Wiksten

valentine dress

2012-01-26T14:58:00.000-06:00

I'm restocking next Thursday for Valentine's Day shopping, and I made some limited edition tie-dye dresses. I love to wear red on Valentine's Day, and I thought wine-colored would be less obvious but still quite festive. They're the same as the Anna Dresses but in a gorgeous linen, which can be worn through the spring, summer and fall.

The shop has been restocked with sewing patterns, and next week I'll have more knitted accessories too--hats and mittens.

packing my bags

2012-01-17T10:47:00.000-06:00

Joe needs a vacation sooo bad, so we're headed off to Palm Springs for some sun. It's snowing heavily in Iowa right now, and while I kind of love it I'm looking forward to being warm. We're renting a house with some friends and are planning a week of hiking, yoga, swimming, margaritas, massages and relaxation. I'll be back here next week and am planning some Valentine's Day gifts for the shop. In the meantime, if you follow me on Instagram (name wikstenmade) you can see my vacation pics as the week goes by.

anna in the house

2012-01-14T14:54:00.000-06:00

I promised dresses this week but have been so busy with the sewing patterns that there hasn't been time. However, I'm offering a made-to-order Anna Dress in the shop right now in size XS, S, or M. I can ship by Tuesday with free domestic shipping.

shabd + ec + acne

2012-01-13T12:15:00.000-06:00

Huge Shabd sale going on right here. Love my Lichen Shoreline Dress, especially with the Erin Considine necklace and Acne cardigan. When I first got this dress I spent thirty minutes in front of the mirror playing with all the fun ways you can wear it, and I think I came up with some new ones! The perfect dress for a designer.

snow day

2012-01-12T19:21:00.000-06:00

öljett hat

2012-01-09T17:47:00.000-06:00

In the shop. Made from warm and cozy, soft 100% organic merino.

.....

Sewing patterns have been restocked! Look for Wiksten dresses and home items later in the week.

snöflinga hat

2012-01-09T17:43:00.001-06:00

In the shop. Lightweight, in super soft baby alpaca. My favorite of the new hat designs.

christmas in iowa

2012-01-06T19:14:00.000-06:00

our first tree

2012-01-06T17:15:00.004-06:00

new hats

2012-01-05T16:40:00.000-06:00

New knitted hats are coming to the shop next week! We'll have more sewing patterns, dresses, and some new home products as well.

Stick around because I'll be posting my Christmas photos to the blog over the next few days.

ornament making

2011-12-21T12:24:00.000-06:00

I was so excited on Tuesday night to be done with all my orders because I knew exactly what I was going to do with the free time, which I haven't had in a long while. This season my shop has been too busy for me to be able to design any new ornaments. So free at last, I settled in with glass of whiskey and got to some ornament making! Not for the shop, just for fun.

Handmade ornaments are my favorite gift to give loved ones. I've been doing it since I was a kid, back when I used to also hand-paint my own wrapping paper. It's a waste to give something you've worked hard on to someone who won't appreciate it, so my mom was usually the recipient of such gifts. At this point she has too many to even know what to do with, so I'm grateful to now have a group of creative friends who appreciate stuff like this.

The owl ornament design came from this book, which I found at Jo-Ann's and loved. The praying angel is just something I made up. (See the back of the angel here.) I've never done an angel before, but it reminds me of one my mom made that I loved as a child. Hers was macaroni painted silver with glitter all over.

grey marled loop scarf

2011-12-18T16:22:00.002-06:00

Merino + silk blend. Made from Fair Trade hand-dyed yarn. The yarn is soft and non-itchy in a chunky-weight designed for optimal warmth. In gorgeous pale grey and white marl, the perfect neutral to go with everything. Made in a loop shape so the ends don't have to be tied. Can be wrapped around twice for the perfect fit or left hanging loose. In the shop now. Free domestic shipping, order by Monday for delivery by Christmas.

stocking stuffers for everyone

2011-12-14T22:30:00.001-06:00

Only a few more days of Christmas shopping left! I have some great sales in my shop right now for a limited time. Here are some of my favorites:

Saipua soaps. Gorgeous, and they smell amazing. I'm putting one in my mom's stocking this year.

Alyson Fox necklace. Just the right amount of non-cheesy gold holiday sparkle. I love the little triangle beads in the front. For my sister-in-law, who always looks good in sparkle.

Baggu reusable shopping bag. Now that I've discovered Baggu, I have no idea how I ever got along without them. I use mine every. single. day. The perfect stocking stuffer for my bro, because it's so cute that he likes to go grocery shopping with his wife.

Love or Hunter perfume from MCMC Fragrances. Lately I've been alternating between the two--Hunter for everyday because it makes me feel cozy, Love for date night when I want to feel pretty and feminine. Love will be perfect for my sister's stocking.

P.S. I sold out of ornaments rather quickly, so I'll try to make some more once I'm caught up. Also, getting some knitwear in early next week from one of my favorite designers! I might have to keep the shop open an extra day.

i freakin' love christmas

2011-12-14T21:51:00.000-06:00

I admit it. I'm a Christmasaholic. I love Christmas music! And snow! It really is the best time of the year.

Joe has to work the day before and after Christmas, and thus my whole family is coming to stay with us this year. Joe and I built an 8 foot table and installed a new light fixture in our dining room in anticipation of the event. My living and dining rooms have been empty for the past six months, so it's incredibly nice to now have a place to socialize. We've been enjoying sitting at the table and reading, eating homemade dinners, talking by candle light and having friends over. Can't wait until my family's here so we can play Uno around the table.

gift tags

2011-12-13T14:11:00.000-06:00

Pack of 10 sturdy chipboard gift tags, hand-stamped in mint green, black, metallic gold and metallic silver. A forest of little abstract trees with a sweet holiday message. Comes in a muslin pouch with gold and silver ribbon. Available here tomorrow.

white dala

2011-12-13T12:51:00.002-06:00

Available for purchase here tomorrow. Wool felt, meticulously stitched by hand.

sachet christmas ornament

2011-12-13T10:27:00.000-06:00

For your tree, closet, or doorknob. Hand-embroidered with cotton thread on linen front. Japanese cotton printed back and hanging loop. Stuffed with cloves for a holiday scent and wool from a nearby Iowa farm. Available here starting tomorrow.

fjord hat

2011-12-12T14:30:00.000-06:00

I knit up some Wiksten hats for the holidays using the first hat pattern I've designed. The hats are super soft, cozy and warm in 100% merino. Completely non-itchy. The shape is a little slouchy, and there's a beautiful star design at the top with a loop for hanging. Comes in light grey heather.

