Gaia Conceptions' Faux Wrap Pants

You may think I have no life after this fourth post tonight, but you'd be wrong: I'm actually expected to show up to work bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 8am tomorrow morning. This morning? Oh dear.


There is a very wrinkled mass of silky red rayon in a suitcase in my closet that used to be my favourite pants. They were wrap pants, and their life was long and noble and drawn out until my lady bits were a little too visible through the worn thighs. The one lamentation I had about them was the bulk of their ties on my belly and above my butt. Clearly Andrea of Gaia Conceptions is on the same page as me, and came up with these clever, oh-so-wearable pull-ons.


From how much I adore her business and products, you'd be surprised I have no Gaia Conceptions in my closet. I'm just too queasy about buying clothing I haven't tried on, even if it's custom-made. It's likely these will be my first dip in the water! If you're not familiar, Andrea lives in North Carolina and works a lot with organic cottons that are local to her there. She drafts the patterns for her seasonal collections, cuts em out, sews them up then dyes them by hand. And she is venturing into natural dyeing: other than Maiwa, Gaia Conceptions is my only source for super cool naturally-dyed clothing. (Not to say there isn't more out there - in fact, please pass on any leads you have!) It's all very homegrown and grassroots and wholesome, having begun on Etsy.

Someone's gonna buy these and they're too new to be on her domain shop, so if you want to, just visit her live Etsy shop.

New yarns

From the Silk Weaving Studio. The baby skeins are offered as colour samples, and I picked these guys up as totems of colourway ideas that are floating around in my head. Behold duvet-backgrounded cameraphone photo:


My intent is a snood or, as those who are hip are calling them nowadays, an infinity scarf? I'm kind of bored of long scarves right now, as all that extra length seems superfluous and I simply circle them around my neck until I run out of length anyway. I wanted to make a wool one so it can double as a hat but I don't think silk will do that well in the rain, plus I am considering returning to the weaving studio for a hat very reminiscent of a dear, old, lost one...

Look ma, no hands: the inside scoop

If this is your kitty please let me know, so I can credit it and come pet it.

Julia Ramsey's knitwear

I just discovered the incredible work of Julia Ramsey, care of ecosalon.


This is from her collection Pelt, which is exhibiting at New York City's Textile Arts Center. Her aspiration with this collection is to be conscious of the animal origin and tactility of wool, with gratitude expressed by sourcing it from ethical, traceable shephards. Much like how my clothing acquisitions are now driven by a need for a connection to their creator. The image below: “I just bought superfine merino wool roving from a local certified organic farm in CT. A 9 year old girl named Amelia raises the sheep; and she recently won a blue ribbon for her fleece. It was processed at Zeilinger’s Mill in MI—- and I will soon be spinning, perhaps dying, and then knitting away."


I love everything she has to say about it. “Normally, when you’re wearing a sweater, it’s completely devoid of an origin; since I’m inspired by materials that I work with, I think it’s really interesting to make the materials the center of attention... They kind of take on a life of their own, and when you’re wearing them, you feel like you have this second skin; it makes you take on another persona and they almost speak for themselves... I think it’s important to know the connection between the materials and the end product and the human and how it all comes together; a lot of times, I think it’s taken for granted.”


I love love love supersized chunky knits. It reminds me of an idea I have that I should probably get working on, which is to get an i-cord maker and make a knitted cord of laceweight yarn, then knit it like a chunky yarn. I am definitely feeling inspired now, and I have a cone of peace silk to do it with...


She also knits/crochets wedding dresses, which not only is how I wanted to make mine but a great idea, I think, because brides are willing to pony up for some serious beauty and the work is very intensive, so there's a lucrative reciprocity. Oodles of them are posted on her blog. These are my faves.



“I think it’s important to have things that people would love to wear, and are actually wearable, even though they stand out and make an impact.” Double high fives for this sentiment, and I think she absolutely succeeded. I would save up for one of these pelts!

Joanna Newsom's performance of Have One On Me at Austin City Limits

Fleet Foxes played before her, and you don't need me to tell you they're great too. But I think this is a really spectacular performance of one of my favourite songs of hers. Her set starts with Bridges and Balloons at 28:27, and Have One On Me starts at 33:10. She wraps it up with Good Intentions Paving Company, at 43:55. We get a good look at her amazing Rodarte dress during this song. This dress is seriously incredible - east Asian spiritual/militant meets east European beer girl - and I'd like to take this moment to bow to Joanna for wearing the offbeat, seamwork-laden designer pieces she performs in, because they so deserve each other and make us happy.

Watch Fleet Foxes / Joanna Newsom on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.

When the trombone enters the hoo-hoos near the end... *sigh*

I'm sorry because I know this video is gonna disappear within a month or two, but if I can find a more permanent fixture of it somewhere else, I'll try to update it :)

Anthropologie swimwear roundup

Hello world! For my first post, I thought we would have some eye candy! I've been nodding enthusiastically as Anthropologie ushers out 2012 swimwear, a category that I knew would take a few seasons for them to get the hang of, but which they would so firmly once they did. Here are the beauties I'd most like to get my own paws on. Click on 'em to surf over to Anthro's shores.

Mara Hoffman's Fluorescent Throwback Bikini


I always love an underwire bikini top. This also comes in an edgy, illustrative pattern, but it's a wee bit busy for me. Gorgeous though - check it out. I think the solid fluorescent lime would layer better under Mara's Caraiva Romper, too. Anyhoo, this suit is just lighthearted fun. It looks wearable, and before you argue that with a fluorescence citation, I find its simple cut negotiates its brightness endearingly. Cute double closure, too. I want to drink it. It looks like it would complement freezees very nicely, and would add a high note to one's beach ensemble.

Lisa Curran's Ashei Bikini


As you can see, this gingham creature comes with straps. The high-waist isn't overwhelming, and I think the proportions and coverage are lovely. It's kind of the good girl bikini. I like it's symmetry, and want to get ice cream with it.

Undrest's Dear Marlene Bikini


I could never wear this, but I adore that it exists. Looks easy to slip on, but also easy to slip off. I detect a balance between the nude and fluorescent pink halves, and a grounding in the stark black outlines. The high waist is so rambling, the top is so... tubular, and the implied setting so unpragmatic (such as, cabana cocktails rather than actual submergence in water?) that it's clear it means pleasure, not business.

Camilla and Mark's Sweetheart Patchwork Maillot


I won't be surprised if I splurge on this full-price, and then notice Joanna Newsom waiting right behind me to do so as well. Yes, like at dinner, I saved the best for the last. I'm a sucker for a sweetheart neckline, I think that the consistency in polka dot motif pulls off the patchwork assembly, and as a one-piece the coverage and strap support is great. The colour palette is funky. The whole thing is just a hoot.

But really, I bookended it. If I had the first and the last ones, I would never want for another bathing suit. You know the funny thing, though? I prefer nude beaches anyway...