Meet the Designer: Cal Patch!

Cal Patch is coming to town! 

Cal is one of our favorite garment sewists and teachers. She is the author of Design-It-Yourself Clothes, and we are thrilled to be hosting her for a class here in just a few weeks!

Cal is devoted to the handmade movement, and has been since she was a young girl. With her extensive knowledge in teaching, designing and creating she has mastered all things textile. She will be in town for the Makerie and is making a very special trip to Fancy Tiger Crafts to teach her Folk Dress. Sign up for both her workshops at the Makerie and at Fancy Tiger Crafts to receive a combined discount of $50! Call us to reserve your spot. In the meantime, lets meet Cal.

1) How did you get started in the crafting industry? What is your background?
I actually came to the craft world by way of the fashion industry. I've been a clothing designer for nearly 25 years, and the first decade of my adult life was spent working in that world in NYC. But the higher I advanced in my career, the less I got to be creative and actually MAKE things, so I escaped and opened my own boutique, which is where I first started teaching crochet and sewing.

2) You have a wide range of projects from crocheting to sewing - do you have a  favorite type of project to design? Or, what are you most excited about making right now?
Crochet and sewing are like my two babies, and I couldn't possibly ever choose between them. My favorite thing is to combine them, like with my crochet-yoked smock dresses. At the moment I'm super excited about my new 4-week online workshop on pattern drafting and sewing your own wardrobe, which happens to be debuting this week on Creativebug! I love showing people that it's really very do-able to draft and sew with their own patterns.

3) What influences you creatively? What is your creative process for coming up with new ideas? What inspires you?
I'm very practical, so I tend to just be inspired by daily life. I don't get excited when I see fancy red-carpet gowns or elaborate couture ensembles; I'm more likely to be daydreaming up dresses with big pockets that i can use for gathering eggs from the coop, or picking peas in the garden. Usually I design things to fill a niche that I see, or a void in my own wardrobe. I also am very inspired by materials, and try to find ones made with organic fibers, locally sourced or made by independent artisans.

4) What is your favorite mythological animal? 
If I could invent my own *spirit animal*, it'd be a cross between a tortoise (I'm very s-l-o-w) and a kangaroo (I like the idea of a built-in pouch).

5) If you could have any super power, what would it be?
That's easy: to make time stand still, except for in my house, so I can catch up!

If you aren't able to make her class here at Fancy Tiger, check out her 4 week long workshop over at Creative bug on pattern drafting!

Thanks Cal, we can't wait to create with you!

Makerie Summer Series Recap!

-jaime

Last weekend, Amber and I had the pleasure of teaching at the Makerie Summer Series! This was the first ever day retreat put on by the Makerie, known for their spring-time weekend creative retreats held every year at Chautauqua.

Our beautiful setting at Lyons Farmette

The Makerie Summer Series is held at the idyllic Lyons Farmette. This working farm was the perfect setting for our day of teaching spinning for the June theme, On the Farm. The farm houses goats, chickens, one llama, and includes a large vegetable garden. We could not ask for a better day with perfect temperatures and a cloudless Colorado sky.

Amber and I taught "Farm Fresh Yarn", a class we developed for the Makerie Summer Series to teach participants how to spin yarn from a freshly sheared sheep fleece. We purchased two Shetland fleeces from our friends Peg and Woody at Pinon Woods Ranch in Norwood Colorado. Shetland sheep Belle Star and Butch Cassidy lent their woolly locks for our class. 

Spinning fiber and tools are all ready for class

Our class was held outside right next to a stream of water - it was so peaceful! This was the perfect place to spend the day spinning yarn. We demonstrated how to wash a fleece on a small scale, using a salad spinner as our "washing machine". Amber then taught students the ways of hand-carding rolags from fleece that we had previously washed and dried.

Amber looks on as students learn to spin

I taught students how to spin from their rolags on a drop spindle from local company Schacht. Finally we let students use the drum carder to finish carding the remainder of their fleece. It was a great day and our two groups of students left with new skills and a new appreciation for the work that goes into processing a fleece.