The hats will be available here on Wednesday the 14th, along with some Christmas ornaments and Anna Dresses in forest. Free shipping will be offered on select items, and most of the fall stock will be discounted. There are only a few sewing patterns left! Once they're sold out they won't be restocked until after the new year. The shop will be closed for the holidays starting on December 19th, and all domestic orders must be placed by the 18th for Christmas delivery. (Christmas delivery is not guaranteed for international orders.)

dealtry scarves + dobbin mews holiday party

2011-12-08T16:01:00.001-06:00

photos by Jennifer Sarkilahti

Have you seen the new silk scarves by Helen Dealtry? They're amazing! I love the prints and colors. I have the "Jenny" style in grey (first one pictured), and I love it so. See the rest of the lookbook photos here. You can buy the scarves at discount at the Dobbin Mews holiday party tomorrow and Saturday (or buy them in Helen's online shop after the sale). I'll be jealous if you get to go because I wish I could be there! These people really know how to throw a lovely soiree. Some of my favorite designers will be selling discounted goods there, such as my old Dobbin buddies MCMC Fragrances, Fay Andrada, Nicolette Camille, and Odette New York.

wiksten in n.e.e.t.

2011-12-07T11:52:00.001-06:00

Wiksten is featured in the December issue of N.E.E.T. magazine! The whole issue is devoted to a handmade holiday, which is, let's face it, pretty rad. There's an interview with yours truly on pages 113-117, alongside some interviews with other wonderful handmade designers as well.

Shop Info

Don't worry, folks! I didn't forget about the holidays. Next week I'll be restocking the shop with some new things, just in time for Christmas giving. There will be deals! And free shipping! A handmade holiday? Yes, sounds good. Stay tuned for sneak peeks as well as some holiday wish lists.

holiday sale

2011-12-02T09:44:00.001-06:00

Shop the holiday sale at the Baggu studio this weekend and support independent designers! I wish I could be there myself, but there will be some Wiksten dresses at the sale without me. Hope you can make it. These sales always have fantastic stuff and are so much fun. Sale Facebook page is here.

holiday

2011-11-23T09:47:00.000-06:00

I'm headed to Brooklyn tomorrow to spend the holiday weekend in Red Hook with Joe and my in-laws. Hopefully I'll get some good pictures to share next week. What are you doing for Thanksgiving?

It's very true that I never show videos here, but I couldn't help posting this as Joe and I have watched it about ten times already. Pitchfork has been doing these amazing Take Away Shows of bands randomly performing in public, and in this one the Wild Beasts walk the streets of Paris with only a guitar and their insanely beautiful voices. Watch the passers-by--they have no reaction, so typical for a big city! Love it.

coupon

2011-11-22T14:36:00.001-06:00

Sign up for the Wiksten mailing list (in the sidebar to the right) and receive a coupon on Thursday. Good for Thanksgiving weekend only, the perfect time to start holiday shopping.

P.S. We'll have more Arrow Bangles in stock this weekend too!

packing orders

2011-11-18T08:32:00.001-06:00

This uniform has served me well while packing orders: sweater from Beklina, sweat pants, Alyson Fox necklace. I can't wait to get back to doing the things that normal people do: showering, going to the gym, cooking/eating foods that don't come from a box in my freezer, etc. If your order is a day or two later than expected, please know that the shop is backed up with orders and I'm doing my best. Thank you to my wonderful customers for all your orders! You have no idea how much I appreciate you.

P.S. Seriously obsessed with Beklina. Have you seen Lina Rennell's new prints? So good. I got to meet her in September, which was very cool.

alyson fox

2011-11-15T07:40:00.001-06:00

I've been a big fan of Alyson Fox for years, ever since I first saw her drawings and photos of her gorgeous home in magazines. She's the photographer behind some of my favorite Mociun look books and the author of this breathtaking new book. So I'm sure you can imagine the excitement I felt when she started making jewelry as well. Alyson is a multi-talented gal for sure, and I'm pleased to be selling her work in the Wiksten shop here.

I caught up with Alyson this week, and she told me a little bit about how she got her start in jewelry:

"I started making jewelry about 3 years ago. I usually make 2 collections a year but I don't put any sort of limit or expectations on it. I started making jewelry because it seemed very sculptural to me and something that I could work on process wise in a similar way as I do my artwork. I wanted to see what came of it and if I could make something that I wanted to wear and possibly sell.

I'm inspired by a lot of things. Currently it's vintage beads, ceramics and my friend Rachel. I"m personally always drawn to the work by Rachel Whiteread and Louise Bourgeouis as ongoing inspiration.

My favorite part of the process is playing with color and balance. I like to put everything out on the table that I am inspired by, and I start to play and build. Then I take apart and build again until I have something that works. I like working with materials or a process that limits my designs to a certain number. The most I ever make of any necklace is 45.

My favorite piece of jewelry that I own is a cuff that I found at a thrif store that looks like a shark tooth. I wear it all the time. My favorite piece that I have made is from my first collection that was mostly wood based. It's leather and wood dipped in latex. I only made 10 and kept one of them."

object & totem

2011-11-14T16:17:00.001-06:00

These beautiful ceramic bottles by Object & Totem are now available in the Wiksten shop.

Julianne Ahn is the maker behind Object & Totem, and she was kind enough to chat with us about her creative background and what she loves most about ceramics:

"As a textiles student, I loved to draw and since then I've gone from making collages, embroidery and stencils to using natural materials like sea grass and found pieces of wood. Producing objects and accessories began as an extension of my studio in 2010. I suppose I found myself at the height of creative uncertainty that clay was the perfect medium for learning something new about the way I work.

In a lot of ways, it taught me to slow things down, even when I thought things couldn't be any slower. Instead of always looking towards the end goal of having quantity, I can sort of now enjoy the thoughts that circle my head during times, for example, when I clean my tools or bike to studio. There is a satisfaction in these moments that when I see something I made, I can look back to that entire week or so and see it transcribed in a physical object.

The most valuable lesson I've learned so far is that clay has memory. For example, if you accidentally dent a bowl and try to fix it, it'll eventually want to return to being dented as if it had a life of its own. I can't tell you how many times I've tried to make something and have it turned into something else. (half my vessels were probably failed attempts at making cups!)

I don't have a favorite piece I've made yet, but I do own a vintage Japanese ceramic piece purchased in Adamstown, Pennsylvania a few years ago. It's a two piece container with an allover hand painted floral design in rich blues and browns. I think it was made in the early 20th century and I'm not sure what it was used for, but I like that I can feel parts where the makers fingers would have rested and I like to imagine his or her hands are similar to the size of my own. It's not perfectly painted and probably doesn't have any resell value, but I find the charm through its marked history."

