What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Two Tickets to Paradise (Only because it's stuck in my head)

Jacket: J. Peterman
Dress: Alabama Chanin hack, sewn by yours truly
Tights: Hue
Boots: Cydwoq

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Looking Forward to the End of Term

Jacket: Vivienne Westwood
Dress: Piazza Sempione
Tights: Simply Vera
Boots: La Canadienne

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Girl, You Look Expensive

Jacket: Gucci (mom-me-down)
Shirt: Rivamonti
Skirt: Comme des Garcons
Tights: Wolford
Shoes: Siegerson Morrison

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: The Hole is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts

Sweater: Agnes b. with visibly mended moth holes
Shirt: Rivamonti
Skirt: Carnaby pattern knit by yours truly
Tights: Wolford
Shoes: Robert Clergerie

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Thanks, Mom & Dad

Sweater: No label; '60s ski sweater originally given to my uncle by my father who then gave it to me last year
Skirt: J. Morgan Puett - thrifted from Mom
Tights: Hue
Boots: Robert Clergerie

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Trying New Combinations

Dress:  J. Morgan Puett (thrifted from Mom)
Sweater: Pattern by Wenlan Chia; knit by yours truly
Tights: Hue
Boots: Robert Clergerie

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: In Another Blue Mood (Not Emotionally, However)

Shirt: Ralph Lauren
Dress: Yohji Yamamoto
Tights: Hue
Boots: Aquaitalia

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: If Only I Were Looking Over the Moors

Dress: Morgan le Fey
Shirt: Ralph Lauren
Tights: Hue
Boots: Aquaitalia

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Alone in the Office

Sweater: Sophia Loren sweater knit by yours truly
Skirt: Casual Connection (thrifted)
Boots: El Naturalista
Tights: Hue

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: I Love a Good Cowl

Dress: Woolen Moss
Vest: Ekby pattern for Noro by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton (knit by yours truly)
Tights: Wolford
Shoes: Robert Clergerie

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Held Together By Sheer Force of Will

Dress: Aida Barnes
Vest: Dolce & Gabbana
Tights: Hue
Boots: El Naturalista

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Skirting the Issue

Dress: J. Morgan Puett
Skirt: J. Morgan Puett
Boots: Maison Martin Margiela

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Pattern Placement

Shirt: Aimee G.
Skirt: J. Morgan Puett (Mom-me-down)
Boots: El Naturalista
Tights (not seen): Hue

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: This Is More Like It

Dress: Sacai
Shoes: Rodarte for Repetto

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Let's Pretend It's Summer

Dress: Vintage Vogue pattern, sewn by yours truly
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Hanging Out in the Stairwell

Top: Kedem Sasson
Dress: Kedem Sasson
Shoes: Rodarte for Repetto

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Looking for Inspiration

Dress: Piazza Sempione
Shoes: Trippen

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Coming Straight On for You

Dress: Emmelle
Shoes: Trippen

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Kind of Early To Be Looking Down

Shirt: Etro
Skirt: Yohji Yamamoto
Shoes: Robert Clergerie

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Sparkle, Sparkle

Shirt: Theory
Skirt: St. John
Shoes: Robert Clergerie

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: While the Weather's Still Warm

Dress: Rue du Mail
Shoes: Robert Clergerie

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Summer's Over

Dress:  Issey Miyake
Shoes: Robert Clergerie

(PS - I will be returning to this blog with more than just pictures of what I'm wearing to teach.)

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Well, That's All Folks!

Dress: J. Morgan Puett (ebay)
Boots: El Naturalista

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Shades of Grey But No S&M

Dress:  Issey Miyake
Shoes:  Trippen (ebay)

It's Not Just Pictures

I know it appears that way recently, and it actually illustrates a point I've been wanting to make and which has come up again recently.  It seems that people who have what we might consider "traditional" lives (aka working a five-day-a-week job) don't understand that we who have "nontraditional" lives (aka schedule of our own making/non-standard hours) are often just as busy as they are.

There's an assumption that because you can make your own schedule that you have a lot of free time or can really easily reschedule things. The truth is that frequently, because we make our own schedules, we've done a little Tetris to ensure we get the work done so all the hours fit together in a nice neat package.  The fact that I'm writing this post right now means that I'm pushing off another task, which will need to be attended to and which may mean that I'm working late.

Let me just outline what's been going on in my life since the beginning of the year.  I've taken multiple trips - one family-related, one activism-related, one writing-related, and one hockey-related.  While they're definitely not all "work," there's something to be valued in each of them.

