American Made

August 23, 2016 By Lee Leave a Comment

Two Weeks to Go

After getting new product up on our website and putting the final touches on our new “Design Your Own” website feature (have you sent us your reactions and suggestions to that new feature?) by last Monday we turned our attention to finishing the new garments we intend for the Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, WY, September 7 – 11.

WDC is all about what’s new in designs across many mediums (fashion, jewelry, furniture, home design, etc.). Most of what we are taking there, and certainly that which will be on the runway during the style show, is being revealed for the first time. Ten days ago we had a number of such garments and accessories ready for Jackson Hole and were feeling pretty good about being ready.

THEN, the phone rang. It was our most prolific (and fascinating) boutique, Handwoven Originals. A surge in tourism due to all the wonderful end of the summer activities in Santa Fe had left the Whispirit section of their boutique bare! With Santa Fe’s internationally renowned Indian Market occurring in just a couple of days, was there any way we could get new product to them? Let’s see, potential sales versus being ready for WDC with some breathing room? Hmmm? Right. Off went our planned WDC product to Handwoven Originals.

So, guess what we’ve been doing the last several days and nights and will continue to do so for the next two weeks? We’ve even recruited the dogs! Aww, we like to be busy.

Til next time, Lee

August 16, 2016 By Sandra Liggett Leave a Comment

Preview “Design Your Own Jacket ” – Tell Us What You Think!

Do you look at the Whispirit designs and think, “I really wish I had a unique alpaca jacket but … I’m not sure it will fit, I think I want a different cuff, I would really like a closure… I have short arms, am tall, short, skinny, not so skinny… I think a button would really jazz that jacket up.” Well, we have a plan on which we’d love to get your feedback.

We have been working with our Web Designer, the wonderful Adam Hurd at Rynotechnologies, to design a “Design Your Own Chic Kasode” page. For a limited time this Fall we will offer you the opportunity to design our best selling kasode jacket to your specific taste so that you … or someone for whom you want to do something very special … will have a unique jacket made from naturally luxurious alpaca. In addition to our always lightweight, loose fitting, flattering angles, you will be able to customize features that in the past may have caused you to shy away from purchasing a Whispirit jacket on-line.

We are sharing the draft of our Build Your Own webpage product page, which is not currently available through our site, to you, our blog readers and Facebook friends, asking for your feedback on this new idea.

We will accept orders for this Design Your Own Chic Kasode Jacket experiment between October 15 and December 1. The Kasode is, hands down, Whispirit’s most popular jacket design. With the help of one of our seamstresses, Heather Briggs, we have reworked this design to make it responsive to feedback from our wonderful customers, owners and associates at Handwoven Originals.

At this point, every jacket has side pockets that are strong and useful. Every jacket has lined sleeves to let you you pull it on and off with ease. In response to your earlier feedback, we have lengthened the jacket (how shall we say it, politely?) to cover your derriere. The front of the jacket is angled and has a lovely drape. We have heard you on closures and have added frog or loop closures on all our jackets. And, with the help of our neighbor and local artisan Robin Pascal, we now place a handmade artisan button on the front of each jacket to complete the one-of-a-kind commitment.

As well, after trying various ways of finishing the cuffs, we have come up with what we think are two really useful cuff finishes. We have identified 6 fabrics that we will have available, have updated our sizing charts, and can customize sleeve and hem length.

With this blog we are asking you, our blog followers and Facebook friends, to preview this “build your own” offer and give us your feedback. As a thank you we will email you a Whispirit coupon worth $25. So make sure we have your email address by messaging through Facebook or by leaving a comment on this post. Also, whether or not you comment, you will be able to order a Build Your Own jacket now before this feature goes public on October 15th.

Thank you for your support, we will keep you posted on how it goes…… Sandy & Lee

August 9, 2016 By Sandra Liggett Leave a Comment

Revving up for Fall

I know, I know. It’s August. But we are in full tilt boogie getting ready for Fall. The second weekend in September is the Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It is a big event with lots of high end artisans. And Whispirit will debut our new line of 2016 Fall fashions in the opening night fashion show held Thursday, September 8th at 6 pm. The FeltLOOM and the sewing machines are running long hours as we prepare those new garments.

Here are a few pictures of items that we have already sent to Dave Nufer to photograph. Obviously red, black and grey are prominent in this first batch. We think the collage trim adds a level of pizzazz that will make these garments come alive on a runway. And we are working on a wonderful, rich orange fabric and collage that we will photograph next week.

Back to the sewing machine. Til next time, Sandy

July 19, 2016 By Lee Leave a Comment

Dog Days of Summer

From last week’s blog you know that we were in Seattle for a few days. Returning from Seattle, we found our senses of sight, taste, and smell had been tickled to “overload.” We’re bursting with new ideas for designs and colors. Prior to departure we took several “sewing” machines in for servicing. They were to supposed to be ready upon our return. Of course, they weren’t. Acceptable reasons but, still not ready. So no sewing …

Probably just as well, it’s hot! Outside and inside. Unusually hot for the high plains desert of New Mexico. Too hot for hiking. Too hot for gardening. Where are the monsoons that kicked off July with breezes that kept day time temperatures at the mid-80?? In July when the sun goes down behind the Sandias, it’s supposed to be chilly! Instead the evening air is still and hot and we gather all the fans we own.

If the sewing machines were here and the FeltLOOM were running it would be even hotter in the Fabric Design Center. This is probably a good time to do a little maintenance such as checking needle boards and cleaning fiber dust from inside the FeltLOOM. Inventory needs to be checked to determine what is going with us to the Western Design Conference in Jackson, WY, along with our new creations. That’s not as hot as running the equipment, and you can sit right in front of a fan.

Sandy has been putting off trying some new hat designs, favoring new scares and shawls that sell so well at Handwoven Originals during the Santa Fe Opera season. Now’s a good time because making hat molds while sitting in front of a fan is a lot cooler than running around the FeltLOOM and “banging” out — literally — scarves and shawls. Only trouble with sitting in front of the fan while shaping a hat mold is that the Styrofoam blows all over and you get hot sweeping it up.

Or, maybe we should just follow our dogs’ example? It is after all their days. They run at night and sleep all day in the coolest spots they can find (often the Loom Room.)

Phone just rang — sewing machines are ready to be picked up. Sandy is already out the door. Oh no, it’s about to get hotter.

Until next time ……. Lee

July 3, 2016 By Sandra Liggett Leave a Comment

Celebrating the Fourth!

As we wrote in this blog last year, the Fourth of July is Lee’s favorite holiday. Besides celebrating our country’s birthing process it’s that time when he reflects on the year just past. This year we are doing our reflection in pictures. It has been a year of great delight, friendship, health and gratitude. Happy Fourth of July to all of our friends, near and far.

Happy Fourth of July. Celebrate safely and please remember all of our men and women in active service. Sandy