Ahn's website can be found here, and she sells some awesome necklaces in her Etsy store here.

check it out

2011-11-14T13:25:00.001-06:00

photo by John Allen

The new Wiksten shop is now open for preview. Items will be for sale later in the day. Please read sizing, shipping and return policy info before placing an order.

announcement

2011-11-11T15:38:00.001-06:00

The shop will open on Monday. Sign up on my mailing list (in the right hand column) to be the first to know. The new shop address is www.shopwiksten.com, and all e-mails should be sent to info(at)shopwiksten(dot)com. Please make sure to update bookmarks.

Thanks for all the super sweet comments this week. Your encouragement means the world!

dealtry + wiksten fall collaboration

2011-11-11T13:53:00.001-06:00

photos by John Allen, modeling by Alyssa Mullen

The Helen dress, a super easy and comfortable dress in digitally printed silk. The textile print is from an original painting by Helen Dealtry. Read more about our collaborative process here and here. Coming next week to the Wiksten shop.

Update: I forgot to mention that this print is the same print we did for summer but in a different colorway.

anna dress in dusty rose

2011-11-10T16:19:00.001-06:00

photos by John Allen, modeling by Alyssa Mullen, shoes by Dieppa Restrepo, jewelry by Alyson Fox and Odette New York

anna dress in forest

2011-11-10T08:55:00.000-06:00

photos by John Allen, modeling by Alyssa Mullen, shoes by Swedish Hasbeens

Wiksten in green? Practically unheard of! With Alyson Fox necklace (see here on Kate Miss) and Odette jewelry, all of which will be in the shop soon.

lissa dress

2011-11-09T15:00:00.002-06:00

photos by John Allen

Shown with Arrow Cuff bracelets from Odette, both coming to the Wiksten shop soon.

coming to the wiksten shop soon

2011-11-09T13:06:00.003-06:00

photos by John Allen, modeling by Alyssa Mullen, shoes by Dieppa Restrepo

The Lissa Dress in black silk. JPD gave me the idea for doing this in black. Last winter I bought two little black dresses, and I have worn them more times than I can count. Black is always practical and always chic. Shown with necklace by Alyson Fox, in the new Wiksten shop soon. More dresses and necklaces to come!

shop redesign and relaunch

2011-11-03T13:51:00.002-05:00

photo by John Allen

Just wanted to let you guys know that my web shop is down for a few days while I redesign and add new products. I'm hoping to relaunch sometime next week. The Wiksten shop is expanding! I'm so excited about this new phase for my company. Along with Wiksten clothing and sewing patterns I'll be selling Wiksten home goods as well as accessories from other makers that compliment my line. Each of the products have been carefully chosen from companies that I know personally and believe in very much, and everything is either handmade or has an environmentally conscious purpose. I hope to create a shop that can give my customers more of a connection to what they're purchasing, and I plan to have information and interviews on my blog in conjunction with the new products. I know things have been quiet around here, and it's because I've been working so hard on this new venture. I hope that you'll like it when I share it with you!

jaime rugh

2011-11-02T11:02:00.002-05:00

collages by Jaime Rugh

Jaime has some beautiful, happy new paper cut collages in her shop right now and will have more goods including weavings by the end of the week. I bought the piece on the left.

The only room in my house that's decorated and complete is my studio. Most of the rooms are empty! I look forward to filling them with furniture and artwork like this, but it will take time to gather things before I can show you. Joe and I have a trip planned this weekend for furniture shopping in Chicago--hope we find some good stuff.

odette at anaise

2011-10-27T11:57:00.000-05:00

photos from Anaise

Have I told you how much I love Renee's new shop Anaise? It's beautifully photographed and expertly curated. I got to meet Renee when I was in New York last, and she is just as lovely and kind as you would imagine. I'm excited that as of today Anaise is now carrying pieces from Odette, pictured above. I have the Spear ring myself, and I love it so.

japanese braiding and natural dyeing class

2011-10-27T11:20:00.000-05:00

photos from Erin Considine

Erin Considine, one of my favorite jewelry designers, is teaching a class at the Textile Arts Center in December. There are still a few spots left. I wish more than anything that I could be in New York to take this class! My interest in natural dyeing has been growing since summer, when I checked out some books on the topic at the library. Colors from nature are just so much more beautiful than any colors I've seen, and I love the idea of using ancient techniques and things that surround us to create beauty. Check out this video showing some of Erin's process, and see her new collection here. I really respect all the work that goes into her pieces.

short row sweater

2011-10-26T12:19:00.001-05:00

photo from The Purl Bee

Have you seen this project from The Purl Bee? So genius! You could wear it either forward or backward, and it would look amazing over a silk dress. I wish I had time to curl up with a Cary Grant movie marathon and knit this up, but I'm too busy sewing those silk dresses. I have photo shoot part 2 next week, and I can't wait to show you my new products shortly after!

behind the scenes

2011-10-19T17:23:00.000-05:00

I only took a few pictures at the photo shoot yesterday because I had a long hectic day, and I was just too tired to care. The incredible John Allen was the photographer behind the shoot. (Did you see the beautiful photos he took of his sister Anna's wedding? And this video? Dang. I love his work.) After the shoot we drank hot apple cider to warm us up!

Last night after the shoot was my last ceramics class, so I brought cupcakes for everyone. I glazed all 10 of my pots this week, and they should be finished two weeks from now. I'm sad to see the class end but am signed up for open studio hours for the next two months and will maybe take another class after that time.

