What's in Your Wardrobe?

I'm not exactly a fashion maven.  I wouldn’t know the latest trend if it ran me over in a pair of Balenciaga heels, I rarely experiment with styles and brands, and I don’t have the eye for mixing purple polka dots and chartreuse stripes the way some do. 

                         

Of course, I like to pretend I’m stylish.  I was introduced to the fashion blog My Closet in Sketches a couple years ago.  Her eye, sense of whimsy, and bravery (not to mention her stunning sketches) have inspired me to mix, match, and push my comfort zone just the tiniest of an iota.  I've started experimenting with colors, getting bolder with my outfits.

One of the things I love about Two Grey Dogs Designs is the concept of pairing yarn and jewelry.  As new ideas emerge from the dyepots and the bead studio, I’ve been rummaging through my wardrobe to create outfits that feature our items. 

As the weather turns, leaves begin to fall and there’s a crisp in the air.  It’s almost time to put away the shorts and bring out the sweaters.  We’ve introduced the Fall colorway with all the classic hues… red, orange, brown and yellow. So, for the first in a yet-to-be-named series, I accentuated an outfit I wore to work this week with a few of our newest Fall items.*    

Pants:  the bottom half of an Elie Tahari suit from Macy’s… their petites are perfect!

Shirt:  one of about a million Merona shirts I own from Target, this one in chartreuse

Jacket:  I’ve had this for so long I can’t even remember where it’s from… but it’s Bongo

Shoes:  Dexters, these were a gift from my mom because they didn’t fit, they’re my go-to loafers

Necklace:  a birthday present from my mom last year, worn doubled… I think from Macy’s

Yarn:  hand dyed orange sock yarn with red, yellow and brown highlights

Earrings: glass and South Sea pearl

Ideas are already percolating for other outfits... and the more I think about outfits, I'm seeing palettes for yarn and jewelry too.  What would inspire you if you rummaged around in your closet?  

*NB:  I didn’t wear these earrings as part of the outfit.  Earrings in the shop are not worn prior to purchase.

Sometimes... it takes a while

Everyone's had that night when they're lying in bed, about to fall asleep, and the lightning bolt hits.  That brilliant idea that jolts open your eyes and sends your mind racing a million miles an hour.

... And then, sometimes, it takes a while for that idea to germinate and flower.  And then it takes even longer to write about it.

The rumblings of my lightning bolt started nearly two years ago, when my parents gave me a fantastic present- two skeins of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock, each paired with a special piece of jewelry.  My mom, an extremely artistic and creative thinker, combined my love for knitting and jewelry with ribbons and bows on top.

... And then, time passed.  I knit with my yarn (still have one left), wore my jewelry, and in my spare moments, I'd putter around in a dye pot, playing with whatever I had on hand.  My mom was also busy, taking classes in sign language and jewelry-making.

Finally, the bolt struck.  The holidays were around the corner, and I was reminiscing about the gift from my parents.  1 and 1 finally became 2 when I realized that I had started dyeing yarn, and my mother had started making jewelry...

... And wouldn't it be fun to join forces and post the results up in a little shop to share with others?  After much hemming and hawing, designing and budgeting, dyeing and beading, Two Grey Dogs Designs launched on April 16, 2012!  (Although the site says December, which is when we grabbed the name.)

At 4 months in, it's been thrilling, nerve-wracking, educational, and exhilarating.  We were part of a Sneak Attack by the Handmade Movement, took part in a very successful BNR, and mailed yarn and earrings all over the country.  

There's so much more to say about the shop, our plans, and everything we've learned.  But for now, we're still electrified by this concept, creating totally unique yarn and jewelry, and leave you with a small montage of the results: