The Reconstructed Life

Nelesc Designs Giveaway hosted by Hair with Purpose

2012-02-18T09:15:00.000-08:00

Hair with Purpose is hosting a Nelesc Designs Giveaway! You can win a gift certificate for $20.00 to my shop with shipping included! Go here to get all the information.

Hair with Purpose is a wonderful blog about natural hair care so it's definitely worth taking a look around. As a curly head myself I really enjoyed reading about all the natural hair care products out there. I think it's time I changed up my hair care routine!

I am so excited!!! Here is a pic of beautiful Jamilah (daughter of Hair with Purpose owner) wearing one of my Angela Davis tops. Doesn't she look great! Thanks again Hair with Purpose and I hope you all avail yourself of this opportunity!

Ode to the Puff Sleeve Jacket

2012-02-08T11:23:00.000-08:00

Oh, puff sleeve jacket, how I love you...

I have been making puff sleeve jackets for the past two years and I have been loving it! It all began with this very sloppy Pedro Albizu Campos jacket I made back in 2008. The neck edge was raw and made with only one layer of fabric. It also had no waistband but people really liked it. I, however, did not feel lead to reproduce it. There are certain items I do just for fun, for me.

The original puff sleeve jacket, 2008

But when people on my facebook fan page started to ask me if I could make them one, I thought, "why should I have all the fun?" So, I decide to custom make them in 2010. Using the purple one as a base, I decided to create this one. A cropped version with puffier sleeves, a waistband and a nice two layer neck collar.

Angela Davis Puff Sleeve Jacket

I made a total of 6 in various color combinatins and icons. Here are some pictures I took before I sent them out and pictures I received from happy customers.

Nina Simone and Frida Kahlo Puff Sleeve Jackets

Billie Holiday Puff Sleeve Jacket

The Brothers Johnson Puff Sleeve Jacket

These are so much fun to make! But I do have to take a break from them to start on my Spring/Summer line, so you will see them again in my shop in September. My next post will showcase the new improved puff sleeve jacket that I unveiled in 2011. What do you think of these?

Transforming Low-Waisted Pants to High Waisted Pants

2012-01-25T13:19:00.000-08:00

If you're like me, I love skinny jeans but hate the very low-waisted variety that show off your undies when you ever-so slightly bend down. I'm not a prude, I just don't want to flash the world my undies. They are called intimates for a reason, lol. Anyway. I have a whole bunch of low-waisted pants that fit nice on my thighs but alas, again, too low waisted.

Here's my solution. I bought a pair of high-waisted bell bottom pants at Old Navy a couple of years ago. I outgrew this look, so I decided to transfer the high waist onto my low waist pants.

My low-waist pants

High-waist bell-bottom pants from Old Navy

I simply cut off the high waist part of the Old Navy pants below the seam, right above the zipper. Then I did the same thing to my low waist pants, cutt off the waist band right above the zipper.

I then attached the high waist to the low-waisted pants and voila!

My new high-waist skinny jeans

Looks great with a top over it. Will try to see what it looks like with a cropped top.

These are super comfortable, I love them! If you don't have a high waist part, you can also band the top of your low-waisted jeans with stretchy material but you would have to cut the zipper out too. However, if not done right, it could look too much like maternity pants. But I will try this method and report back.

Let me know what you think!

Nelesc Designs 2011 Highlights

2012-01-21T14:14:00.000-08:00

Stop Traffic Fashion Show

There were several reasons I was so silent on my blog from July on (besides wanting to concentrate on my shop more). My son was hospitalized for several days from an atypical case of strep, we were in a car accident, and my husband was injured at work. It was a critical time for my family and I had to let some things go in order to be there for them.

That said, there were some wonderful things that happened at the end of the year that I did not get a chance to share here. So here are some pictures from my first fashion show (October), my participation at the Comite Noviembre Puerto Rican Crafts Fair (November), and my first time participating in the Puerto Rican Crafts Fair at Boricua College (December).

I was invited by the Law Students for Reproductive Justice (LSRJ), to participate in the first annual Stop Traffic fashion show on October 28, to raise awareness of human trafficking within the fashion industry. The show took place at the YWCA of Brooklyn and also featured local designers Kate Goldwater, chromat, Moira Meltzer-Cohen, and Anthony Posada. It was a wonderful experience and I met some great designers. All the designs were available for a silent auction and the proceeds benefited LSRJ and Kamisetas, a women’s collective in Medellin, Colombia in support of labor and fair trade. If that is not meaningful fashion, I don't know what is! I was so happy to be part of it. Check out the youtube video here.

Tara, the organizer of the show, and I

Final walk through, wonderful models

Kiko and I, she was a great model and person!

Serena and Adri, beautiful ladies!

One of a kind dress I made just for the fashion show

Models showing off designs by Kate Goldwater. Check out her blog here.

On November 19, I participated in the 6th Annual Comite Noviembre Puerto Rican Artisan Fair for the second time! It was so much fun! I consider myself to have a global sensibility who appreciates all cultures but it is also important to take time to be among your people to re-fuel and remember what makes you special. There's nothing like it! I would like to thank Luis Cordero who makes this possible for me every year. Check out some of his great designs here.

Me and my table

As always, my friend Sheila helped me, I so appreciate her

I added tote bags this year and a new image, Sylvia Rexach!