Lissa's Shop

2011-10-16T12:45:00.001-05:00

photos by Lissa Paul

Do you remember my lovely red-haired intern Lissa from last winter? She made some beautiful knits for our Dobbin Mews Holiday Shop. Well, now she's in Montreal and has a blog and an Etsy shop! She's quite a prolific maker, so I won't be surprised if she updates her shop quite often. I'm so excited to be able to see more of her around these parts, because truth be told, I just love that Lissa.

ceramics studio

2011-10-14T09:55:00.000-05:00

we are explorers

2011-10-13T10:59:00.001-05:00

Spent Tuesday afternoon location scouting in Cedar Rapids with a photographer I'm working with and had a delicious cup of coffee. I've been enjoying exploring my new surroundings and meeting new people. The photo shoot is tentatively set for next week. Get ready for some new Wiksten products, Iowa style.

new shabd

2011-10-10T09:42:00.001-05:00

photo from Shabd

Dang, I love this dress.

hanging pots

2011-10-07T11:06:00.001-05:00

Just one more inspiration post to conclude what turned out to be Ceramics Week on the Wiksten blog. I went into the studio everyday this week in a marathon attempt at improvement, so I have pottery on my mind. One night I even tossed and turned all night, dreaming about throwing pots. Yesterday I had some truly spectacular failures, and in true Jenny Gordy fashion, after obsession comes burnout. I will be taking the weekend off. Going apple picking with the husband tomorrow.

top and second row: MQuan bells
third row: hanging planter by Stephanie Renee
fourth row: hanging birdhouse and planter by Stan Bitters
fifth row: hanging bird nests by Shino Takeda
sixth row: more hanging birdhouses by Stan Bitters

pink arizona sky

2011-10-06T15:13:00.001-05:00

photo by Kate Miss

I am now the proud owner of this awesome print by Kate. Read about her fundraiser here.

what i made this week

2011-10-06T09:21:00.000-05:00

Your response to my ceramics post was encouraging--I had no idea so many of you had taken classes before or plan to in the future. I took some photos of my shelf and wheel at the studio yesterday so you could see what I've been working on. These are the first pieces I've made that weren't a total disaster, and most of them are from this week. I think I've finally made a breakthrough to point where I'm starting to enjoy it. None of my stuff has been bisque fired or glazed yet, so you're seeing it in an unfinished state. We won't get to that stuff until two weeks from now, so it'll be about a month before I have any finished work. Needless to say, I'm such an amateur and it shows. I haven't had enough experience to find my own style yet, but I look forward to practicing and growing. I do hope that someday I'll look back at these pots and find their exploratory, rough-hewn qualities endearing since they were my first attempt.

playing with clay

2011-10-04T09:52:00.000-05:00

I've been taking ceramics classes at night for over a month now in a gorgeous studio in a nearby town. Both wheel throwing and hand building are on the agenda. Without a doubt I suck. I'm just terrible. In fact I didn't keep anything I threw for the entire first month. My instructor has been laughing at me constantly, and last night I finally realized it was because of my perfectionism. (Well, my belligerence towards the clay always elicits a chuckle too, especially when I'm slapping it loudly against the table to work out my aggression.) When I finally decided to just let go of perfection and enjoy the whole darn process, I finally made some progress. In one night I threw two bowls and two cups, and I'm keeping all of them. I didn't say they were good. They're not.

Hand building, on the other hand, is not as much of an exercise in patience and letting go. It's just plain fun. With hand building you can really explore the primitive handmade look. Since I tend to favor simple shapes, I've been decorating my pieces with lots of random markings and texture. I like to pretend the pieces I'm making are ancient artifacts that came out of the ground, mysterious and strange.

I've been collecting these inspirations up, and now it's time to share them with you:

Top photo: taken by me during a Wiksten photo shoot at a friend of a friend's apartment.

Second row: lamp by Victoria Morris on the left, photo from Clam Lab tumblr on the right (link sent to me by Lena).

Third row: pieces by Stan Bitters from here, here, and here (seen on Intelligent Clashing).

Fourth row: from Fifty One and a Half by Monika Dalkin (seen on the Simple Things blog, so much inspiration there).

Fifth row: bowl by Stig Lindberg for Gustavsberg.

lunch at caitlin's

2011-10-03T08:28:00.000-05:00

I went over to Caitlin's for a lovely meal while I was in New York, and we discussed our upcoming project together (which I'll tell you about later). I tried on beautiful Mociun clothing and jewelry and ended up with this wrap dress (although I'd love to buy it in another print as well since I've been wearing it a lot), this tee, and both of these leggings. Shino Takeda dropped by, and it was very cool to meet her since I own many of her ceramic pieces and treasure them dearly. On my way out I noticed my two favorite Ermie scarves hanging on the coat rack by the door.

sneak peek

2011-09-30T10:42:00.000-05:00

Sarkilahti took these photos of me wearing some of the pieces from the new Odette collection while I was in New York last week. She'll be posting the real lookbook (starring Anne McClain) soon, but these snapshots are a little sneak peek. The collection will be available to buy in just a few short weeks! More awesome rings here.

beautiful in blue

2011-09-29T11:29:00.000-05:00

top: photo of Helen Rice by Daniel Shea for Dwell Magazine

bottom left: photo of Jennifer Sarkilahti by Jen Causey for The Makers Project

bottom right: self portrait by Jennifer Parry Dodge

Nothing delights me more than seeing beautiful girls in Wiksten. Is it obvious that blue is my favorite color? Pictured at the top is the talented Helen Rice of Fuzzco in the Ikat Cut Out Sleeve Top from s/s '10. Her incredible home was photographed for Dwell Magazine, which you can see here. And below are two of my favorite Jennifers, Sarkilahti and JPD, side by side in their Lissa Dresses. I love how the dresses look paired with Odette and Ermie.

P.S. I did a fun interview about Wiksten with Kristen from Marginamia recently. Read it here.

more patterns

2011-09-23T20:08:00.001-05:00

I thought I wasn't going to make anymore, but I keep getting emails about them. Today I've restocked the shop and will try to keep them in stock as best as I can. As with all my handmade things, sometimes they just sell out and I can't get more made fast enough. Thank you for your business and for your continued patience!

surprise shop update

2011-09-12T14:01:00.000-05:00

Hello! Here I am. I promised myself I wouldn't mess around on the internet (which ended up resulting in no blogging either) until I got caught up with all of my sewing, and now here I am. Ok, I'm almost caught up. One day away. I have been sewing and sewing and sewing. All summer long. What a relief to finally have the end in sight.

Check my shop! Last of the summer stuff. Sarkilahti top in size M, Dealtry + Wiksten dress in size XS, and Arrow Scarves. This stuff's not just for summer, peeps. Cute with an oversized cardigan and tights/boots for fall too. Also! Tova and Tank patterns in very limited supply, back in stock for preorders.

I'm headed to New York in a couple of days, so stay tuned for adventures to come.

mociun + baggu

2011-08-10T14:21:00.000-05:00

photos from Baggu

As if I wasn't already obsessed with Baggu enough. I can't live without my Baggus for groceries, laundry, lunch, library books, etc. Caitlin's prints make them even better. Here.

at the farm

2011-08-04T10:02:00.001-05:00

Visited Joe's Grammy in rural Missouri. At the farm there are farm kitties, all manner of antiques, deer, guns, flowers, sweet family. A different way of life.