I've had three pieces of writing published; my most recent one went live yesterday and was an opportunity netted from an announcement about the other two. (I failed to mention the short story publication here - but you can still check it out).  I've also written two new short stories and submitted my short story collection to a number of publishers.

There's also the fact that the art collective of which I'm a part, Shake-n-Make, has two major shows this year; one opening in late August and the other opening in November.  Both are labour-intensive, and we've been working on finessing the details of installation as well as material considerations. This requires not only physical labour but meetings and various email communications. All of this takes time.

This is in addition to my teaching, which is considered a full-time load for tenured faculty but not necessarily for sessional/adjuncts, and my volunteer work (delivering library books to those who can't get to the library once a month), which actually requires that I schedule at least an hour with one of my clients.

I know this sounds a tad defensive, and it is.  Why lie?  But I also think it's important for all of our friends and family to understand that while I may be sitting in my pajamas as I type this (which I am, and it's almost 11am), I've been working for a few hours already, and I've scheduled the work of my day (this blog post, as noted, excluded).  Don't let the wardrobe or nontraditional schedule fool you.  There's a schedule; there is work.

Okay, I got that off my chest.  I feel better now.  Back to work.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Understated

Dress:  Merchant & Mills Trapeze dress sewn by yours truly
Sweater: Silver Leaf Cardi knit by yours truly in Green Mountain Spinnery's Cotton Comfort
Tights: Hue
Boots: Aquaitalia

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: A Frequent Gesture

(I know; you thought it was going to be something else.)

Shirt: Ralph Lauren
Vest: Eskandar
Skirt: Banana Republic
Tights: Hue
Boots: La Canadienne

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: What I'd Call a "Classic Approach"

Dress:  Yohji Yamamoto
Shirt: Rivamonti
Tights: Hue
Boots: La Canadienne

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Pulling Out the Big Guns (or Hats)

Hat: Gabriella Ligenza
Dress:  Alaia
Tights: Hue
Boots: Timberland (thrifted from Mom)

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: International Women's Day Edition

Hat: Pussyhat knit by yours truly with Manos del Uruguay yarn
Shirt:  Paul Smith (borrowed from ladyfriend)
Vest: Self-drafted pattern knit by yours truly in Louisa Harding yarn (I think)
Skirt:  Rohka
Shoes: Giraudon

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Facing Things Straight On

Dress: J. Morgan Puett
Coat:  Eskandar
Boots: Camper
Tights:  Hue
Glasses:  Eyebobs

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Keeping it (Relatively) Simple

Dress:  Sacai
Boots:  Aquaitalia

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Back with Renewed Vigor!

Dress:  Yohji Yamamoto (mom-me-down)
Turtleneck:  Cadeau (thrifted)
Tights:  Wolford
Boots:  Marc Jacobs (mom-me-down)

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: No Spring Outside, But There's a Spring in My Step

Dress:  Cabbages & Roses
Shirt:  Rivamonti
Tights:  Hue
Boots:  La Canadienne

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Pile it On

Shirt:  Trend by Les Copains
Dress:  Comme des Garcons
Pants:  Comme des Garcons
Socks:  unknown
Shoes: Robert Clergerie

Slow Fashion Publication & Me!

I was fortunate enough to be asked to pitch a story to Less Magazine late last year.  I really only had one idea at the time, being a bit busy with two upcoming art shows and a full teaching schedule, and it was one that I'd been thinking about and wanting to write about: how slow fashion has affected the way I source materials for knitting or sewing projects.  Luckily, they liked the idea, and the fun began!

It's been awhile since I've written an "article," which I put in quotation marks because it's kind of a personal essay disguised as an article, but I'm into hybridity so it's all good.  I also hadn't worked with an editor in awhile, and it took me a minute to realize that there would be multiple drafts with accompanying revision requests.  My editor, Sofie, was great and working with her was productive.

I reached out to a few people I knew via Instagram or had met at the Squam Art Workshops retreat I attended last June (and will be at this year again - yay!).  Well, I initially put a wholesale call out in a post on Instagram and got a few bites.  I ended up soliciting input from three different makers - Tierney Barden, Jess B. Daniels, and Anna Strive (@saint_raven on Instagram) - and am grateful they agreed to share their experiences.  Not only did it give me some ideas, but it also let me know that I'm not the only maker who is concerned about these issues.