I made a connection at the Comite Noviembre craft fair which lead me to the Puerto Rican Craft Fair at Boricua College in December! That was a blast too! I was in between Maria and Candida (Warixi) and we sold our stuff and laughed all day long. Maria makes beautiful pottery. You can check out her etsy site called Barro y Agua here. Warixi is a fascinating lady who is a martial artist, a Taino Bohike and a leader in Taino organizations. She makes taino dolls and jewelry, among other things. She can be reached at Shihan@rock.com. Arieana was across from us, a new friend, who has a company called Buttonpress, etc. However, she does so much more than buttons, she also sells mirrors, original paintings, and does face painting, among other things. Check out her site here.

Boricua College Puerto Rican Craft Fair

Not a pretty bad year for Nelesc Designs, huh? Thank you for allowing me to share all of this with you.

Happy New Year! I'm Back! and with a Nelesc Designs Sale!

2012-01-13T16:19:00.000-08:00

Hi ya'll! I've missed blogging so much but decided that I needed to focus on my shop if I was going to make it work which is what I have been doing since July and am happy with the results.

But I really missed blogging and decided that if I was going to do both (the shop and this blog), I had to have a clear blogging direction. So this coming year, I want to concentrate on sewing tutorials and shop news. Everything after that is gravy.

So to start off the new year, I am once again offering my BUY TWO GET ONE FREE sale. I am also offering free shipping with the sale. Here are a couple of new tops up in the shop now. I am going to continue adding new t shirts/tops here and there until I unveil my Spring/Summer collection.

So have fun looking and let me know what you think!

FAN LOVE: Shannon Garcia

2011-07-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

Hello! Here is my second installment of what I like to call Fan Love where I post pictures of people wearing their Nelesc Designs duds and tell you a little bit about them.

This is Shannon Garcia seen here rockin her Nina Simone rust grey tank top from my Spring/Summer 2011 collection. Doesn't she look great? Shannon also has a shop on Etsy where she makes the most incredible jewelry. I especially like her custom spiral gauges. I don't have piercings that big but if I did, I would definitely buy these. So read on. Shannon is multi-talented as she also paints, writes teaches..., well, I'll just let her tell you about herself.

1) How did you find out about Nelesc Designs?

Stumbled upon when browsing through Etsy shops.

2) Why did you choose this top/icon? Ms. Nina Simone is hands down one of the greatest musicians I have ever heard. I remember the first time I saw a video of her performing "I Ain't Got No, I Got Life," I had it on repeat for days. She had such incredible presence, talent, and personality. I have a magical connection with her music and I wanted to have a little piece of her with me.

3) Tell me about yourself.

I am a student, a teacher, scribe, artist--just a lady looking to get up on some extra cash for school books and start up community projects. I believe in having an active conscious and that everything can have a purpose when applied creatively. That's what I try to do. So far, I have put my creative energy into spoken word, painting, and jewelry. I lend my artistic abilities towards challenging myself, inspiring my niece and nephew, enriching communities, and aiding grassroots movements around the world. You can view my work here. You can find my shop here.

4)What would you like to see more of at Nelesc Designs?

More cuffs! And just keep creating beautiful things as you are.

5) What are you reading or listening to nowadays?

Currently reading: The BFG by Roald Dahl, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Versos Sencillos by Jose Marti, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.
Currently listening: Songs Out Here by That Ghost and Post No Dreams by Brad Hamers aka Phlegm.

Okay, I've made a mental note: more cuffs! Thank you for sharing and for being an inspiration Shannon!

My First Tutorial: Make a Cuff from a Boot!

2011-06-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

This is my first tutorial and I'm so excited! As some of you know who read my blog, I have a love affair with cuffs. I started out making fabric cuffs to give as gifts back in 2009. These were fun and easy to make. When my husband's leather coat got torn, I then then graduated to making leather cuffs. For more about my cuff journey, read this post from 2009.

This cuff I made from my old boot a long time ago.

My sister loved it so much that I decided to make her the same one from the other boot. I thought this was a great opportunity to take pics of the process to show you all. These are really easy to make and they open the door to a lot of possibilities. So here goes:

Here's my boot. I re-heeled it several times but the last time I went to the shoe repair, the owner told me there was no hope. I noticed that it had such a cute design detail and I immediately decided to make a cuff out of it.

I believe these are leather uppers. The first thing I did was to cut the top off, cutting around the zipper.

I then turned it around and cut all the excess seaming . This will make it easier to sew.

This is what you are left with at this point. Make sure you leave enough room on the top and bottom to fold in and stitch. Also note the tiny seam on the middle bottom. I decided to leave it in and just fold over which made it a bit difficult to get it on but I didn't want to lose the finished look it gave it.

Fold in and stitch the top and bottom. I have a factory machine and used a #18 needle. Make sure your machine is equipped to sew leather.

Since it already has a snap, I used that for a closure and stitched the other end. Like I said, I left that previous seam. This is what it looked like after the sewing. I guess you could also totally cut it but I didn't want to lose the finished look. Do you think my hand fit through it?

Yes it did! With a little shove.

My sister and I wearing our cuffs. Now we're ready for action!

I hope this inspired you to turn those old boots into something useful. You can also look at interesting details on purses and belts. The possibilities are endless! Tell me what you think.

Camouflage Jacket to Camouflage Tote Bag

2011-06-06T07:05:00.000-07:00

Face it people, sometimes it feels like there is a war going on out there, and you need to be armed with your camouflage tote bag!