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Joe's Grammy will be 100 years old soon. She's a dear, sweet lady and clearly has a huge soft spot for Joe. He took time off right before his last semester in college and lived in a cabin on her property, where he mostly secluded himself and wrote. They became close. She tried to fatten him up on whole milk and eggs cooked in bacon grease, always worried he was too skinny. This was right before I met him.

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Joe's uncle keeps buying him guns, but I won't let him bring them home. The gun safe at the farm is getting awfully full.

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The farmhouse is full of valuable Meissen ceramics brought back from Germany at the end of WWII, fascinating to see.

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Joe's aunt and her sister rent a gallery in town where they sell artwork and beautiful handmade pottery. They use the back room as a painting studio and have a girls' night with their friends on Friday nights to paint together. An inspiring bunch of ladies.

object and totem

2011-08-03T09:06:00.000-05:00

At Vagabond. (photos from Vagabond)

mociun x krantz

2011-08-02T12:30:00.000-05:00

From a visit to the Mociun studio back in March. More photos of beautiful Mociun and Krantz necklaces. Caitlin makes art wearable. Have you shopped the Mociun summer sale yet? My favorite, most worn pieces of the whole summer have been this romper and this tank. Perfect for sweltering weather. Wish list: this and this. Cave flowers is one of my favorite prints ever--I have the scarf.

dyeing yarn

2011-07-29T10:38:00.000-05:00

Click on photos for descriptions.

staying in touch

2011-07-28T12:21:00.000-05:00

Got to have a nice Gchat with the girls in Brooklyn yesterday! It was so good to see their faces/mannerisms and much better than the speaker phone conversation we had last week. I showed them my new studio and they showed me what my old space looks like now. We're planning a trip together soon! Can't wait.

i wore wiksten

2011-07-27T10:12:00.000-05:00

Yesterday. I've been wearing this dress a lot over the summer, and it's been keeping me cool. My new favorite necklace (Mociun and Krantz) didn't work with the neckline, so I added a t-shirt.

thrifting in iowa

2011-07-26T17:35:00.000-05:00

Sarah from Cursive Design stopped in Iowa City on her road trip before heading back to Chicago today. We went out to lunch and then to an antique store that Alison told me about. I bought some beautiful textiles, rugs, and handmade pottery.

a package from ermie

2011-07-21T12:55:00.000-05:00

I got my Ermie package I told you about the other day, and I've already worn both of the tops. I wore the Huipil top at home and the tank top out to dinner last night on a double date. JPD wanted to see a pic of me in the clothes, so here it is! A little bit of a lazy effort, I admit.

I love getting Ermie packages because they're so fun and colorful! JPD puts so much into the details, and it never fails to lift my spirits and make me feel carefree.

anniversary dress

2011-07-18T16:16:00.000-05:00

photos by Jeana Sohn from Ermie website

Joe and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary on Friday, and I got to wear my beautiful new Ermie dress (in silk) out to dinner. This top and tank are also in the mail on their way to me. Thanks, JPD!

tiny dreamcatcher

2011-07-13T08:35:00.001-05:00

Before I left Brooklyn, some of the girls (Lena, Sarkilahti, Anne) and I had one last craft night for making dreamcatchers. They're totally addictive to make, as most good crafts are. I encourage you to google dreamcatcher videos and make one immediately. This kind of craft doesn't take much skill or time, and all you really need are some twigs from the yard and string and anything that can be improvised to hang from your piece. Rocks, shells, beads, feathers, whatever. The possibilities are endless. See Lena's here and Sarkilahti's here. Sarkilahti also blogged our craft night. We were inspired by Hikaru.

You know what I like even better than dreamcatchers? Tiny dreamcatchers. I made one the other day for my friend. I didn't put any beads or shells in the middle since I didn't have anything small enough, but I hung one of my Shelter Island shells from the side. I like to keep things minimal.

childhood best friends

2011-07-12T14:21:00.000-05:00

I loved Jenna's post on childhood best friends today over at Sweet Fine Day. Your first friend, ah, who could forget? Mine was Julie. Our mothers were both divorced by our fathers when we were little children, so they got us together to play so we could have fun/have each other/not feel sad. As a result we meant a great deal to each other.

Julie had an incomparable imagination, and we used to get into lots of trouble together. It was great. Her mom was an expert seamstress, and one day we decided to get into her sewing stuff to make a WEDDING DRESS for my hamster. Say what? In another phase we were obsessed with "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken" and "Where's Waldo?" and found an ingenious way to combine our two loves by spending hours drawing elaborate scenes from the movie in the style of the drawings from the book. Can't picture it? Take my word for it, it was awesome. Years later, long before I had any boobs I remember going shopping for my first bra with Julie at TJ Maxx. We were convinced we needed bras so we could be cool. And then we proved that we were not cool by spending the rest of our allowance on Pogs.

Julie went off to a different high school than me, and we eventually drifted apart. But we still remember each other's old phone numbers from long ago and wish each other Happy Birthday on Facebook. A few years ago I remember bumping into her around when I started my own handmade business. Coincidentally at the time she had a business selling her handmade patchwork skirts at Phish concerts. I remember thinking that as different as we are now, we're still not that different. And it made me smile.

bicycling in wiksten

2011-07-08T12:32:00.000-05:00

photos by Shannen Norman for Cup of Jo

Did you see the beautiful Caroline wearing Wiksten on Cup of Jo? It's this dress from last spring. She looks adorable! As always. I love her bike too. I have a couple of bracelets from Caroline's jewelry line Brvtvs, and they are some of my favorites.

cooking!

2011-07-07T10:49:00.001-05:00

We're not totally unpacked yet, and I can't find my camera battery charger anywhere! So for now, photos taken with Joe's phone will have to suffice.

Hey, remember when I used to cook? One thing I've been really enjoying now that I'm in Iowa is cooking. I love to cook. Sadly, I never had much time to do that in New York. There's a great food co-op here, an awesome farmer's market, and three or four different Asian groceries. Last night I thought I'd take advantage and finally cook something from Jeana Sohn's food blog Bap Story.

I ended up making the kimchi fried rice, and it was delicious. Joe's not a big kimchi fan, but he loved it and went back for seconds. It was even better with a cold glass of Sapporo beer. If you want to make this recipe, I have to warn you--it's kinda spicy. Also, kimchi is a bit of an acquired taste. Years ago when I worked at a Korean restaurant with my sister we became obsessed with Korean food, but it took awhile to get used to. We were friends with the owners of the restaurant, and they taught us some basic Korean recipes. It's been such a long time since I've made any Korean food that it was nice to have something a little different for dinner.

weaving as art

2011-07-05T11:43:00.000-05:00

photographs of Kay Sekimachi's work by Leslie Williamson for American Craft magazine

I recently received a package in the mail from artist Jaime Rugh, and it contained one of these lovely, tiny weavings that she does. (I will show photos of this special gift another time.) She uses a similar device to what we used at Lena's when we wove potholders. All of this is leaving me pretty inspired to start some more small weaving projects for fun. I found some mini looms here, but it would be easy enough to make your own or buy a vintage Weave-It or Weavette on eBay. What about weaving a rug?

