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September 19, 2016 By Sandra Liggett Leave a Comment

Cacophony of Color Collection Is Now Available

After its introduction in Jackson Hole at the Western Design Conference, the Cacaophony of Colors Collection is now available for purchase.

Featuring the award winning Fire Nymph jacket, this fall collection of jackets and wraps is full of bright colorful abstract designs to brighten any fall or winter day and evening. Each piece of this collection is one of a kind.

We can do special orders to make similar items, but due to the nature of our design we can never exactly duplicate this artful fabric. Just like our other garments, everything is handmade here in New Mexico from the luxurious alpaca fleece produced by our herd. Only the milling of our raw alpaca is done out of state, as well as the sheer silk foundation.

So, shop for yourself or that special someone at Handwoven Originals in Santa Fe, Artemesia Artwear in Taos or at our Whispirit shop on line.

Until next time……… Sandy & Lee

August 30, 2016 By Lee Leave a Comment

Spirit of the Dance: Introducing Whispirit Wall Hangings

You’ve seen the results of our new design process we call “collage felting.” This technique now enlivens our jackets, shawls and scarves. We are delighted to report that we are getting rave reviews from Handwoven Originals, website and Facebook visitors and those who have come to our studio. Recently, while Sandy was showing me her latest collage creation, I commented that it would look terrific in its entirety as a wall hanging. She then gave me that look says “well….?” It’s amazing how creativity just needs a little push!

We are calling these “Spirit of the Dance,” because they are so dynamic and bursting with lively energy! (So says Sandy. In my opinion it’s our movement around the designing tables when creating these collages that’s the real dance. We often register 10,000 steps a day on our Fitbits in the process.)

We will be unveiling our new Whispirit wall hangings at the Western Design Conference in Jackson, Wyoming September 8 – 11. We wanted our loyal followers to get a sneak preview. As always, we would love to hear your reaction.

On to the Western Design Conference…. wish us luck!! …….. Until next time from Jackson, WY…. 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

July 26, 2016 By Sandra Liggett Leave a Comment

Off the Beaten Track “Gems”

Sunday and Monday we celebrated my birthday by visiting some of my favorite off-the-beaten-path “gems” that make New Mexico so delightful.

A drive up the High Road to Taos, lush and green due to the monsoon rains having soaked at least this part of New Mexico’s northern terrain. Small artist communities like Truchas, Chamayo and, Ojo Sarco enchant me as the small road meanders along the mountains. A scrumptious dinner at chez Liggett’s combining the amazing offerings of Song’s Asian Cuisine with the rich tastes of Chateauneuf du Pape wine from an off-the-beaten-path infamous town in France. All being consumed on our Taos adobe while we enjoy flashes of lightning in a tumultuous sky!

Up early on Monday (my actual birthday), we (of course accompanied by Osita and Yeti, our faithful hiking companions), drive out State Road 518 past Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort to one of our favorite hiking trails. Agua Piedras Trail is tucked in the midst of Carson National Forest and it is a spectacular hike to Indian Lake. This time of year the wildflowers filled the lush meadows and pop up in sunny spots along the trail. Bright skies, quiet except for the soothing gurgles of the brook that follows the trail. Beautiful! Enchanting!

Two hours later, we are off the trail and sitting on the porch of our favorite “hidden gem” restaurant, Sugar Nymphs Bistro in the small town of Penasco. Lee, Osita, Yeti and I shared a lovely, well-prepared, right-sized lunch. Lee’s eternal quest for the BEST carrot cake in the WORLD came to its conclusion … right there on that porch. OMG, I am not a dessert eater, but must confess that from its eye appeal to the magnificent cacophony of tastes, this was, well …., a slice of heaven. As it should be. The amazing chef/owner of this eatery is a Buddhist monk who learned her culinary arts at the San Francisco Zen Center Restaurant, Greens.

Speaking of the slice, it was large enough to have served everyone in the Bistro and many passers-by. But we did not share. We ate several forkfuls and agreed that a treasure such as this should be doled out in tiny, tiny pieces over the several days, weeks, year. Just kidding. As I type this, Lee has probably already finished it. I better go check!

Until next time, when we will share some of our newest garment gems ……… Sandy (now one year older).

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