was swamped by the Merry Market and the holiday/anniversary show) is another shoulder bag - I figure it doesn't make much sense to have the classic handbag as the only bag in my collection with a shoulder strap. That's all very well and good, but the things I've been experimenting with lately are not handbags! I've had these ideas floating around in my head and scribbled in any number of sketch pads/notepads that float around my apartment for a long time. For years, seriously. I'm not sure what happened recently to make me actually start the experimentation process rather than just look over sketches/mull over ideas like I have been, but last weekend I took the plunge! So far I'm happy with where things are going.

I hate to be so cryptic, but look at it this way...now you have something to look forward to! Once one of them (and there are several) comes out the way I really want it to, I promise to post pictures!

the spring collection

2009-03-16T21:21:00.004-04:00

...is finally here! I've truly fallen in love with some of these colorways. This might be my favorite spring collection ever, just like fall '08 was my favorite fall collection ever. If these fabrics don't cheer you up then nothing will! These are my favorites:

"temptation" envelope clutch

"spirograph" classic handbag

"calliope" wristlet

As always, along with the new collection comes the clearance sale. Newsletter subscribers got the first crack last Thursday, and one of the new envelope clutches (supernova) and one of the clearance wristlets (nightingale) are already sold out. You know how it is...act fast!

my oscar awards

2009-02-23T20:48:00.005-05:00

One of the saddest nights of the year in my cable-free home is Oscar night. I love movies and I love fashion, and Oscar night is the joyous celebration of the union of these two, my most precious loves. Sadly, these days I don't get to see it. True, I could watch at a friend's house, but inviting yourself over for the four-hour Academy Awards is a whole lot different than an hour for Project Runway. Anyway, let's get to it, shall we?

the lovelies
I know lots of bloggers and fashion people are hating on SJP for her Dior gown (or rather, how she was falling out of the top of it), but I loved it! Sure, she should have been more careful with the bodice fittings, but I just can't get too worked up about too much cleavage, especially on Oscar night. Moreover, the dress itself is just so freaking gorgeous! I love the frothy, icy color, the small bit of beading detail, the cinched waist, the gigantic skirt...everything. Love it.

I also love Natalie Portman in this pink/orchid/lilac (depending on your browser's settings) dress from Rodarte. I just love the color on her, and how the fabric flows over the bodice. Lovely!

the ickies
Ugh, Beyonce. Why are you doing this to us? What have we done? Seriously, though. You guys know I love loud, oversize prints. And I love shiny just as much as the next girl-going-to-a-fancy-party. But how do you look at this dress and *not* think: ugh? There is nothing right with this dress, it is hideous in every way. Similarly, I can't find anything nice to say about this rust-colored number on Melissa Leo. Why is it the same color as her hair? Why is it ruched everywhere? Why is the yoke so low? Why wasn't it hemmed properly? Ugh.

the hair awards
Why did Jessica Biel think that nobody would be able to tell that she didn't wash her hair? Because we can, and it's not nice. Sure, we've all been there...running late, having no time to properly get ready, and hoping you won't run into anyone you know. Sure, we have all tied our nasty, ratty hair up into a ponytail or bun and run out the door. But not on Oscar night for the love of all that is good in this world. Taraji Henson, on the other hand, looks absolutely adorable. She is so cute pretty much all of the time, but this hair style is just perfect for her heart-shaped face, and is fun while still being formal enough. Bravo!

the right red, and the wrong red
The fashionistas have been raving about Amy Adams' Carolina Hererra dress and gigantic collar necklace, but I'm just not feeling it. I don't hate it, it's just meh. The necklace is cool but it's just not quite right with this dress. Also I don't think I like the little gossamer thingy that's erupting from her cleavage. I think I would have enjoyed the black piping more without that thingy in the way. However, Virginia Madsen's red dress is pretty much flawless. I have nothing to say about it, except "wow."

i have come to expect more
Kate Winslet has been all over the place this year looking absolutely gorgeous. She has been blowing everyone away at pretty much every premier and awards show for some time now. Was it the SAG awards that she wore that blazing hot bright blue dress? I nearly died when I saw it! I remember thinking: my goodness, has Kate Winslet always been such a hottie? So you can imagine that I was very much looking forward to her Oscar gown, especially because we all knew (c'mon, you knew) that she was going to take home the statue this time. This blue and black dress is very simply NOT GOOD ENOUGH for Kate. I realize it is Yves St. Laurent. That does not change my diagnosis one bit. Kate, I know you can do better, I've seen it!