This is a recent reconstruction that I wanted to share with you. It's a camouflage jacket that I turned into a tote. I love the way it came out and I decided to sell it in my, shop.

Before picture

Camouflage Tote Bag, $30.00.
Available at http://www.nelesc.etsy.com/

I transferred the pockets to the bag, two in the front and two in the back and I lined it with recycled denim. There are more pictures of it in my shop so check it out and tell me what you think.

New Nelesc Designs 2011 Spring/Summer Collection

2011-05-21T10:16:00.000-07:00

I apologize for this late post. I have been very busy working on this collection and then had some family issues to deal with which did not allow me to post this as fast as I wanted to but....here it is, my 2011 Spring/Summer Nelesc Designs Collection.

My Spring/Summer collection is centered around three items; a tank top, a sleeved top, and a dolman sleeve tunic. These are all designed and produced by me in various colors and sizes. This collection continues to speak to my idea of the glorified t-shirt; stylish, casual clothes that make a statement, that are conversation starters. It also continues to showcase my love of color combining that is reminiscent of my past work with color blocking, fabric scraps and t shirt reconstruction.

I will continue screenprinting my collection of icons onto the tops but will offer the tops without the icon if the customer wishes. I believe my designs can stand on their own as well.

Hourglass Tunic.
Available in S/M and L/XL

Striped Tank Top. Available in S, M, L, XL

Striped Tank Top also available in these colors with your choice of icon.

Baloon Sleeve Top.
Available in S,M,L,XL

Balloon Sleeve Top also available in these colors too.

Akawelle Jewelry: Talk About Transformation!

2011-02-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

18" necklace, AKAWELLE.COM

I came across Akawelle Jewelry while reading an issue of Lucky Magazine. I couldn't rip the page fast enough as I knew I wanted to write about it on my blog.

These beautiful charms are made from discarded bullet casings by Lovetta Conto. Lovetta was forced to flee war-torn Liberia with her father when she was a little girl. The 18 year old says, "I thought if I could take something that caused so much pain and destruction and melt it down into something beautiful, I would be showing that transformation is possible." All the profits go to Strong Heart Fellowship Program, which benefits kids displaced by conflict. Check it out, these pendants are beautiful!!!

Founder of Akawelle Jewelry, Lovetta Conto

Another Wardrobe Transformation!

2011-01-31T13:57:00.000-08:00

So here's another wardrobe transfomation. This past summer, I was looking through my closet and noticed this aqua blue top that I hardly wear. I had to ask myself, why don't I wear this top? What's up with that? I realized I didn't wear it because it was kind of ill fitting, so I said to myself, either you transform it or it goes to the salvation army. I chose transformation and this is what I came up with.

Here's a pic of the top pre-transformation. My son took the picture so he chopped my head off, lol.

Then I looked in my fabric stash and found this cute polka dot fabric that sort of had the same aqua color as the top. You might recognize it from this post.

I made a skirt out of it. Then I cut the top so that it met the skirt at the waist and sewed the two together leaving enough space so that I could insert an elastic. Voila, instant dress. I paired it with a belt and it looks really cute. I wore it a lot in the summer and even wear it now, with a long sleeve top and boots.

What do you think?

WARDROBE TRANSFORMATION: Maternity Top to Cute Little Shrug!

2011-01-25T16:32:00.000-08:00

One thing that I wanted to add to the blog this year is to post more of my wardrobe transformations and tutorials. The whole idea of redemtion and transformation is very important to me and it extends to my own clothes.

So here's a maternity top that I converted to a cute little shrug. Boy was I big! I liked wearing form fitting tops to show off my belly. I think I was pregnant with my second here, although I can't remember because I wore this top for both pregnancies. Anyway, this was super easy. I just cut it in the back and added the ribbing to keep it snug on my shoulders. Voila! What do you think?

New Year, New Me

2011-01-05T12:11:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! I am so excited about 2011. I have so many new things that I want to do with this blog and my shop. I will definitely tell you about them soon in an upcoming post.

For now, I wanted to show off this top which I made at the end of December. I bought this fabric months ago and have made two other things from it. I only had a little of it left so I decided to use if for the sleeves of this butterfly top. It's a little tighter than I wanted, showing off my chichos (spanish slang for love handles!) But I love it because the print actually looks like a butterfly design. It represents how I am feeling these days; full of new life and transformation!

How are you feeling about the new year?

Fan Love Interviews - Cherisse Rivera

2010-11-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

If you are a "liker" of my fan page on Facebook then you know that I have a section called Fan Love where I post pictures of people wearing their Nelesc Designs duds. Well, I decided to take it a step further on my blog and not only post a picture but also give my clients a chance to tell the world who they are and promote their business and/or other endeavors. I also share my blog posts with my personal and fan page friends so more people, besides my blog followers, will be in on how great my fans are.

Cherisse Rivera was the first person to take me up on my offer and here she is rockin' the Billie Holiday puff sleeve jacket I made for her. She was a pleasure to work with and I am so proud to be featuring her today.

1) How did you find out about Nelesc Designs?

Heard about it by looking for women's t-shirts on etsy.com

2) Why did you choose this top/icon? I love Billie Holiday pictures, I have a few products with her face on them, plus I am more of a moderate politically, so I chose it because I think its more "me" than some other icons.

3) Tell me about yourself.