Jaime shows Kim how to use the drum carder

Students were able to take two classes during the day and we loved seeing the other items that were produced on our day on the farm.

Canned foods from a Makerie class taught by Ben of MMLocal

At the end of the day, we were treated to a local farm dinner catered by Eat and Crust. It was an amazing meal and a great way to end the day chatting with all the Makerie teachers and participants.

Our chefs tell us about the awesome food we are about to eat.

If you are inspired by our day, check out the other Makerie Summer Series events in July and August - so many great classes to take and foods to eat!

The Magical Makerie Sewing Retreat!

Jaime and I had a fantastic time at the Makerie Sewing retreat at Chautauqua. We spent the weekend taking workshops from instructors that Ali of the Makerie brought to Colorado from all over.

Our little pop-up store     photo © Linda Winski

Amy Butler stopped by our shop on her way to the Makerie and Fancy Tiger customers and staff gave her a warm welcome to Colorado.

     photo © Linda Winski

This was the first Makerie focusing solely on sewing, and it was a dream come true. The instructors were Amy Butler, Liesl Gibson, Jenny Hart, Heather Jones, Kaari Meng, Tamar Morgdorff and Cal Patch--amazing ladies and inspiring crafters each and every one!

Wonderful ladies Heather, Kaari, Liesl, Amy, Jenny, Cal and Tamar     photo © Linda Winski

Kaari of French General taught a workshop on shibori indigo dyeing techniques. Jaime and Sadie both took this class and made some stunning fabrics.and hand-dyed lace.

Kaari, Jaime and Sadie     photo © Linda Winski

Jaime and I both took Cal Patch's Design Your Own Clothes class, and learned to draft dresses and skirts to our own body measurements. Everyday Cal wore cute dresses and leggings and crocheted shawls that she made--totes adorable. We can't wait to stitch up our new custom garments!

Cal Patch and Heather Jones

Tamar Mogendorff taught a soft sculpture workshop where we learned to mix our stitching with materials like wire and cardboard to create sculptures. Tamar's sculptures are an amazing blend of art and hand craft, so inspiring.

Tamar with her birdcage      photo © Linda Winski

Liesl Gibson is known for the garment patterns she designs under the name Oliver + S. and Lisette, but at the Makerie she taught a class on smocking. Smocking is a hand stitching technique that makes beautiful pleated embellishments. Jaime took Liesl's class and learned how to smock while making a necklace. Smocking was passed on to Liesl from her grandmother so it was a special craft to learn from an amazing woman.

Liesl wearing her smocked necklace

On the left is a sample of smocking from Liesl's grandmother, the right is Liesl's modern take on smocking

Emily, Liesl, Jaime, Cal, Amber, Heather, and Ali     photo © Linda Winski

♥♥♥ Having miss-out syndrome? The Makerie now has a Summer Series--three single-day mini-Makeries that will include a farm dinner at Lyons Farmette. Perfect for locals! Jaime and I will be teaching handspun at the June one, so come have fun with us there! ♥♥♥

Fancy Report: The Makerie 2012

Jaime and I spent the weekend at The Makerie, and what a lovely weekend it was! The Makerie is an annual creative retreat in Boulder and we were thrilled to participate again this year.

We set up shop with our mini Fancy Tiger Pop-Up store again this year. We got to stay in our cute little cabin/store in Chautauqua for the weekend, which meant there was plenty of time for chatting over a glass of wine on the front porch with our dear customers and new Makerie friends. How much more quaint can ya' get?

photo by Teryn Wilkes

photo by Teryn Wilkes

Jaime and I both took classes from some of the many fabulous instructors who were at the retreat. If only we could have taken all the classes!

We both wanted to brush up on our crochet skills and couldn't resist Jenny Doh's Crochetologie class. Jenny is a master of all thing crafty--especially crafting the cutest packages of crochet supplies for all her students!

We crocheted a rock cozy, made a dainty flower chain necklace embellished with vintage buttons and upcycled old textiles into a coaster set. Do you recognize my old Anna Maria Horner voile curtains in their new life as a trivet and coasters? Jenny is a super sweet lady and so inspiring.

