bobbi fashion show

way way back on the very last day of march, design goddess barbara schauwecker showed her new BOBBI CLOTHES collection for 2008.



of course the spectators were like a fashion show as well...













barbara's prints are always my favorite element of her work, and these may have been her most spectacular yet. keep an eye on her online shop (currently empty, as they've all been snatched up!) and check her out at Renegade; she's sharing a booth with Treehouse and they'll be right next to me!

it's nearly time again!

oh yeah, mark your calendars! it's exactly one month until the 4th annual Renegade Craft Fair, june 14-15 in the McCarren Park Pool and all your favorite SAPLINGS will be there: hodge podge (but of course!), treehouse, callieco, bobbi clothes, raeburn ink, a.s.i.s., 31 corn lane, and probably more but i'm just reading off the vendor list, which you can see here.

brooklyn flea recap

the last weekend of april you may remember that i brought hodge podge to the new hotspot that is the Brooklyn Flea. the Etsy peeps had invited me to participate in their booth and help promote classes at the Labs. my co-horts callie and jenny were there with me, as well as my etsy buds julie, danielle, mary and aviva. it was super fun, but the weather was cold and drizzly so it wasn't a great sales day.


jenny certainly had the most colorful customers of the day!

hodge podge cottage

most of you know that my clothing label, hodge podge, consists entirely of one-of-a-kind pieces. this has always been my philosophy: that there are plenty of mass-produced clothes out there, so my mission is to bring back an appreciation of hand-wrought, labor-intensive, often un-reproduceable, special pieces. however, this is also what slows me down (well, one of many things!) and for years i have struggled with whether i should do some styles in a more production-style manner.

so, out of this inner struggle comes the new label, hodge podge cottage (as in 'cottage industry'). i will produce a handful of multiples of certain items that lend themselves to it, for example the wraps you see above. these have been one of my most popular items since i began making them a couple of years ago, and the way the pattern works, a 3-yard cut of fabric yields two of them. so they are the first hodge podge cottage style, with more to follow! find them in the shop of course...

may classes at Brooklyn General

a new batch of classes are scheduled at Brooklyn General this month (they're all posted through june) so sign up quick as these do tend to sell out!

**note** sewing 102/Lotta Jansdotter tote begins this saturday, may 3 from 11am-1pm!



Sewing 101 (Beginner) $150

Four 2-hour classes

This class will teach you all the basics: how a sewing machine works, cutting from a pattern, and how to sew a simple wrap skirt. With these techniques, you’ll be on your way to stitching up all kinds of projects!

Materials: 2 yards light- to medium-weight woven fabric, 1 pkg extra-wide, double-fold bias tape to match, thread to match, scissors, pins and pincushion, seam ripper, tailor's chalk.

Session B: Tues 6:30 to 8:30 pm, 5/6, 13, 20, 27
Session C: Wed, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm, 5/14, 21, 28, 6/4
Session D: Sat 11 am to 1 pm, 5/31, 6/7, 21, 28

Sewing 102 (Beginner/Intermediate) $150

Four 2-hour classes

Step up your stitching skills with this very practical “All-Day Tote” bag from Lotta Jansdotter's book Simple Sewing. You'll learn how to do pockets, linings, topstitching and straps and become much more confident with your sewing. Beginner sewing skills required.

Materials: 1 yard medium/heavy weight woven fabric for bag, 1 yard light/medium weight for lining, thread to match, scissors, pins and pincushion, seam ripper, tailor's chalk.

Session A: Sat, 11 am to 1 pm, 5/3, 10, 17, 24
Session B: Tues 6:30 to 8:30 pm, 6/3, 10, 17, 24

To register, please call the shop at 718.237.7753 (leave a message!). You must register in advance in order to insure a spot in the class.