By day, I work in the legal/consulting field. Other than that, I am working with a website called http://fusicology.com/. Fusicology is a website that has a presence in a number of cities. It promotes progressive music culture through event listings and relevant content. We love all music, but this website tends to give a greater voice to indie artists, especially neosoul artists.

4)What would you like to see more of at Nelesc Designs?

New icon "faces", especially for the cuffs. Perhaps some handbags as well.

5) What are you reading or listening to nowadays?

Reading: "John Henry Days", and listening- Authenticity by Foreign Exchange

Note to self: new icon faces! Thanks Cherisse, I need to get started on that. From our e-mail chats I could tell how cool Cherisse was and I was right! When you get a chance, check out Fusicology, I did and it's a really great sight for music lovers!

Puerto Rican Artisan Fair This Past Saturday

2010-11-26T07:58:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday I participated in my very first craft fair. I was among the 40 or so artists who had a table at the 5th Annual Puerto Rican Artisans Fair at Hostos Community College. I came armed with my friend Sheila who helped me set up and eased my anxiousness with her fair business experience. She felt sick that day but I was so grateful she took the time to help me out.

Sheila at the table

Julia de Burgos and Pedro Albizu tops

Anyway, I had a super time. It felt so great to be part of such a talented pool of artists that were also Boricua (Puerto Rican). There were painters, photographers, wood workers, dollmakers, etc. There was such a great feeling of support and encouragement as we went around to each other's tables. My table was between Jorge Gonzalez, an amazing painter who uses collage elements, and Ivelisse Pabon, and artist and dollmaker. Jorge comes from North Carolina every year for the fair and Yvelisse makes makes her way from Massachussetes. I realized how prestigious it is to be accepted in this arena. Towards the end there was music, and dancing and it felt like a casual get together with people I have known a lifetime. I am always proud of being Puerto Rican but on Saturday, there was a special connection I felt to my people that I had not felt in a long time. I need to do this more often.

Want to know the best part? When I saw my mom, my sister Melissa and my nieces walk through the door. I have to say that I did shed some tears at their show of support. My mom whispered how proud she was of me and my sister also gleamed with excitement. That meant the world to me. I also have to thank my hubby who was home sick taking care of my boys. I can't do Nelesc Designs without him.

My mom and I

My sister Melissa and I

Finally, a big shout out to Luis Cordero who organized the fair and encouraged me to apply. Luis runs cemiundergound.com where you could find cool Pedro Albizu Campos gear amongst other Puerto Rican items. I will be doing a feature on him in a future post. Enjoy the pics! There's more on my facebook fanpage if you would like to join. Just search for Nelesc Designs. God Bless!

Puerto Rican Artisan Fair in the Bronx is Where I'll Be!

2010-11-16T12:19:00.000-08:00

This is where I will be on Saturday selling my Puerto Rican items !!!!! The 5th Annual Comité Noviembre Puerto Rican Artisans Fair & Exhibit, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2010, Hostos Community College – 450 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY, 11AM – 9PM.

I am super excited about participating and joining with 40 other Puerto Rican vendors. I plan to sell my tops, cuffs, and maybe some hats if I get to finish them in time! This is a great opportunity to meet my clients in person and get feedback on my work.

The Artisan Fair and Exhibit was established in 2006, in celebration of Comité Noviembre’s, 20th anniversary. Over 40 artesanos puertorriqueños from throughout the US and Puerto Rico participated and the event boasted an attendance of over 5000 people in this very first Fair. Last year’s Fair continued to exceed CN’s expectations with over 60 artisans participating and a steady 5000 people.

For the past four years, CN has transformed, Hunter College West Building and the Church of St. Paul the Apostle into a typical Puerto Rican plaza with a fountain, palm trees, piragua and coquito carts and artists, sculptors, vejigante mask makers promoting and selling their wares while musical and cultural acts entertained throughout the day. This year will be no different at Hostos. CN will also continue to conduct cultural workshops for children and adults, like mask making, the history of the three kings’ celebration, Taíno storytelling in order to make sure that our youth learn about our culture.

Workshops on prevention and screenings for diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol and other tests will also be conducted in Hostos’ state-of-the-arts Nursing Program facilities, and educational and preventative information will be distributed.

This FREE Fair will be advertised as an opportunity to kick-off the holiday shopping season by supporting our artesanos and at the same time kick-off the New Year healthy.

For more information visit us online at: http://ComiteNoviembre.org. If you are on Twitter, follow @comitenoviembre.

She's No Dummy

2010-11-04T12:02:00.000-07:00

I just had to post this. It's from the October 23rd New York Daily News. Yes, I read the Daily News, they have some great fashion coverage and pics, okay??? lol.

It caught my eye because the caption reads, "scantily clad mannequins are immune to the fall chill in the air yesterday outside shop on Ward Ave. in the Bronx." I used to live on Ward Avenue in the Bronx during my High School years. I would go up and down the block looking in all the clothing shops as my fashion sense was blossoming. I went to Laguardia High School of Music and Art so you could imagine the various fashion styles at my disposal! The kids there wore capes and mohawks to school so anything went! I really experimented a lot during that time, trading in my uptight ruffled blouses (which I wrote about here) for striped socks and thrift store finds. Let's just say, my mom was not happy!

Nelesc Designs Tiny Little Fall Collection

2010-10-29T11:34:00.000-07:00

Well, here it is, my tiny 2 piece fall collection. It's really a three piece collection but I still have not had time to photograph the last piece and I couldn't wait. I wanted to keep true to my passion for reconstruction/refashioning/redeeming so these are made from reconstructed sweatshirts. A lot of people really like the puff sleeve jacket which makes me so happy. I have been making various versions of it and it's been such a wonderful process. View more pics in my shop .