The magazine decided to make me a highlighted contributor and asked me to make a statement about the issue's theme, globalization.  Yes, I, too, was unfamiliar with the term when I first heard it, but I think I understand it now.  As they needed a high-quality picture of me (read - not from a cell phone or point-and-shoot digital camera), I only had a few options.  I sent them three, and this is the one they chose:

There are a number of things I like about this image, which also cracks me up.  Firstly, I'm making a very common face.  I think you could find me making this face in a million images that the ladyfriend snaps of me.  Also, I'm wearing a skirt I made, a turtleneck from 3 Dots (made in the USA), my beloved chambray shirt from Imogene + Willie (made in the USA), the tights are from Falke (made in Germany), and my Blundstones (no longer. made in Australia - sigh).  I am also on the property of a dear friend in the Berkshires.

You can read the magazine here.  Not only is my article in it, but it has great fashion spreads and other thought-provoking articles.  I think of it like an intellectual fashion magazine.  Please show them some love.

Also, here are links to makers, companies, or blogs I referenced in the article: Alabama Chanin; Island Wool Company; Rowan yarns; Fringe Association; Tanis Fiber Arts.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Hiding in the Stairwell

Dress:  Lauren by Ralph Lauren
Turtleneck:  Akris
Tights: Hue
Boots:  Camper (thrifted from mom)

Marching - On and On

That's my mother and Ian's best friend Sh

The ladyfriend and I made the trek to DC to participate in the Women's March.  As both my parents and our son live there, it was an easy trip to make (and no outrageous hotel costs to bear).  I knit five Pussy Hats with Manos Del Uruguay yarn, which felt so right as it benefits women in rural Uruguay. It was great seeing women in the hats at the rest areas along the way. 

We were a little concerned about crossing the border, having heard about Canadians and other foreign nationals being turned away at the crossing near Montreal, QC; however, we still carry American passports and decided not to pretend we were going somewhere else.

At the border, the conversation went a little bit like this:
Border guard:  Where are you headed?
Me:  Washington, DC
Border guard:  What's there?
Me:  My parents live there, and we thought we'd check out the march. (For some reason I thought "checking out a march" sounded reasonable; it was better than "I thought we'd take part in a revolution.")
Border guard asks a few standard questions - are you bringing anything in, and so forth.  Then he just looks at us, hands us back our passports, and lets us go.  Whew!

I have to say, when we came back to Canada, the Canadian border guard asked us how the march was and whether there'd been any problems.  He seemed quite interested, and not in a negative way.  Oh, Canada!

The march was fantastic.  By all accounts it was one of the largest rally/march in recent history.  I've been to a lot of marches in DC, going all the way back to the anti-apartheid marches in the '80s.  I went to the anti-Strategic Defense Initiative (aka Star Wars) rally in '84 or '85 (I shared a cab with Amy Carter while in DC - hah!), pro-choice rallies galore, and of course many Amnesty International marches and demos. 

Some images from the march -

Crowds at the Metro

Loved this!

These two guys were totally out of their element; they couldn't even handle the volume of our rally cries!  Wait 'til they experience the full extent of our wrath!

My dad and my ladyfriend

Got to meet one of my favourite fashion journalists - Lynn Jaeger!

The love is big, and the hats match!

So now we're home, and as such often the question of how to maintain the momentum arises.  However, it seems like the current administration is going to keep those fires stoked with the executive orders coming out of the White House.  But as we know, it's not enough to be incensed. These troubled times require action.  Thankfully there are a lot of ways to engage in the battle.

I've been referring back to this post, Twenty Things You Can Do When the World Is Terrifying, regularly.  (Think it was Karen who sent me to this post...)  I also believe in Craft as Solace, which reminds me of this cross stitch I uploaded here once before -

The ladyfriend and I are committed to being informed and get headlines from The Guardian and The New York Times.  I'm also listening to Democracy Now! and the NPR Politics podcast.  We've sent money to the ACLU (thank you, thank you, thank you) and will be sending money to Planned Parenthood (also a big thank you to them - I used them for gynecology exams before I had insurance, and they were ones I went to when I needed to find out whether I was pregnant).  And of course, we'll be sending postcards, marching, and resisting the normalization of the fascism we're facing.

Stay nasty, my friends!

The boy had to work but went to protests on Inauguration Day.

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Purple is the New Neutral

Sweater:  Owls pattern by Kate Davies, knit by yours truly
Skirt:  Brooklyn pattern from Seamwork magazine, made by yours truly
Tights:  Hue
Boots: Aquaitalia

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Highly Suspicious

Dress:  Aida Barni
Vest: Dolce & Gabbana
Tights:  no label
Boots:  Timberland (thrifted from Mom)

What I'm Wearing to Teach Today: Stay Nasty, My Friends

Pussyhat: knit by yours truly from Manos del Uruguay yarn
Dress:  Piazza Sempione
Shirt:  Rachael Mara (ebay)
Tights: Pierre Mantoux
Boots:  La Canadienne