As for the amazingly talented Tilda Swinton, this outfit is simply too plain. Tan top, black bottom. What? This is quite simply NOT CRAZY ENOUGH for Tilda. I expect more.

don't be afraid of color
Aren't I always ranting about color and the lack thereof in fashion? So you know what I'm going to say about these two. Both of them are repeat offenders in this category. For some reason Anne Hathaway insists on wearing white, even though she is so amazingly pale. Nothing wrong with being pale; in fact, with her dark eyes and dark hair it presents quite the opportunity for high drama. But no, she insists on wearing white. Insult to injury, this dress is absolutely gorgeous. Too bad we can barely see it, because its the same color as her skin. It's not nice. Angie has been letting me down for some time now. It's like she can't dress up in fabulous clothes anymore because she's all Serious Mother Earth Humanitarian or whatever. Everybody knows how Serious you are Angie, no need to dress like Morticia Addams.

right dress, wrong girl
Oh Miley. This is a big girl's dress, put it back before you get in trouble! Seriously though, this dress is a "whole lot of look" as Tim Gunn says. It's way too much for someone as young and teeny-bopper cute as Miley. She looks like she is playing the lead in a high school musical about a 1950s showgirl, and this is the outfit for the Big Number at the end. For this not to look like dress-up time, this needs to be worn by a grown woman.

wrong dress, right girl
Seriously, if I saw this dress in a store I would probably run away screaming. If my friend asked me what I thought of it, I would roll my eyes and assume she was joking. In general, I disapprove of lame (unless you are going to a costume party). But damn if this dress doesn't look amazing on Viola Davis here! The silhouette of the dress is just perfect on her, and her dark skin sets off the gold shininess beautifully. But for sure, this dress is not for everyone. Do not try this at home.

lucky magazine!

2009-02-22T16:51:00.006-05:00

I am so excited to report that one of my (new) envelope clutches has been featured in the March issue of Lucky Magazine!

You know how Lucky has the "local listings" on the back page? That's where this appears in the DC/Baltimore editions. Subscribers in the area will get issues with this page, but you can also find these issues at local bookstores and such.

I can't say how exciting this is! Not only have I been a Lucky subscriber for a long time, so this is awesome in that way, it is especially cool to be noticed by local editors, just like last spring when my travel collection was mentioned in Daily Candy DC.

Some of you old-timers might recognize this fabric from several seasons ago, when I used a green and brown version on the classic and the envelope clutch. Both versions of the fabric came from MOOD in New York City, but I bought them almost two years apart. Isn't that funny? Anyway I love them both, I still have a tiny bit of the green and brown version left, and you'll probably see the red and orange version on something else sometime soon. Stay tuned, because the complete spring collection will be online soon!

spring 2009 couture from paris

2009-02-05T22:31:00.006-05:00

Although reporters claim that it was business as usual last week in Paris for the spring 2009 couture shows, I have to disagree. Perhaps the global economic crisis has not reached the couture houses and the people who shop there, but I thought the shows were definitely lacking their usual flair...the offerings were a little bland overall (with one fabulous exception...we'll get to that). As always, I browsed through all the slideshows at New York magazine online, and I have to say this time around I felt a whole lot of "meh." There was a lot of muted colors and weird headgear. There was also a lot of frothy, textured, manipulated fabric, which was pretty interesting (despite the blah colors), but at the same time there was also a lot of stuff that didn't look very couture, you know? Like I could come upon it in a department store (a really fancy one, to be sure, but still). Anyway, I picked my favorites out of (nearly) each show.