Puff Sleeve Jacket, $60.00

Asymmetrical Big Collar Sweatshirt, $40.00

These are made to order and can be made with different color combinations and icons. You can check the shop for details. Tell me what you think.

"Take This from Me, You Take My Life"

2010-10-25T12:14:00.001-07:00

Tumani (Hope), 38. Tailor
“This sewing machine is all I could take with me. It was heavy, difficult to carry, but I couldn’t leave it behind. This sewing machine feeds my eight children and me. If someone were to take this from me, they would be taking my life.”

I saw this image on Amayel’s blog. Amayel (not her real name) is a woman after my own heart, she's a peace advocate, likes fashion, reads, is a thinker, and I love her blog! She writes a lot about African politics, muslim issues, and everything in between, like me. She is very well-rounded. I am definitely a follower.

Anyway, this photo really hit me. This is how I am feeling more and more about my sewing machine. It has really provided me a way of contributing to my household as well as participating, in my own way, in this thing we call fashion. I cannot compare my situation at all with Tumani's but Tumani, I am with you, take this and you take my life!

Now, for a little background: this photo was part of portrait photographer Rankin's latest exhibition which focused on survivors of the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The exhibition, called From Congo with Love, opened in February in London's South Bank. It was a collaboration between charity Oxfam and the man who has previously photographed Kate Moss and the Queen.

Eastern Congo is one of the most violent places in the world. Two million people have been made refugees and live with host families who take them into their tiny shacks. Rankin said: "My style of portraiture is about bringing people out of themselves, getting them to share something. I chose to photograph the people against a white background instead of in their physical environment. "The expressions in their eyes and on their faces - their humanity - was what I wanted people to notice and relate to."

Here are some other images:

Furaha Vumilia, 65. Basket maker
“It takes two weeks to make a basket – but it only sells for 260 francs (25p). How can you work for two weeks to make 25p? I fled when the war came. People were throwing bombs into our houses. I was living with my son. He and his wife were killed. I fled with my two grandsons. One is 15 and the other 13. They are orphans now.”

Rehema Buera, 52. Restaurant owner
“I lost my husband and four of my children because of this war. After the attack, there were dead bodies everywhere in my village. I found the dead bodies of my husband and my four eldest children – all shot in the head. That day, 175 people from my village were murdered.”

Banza Masamba, 47. Hairdresser
“There are 24 of us in the camp, living in four small huts. The worst moment in my life is right now. We want peace. That’s all. Peace so that we can go back home. We want you people to talk to the politicians and ask them to stop this war.”

Wow. I'm speechless.

Mountains That Take Wing, Part II

2010-10-22T11:30:00.001-07:00

I am so late with this post. I was supposed to do it right after the 18th. Anyway, here are some things that I learned about the movie, Mountains That Take Wing, that I didn't already know.

1- Angela Davis' mom was also an activist, "the seeds were sewn", she says.

2-Davis started an interracial group that met in a church to discuss issues of discrimination and race. When did she start this group, you ask? AT AGE 11!!! Isn't that amazing? How many people are thinking about this stuff at eleven years old?

3- Yuri Kochiyama corresponded with Lolita Lebron while she was in prison.

4- Both Davis and Kochiyama work heavily with political prisoners today and the issue of prisons in general. They educate the public about the business of prisons and the racial discrimination that exists within this institution.

5-Puerto Rican political prisoners were the longest imprisoned group.

I learned a lot more but I wanted to give you a little tid bit. I really hope this movie will be available to the public. I definitely would like to have a copy. To learn more about the movie, go to http://www.reelsisters.org/.

Mountains That Take Wing, Part 1

2010-10-18T16:56:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, October 17 I went to see MOUNTAINS THAT TAKE WING, a documentary that featured "conversations between Angela Davis, an internationally re-knowned scholar-activist, and 88 year old Yuri Kochiyama, a revered grassroots community activist and 2005 Nobel Peace Prize nominee." It was held at the Brooklyn Campus of Long island University. I went to see this film with my Titi (aunt) Nellie. It was a wonderful educational experience and seeing it with my aunt made it even more special.

Through the intimacy and depth of conversations, which span 13 years, we learn about Davis' and Kochyama's shared experiences as political prisoners and their profound passion for justice. But we also see a humanity, an intimacy, a "regularness" (if you will) to these powerful women. They were laughing and joking, sometimes struggling for words. Kochiyama was sitting on her bed and Davis sat across from her in what seemed like a revolutionary pajama party I was so blessed to be part of, even if virtually. It was great to see them in this relaxexd setting.

After the show, I reiterated this to my aunt "it was so good to see them in that way, in such an intimate setting." I am so used to seeing these women in posters, t-shirts, MY OWN TOPS AND JACKETS, in iconic stance, powerful, confident. The kind of woman I want to be. My Titi Nellie said, "well you finally humanized them." That really grabbed my attention, "I finally humanized them." She was right. Davis and Kochiyama ARE regular people just like you and me. Regular people have the potential to be activists, to speak up, to advocate. Hmmm. Perceiving these iconic people solely through their images on posters and t shirts does them a diservice. They lived radical regular lives in order to inspire us to do the same.

