Countdown ... 13 Days to Go!

We've been busy these last few weeks ... really ... really ... busy.

As of today, we're less than two weeks' away from our trip down to San Diego.

Just yesterday, I finished the 10th Look for the Collection.

Here's a peek of the shoes:

sorry ... for now, all I can show is the box.

As for the actual garment ... here's two more sneak peeks:  

 
To show the finished look would spoil the Surprise!

I CAN show you these amazing shoes that Hourglass Footwear created for one of our very first looks ... a look we released in June and in July ...

 
it's a pretty incredible overall Look ... one that is super comfortable to wear ... all in organic cotton

18 days until Fashion Week ...

13 days till we travel ...

We're pretty excited!

In the News!!!

It's been an exciting week!  Handed out more than a few fliers at our events this week to those interested in learning more about the project.  And our story was published in Saturday's Columbian, our local newspaper.

In the Living Section ... above the fold!

and if that wasn't cool enough ... we were featured in the upper right corner of the front page, right under the banner!!!

I don't know about you ... but I think that's pretty damned cool!!!

And ... in case you haven't been following along on our Facebook page ... this goes hand in hand with our Kickstarter Project.  Which, by the way, we're excited to announce that we've reached 1/3 of our goal with only 14 days to go  =)

If you have a moment, please check out our project and share it forward ... we'd appreciate it immensely if you did.

Just wanted to share ... and if you would be so kind as to please share this with your friends and families ... I'd really appreciate the love.

xoxoxoxo

An Artist's Statement

I create clothing … beautiful architecture for the human body.

I cannot not create … it is in my blood, my genetic code, to take ordinary materials and turn them into something extraordinarily pleasing to the eye and the touch.

I look at a piece of fabric as though it is a blank canvas … the flow and feel of the fabric dictates the garment design, rather than the other way around.

Trims should accent, rather than take away from, a garment’s overall design.  There can be a point where there is too much … and a true artist will know exactly when to stop before the accents and trims take away from the overall feel of a good design.  Much like perfume, a little bit can go a long way.

Regardless of the type of design, clothing should be an exquisite pleasure to wear.  Fabrics used in a design should feel amazing next to the skin.  And whether you have donned a raw silk ball gown or simply grabbed a sweatshirt and a pair of jeans, the clothing that you wear should never feel as though it were separate from you.

I believe in maintaining the integrity of our environment with every action I do, every garment I create, every belief that I hold close to my heart.  I create with intention.  I believe that whatever you get back from The Universe is directly proportional to what you put into it.  Having this belief is the reason why Love is the main component of everything I have ever created … no bad product has ever been made where Love has been present in its creation.

I aspire to limitlessness.  I believe that imagination and openness to potential are the two most important tools any artist can have in their possession.  I explore and break through the perceived boundaries of my creativity at every available opportunity.

And finally, I firmly believe that everyone should discover and pursue that which is their Greatest Excitement in Life.  For it within this pursuit that a person’s truest potential is discovered and miracles are created … creating a beautiful world filled with amazing inspiration for others to follow.

Caryn Stockwell

Color Alchemist

Second Star Designs

A Sneak Peek!

A Sneak Peek at the Designer Line-up for 2013 Fashion Week San Diego

The ride of a lifetime has now begun ... please keep your hands inside the vehicle at all times!

More to come ... so please stay tuned!

365 Days of Creativity - Day 2 - Ice Dyeing

Last week, with the arrival of my tax refund, I placed an order for new fiber reactive dyes from Dharma and some raw bamboo/cotton & hemp/cotton yardage.  At our local thrift store, I found a number of blank, white men's t-shirts and baby onesies that I could add to my newest passion:  Ice Dyeing.  Since it's more cost effective to dye projects in large quantities, I rummaged through my overstock and discovered about a dozen of my Made in Oregon t-shirts that, for one reason or another, hadn't sold.  I added those brilliant white t-shirts to the steadily growing pile of stuff needing color.

With the equivalent of about 20 yards of fabric, I decided the best way to tackle the prep work was to throw it all in the washing machine, split over two loads.  First the fabrics were washed in Synthrapol to remove any sizing or fabric softener residue.  Then, the fabrics were soaked in a soda ash mixture for about half an hour before being wrung out and placed into the two dye tubs.

This time around, I decided to layer the fabric, ice and dyes.  Seven colors were used in the first tub and four in the second tub.  Each 64-quart tub held about four layers of ingredients:  fabric, ice, dye, repeat ... then covered with a lid and allowed to sit overnight so the ice could melt and do its job.

 

This morning heralded in the grand reveal:  opening the tubs, rinsing off the fabrics, and surveying the results.

