The Pigeon/Phoenixhood, a separated hood and poncho set

Fire and Ice in one swinging design

Rebecca inspired this design by wanting flashing colours when moving, and quiet tones when still, almost camoflageish... and I took the inspiration from Rebecca, and the idea of cheerleading skirts, after watching Glee... and viola...

The overall look is subtle when standing still. There is a little bling in the hood to lure the eye upwards, but there is a promise of something novel when movement is applied to the garment.

Rebecca requested pigeon in the front and phoenix in the back and I do believe that I not only delivered, but I struck gold on a design detail that will kick a lot of what I make in the future up a notch. 

The whole thing about Katwise's inspiration that gets me beyond the fact that these reworked knit marvels are beautiful in their own right in a static position, but when movement is applied, as in dancing, they take on another life of their own.

The Pigeon / Phoenix hood is no exception, as it is designed to look one way still and another in movement. Its designed to show one palette from the front and another from behind as well.

My beautiful housemate has the model's body and graciously volunteered to show off the PP hoodz attributes to their best ability. Photos from Rebecca will show up here once she recieves the parcel that was sent just today.

Two hidden inside pockets for cell, keys, cash cards and whatnot complete the look. The poncho has a turtleneck neckline with the hood completely separate, allowing Rebecca to mix and match with other coats/hat sets.

Yeah. The pleated idea is a hit and I can't wait to apply it to other pieces of Sistahoodz art clothing in the future.


Sistahoodz has a facebook page. Check it out.One way is to just click here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sistahoodz/307025545993610 Another way if you're telling a friend,  just put Sistahoodz Clothing in the FB search field... and you're there... like me for lots of fun counterculture goodies as well as updates about the latest outrageous birthing from the Deconfessional.

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The Pamhoodlette - a variation on the Sistahoodz theme

Witches do things in circles. Makes sense that a circle hat would be the most efficient, add to that a circle capelette that keeps the wind off your shoulders and its layering to the max made easy.

Armwarmers can accompany this in complementary tones and textures as well.

Not a full poncho, this comes to between the shoulders and the elbows... a delightful variation, don't you think?

Created with a very wise and wily lady in mind, I thought of her circles, our circles, our moving in the world, our circles linking and separating but always in circle with each other on some fringe concept... So this is the perfect garment... almost a wheel within a wheel a turning... something else the xtians borrowed from the pagan... We do things in circles... Yep... And I'm hoping that when we connect this with her forever home, we will have a reveal that shows the lovely Pam modelling her Hoodlette.

And maybe the spiffy armwarmers too... Maybe Tiffany would like a pair?

And here is the lovely Pamela... new mom to the Pamhoodlette!

You'd think she likes her new goodies or something...

Sophiahood - a forest toned Maidenhood/ Cloak of knowledge and protection

Here is the recipient of the Sophiahood, the wonderful, whimsical Sophia!

Spinning with energetic enthusiasm... she found what was in the hidden mystery pocket!

 This creation was a process that touched me deeply on many levels. An electric connection to the woman who commissioned this for her daughter was the first of several fortuitious synchronicities that colluded while I dreamed and created the Maidenhood for Sophia.

I combined all my knowledge of teen girls and way their bodies were blossoming, with the deep forest tones and soft, comfortable knits to give Sophia a portable shelter from whatever storms may cross her path.

The braid across her back is a multiple strand symbol for eternity and interconnectedness, so that she too can cocreate when she is wearing her Sophiahood.

Little details here and there are also very powerful symbolic energy spots, focusing the perimeters of the wearer with loving energy, encouraging the rebalancing of those who come into her energy field.

With a hood that doubles as a scarf and a snug zipper up the front, cold winter winds won't keep Sophia from enjoying making a statement as she wears her Hood to school. We await photos of her modelling it!

I wonder if she'll spot the hidden pocket easily or if she will need help to find the little token for her altar I left tucked in there?