We watched Yuri and Angela in conversation and this led to my Titi and I having a conversation. My aunt is another outspoken women who grew up in th 60s and 70s. She has always been one of the stronger women in my family, she lived by her own rules, didn't bow down to convention. I always longed to be like her; worldly, knowing, sophisitcated. As we sat down to dinner at a restaurant on 91st, she shared a lot with me. I'm not a little girl anymore so our relationship is more on a peer level now. She was vulnerable and raw. I guess I too made her into an iconic figure of liberation in my life. I romanticized her into being something she in reality wasn't always. She also became more human to me that night. And that's a good thing. Seeing Angela's, Yuri's, and my Titi's vulnerability made me want to strive more too. Made me want to work out my own style of activism and liberation in my own vulnerable, regular way. Now they have become even more powerful in my eyes.

Tomorrow I will talk about what I learned through the film. Some little known revolutionary facts. Stay tuned.

Show Your Sari

2010-10-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

I was very intrigued when I saw this article, a while back, in the November 2008 issue of Working Mother magazine. According to Show Your Sari, "new research suggests that middle schoolers don’t need to feel trendy to feel good" and that "11-14 year olds who dress according to the customs of their own ethnic group are less likely to have mental health problems than those who don’t."

I started thinking about my middle school years. I used to really dress up for school! I would wear ruffle blouses, dresses, and skirts. Maybe it had to do with the fact that I wasn’t allowed to wear pants because of my very legalistic, Pentecostal church upbringing. Although I wished I could wear pants, I did like dressing up so perhaps my frilly get-ups and my feeling good in them did contribute to my not having a mental breakdown. Lol. It really goes to show that when you feel good dressing in your particular style, you don’t have to bow to trends.

Here are a couple of pics of me in Junior High School. This one is from my JHS yearbook. It's hard to see the detail but I am wearing a very high collar ruffly white blouse with a skirt. I definitely did not dress my age!

This is me in seventh grade. I LOVED this pink tie neck top. I don't know how many times I wore it. I know it was a lot!

Wondering what ethnic cultural dress keeps me sane now? ....My Pedro Albizu Campos tops! This one is still available in my shop!

Reconstruction from the Vault

2010-10-05T11:59:00.000-07:00

As you might know, I love to reconstruct clothes. Taking an existing garment and transforming it, gives me such a sense of satisfaction. It's Fashion redemption!!!! I love it. I just got my burdastyle weekly e-mail. They had a remake challenge that they posted a while ago. I am trying to concentrate on my shop so I didn't enter any of my stuff, but if I had, I might have entered this little number that I made back in 2008. It's kind of space agey but I love it. It was my mom- in-law's sweater. She gave it to me a while ago but it looked a little frumpy so, voila! I turned the collar around, placed the placket diagonally across the body, cut the sleeves, and added ruffles to the shoulders. I look like a space age Jedi fighter. I like it. What do you think?

Another Etsy treasury

2010-10-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

I am catching up here on some shop news. So here is another treasury from September in which a Nelesc item was chosen. RoseofLinden chose my purple Nina Simone top for her theme, Antartic Traveler. I think she was mostly interested in the color of my top than Nina, but that's okay. I am just happy she chose it!

Here's a close up.

The items in this treasury all have a tinge of purple in them. Very beautiful. RoseofLinden makes really cute jewelry. Check out her shop here.

Etsy Treasury #2

2010-10-02T14:21:00.000-07:00

It feels so good to be recognized. Back in August my Che Guevarra cuff was chosen for an Etsy treasury. I was too busy to post it then with the kids out of school and all, but here it is.

And here's a close up.

It's the second Che Guevarra item chosen for a treasury. I love seeing it in this kind of context with other people who create in honor of this cultural hero. Thank you Indira Villalobos for choosing my piece. Indira and I have a love of Frida in common. Check out this coral Frida bracelet from her shop.

Romper No. 3. Great Transition Piece for the Fall.

2010-09-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

This my third romper and I really, really love it! This one is made from a wool polka dot knit and if I add boots and a turtle neck, I could also wear it in the Fall! I wore it to church yesterday and it is so super comfy, I didn't take it off til 9:30 at night.

What do you think?

I'm Not Just the President, I am a Client!

2010-08-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

I was so happy when I woke up with a morning chill. I said to myself, "yay! I can wear one of my sweatshirt jackets this morning!" You don't know how much I have been longing for fall. I love fall fashion, especially jackets. Not to mention that I have been living with my crazy, frizzy, unruly hair in a headband and bun almost ALL summer. It's been so hot and humid in New York this year that I couldn't even wear it curly for fear that I would pass out.

Anyway, this is one of my first Frida sweatshirt jackets that I made for myself. I love it so much, it's so warm and cozy and such a conversation piece. My friends really liked it and it's what got me on the road to making more and selling them in my shop.

(don't you love my big forehead? Tyra Banks has nothing on me! LOL!)

I will definitely try to whip out some more this fall but with a little twist. Stay tuned. Love ya!

Romper Love

2010-08-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's my second romper and I really love it. I used McCalls 6083 pattern and was quite pleased with the results. This is actually a reconstruction. Last year I saw these hideous knitted dresses on sale for $1!!!! So I bought like seven of them knowing that I would use the fabric to make something else (I wish I would have taken pics of them before I ripped them up). Anyway, this romper is made from the skirt portions of 4 of the dresses. It is a very thin burgundy knit but it works okay. I wore it today to take my little one to the sitter and do some romping in the super market. Here I am romping in my front yard! I will definitely make another one. I have a black polka dot knit that will transition nicely into the fall. The only change I would make is to make it longer and to ruch the shoulders a bit more.

