spring 2016

I’ve always marveled at how hibernating or migrating species know it’s time to get up or return. Or, why humans get that uncontrollable urge this time of year to throw things out, wash off the winter grime, weed garden beds, re-organize the shed, start the new exercise program. Best of ALL, from my perspective, is the urge to get the ole ball club out there, throw the ball around, field some grounders, take your swings, and work on the double play as you (impatiently) wait for that wonderful command that is the “real” start of my year. Play Ball!!. It’s Opening Day!

Last weekend we started removing seasonal dead stuff from the flower beds. We walked the perimeter of the ranch picking up what the winter winds blew in, rocked where the coyotes dug and discovered where Atticus deposited my drip system tubing he pulled out of the garden last fall.

We pick up our heavier garments from boutiques and bag them for storage. (Yup, we will have a winter wear sale later in the spring). Sandy shepherded our new lighter-weight designs with the wonderful spring colors through the design stage to seamstresses and into our boutiques.

Just like the Red Sox‘s (Yup! Dyed in the wool fan FOREVER) pitching rotation, we’ve made some changes this spring, a new and “better” website. With our partners, web creators Ryno Technologies, photo meister David Nufer and social media / content guru Kelly Koepke we’ve studied the old website and “listened” to your comments and have come up with a new one that will serve you better.

As you learned in our last blog post, this is the first time we have used a model on the website product section, Now you can see how the garment hangs, and view front and back to better gauge whether it will look good on you. There are also more descriptive product blurbs by which to understand our garments, accessories and fabrics.

Just as in baseball, and the anticipated showcasing all of the new players on Opening Day, minor glitches develop. Some of the new players won’t take the field for a couple of games. Beta testing of our new site revealed some correctable issues. Correct them we must before our “official” Opening Day of our new site. So either go online and watch our progress or wait for the official “Play Ball” announcement that the revamped website is ready for the big leagues.

The best news? Our Spring & Summer styles are ready to go.

See you on the field……. Lee

Last Wednesday, Lee and I had great fun at our first ever, non-style show fashion photo shoot for our new Whispirit collection of fabrics and fashion. The session took place at the studio of our great photographer and friend, Dave Nufer. Dave had arranged for local mom, home school teacher, trained dancer Tara Ortiz to model. It was the first fashion shoot for Tara and for us. As you will see, the results were thrilling and Tara proved to be an absolute natural. (Tara, are you sure you’ve never done this before?)

Previously, as we were always in a hurry to meet others deadlines, Dave had photographed our creations utilizing a mannequin. While the photography always turned out lovely, both Dave and our web team at RYNOtechnologies in Corrales, New Mexico, urged us to incorporate models into our product pages.

Tara, having already studied our current website, arrived with a beautiful collection of tops, pants, accessories and great combination ideas. (Boy, does she have GREAT shoes!) We immediately bonded and got right into the shoot.

As someone who has always been camera shy, I was delighted and amazed by Tara’s comfort, grace and, as you can see, her beauty. Dave kept exclaiming how easy Tara was making his job. Dave is incredible with his set up — the lighting is amazing as is his ability to focus on how the lighting is subtly impacting the photo and to give gentle direction for subtle tweaks to a particular pose. We were finished in only two hours. Surprised us all.

As I write this blog, Rynotechnologies is readying the launch of our new and improved website. We’ll launch it early next week. Our next photo shoot will have Dave and Tara on location with the alpacas who contribute their fibers to make this all possible. Much fun to look forward to!

(Oh, wondering about me in the fetching blue surgical “shoes”? Ah yes. Dave had painted his studio floor white for this shoot and required me, the “garment on the model” arranger to wear them. Sexy aren’t they?)

Let us know what you think …… Tara and our new styles — not my blue shoes!

Till next time. Sandy