Kay Sekimachi's woven art totally inspires me as well. She redefines the meaning of weaving with her sculptural pieces and has recently started making jewelry out of things washed up on the beach. (Our husbands laughed at Sarkilahti and I for spending an hour at Shell Beach picking through the shells, but if only they knew what beautiful work could be created!) Sekimachi's unique perspective and eye for natural beauty allow her to construct completely fascinating objects. Wouldn't you die to see her home and studio in person? I love the way she artfully arranges ordinary items to stunning effect. I first learned about her work on Leslie Williamson's photography blog. You can read the Craft in America article on Sekimachi here.

Erin Considine is another artist that weaves beautiful pieces. Her work combines three of my favorite handcrafts: jewelry-making, hand-dyeing fiber, and weaving. So many processes go into each of the pieces that it makes them even more special than just any beautiful objects.

new odette collection

2011-07-02T13:29:00.000-05:00

I'm a little late on this, but did you see that Sarkilahti's new collection is now available? Odette New York's Minerva Divinus got a nice little write up on Refinery 29 the other day because it's so rad. Yeah, I said rad. Anyways, I own the Amuletum necklace, the small Rib necklace, and the Pyramus necklace. These are my staples that I wear all the time, but I love everything from the collection. If you want to see them in action, I'm wearing the small Rib in my Makers Project photos, the large Rib here, and the Pyramus here. You can buy the pieces here.

life is great, not perfect

2011-07-01T14:20:00.000-05:00

Many bloggers only blog about the awesome parts of life, and readers get an edited and inaccurate view. I am guilty of this, not because I want to seem perfect, but more because I want my blog to be a positive space. An optimist at heart, I don't want to wallow in the negative aspects of my life. However, it's not healthy to pretend like unpleasant crap doesn't happen. That's why I told you guys I was sad about the move and leaving my friends and life. Life always seems to be a balancing act between good and bad, and I like to see the good stuff as making the bad stuff worth it. That's what allows me to be happy.

But lest you think that things around here are too good to be true, here's a counterbalance to my last post in which I let you in on a few sucky but not unbearable things:

feeling lonely and a little lost :: bickering with my husband because we are stressed, tired/achy, and sick of moving :: terrified kitties hissing at each other and hiding in every conceivable place, including behind the toilet :: no furniture to sit on for days :: having bad dreams about missing my friends

iowa

2011-06-30T11:47:00.000-05:00

Home
Let me come Home
Home is wherever I’m with you

bare feet in the grass, no bug bites :: my own roses :: flowers in my hair from the garden :: new/old bench bought from a yard sale :: wine and reading with my love in the sun porch :: bbq with new friends

new shoes around the studio

2011-06-29T12:12:00.000-05:00

Sarkilahti and I ordered shoes from Beatrice Valenzuela, hers are on the left and mine are on the right. I first became obsessed with the Tejido sandals when I saw them on Kathryn Bentley here and then later on the Ermie blog, and now they are mine. Mwahahahahaha. (I suppose the evil laughter is because buying new shoes always gives me a mix of exhilaration and guilty feelings all at once.)

dealtry + wiksten silk tank and dress

2011-06-28T13:12:00.001-05:00

photography by Tara Donne

Here are the silk tank top and sundress that Helen and I collaborated on, modeled by the two of us. Let me explain a little bit about our process. First I gave Helen inspiration images and color swatches over the course of several design meetings. After painting a few textile designs and discussing with me, she narrowed it down and scanned her choice into the computer. Using Photoshop, she created a repeat and changed the color palette to a beautiful cerulean blue color with tiny pops of hot pink and neon yellow and orange. We worked together on sourcing a company that could digitally print on our own silk crepe de chine fabric, and we found a printer here in the U.S. Helen took care of the textile production side of things with her team at Woking Girl Designs while Wiksten took care of the garment design, patternmaking, cutting, and sewing. Our end product is two garment designs that are totally easy, light as air, and joyous. Perfect for a cheerful summer!

I'm in love with these colors because they're just so fun. Of course there's the requisite Wiksten blue, but I'm so used to using muted colors that I wanted to do something a little brighter for a change. The print looks floral from a distance, but up close it's an abstract painting.

You can pre-order here starting tomorrow. Each garment will be made to order in your choice of S, M, or L. (See size chart.) These special pieces are limited edition.

dealtry + wiksten collaboration

2011-06-27T18:59:00.000-05:00

top and bottom photos by Tara Donne

I'm excited to announce that Wiksten has been working on a fun new collaboration with Helen Dealtry, head designer at Woking Girl Designs. Woking Girl is a company that designs textiles, and Helen paints many of the designs by hand before they are scanned into a computer and digitally printed on fabric. All of her work is gorgeous! I'm so exited to have found Helen--she's incredibly talented, not to mention one of the most stylish ladies I know. Check out the Woking blog here. I can't wait to show you pictures tomorrow of what we designed together.

surpise craft

2011-06-27T12:27:00.001-05:00

photo by Caitlin

Lena is the sweetest friend. She hosted a going away lunch for me a few days ago in her beautiful backyard. After we ate some delicious homemade food, she pulled out a surprise craft project for us! Potholder weaving. Yep, that's definitely the way to my heart. What's more awesome than that? Almost nothing. I'm going to miss these girls so much!

my new glasses

2011-06-23T19:40:00.000-05:00

It kind of took me a long time to decide on a pair, didn't it? It was an almost unanimous vote from you guys and my friends and Joe, so I ended up getting the Prestons. I am not sorry, I love them. They fit me perfectly! Warby Parker's customer service is amazing, and I'm very happy to have ordered from them.

shop update recap

2011-06-23T08:23:00.001-05:00

All of the clothes in the shop update this morning sold out incredibly quickly, and I know that some of you were very disappointed. I can understand your frustration. Since everything I do is handmade and very time-consuming (especially the hand-dyed pieces), I don't have a large inventory. I try my best but can't make everyone happy. I'm so sorry if some of my customers feel like they missed out. I needed to get rid of my inventory before I move in a few days, but as soon as I can get my studio unpacked in Iowa I plan on sewing more pieces so that those of you who are willing wait a couple of weeks can buy something too.