The Sophiahood is winging its way across America as I type. I'm so excited to watch the next few days unfold so that I can hear all about the big reveal.

~~~

Sistahoodz has a facebook page. Check it out. Sistahoodz is a comoonity of like minded, conscious Sistas and those who support them. It's fierce, feminist, fun and never fickle.

One way is to just click here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sistahoodz/307025545993610 Another way if you're telling a friend,  just put Sistahoodz Clothing in the FB search field or even in the google search engine... and you're there... Click the 'like' next to the Sistahoodz name on the page. Clicking on the widget next to the name and then on 'Add to News Feed' ensures that lots of fun counterculture goodies come through your facebook, as well as updates about the latest outrageous creations birthing from the Upcyclone Studio.

Send me a message if you're interested in initiating a custom project of your own with Sistahoodz! I love it when you do.

AnnieHood, the Crow(ne)Hood for Ann

A recurring theme in Sistahoodz is that Ann is a name you will be hearing often. Wether its the patron saint that we dance to in the light of the full moon (Shirl's mom, Ann : See the first blog entry), or discussing my son in law's (son in love's) mother, who is another Ann.

Here Ann demonstrates how the end of the hood is actually a hollow tube, just large enough for a small cell phone, a lighter, a small flashlight, some keys, with a simple loose knot, it disappears out of sight with a flick of the wrist.

With hot flashes and hikes up vertical hills, the ability to loosen components of the set allowed Ann to let off steam as she needed to. Here the hood is loose and letting her cool off.

As Yule was approaching, I started to pull together projects and parcels for the various friends and family I would be seeing throughout the Festivus festivities. I was inspired to make a Cronehood for Ann as she takes early morning walks on her lovely Gulf Island, and she loves tones of oatmeal and teal, two colours I seemed to have in abundance in my every evolving sweater pile. 

As the colours pulled together, the project got more and more fun, and pretty soon, I made the swingy part of the poncho so wide, it would have had a 35 foot hem! I had to scale it back and calm the hell down.

As I created this one, I thought of my long friendship with Ann and how fortuitous that my son and hers played together many years ago when we lived in the same neighbourhood, and joked about my baby bump being a home grown wife for her son.

My baby bump and that son have been an item now for over two years.  As I pieced together the components, I thought of how interconnected we were in our fragile little community ecosystems... and I sewed and poured my heart into every seam, so that when Ann put on the lovely finished product, she would feel all that love and protection wrapped around her whenever she needed.

 I wanted the hood to keep the wind off her neck and the chill out of her bones.

Here is the author and creatrix of Sistahoodz taking a shot from her 'bad side', looking more to me like Tiny Tim than Tina Budeweit, but hey. We all have our hair days, for good or bad. I was all bolstered by the love that had been all around me for a couple of days.

And I leave you with a photo of our Yule altar  for 2011 before the shredding commenced.

We gathered at exchanged Festivus for the rest of us gifts, and when I asked her to pose in her new acquisition, what a fabulous model she turned out to be! Out she scooted, in the rain in her jammies, with the beautiful hood framing her bodacious curves.

And the irony is, she gifted me a poncho too. A lovely, slinky black knit poncho... and made me promise to wait at least a year before I took the scissors to it!

Sistahoodz has a facebook page. Check it out.One way is to just click here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sistahoodz/307025545993610 Another way if you're telling a friend,  just put Sistahoodz Clothing in the FB search field... and you're there... like me for lots of fun counterculture goodies as well as updates about the latest outrageous birthing from the Deconfessional.

Send me a message if you're interested in initiating a custom project of your own with Sistahoodz! I love it when you do.

Transmutation Hood

A dear friend recently suffered an unimaginable loss as her second child succumbed to cancer. In an effort to generate funds, the family ran an online auction and I got busy with a project that could add to the auction.

At the same time, personal issues arose in my own family as a distant member was found to be less than honourable, and that reverberated down the line, landing in my lap as one of my kids found fault in my every breath as a mean of explaining how it could happen. While I fielded this unpleasantry, I worked on learning what was important about the whole process of shielding oneself, of defining boundaries, of knowing when to stay to battle and when to not pour fuel on the fire.