What do you think?

First Attempt at Romper

2010-08-12T12:49:00.000-07:00

I have been sewing a lot for myself this summer as I realized that my wardrobe needed a pick me up and I am bursting at the seams (pun intended) with fabric so I needed to do some serious fabric stash busting. I have made two rompers, a top, and two dresses. I will definitely show pics soon!

Here you have my first attempt at making a romper (sorry for the blurry pics, I think I need a new camera!). I chose a black knit with leafy detail that I got for $1.00 a yard at Savathon on Fordham Road. When I first embarked on this journey I thought, "how hard can this be? It's just a top and pants attached at the waist with elastic, I don't need a pattern." So I went on my merry way and cut it out without a pattern. Well, it is not what I envisioned it to be. The top turned out too fitted and the waist is lower than what I wanted, it looks like a dropped waist. That said, it is passable and I have worn it twice already.

I since have made another one that I really like, from a pattern. Hey, sometimes a girl needs a little help. I will show pics soon, hopefully better ones.

I was featured in Princess Dominique's wonderful fashion blog!

2010-07-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to announce that I was featured in Princess Dominique's fashion blog. This is a well established style and beauty blog hosted by Princess Dominique, a dynamic, amazing multifaceted woman who has been blogging since 2004. Born and raised in the Bronx and a former student of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Miss Princess Dominique is better known for her weekly shoe giveaway and looks forward to launching her shoe line in 2012.

Please take a look around her blog (after you read my piece first, of course, LOL). She has some amazing features on other very talented designers as well as loads of fashion/beauty advice and witty social observations. I am so honored to be in such company. Thank you Princess Dominique!!!

Nelesc Designs and LEAD Uganda!

2010-06-21T11:22:00.000-07:00

I am so happy to announce that Nelesc Designs will be partnering with LEAD Uganda!! LEAD Uganda is an educational leadership initiative for abandoned children affected by AIDS, war and poverty. It was founded in 2004 by Stephen Shames, a New York based photojournalist on assignment in Uganda in 2000. "While photographing AIDS orphans, children affected by war,
and street kids in Africa, Asia, and Latin America — Steve ran into children who desperately wanted to go to school but couldn’t because they lacked school fees. In Uganda, children often got sent home from school because they don’t have a pen or paper. Steve realized a small amount of money could transform a child’s life." (http://www.leaduganda.org)./ Thus LEAD Uganda was born.

I have been looking for ways to use Nelesc Designs as a vehicle that would help others in need. Early this year, a choir made up of Ugandan orphans came to my church to sing. Unfortunately, I was not in church that day but my husband told me all about it and through his zeal and heartfelt description, I was really touched. Although Nelesc Designs, is a small, part time business, that experience caused me to ponder ways that I could give back. As I mention in my website, the image of Angela Davis which I screen print on some of my items, is based on the 1969 photograph taken by Stephen Shames. When I found out that he was the Founder and Executive Director of LEAD Uganda, I thought, "this is it! It felt so natural, not to mention, the right thing to do, to contact Steve in hopes that we could create a partnership between our two ventures. Stephen Shames is a world renowned photographer, who creates award winning photo essays on social issues for foundations, advocacy organizations, the media, and museums. He has published various books, and his images can be found in the permanent collections of many museums and art institutions. He is also the nicest guy to talk to on the phone. After exchanging e-mails and phone conversations, we decided to come together. So.....starting in May of this year, I will be donating a percentage of my Angela Davis item sales to LEAD Uganda. Please know that you will be supporting this wonderful, worthy organization by buying Angela Davis at Nelesc Designs.

To know more about LEAD Uganda, click here. To know more about Stephen Shames, go to http://www.stephenshames.com/.

Nelesc Designs 2nd Year Anniversary = FREE SHIPPING!

2010-05-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

I was looking at my journal the other day (yes, I keep a journal, nerdy, I know). On September 17, 2005 I wrote "today I have been thinking a lot about starting a fashion business..." September 19, 2005 read, "I am now ambivalent about the whole fashion/sewing business. I wonder if it's really worth it, if people would really buy my stuff, if I'm good enough..." On September 22nd I wrote, "I am feeling more and more comfortable with this duo, art and fashion. I think I want to design t-shirts with inspirational people on them..." It is so strange to read this back and forth. I totally remember feeling scared and nervous about launching Nelesc Designs. I had about 5 tops I had sewed myself and then stenciled revolutionary/famous people on them. Among them were Frida Kahlo, Angela Davis, Pedro Albizu Campos and Diana Ross. I had them around the house a long time until Sunday, May 25th, 2008. It was then, that I decided to just list them on Etsy already before I changed my mind. I then took the boys to my friend Sheila's house. I was so happy to just do it. I remember telling Sheila that I just opened a shop on Etsy.com and we went to the computer to check it out. Right after, I told my big sister and, bless her heart, she was my very first customer. So, go ahead, write your dreams down, even your fears about them. It's so cool to read these journal entries again. I am so glad God gave me the courage to dare take that first step. It's actually the dreams of the people on my shirts that inspired me and the encouragement of my friends and family that keeps me motivated. Thank you all so much!