I still have a few of the MCMC fragrances left though, which is exactly why I'm carrying other products in my shop now. I hate to have an empty shop with nothing for my dear customers. I should also let you know that something super exciting is coming up in a few days! I'm going to let you in on the details of an exciting Wiksten limited edition collaboration very soon, and there will be more garments to buy, I promise.

wiksten shop update tomorrow

2011-06-22T08:27:00.000-05:00

Finally! The Wiksten shop will be updated tomorrow morning (Thursday, June 23) with the new collection! The short notice is due to the fact that my life is hectic because of the move. I've also decided to start adding other products to my store that go along perfectly with what I make. First up is fragrance from MCMC. I'm selling Hunter and Maui in smaller and more affordable sizes than are available anywhere else--that way you can get two different scents for the price of one big one. I wear Hunter every day, and I save Maui for days when I want something different. Anne's perfumes are delicious and wonderful, and I'm obsessed with them even though I've never really liked perfume before. They're so subtle and perfect for the girl who hates perfume but wants to smell awesome. Ever since I started wearing them my husband mentions almost on a daily basis how good I smell. I am completely won over by this stuff. Hope you love it as much as I do.

The Wiksten collection catalog blog as well as the webshop have both been updated in case you want to browse before tomorrow. Happy shopping!

more about moving

2011-06-18T09:21:00.002-05:00

We will be in Iowa City for the next five years.

Joe has a friend in Iowa who told him about a job opening in his Urology program, and since Joe is unhappy with his program here he was super interested but left the choice up to me. Initially I said no since I have a very happy and full life here, but then I got my act together and actually thought about Joe. He does not have a happy and full life here. All he does is work, and he doesn't particularly care for the place he works and feels like he isn't learning as much as he could. (He scrambled into the program here in the first place, and it wasn't really what he would have chosen otherwise.) I want us to have a happy and full life together I realized. Iowa gives us that chance. They have an excellent program. We went through months of agony over the process because once we'd made the decision to go for it we had no idea if he'd even get the job since there were quite a few applicants. We had no clue what our future would be. He sent an application and we waited, then he had an interview and we waited some more. Finally he was offered the job, and we felt such excitement mixed with "what the hell are we doing?!"

We went out there for a trip to apartment hunt, and yes, I visited Anna Allen, who is 30 minutes away (but is sadly moving away soon, boo). More on that another time, including photos. We found a 3 bedroom house to rent that is a FOUR MINUTE walk to the hospital!!! Oh joy of joys, you don't know what this means for our lives! Home call for Joe, instead of spending nights at the hospital. We will be on a normal schedule from now on. No crazy weeks of working at night and sleeping during the day. Just regular work days with one night of being on call at home per weekend. And the year after this Joe will have a year off for writing research papers, which means we can live abroad or try to have a kid or at least something awesome that we didn't have the opportunity to do before.

This is a wonderful, happy thing. We are overjoyed for this opportunity and feel so lucky. Iowa City is very cute, and I'm sure we'll feel at home there. However, right now all of this is mixed together with stress over moving and sadness at leaving my friends and life here. It's a complicated mix of feelings, there's no black and white. After the last move I've become more comfortable with change, but the adjustment will still be a bit rough at first I'm sure. Moving is never easy, is it? I'm terrible at saying goodbyes and feel pretty emotional at leaving all I've built for myself here. All in all, the last two years have been a magical time in my life and I feel grateful to have had the experience. But I think I'm starting to feel ready to embrace the good and bad that comes with this change in our lives.

So look out, Iowa. I already have plans for you. I've been there exactly twice and only know two people there, so I'm not totally sure what to expect. However, I'm already looking forward to: buying a hammock for the yard and slowing down my pace, planting a garden, spending Saturdays at the library, attending football games in the fall, going to the farmer's markets and cooking dinner every night instead of takeout, decorating the house, taking ceramics classes at the university.

Now all I have to do is pack. We are leaving in one week and I've been too busy to even start! Wish me luck.

renegade craft fair

2011-06-16T10:05:00.000-05:00

top photo from Juliet Gorman, bottom left photo from Wren Handmade, bottom right photo from Clam Lab

Decked out in my rain gear and sporting some seriously frizzy hair, I walked the Brooklyn Renegade Craft Fair last weekend. It was at McCarren Park, which is conveniently located right between my home and my studio. What a great time, folks. I got to meet some talented designers and bumped into some friends along the way. I finally got to buy this necklace from Juliet Gorman that I've had my eye on. I also got some cards, crocheted barrettes, and paper garlands from Wren Handmade by Laura Normandin. I can't wait to decorate my new studio in Iowa with paper garlands! Meeting Laura was exciting for me--I had admired her work for a long time but had never seen it in person. She was so cool. And last but not least, I stocked up on some Clam Lab pottery by Clair Catillaz for my new home.

moving

2011-06-10T09:23:00.000-05:00

photo by Jennifer Sarkilahti

Ok, so you might have seen this and been like, "What the heck?" Yes, dear people, I am moving. Moving out of Brooklyn and very soon. I'm leaving my dearly beloved studio space that I share with Sarkilahti and Anne. I've been putting off blogging about this because I'm extremely sad about it. To the point that when I came home to my husband boxing up our belongings the other night I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Even though I knew it was coming. I don't really feel like talking about it, to be honest. However, I will give you the details when I'm ready. You needn't worry, great things are in store for me. It's just hard to say goodbye.

So.....there's a studio space available! Would you like to take my spot? Going to work at the Dobbin Mews every day has been an absolute dream come true. In fact, it's been one of the best things that ever happened to me. Having a dedicated work space to go to everyday with other creative people changed my life in that I'd never been so inspired nor so productive before. The space and atmosphere are unique and beautiful. The people are amazing. And I mean amazing. Everyone there welcomed me with open arms and showed me extraordinary kindness. You couldn't share a space with any people more lovely, talented, and exceptional. Ok, I will stop gushing before I cry.

