What I've Been Dyeing...

Occasionally someone will ask me if Elizabeth Dye is my real name, and I'm always surprised...I guess it kind of suits being a designer, but I don't think it has quite enough flair to be a stage name. But sometimes, like today, when I'm standing over a steaming kettle of dyeing abric, trying to achieve just the right shade of honey gold, my name feels pretty suitable. I've been asked to contribute a project for a DIY fashion crafts book...here is an early how-to shot...

Kelly's Wedding

Some great Flickr pictures of Nat and Kelly's wedding at Holocene last weekend. Guest Lisa Hough also wore one of my dresses--the Palace Shift from Spring '08.

Coming up roses.

My little romper (from last fall's collection) peeking from behind the "BEST" hedge on August's Portland Monthly cover. Love those shears.

Fashion Design Camp Fashion Show

I participated in Portland's Fashion Design Camp finale fashion show on Friday, and what a blast it was. I've never seen little girls with such style and attitude (where was fashion camp when I was 9?). There was plenty of backstage chaos, but the whole beautiful mess was ably managed by the lovely Adazoe (who also modeled). Cheers to the camp's class of 2008. May their glitter never wash off. Left to right: me with Tacee, new Seaplane owner and camp founder, campers backstage awaiting their moment in the spotlight, Adazoe flashing her pearlies. Photos courtesy Willamette Week.

What's in store.

I finally have a moment to look up, and admire the new goods here at The English Dept. I love my little shop today.

Quite possibly the best fun I've ever had making a skirt.

Trusty English Dept. shop assistant Clara has another job--running the non-profit Bikes to Rwanda. On a recent trip to Rwanda, she brought back several lengths of beautiful wax batik African fabric. She asked me to make her a skirt out of one of the pieces (doesn't the print kind of look like ears of corn?). When I asked, "What kind of skirt?", she made wheeling gestures with her hands and said "Pouf! And short! With a waist up to here!"

This is the skirt. I designed it without making a pattern, just freehanding the yoke and pleating the fabric as I went, starting at the center and layering two inch deep double box pleats at four and a half inch intervals. It's spooky how quickly it came together, and there was exactly the right amount of fabric. What's better in summer for bike riding, rope jumping, and just generally messing around than an airy little skirt like the Double Box? I plan to make myself one post-haste.

Adrienne in Action

Some wedding shots of Adrienne in her maid of honor dress. Pretty girl.

Going, going...

I had to take this quick photo of the catamaran top, my newest. The best deep blue striped cotton (studio assistant Sarah calls the color "mallard"--perfect) with sour yellow tab (and secret yellow hem lining). I put them out last weekend and there's only one left! Makes me want to hop a sailboat and rip 'round the Cap d'Antibes. Preferably that sailboat would be piloted by Gregory Peck. Ah, summer.