I chose cool colours that would be distant from the hot flames of reds, I chose colours that spoke to me of peace and balance... and I wanted the outcome to be nurturing too, so soft to the touch wool blends were what I used for what touched the face, what brushed the hands for the wearer. As I worked to create beauty out of frustration, I felt myself transmute that negative energy into something positive and beautiful, all the while, learning how strong and wise I was becoming.

The auction is over now and the Transmutation Hood is on its way to her forever home. It will be interesting to find out who wound up with it. I wonder if we will ever know?

Sistahoodz has a facebook page. Check it out.One way is to just click here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sistahoodz/307025545993610 Another way if you're telling a friend,  just put Sistahoodz Clothing in the FB search field... and you're there... like me for lots of fun counterculture goodies as well as updates about the latest outrageous birthing from the Deconfessional.

Send me a message if you're interested in initiating a custom project of your own with Sistahoodz! I love it when you do.

2 Funky Muthahoods

When Denise came to me with her suggestion, I was pondering working with purples plus I had in my mind a triple goddess colour scheme that would utilize black, red and white tones in one hood. I had just done a hood with armholes that I doubted I would repeat and wanted to see how the hood would work as a cape that zipped up the front, with the same hidden pockets on the inside on either side of the zipper.

So when Denise put in her order and told me her colour choices, I was not surprised. She wanted one for her momma in shades of purple, and one for herself in the embellishments of the Triple G... well. 

It was pretty obvious what my next adventure would be. And as yule approached and the world bustled to the hectic 'holiday' preparation, I put my eye on the prize and took my concepts to creation with first the Ursula hood for Pat, after the lovely Octopus Goddess in Finding Nemo, and then to the Triple Goddess for Denise, the wonderful daughter who was gifting her momma with a custom made cloak of love.

 Denise and her momma, Pat have promised photos of them wearing their Hoodz, but they've been battling the bug and I know that as soon as they no longer look like death warmed over, their lovely visages will grace their blog spot as Muthahood mommas.

Sistahoodz has a facebook page. Check it out.One way is to just click here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sistahoodz/307025545993610 Another way if you're telling a friend,  just put Sistahoodz Clothing in the FB search field... and you're there... like me for lots of fun counterculture goodies as well as updates about the latest outrageous birthing from the Deconfessional.

Send me a message if you're interested in initiating a custom project of your own with Sistahoodz! I love it when you do.

Nancy's Beachhood - for the East Coast dunes

Starting with those bleached shades of summer that look so good against the skin of those who have been out in the weather enjoying the beauties of nature. As this came together, I kept getting flashes of campfires at night on the beach, with the smoke blowing in your (Nancy's) eyes and how you used the hood to shield yourself from it, so that all the rest of the summer, the hood would smell like that fabulous day at the beach.

Making the sleeves snug yet feminine, so that you could see your lovely tan against the soft sandy tones.

All laid out like it is going to be packed up... heading to where? Some east coast destination awaits this creation, for an east coast goddess,  to wear to that beach barbecue at dusk... light breezes flickering the hem as she wraps it around tanned and sandy legs.

Nothing makes a tan look better than the white/bleached ruffles that flash near them. Undulating curves combine with the ruffles to dazzle anyone within 40 feet.

My goddessdom for a mannequin... but in the meantime, I get creative and use whatever means available to display completed art projects. The Beachhood is no exception.

Here is my alternate model, Dani, giving the Beachhood a twirl to show off her big secret... a yoga waisted skirt that slips on under it! Summer can't get much better... It's a top, its a skirt... its up to Nancy now. Happy Nancy... shielded with the protection of wind/smoke/fire, the divas of where the land meets the sea... She should be getting it before the end of January, 2012. More pictures to come as the Beachhood makes it to the final destination.

Sistahoodz has a facebook page. Check it out.One way is to just click here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sistahoodz/307025545993610 Another way if you're telling a friend,  just put Sistahoodz Clothing in the FB search field... and you're there... like me for lots of fun counterculture goodies as well as updates about the latest outrageous birthing from the Deconfessional.