Read the ad for the space here. I would love it if someone wonderful took my place so that it will be even more fun when I come back to visit!

hand knit socks

2011-06-10T08:54:00.001-05:00

I don't know if you remember this yarn I bought way back when, but it's finally been made into socks! Just in time for the summer heat, oops. Well maybe it'll give me a reason to look forward to winter, right? I've scrapped the traditional sock pattern that I usually use in favor of following this awesome technique for the heel and toe. I'm still doing top down on double pointed needles, and then after I do the toe I graft the sock together at the top of the foot. These are constructed much like commercial socks that you buy at the store. They're so much more comfortable to me than what I was doing before. After my first pair using my new pattern, I changed it again by making the toe a little wider. The knitting process is so stimulating for me--skills are always evolving and new things being learned by trial and error.

mark + june

2011-06-09T10:31:00.001-05:00

photo by Jennifer Sarkilahti

How cute are they? My older brother and his wife finally came to visit me in New York last week! It was so fun, I love them. June had never been to New York and is studying architecture and furniture design, so she was interested in everything the city had to offer in museums and buildings, etc. I loved talking about making furniture with her. (I would like to do some of that some day!) More than that though, I enjoyed introducing them to my friends, who they really hit it off with. Sarkilahti snapped this photo of them at Fay's garden birthday party. Everyone noticed how "Gordy" Mark was since we have a lot of similar mannerisms and expressions. Mark calls his wife "Junie", and since it sounds like "Jenny" she and I always answer him at the same time! Funny.

sewing pattern summer sale

2011-06-09T08:18:00.000-05:00

I'm clearing out my inventory of Tank and Tova patterns, and there are a few left in the shop here. They're $10 cheaper, first come first serve. They will be available for about another week only. I won't be selling these again for another season or two while I work on new things.

shelter island wedding part 2

2011-06-08T08:42:00.001-05:00

Shannon was one of the most beautiful, happy, and in-love brides I've ever seen! Can't you see her just glowing? And her hair, veil, and dress? Insanely awesome. Wish I would have gotten a better picture of the bottom of the dress because it was amazing. Our studio neighbor Nicolette really outdid herself on the flowers, and I loved the old-timey music the band played. A perfect wedding.

shelter island wedding

2011-06-06T14:34:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend I attended the most beautiful wedding I've ever been to. It was Shannon South's 1920's themed wedding on Shelter Island. A night filled with stylish people, champagne-fueled Charleston dancing, and delicious food. I pretty much stood next to the oyster table for a good hour refilling my plate. Beyond that, I'm so lucky to have been able to witness how happy Shannon and Ed are, not to mention how much love their families have for them. Don't worry, I'll post more pictures tomorrow! Aren't you dying to see the bride?

*I wore my new Lissa Dress, and it was so comfortable! If only my high heels hadn't been torture. I think I spent half the night barefoot.*

catching up with the times

2011-06-06T10:17:00.000-05:00

photo by Lena Corwin

If you would "like" Wiksten on Facebook here, I would be ever so grateful!

gus

2011-06-06T08:45:00.002-05:00

return

2011-06-02T07:21:00.000-05:00

After a two week vacation in Turkey and Greece, Sarkilahti is finally back in the studio. Yay! We missed her. Check out her blog throughout the next week for gorgeous travel photos.

erin considine + pour porter

2011-06-01T10:11:00.000-05:00

Images from Pour Porter

I bought the Pyramidalis necklace from Erin Considine at the Mociun pop-up shop designer sale last weekend. Got to chat with her a bit, and she's lovely.

Have you seen Pour Porter's new website? They're having a 20% off sale on Erin Considine jewelry for one week. Score. And isn't their new lookbook beautiful?

lissa dress

2011-05-31T10:22:00.000-05:00

photography and set styling by Lena Corwin, modeling by Anne McClain, bangles and earrings by Odette New York, No.6 clogs

Hand-dyed cobalt blue silk crepe de chine with gray/silver shell buttons, comes with a sash. Another color I worked really hard on. I'm wearing this without the sash next weekend to my friend's Jazz Age themed wedding on Shelter Island.

And that concludes the collection photos. Working on the website now. It's under maintenance for the time being, but I'll have items for sale in a couple of weeks. Sign up for the mailing list for updates to the right in the blog sidebar.

sarkilahti top

2011-05-31T09:55:00.001-05:00

photography by Lena Corwin

Off-white and navy blue ikat top with wood buttons. Perfect for keeping cool and comfortable in the heat. Inspired by a friend with a lot of style.

saffron cropped tank

2011-05-29T15:56:00.001-05:00

photography and set styling by Lena Corwin, modeling by Anne McClain, bangles and necklace by Odette New York, cuff bracelet by Lauren Manoogian, No.6 clogs

Hand-dyed silk crepe de chine top, cropped in front and longer in back. Beautifully soft and drapey.

andrada ikat dress

2011-05-29T14:13:00.001-05:00

photography and set styling by Lena Corwin, modeling by Anne McClain, bangles and necklace by Odette New York, No.6 clogs

Cotton drawstring dress. How awesome are those new bangles by Sarkilahti?

squares tank

2011-05-29T13:16:00.000-05:00

photography and set styling by Lena Corwin, modeling by Anne McClain, jewelry by Odette New York, No.6 clogs

Black and white cotton ikat. Soft, comfy, easy.

saffron dress

2011-05-28T00:33:00.000-05:00

photography and set styling by Lena Corwin, modeling by Anne McClain, bangles and necklace by Odette New York, cuff bracelet by Lauren Manoogian, No.6 clogs

Hand-dyed silk crepe de chine with gray/silver shell buttons. I spent a lot of time getting this color just right. It's bright but rusty at the same time, and it looks great with a summer tan. I've always loved orange--such a happy color.

arrow scarf

2011-05-27T12:33:00.000-05:00

photography and set styling by Lena Corwin, modeling by Anne McClain, bracelet by Lauren Manoogian, No.6 clogs

Arrow print scarf in gray and white on silk crepe de chine, shown here with the Lissa top and Saffron dress. My first print design for Wiksten.

okada dress

2011-05-27T08:28:00.000-05:00

photography and set styling by Lena Corwin, modeling by Anne McClain, necklace by Odette New York, bangles by Fay Andrada, clogs by No. 6

Okada dress in blue and white cotton ikat.

lissa top

2011-05-27T05:11:00.000-05:00

photography and set styling by Lena Corwin, modeling by Anne McClain, necklace by Odette New York, bracelet by Lauren Manoogian, No.6 clogs

Lissa top. Loose, cropped, comfortable. French seams. Hand-dyed silk crepe de chine. This top is a total labor of love. Named after my lovely former intern. Read this post for details about the dyeing process.

photoshoot hair

2011-05-27T04:44:00.000-05:00

I used Jeana's braid inspiration when I did Anne's hair for the Wiksten photoshoot. It was surprisingly easy to do, although I'm not sure how well I could do it on myself. I love french braiding people's hair. It reminds me of when I was a kid and would braid my sister's hair before school.

wiksten s/s 2011 preview

2011-05-26T12:54:00.000-05:00

photos by Lena Corwin

Dolman Ikat Top. More to come tomorrow...