I have to admit ... they look pretty damned cool!

365 Days of Creativity - Day 1 - Gypsy Skirt

I dug into my endless supply of Thrift Store Treasures to create today's spark of creativity.

A women's pair of size 18, mauve colored silk pants was the first item to be dismantled into usable pieces of fabric ... followed by over-sized t-shirts, a beautiful cotton velour top in a dark camel, and a remnant of lightweight, cotton madras plaid.  Offcuts of pink and white, patchwork stretch lace and a chunk of synthetic suede in a light mauve completed the color array.

All of these pieces of fabric were then lovingly cut up and stitched together to create one of our signature Gypsy Skirts ... in a women's size large.  I figure this will be perfect for the new store that's opening out in Lincoln City the first weekend in March.

Harmony Art Organics & Second Star Pair up for Baltimore FashionWeek 2013

We're pretty excited around here ... okay, over-the-moon excited!!!

First off ... we've been invited back to participate in 2013 Baltimore FashionWeek.  With two collections.

That's right ... TWO!!!

Riley Blake Designs will be returning as a sponsor for our children's clothing line with their incredibly brilliant cotton fabrics & laminates.

Our second collection will feature an entire line of clothing designs for grown-ups ... created entirely of organic and eco-friendly materials.

Harmony Art Organic Designs has graciously accepted our sponsorship offer ... incredible fabrics from an incredible company that is doing all the right things with regard to making a difference in changing the world.

Only a month home from showcasing on the runway our 2012 collection ... and already, we're gearing up for 2013.

More collections ... and hopefully, more showcases at one or two more FashionWeek events.
It's just the beginning ... the future is the brightest star in the sky!


If you're interested in participating as a sponsor of Second Star Designs for 2013 ... or know of anyone who might be, please send us a message ... we'd love to talk with you!

~C

Why all the fuss about Laminated Cottons?

rolls & rolls of laminated cotton fabrics

Recently, we released a line of rainwear and umbrellas on the runway during Baltimore FashionWeek, created from an amazing new fabric called Laminated Cotton, provided to us by Riley Blake Designs.

Our designs were very, very well received by all those who attended FashionWeek.

We were asked a number of questions, including:

    "what do you use for these products?"
    "how are these different from regular raincoats and umbrellas?"
    "you can put these in the dryer?  really?"
    "is this new fabric safe for children?"
    "how are these products better than what we already can buy in the stores?"

So ... for all of those not familiar with the new Laminated Cotton fabrics ... which, by the way, beats hands-down the vinyl products found in stores around the world ... I am providing you with a few details.

Laminated Cotton:

• PVC-free
• BPA-free
• Lead-free
• Slight sheen
• Waterproof and easy to clean
• Edges do not fray
• CPSIA compliant - this is a biggie!

Laminated cotton is a high quality cotton sheeting with a thin layer of polyurethane film adhered to the right side of the fabric. It's soft and has a very nice hand to it, it drapes very nicely and it even does gathers well!  It allows the cotton fabric to "breathe", while keeping moisture away from whatever is on the inside.  This fabric makes great baby bibs, raincoats, umbrellas, shower curtains, tablecloths, splat mats, diaper bags, food packaging products, and so much more.

The rain products currently found in stores are created using a polyurethane vinyl for the outer shell.  Most linings are created from polyester or polyester-blend fabrics.  Polyester does not allow the skin to breathe as easily as natural fibers do.  The vinyl outer lining rarely allows for your coat or pants to be tossed into the dryer.

Yes, products made using Laminated Cottons will cost more than what you've been used to buying in stores.  The offset to this is that you can toss your garments in the washing machine & dryer ... and your clothing will last longer than clothing made from vinyl.  You are more likely to hand down clothing made from Laminated Cotton instead of sending it to your local thrift store or throwing it away.

Laminated Cotton products are the fashionable future for rainwear and umbrellas, home decorating, and all kinds of wonderful products that are safe for your children.

~ C

The Name Game

With the dust from 2012 Baltimore FashionWeek still settling around our machines, we've been trying to come up with a name for next year's collection.  You see ... we've been asked to showcase next year ... and instead of just children's clothing, we'll be adding an entire line of eco-friendly clothing ... for grown-ups.

Two collections.

30+ total "looks".

And with consideration for the grown-up line of clothing, we've selected a name for that collection ...

Eco Art Wear

Sounds pretty cool!

We might just use the same name for both collections and just add "for kids" at the end of the second line.

Because it's cool enough for both ... and with the new name, design ideas are just falling out of my head.

Literally.

Now ... all I need is the fabric to put these clothing lines together.

Can't wait to get started!!!

~ C