Send me a message if you're interested in initiating a custom project of your own with Sistahoodz! I love it when you do.

The First Luscious Red Riding Hood - A Motherhood - for Jackie

What started out as a pile of shreddings, melded and transformed by my hands into the beautiful, scarlet Motherhood ... and here is the lovely creation that Jackie ( my creation's forever owner) was making while I was making this...

Introducing Zander, the very first Sistahoodz baby.

Out of chaos comes order...

Jackie and the beautiful Zander. Madonna and Child.  Jackie will let me know who the photographer is so that we can give her credit too!

The concept of the red riding hood came from my Germanic roots. I really had a penchant for the whole idea of circles as I made the first few Sistahoodz, and thought that it would be really fun to make a poncholike cape... it gave me a chance to work with different thicknesses and to braid the deconned knit stuff. I got a few original ideas as I developed this design. I made a huge button and loop to decorate at the throat and hid pockets on the inside so that a busy momma could access her cell phone, her wallet, her keys.

As it took shape, I recalled the days of standing in a similar poncho when I had just given birth to my darling daughter Grace, in line at the Post Office, with her in a sling under the knit, smacking away thirstily until snickers among the rest of the line caused the old folks to start talking about it. I hoped that where this was going would also enjoy those lovely noises, feel the warmth of a little bundled body alongside momma's warm form.

At first this was going to be a sale, but I was only using three needles on the serger and halfway through discovered that to be fair, I should use both all four loopers on the serger to bind the cut knits to their best advantage, so I didn't feel right selling the beautiful garment any more.

But it was just before Yule, and I remembered how, while my babies were small and I was struggling, people stepped up out of nowhere and were so generous with me that I slept on it and woke up knowing what I had to do. Jackie, the woman who went gaga over this as it was being made, is the cousin of a dear friend of mine, Sarah. I knew what Sarah would want me to do. The natural progression was easy. I messaged Jackie on Facebook and let her know that I was gifting her with the Mothahood. Jackie has a baby bump as she is cooking up a little one, and is very excited about having the Mothahood for a photoshoot that will take lots of memorable shots of lovely lump.

The shape of circles is very resonant with me. I have been marvelling how I am so blessed to work with colours and curves and make these beautiful things that are being so well recieved by everyone.

Women's bodies have curves, and fashion / style have been negligent in attending to this reality. I think that if I keep curves in mind and dress women accordingly, in my Sistahoodz fashion, I will always come up with things that are flattering, counter culture, original and STUNNING.

O yeah.

Seaweed forests and the ruffle around the bottom emulate the same shimmering waves of shades, whatever the colours. I love how they are fluid for dance, for ritual, for celebration, for protection, for love, for seaside fun, for camping, for living life to its fullest.

Would I steer you wrong? Big Red Riding Hood wants to know...

Just ask Jackie and that lovely little ever changing collection of limbs/cells/organs/babybits that is growing under her Mothahood...

Here is the URL to Jackie's phenomenal photographer...  Carolyne MacDonald

http://www.facebook.com/pages/See-Why-Photography/71353520109?sk=wall&filter=2

Sistahoodz has a facebook page. Check it out.One way is to just click here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sistahoodz/307025545993610 Another way if you're telling a friend,  just put Sistahoodz Clothing in the FB search field... and you're there... like me for lots of fun counterculture goodies as well as updates about the latest outrageous birthing from the Deconfessional.

Send me a message if you're interested in initiating a custom project of your own with Sistahoodz! I love it when you do.

The Crystalrainbowhood

Here we have an experiment in action. I was eager to see rainbow emerge from my fingertips so when I corralled the right progression of colours, I combined it with an assymetrical hood to discover what the pros and cons of a range of different hood options could be. It worked really well, especially if the wind is blowing from the right... LOL...

I also wanted to see what would happen if you just took the scissors to a work in process, whacked off a chunk, turned it 180 degrees, and sewed the whacked off chunk back on. Given that this is very stretchy textile, I had great luck with the give and take of it. I cackled for hours in the decon as I put this together. It was a pretty cool birth.