From left to right, we have Armani Prive, Christian Lacroix, and John Paul Gaultier. The Armani show was full of sharp little jackets, as always. Lacroix was all over the place, and actually his show did not disappoint in the extragance department, but this was really the only look that I fell in love with. The embroidery on the shoulder and the lace trim of the jacket did it for me. As for this lace thing from Gaultier...I confess I have no idea what *exactly* is going on here. But I love the bright shiny green (obviously), and the fan shape of the dress intrigues me. This is couture for sure, at any rate.

This is Chanel on the left and Elie Saab on the right. These two shows in particular disappointed me, because usually I love everything in the Elie Saab show, and this time...meh. I saw a lot of dresses that were very pretty, but were in dull colors and were nothing special. There was no way you would've thought you were looking at couture. As for Chanel, well...it's Chanel. Isn't everything at Chanel supposed to be amazing a fabulous? Well, it wasn't. There was a whole lot of white and winter white and eggshell and cream and ecru. I think there were 2 black outfits, but...sigh. I just was not impressed, and I so wanted to be impressed! Mooning over couture fashion is one of my simple pleasures, why are they doing this to me!?!? Luckily, I do have someone I can depend on...

Once again, John Galliano's show for Dior does not disappoint! Call me a gushing fangirl if you want, but he is an absolute genius. Do you see this? Tell me that this is not art rendered in fabric! Stunning colors, gorgeous fabrics, dramatic silhouettes. So beautiful. That is all.

triple play!

2009-02-03T22:35:00.003-05:00

This weekend, come by the showroom for a little trunk show featuring me, two of our jewelry designers, and one of our amazing artists!

Need I say more? These ladies create some seriously incredible stuff. Also, I will have nearly my entire spring collection on hand for a preview! This is unprecedented, people...the newsletter subscribers *always* get to see the new stuff first, but not this time. I am incredible excited about this new collection, even more excited than I was about the fall collection...good times. Come and check it out!

When: Sunday, February 8 3:00 to 6:30
Where: DEKKA Showroom, 1338 U St NW, 2nd floor
Why: Seriously? Where else are going to get cool stuff like this?

See you there!

spring preview

2009-01-27T23:31:00.002-05:00

Even though it snowed all day long today (ugh), I managed to stay cheerful. Last Thursday I got a huge shipment of a bunch of bright, sunny, fabulous fabric! I've been cutting away at it ever since. . .yes friends, it is not even February and I am already working on the spring collection! Here are two of them. No, I don't ever get sick of bright colors and bold patterns. :)

There will be a lot of red in the spring collection...I didn't do it on purpose, it just ended up that way. The other color I'm (still) obsessed with is gray. I don't have any explanation, I just go with what catches my eye. Anyway, I'm only showing two here, but there will be at least ten new colorways for the three flagship designs - the wristlet, the classic, and the envelope clutch. Stay tuned!

don't act like you don't care

2009-01-26T21:07:00.002-05:00

Yes, all of us experienced an historic moment last week. There's lots to say about history and politics and race and culture and policymaking and economics and blah blah blah. I won't be saying any of it here. Honestly, all I'm really concerned with is what people wore, and I know you are too! Don't lie!

You are in luck, because the Fug Girls have done all the research for you. Behold, their special Inauguration Edition of their column for New York Magazine. Check it out. As usual I concur with most of their conclusions, but I take issue with their assessment of Michelle's swearing in outfit, I thought it was AMAZING. The color, the cut, the texture, and of course the fact that she chose an independent designer! Could I love her any more? No, I couldn't. I have to say though I'm a little disappointed at what some of our favorite celebrities wore. Perhaps they felt they had to tone it down for DC, this being an historic moment and blah blah blah? What better time to wear an outrageous outfit, than a highly anticipated event in a notoriously sartorially conservative city? Sigh. An opportunity lost. You can bet if I ever get myself invited an an inaugural ball, I'll be wearing the biggest dress I can find and it *won't* be red, white, or blue. ;)

the turning point

2008-12-21T20:59:00.004-05:00

Anybody who knows me knows that I dread the winter. Every year it seems to get worse - not the winter, that is, but my loathing for it. Winter itself seems to get milder every year (thanks global warming!), yet I become less tolerant. Anyway, today is the Winter Solstice. Being the first day of winter, you'd think I would hate this day. The truth is I love this day, because it is the shortest day of the year, which means from now on, things can only get better! Every single day from here on out (for six months, anyway) we are blessed with a few more minutes of daylight, and that is a wonderful thing.

I celebrated, of course, by cleaning my living room and reading old issues of Entertainment Weekly that had been piling up. I live an exciting life! Seriously, it's been the best day ever. Except for yesterday, when I also did a whole lot of nothing, only without the cleaning. Awesome!

The last two weeks have been nothing but recovery in the form of indiscriminate shopping (my ratio of things-for-me to things-for-others is at least 2 to 1) and lounging about my apartment, studiously ignoring chores, errands, and other things smacking of responsibility (I still went to work every day. I just became a slacker upon returning home). I realize I have been ignoring this blog for a very long time, but honestly, I've just been so tired. I know perfectly well, from lots of experience, that two weeks between trunk shows/craft fairs is not enough time to get everything done, get enough sleep, and still function normally. Yet, that is exactly what I did to myself, starting with the Handmade Market at the beginning of November! And I insisted on writing a novel during that time. Yes friends, more than a month with an average of five hours of sleep a night. You all know me, I'm like a toddler, and could really use nine hours. Oh well.

Sigh. Apparently I will never learn. Also, I will apparently never be completely up to date with my blogging. I haven't reported on my Thanksgiving vacation to the Middle of Nowhere, North Carolina where my parents currently live. I never gave the blow-by-blow nanowrimo report and how much I enjoyed it, learned from it, and can't wait to do it again. I did not report on the Merry Market and how I was so exhausted from preparing for it that the first day of the show I had my first 5 shot cafe americano, yet still felt sleepy around 3:30. On my normal sleep deprived/coffee drinking schedule, I get a 3 shot americano - that's a "grande" at Starbucks and a "medium" anywhere else. I was feeling more than a little wilted that Saturday morning, and felt that it was time to upgrade to a venti (aka "large"). Which is normally four shots. I didn't see how that could possibly be enough, so I asked for an extra shot. The barista gave me a look when I ordered it the first day, but on the second day she offered me the extra extra shot (even I couldn't justify six shots of espresso...that's just crazy).

Finally, I didn't update after the anniversary party, which was really successful and a ton of fun, even though it was on such a brutally cold day that I didn't want to get out of bed. I can't believe it's been four years! I sold out completely of a number of things, and also sold a few pieces from the new evening bag and travel collections, which are only available at DEKKA this time around. There are also some pretty cool things brewing in the background that I don't want to mention yet - fear of counting one's chickens, and all that. More later, I promise!

I do have a few orders to finish (not for the holidays, but just in general), but it has been seriously amazing to not have pressing deadlines. To not have to start sewing/do other Holland Cox-related work immediately upon getting home from the office. To not have to spend every moment of the weekend sewing or otherwise preparing for an event. To not have a long list of errands that must get done lest some other list of things to do get displaced. I have a very reliable way to tell just how much I needed the break: it was December 5 since I sat down at my sewing machine (the Friday before the anniversary party...I had to work all day Saturday at the day job), and I have not yet become cranky! NO crafting in the mean time, either, unless you count my supervised cookie baking from last weekend, which is by now a tradition with my girlfriends, and really shouldn't count because I never bake on my own.

I have a few handmade gifts to finish up, not to mention the few pending orders, and I also plan on making a skirt to wear to a New Year's Eve party I'm going to, so I will eventually get back to the sewing machine, don't worry! But it's been awfully nice to have a break. :)