Celebrating 30 Years of Erin!

Last Friday was Erin Smith's 30th Birthday.
And because Erin is one of the best gals I know, I made her a sweater to commemorate this big-time event! The E Bitty 30 Box Top was made to be worn with clothing articles she already has in her wardrobe (specifically the navy and white gingham button-up she's wearing underneath). In fact, she showed up to the shoot already wearing the perfect outfit, all we had to do was slip the sweater over the top. I love you to pieces, Erin! This sweater is now available in the ALL Shop! Go and see!

In other news, I found out last week that my portfolio was chosen from a pool of international designers to show my work at the Who's Next trade show in Paris this September. Only two designers from the United States were selected! Now, we are planning a trip to France in the fall. Things are always changing...





Modeled by the Birthday Girl!

Opening Dores

I have known Stephanie Renee for awhile now. She used to work at Target Corporation, in Hardlines, and we were introduced through a mutual acquaintance. I later found out that she and her fiance lived next door to me, and not just on the same block...our buildings were almost touching. We even went on an adventure together, a Target sponsored trip to the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, CA. I was doing trend research for the Juniors' team, she was along for the ride and the free hotel rooms. We spent days in the desert heat together, snapping photos of predictable teenagers. We body surfed our way out of the Bjork mosh pit and danced hard to Spank Rock in a tent. We probably fell asleep in the shade and wore inappropriate clothing. We smoked in our rental car even though we weren't supposed to.

Stephanie left Target not too long after that and moved away from Minneapolis. I saw her last weekend for the first time in three years, and we had a splendid time together. The reunion was partially spurred by her request to make a custom tank for her, a perfect match for her summer jewelry designs. Most people probably know Stephanie through her blog, shop, and career as a jewelry designer. I know her from hanging out in the lot behind our apartments, drinking a beer on the stoop.

New Again!

This week the ALL Shop updates again with the Triangle Station Midi, Stripe Stripe Midi,
Twin Stripe Bike Short, and Freestyle Legging 001! The set introduces a new babe model, Alberta Mirais, another blissful personality and long time friend. I am also starting a freestyle series of garments that are made with no particular plan in mind, unlike the other styles which have all the patterns plotted out in advance. I like this approach because it yields a different result than pre-designing color placement and pattern, often much more complex with many yarn and needle changes.

The midi tank is a new style, with a length that falls right at the abdomen. It's longer than the cropped tank and shorter than the basic version, perfect for higher waisted pants and shorts. It's slightly tapered at the sides for a relaxed, blousy fit. The straps are skinnier than the other tank styles, but the neck drop and shape are the same. This is my new favorite tank style!

See you in there!







Modeled by Lindsay Noble and Alberta Mirais

Do You See...

A Hot Dog Stripe sweater in the future?
Maybe something like the BBQ Stacker?
I sure do. Doggone!

Triangle Station

Triangles are stacking up over here!
I took a little bit of time last week to start working on some new ideas and received this necklace from Cheri in the middle of my knitting free-for-all. The triangles may have turned on something...angular...in my brain, because I went a little nutty with the triangle stripe I have been using in various patterns this spring. I also received a yarn order with a handful of new colors last week and needed an excuse to use as many as I could. So, I paired up 24 different colors and knit only triangles, for a new midi tank top style that will be available soon. I might be kicking myself for saying this later, but the pattern reminds me of a hackey sack. I guess I think that's a good thing, I like hackey sacks.

WACCY WORDY

Last week, the design folks over at the Walker Art Center asked me to conduct a self-interview for their design blog. It was published this morning, and you can view it here! This was the first self-interview I've ever done, and I thought about it for three days before I even started writing anything. I ended up writing most of it in Wisconsin, underneath the covers at my Mom's house. Thanks WAC!

NEW!

New in the ALL Shop this week are these items, the Stripe Stripe Super Stasher and the CM Sticker Stripe Tank. The knapsack will be featured in a print publication later this summer, and the tank top was made as a special trade for this necklace by Cheri Messerli of Scout Holiday. Now, I am offering it in the shop as a sleeveless option for the Sticker Stripe Box Top. YAY SUMMER! Like everything else currently in the shop, these items are made from 100% ringspun cotton, and will be made to order within 1-2 weeks of purchasing.

Speaking of summer, we just booked our flights to New York in July...I'll be counting down the days until then. We even managed to book it right between two very important Smith Birthdays! Anticipating a mid July vacation is very exciting, but it certainly dates summer...this season is just never long enough.

Love, Wisconsin

I spent the weekend in Wisconsin visiting my family and came back with a lot more than I left with! My mother bought this orange clock for me which shows her awesome taste in old bits. The other pieces are a few finds from my favorite vintage store in La Crosse, Vintage Vogue. They are both vintage handmade pieces, the gauchos are my favorite. They're like adult sweatpants. I shopped at VV all through high school and got myself into some pretty interesting dress-up situations. It's a real gem!

BBQ Hangover

We had three days of BBQ right in a row last weekend. No matter how much I tried to convince myself that four day weekends don't apply to me anymore, I couldn't resist the fun. Here's a video clip from my favorite Memorial Day BBQ of 2010.