Then one day, Crystal arrived with about 20 sweaters as a down payment for the coat I will be making her. She has 40 sweaters to go but had hoped I could whip her sweater up in time for her to take it to a Cosmic Cowgirl Convention in San Fransisco later that week. I didn't think I could pull that off right away, but I did have this funky rainbow hoodie, and what better recipient than someone who works with the rainbow everytime she breathes? Crystal is an amazing artist and can  link herself to this article in the comments so that she can generate some hits on what she whips up in the cauldron of her creative juices. Crystals paintings and drum are incredibly powerful and beautiful. This is the perfect hoodie for someone needing to wipe their brushes on something... I can just see it in a few months... with the tell tale brush marks in a myriad of colours embellishing Crystal's Rainbowhood.

I think she looks pretty happy to have been in on the beginnings of Sistahoodz, don't you?

Sistahoodz has a facebook page. Check it out.One way is to just click here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sistahoodz/307025545993610 Another way if you're telling a friend,  just put Sistahoodz Clothing in the FB search field... and you're there... like me for lots of fun counterculture goodies as well as updates about the latest outrageous birthing from the Deconfessional.

Send me a message if you're interested in initiating a custom project of your own with Sistahoodz! I love it when you do.

Gracehood in gray

 What better model than the woman who had a vital role in its birth? When my daughter Grace came by for a precious and treasured overnighter, we thought about different things we could do. We could go out to eat... or we could go to see a movie. She lives on a little Gulf Island near Vancouver Island and they don't have big theaters there, but no, none of that seemed to be the ticket. Then we sat for a minute in the Deconfessional. And there, in the bins and baskets, a few odds and ends wound up in Grace's lap. A sleeve, some scraps... and before we knew it, we were cross-eyed, six hours later. We looked up, starving and in total amazement at the incredible jacket that we built then and there for Grace.

She scrabbled all over the rocky outcroppings on Mt. Prevost, a lovely park that is almost at my back door, and it just illustrated how this funky tunic/sweater/hood was versatile, moved fluidly, and followed all her curves.

It seems this is a fave. Hard to believe the pockets are the top of the sleeves that we took the torso of the bodice from.  Yup, they are.

Was so great to have my grown up daughter sitting at my side, cutting the shapes I would need next so that we could motor through from concept to manifestation in one sitting.

Every young woman needs a funky raver hoodie.

Sistahoodz has a facebook page. Check it out.One way is to just click here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sistahoodz/307025545993610 Another way if you're telling a friend,  just put Sistahoodz Clothing in the FB search field... and you're there... like me for lots of fun counterculture goodies as well as updates about the latest outrageous birthing from the Deconfessional.

Send me a message if you're interested in initiating a custom project of your own with Sistahoodz! I love it when you do.

The Danihood - Swirly Coat has to start somewhere

Denim has always been an integral part of my fashion style so it was natural for me to play with blues, thinking along the lines of the Ralph Lauren sweater coats I'd seen on billboards in my Los Angeles, Sunset Blvd. lifetime long past.

This has the full spin ability. The hem is about 25 feet all around and if Grace hadn't been hobbling about on wet, uneven rocks in heeled boots in the gusty wind on the cliff's edge, risking life and limb, she would have been able to swirl to display its full potential.

Grace noted that the swing felt good. Dani slid into the coat just before Christmas, and the minute she looked at me, with her blue eyes reflecting the coat, we both knew who it belonged to. It was easy to say... well, that's yours now, isn't it?

She likes to wear it when she is on her mom's land on Galiano Island, walking the labyrinth or standing by the blazing campfire. She's pinned the hem so that she can keep it wrapped tighter around her at times.

Skookum big pockets allow lots of room for whatever you want to bring down to the Labyrinth or to keep you company as you sit by the heat of an outdoor fire in our misty, cool Pacific northwest.

Danihood - displayed as Art

Sistahoodz has a facebook page. Check it out.One way is to just click here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sistahoodz/307025545993610 Another way if you're telling a friend,  just put Sistahoodz Clothing in the FB search field... and you're there... like me for lots of fun counterculture goodies as well as updates about the latest outrageous birthing from the Deconfessional.

Send me a message if you're interested in initiating a custom project of your own with Sistahoodz! I love it when you do.