I also took Marisa of Creative Thursday's Painting With Stitches class. We embroidered and painted and then embroidered some more as we each embellished one of Marisa's adorable drawings. It was amazing combining these two different creative techniques.

I then decided to go for it freestyle on some linen fabric. Inspired by an old pinwheel quilt hanging in the Chautauqua Community Hall, I painted a geometric pattern and then satin stitched a few of the triangles. Thanks Marisa, for opening up my crafty little eyes--turns out I love painting with stitches!

Jaime also took one of Marisa's classes--Creative Character. Marisa shared her softie-making skills in this epic creature crafting class.

Jaime and her Fox & Marisa and her many Rick Rack Rabbits

Jaime was on a mission to make an adorable fox doll that, as she said, "looks like a fox"...

Creative characters being created.

...and I think she succeeded splendidly! Her fox might be the cutest thing ever! To be honest, I can't look at it too long, because it's just so amazing that I want to eat it.

We enjoyed lots of porch time after class, sharing the company of many lovely folks, including amazing designer, Liesl Gibson. (Liesl likes Jaime's fox, too.)

Jaime, Liesl and Amber

We had oh-so-much fun at the Makerie this year, and we can't wait till next year!
 

photo by Teryn Wilkes

It's Time to Register for the Makerie Retreat!

We can't wait for the second annual Makerie retreat April 19th-22nd!

Jaime and I had tons of fun last year setting up shop in Boulder for the weekend in our Fancy Tiger Crafts pop-up shop. We were also delighted to take classes from the adorable and talented textile designer Lizzy House. This year we'll to return to the Makerie and choose classes from instructors including Liesl Gibson, Jenny Doh, Allison Bozeman, Alexandra Cave, Marisa Anne and lots more.

The Makerie takes place at Chautauqua, at the base of the scenic Flatiron rock formations in Boulder. Classes are already filling up, so be sure to register right away if you want to claim a spot!

The Makerie Retreat was Bomb.com!

We had loads of fun at the Makerie Retreat this past weekend! We took amazing classes, ran the first ever Fancy Tiger Crafts pop-up store (in one of the adorable cabins at Chautauqua!) and got to meet lots of inspiring and crafty folks. Chautauqua was a beautiful and relaxing setting and we squeezed in lots of hikes and outdoor time over the lovely weekend.

It was so much fun making a mini Fancy Tiger in our little cabin. Our store was tiny and adorable! Boulder folks, we miss you already and hope to see everyone again at our pop-up store next year!

Jaime and I both took classes from the talented and darling Lizzy House. In her Pattern Design class I learned how to create a repeating pattern for printing on fabric. We spent the class working on different types of repeats, talking about what makes a successful fabric collection and finished up by creating our own first line of fabric. My first fabric collection, Dangerworld, features daggers, swords and snarling beasts!

 

On Saturday, Jaime took Lizzy's block printing class. First she designed 3 different blocks and carved them out.

The second part of class everyone was able to print their designs. Jaime choose to print on top of prints for a crazy print explosion! The first print was a sweet diamond pattern on the new Joel Dewberry yellow woodgrain print.

Lizzy approved of the finished fabric and taught us the phrase "bomb.com" - thanks, Lizzy!

The students in class came up with all sorts of amazing prints, and one student event experimented with block-printing a repeating design. Jaime's second print was inspired by my Dangerworld collection and involves pink daggers on a yellow French General bird toile. Danger!

One class I really wished I could take was Jessica Hernandez's shoe making class. Check out these adorable flats made from a new Joel Dewberry fabric one of her students whipped up!

The Makerie was quite the delicious weekend, with local food trucks catering some of the meals. Comida's hot pink truck served up some fantastic fish tacos.

We are totally infatuated with The Cozy Bean's VW bus esspresso-mobile! Holy cuteness! It might just be the best day ever when you wake up with The Cozy Bean parked outside of your cabin.

The Firefly Market finished off the weekend with a craft market that featured some of our favorite local handcrafters! We were thrilled to be at this craft market as super excited shoppers. We even received goody bags as some of the first folks through the door.

Thanks for an amazing weekend Makerie - we can hardly wait for next year!