So....as you guessed, today is Nelesc Designs second anniversary and to honor that, I would like to offer FREE SHIPPING on all of my items starting today until June 25th. You don't have to buy anything to help me celebrate. Just leave me a comment and tell me what you think. I always love feedback! Thank's again.

I Love Ruffles!

2010-05-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

That's right. I love ruffles, always have. I am so glad they are so in right now. From J Crew to Anthropologie, there are so many textured tops to choose from. Here are a couple of ruffly things I've been working on myself.

My Mother's day dress. I used a ruffled top of mine that I love and attached it to a skirt via an elastic waistband. I know it's hard to see the ruffles, I'll post better pics of my process soon.

Reconstructed t-shirt. I used Tea Rose Home's tutorial for this. You can find it here. (I'll post more pics of this transformation).

Ruffle detail I added to a dress I made (more pics to come).

I've been trying to find ways to add more texture to my clothing line. I know that eventually I will go a new direction but I am still not ready to stop printing my cultural icons. "How can I marry ruffles and other texture with printmaking without it looking too busy?", I thought. This is what I came up with. I love it! So much that I decided to keep this Nina Simone. Not to worry though, I made two more, which I will list tomorrow. I'll continue making them if people like them. Let me know what you think.

AIDS WALK TOP

2010-05-16T19:18:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I made an AIDS ribbon top for my friend S who was participating in the AIDS walk yesterday. I wrote about her and her story in this post. I am so proud of her and am so happy I got the opportunity to do this for her. Next year I am definitely walking with her.

My First Treasury!

2010-05-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention that one of my tops was chosen for a treasury on May 7th! What is a treasury? Thanks for asking. Well a treasury is a collection of etsy products that someone puts together in some sort of appealing way. It is a tool to promote shops on Etsy.com (the site my shop is on). This treasury was put together by Angela from Baby Shower Supplies and the theme was Cuban goodies. She chose my Che top to represent! Thank you so much Angela!

Angela's baby shower shop specializes in diaper cakes and favors. It will definitely come in handy if you are ever in charge of putting a baby shower together. She also has another wonderful shop that specializes in hair accessories called Stella Pearl. Here she showcases her beautiful hairclips, knit hats and crocheted headbands. Love the plastic head models! Definitely give these a look see.

Happy Birthday to Me

2010-05-08T20:49:00.000-07:00

When you have kids, the best gift you can get on your birthday is the gift of sleep and alone time. That is what my kids gave me on my birthday (which was yesterday). My youngest, D, who has sleep issues and has not allowed me a good nights sleep in the last 8 months, slept 7 1/2 hours the night before my birthday. Thank you D, much appreciated!!! I also decided to drop him off at the babysitter's so I can have some alone time with moi for 2 hours.

One of the first things I did was don my favorite flower headband (yes, I made it myself!) and go straight to Duncan Donuts as to not deny myself a bagel and butter. I have been abstaining from bread but today was an exception. It was my birthday and I was going to have it darn it! I came home, sat on the front yard bench, and was in heaven! It was me, my bagel, and the sweet sound of chirping birds. I then went upsatirs, did a little sewing, my mom came over and I spent time with her, and then I picked up D.

In the afternoon, I decided to share my alone time with my eldest boy, M. My youngest is very demanding, which often leads me to spend more time with him than with M. I have been trying to find more ways to spend alone time with M and so my hubby had the great idea of my going out with M for my birthday while he stayed with D. M took me out for dinner and a movie that night. His father slipped him a couple bucks to play the part. Very smooth, I must say. It was a beautiful end to my special day.

Happy Birthday to me!

New to Nelesc Designs

2010-04-28T13:39:00.000-07:00

Here are two new top styles added to the shop. The first is a semi sheer purple v-neck top available in S,M,L, and XL and the second is a semi sheer raglan sleeve top available in pink, grey and blue (check the shop for sizes). These are great for this in between crazy weather we are having in New York. One day it's 40 degrees and the next day it's 70 degrees. Crazy! Because they are semi sheer they are wonderful for layering. I am wearing them here with a black tank top. They are also great for those of you who don't like to show your arms even in the hot weather. I know a couple of people like that. Their sheeriness makes them comfortable to wear when it's warm.

Here, you'll see my usual icons. I did make a new screen for a new face but I need to tweak it a bit. I am hoping to finish it this week and unveil it next week. Stay tuned and tell me what you think! I love feedback.

Cuff Month

2010-04-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

Forgive me readers for I have sinned, it's been two months since my last blog post! Yes, it's been a while but I continue to desire to update you on what has been going on. So here goes.

I will call the month of March (and some of April) Cuff Month! I have been getting a lot of orders for my cuffs and most of them have been coming from my dear friend M who has become my bestest customer in the world! I am going to have to give her an award, seriously! I last wrote about M in this post back in January of 2009. Well, M, asked me if I was interested in a wholesale gig and I said YES! So this is what I have been working on. I think I made her about 25 cuffs all together. It may not sound like a lot but when you have two kids and your babysitter decides to take a three week vacation, then it is a lot!!!!! But I did it and am so grateful for the opportunity. She has been selling them at various events and I am so happy for the exposure. It also pushed me to mix it up a bit in terms of the fabric choices. M suggetsed I do some of them with red fabric and I pulled a couple of switcheroos in terms of fabric and icons. Here are a couple of pics. You'll recognize the fabric from other cuffs I have done. These will be available in my shop soon.

By the way, M has a shop on etsy too. She sells beautiful, nostalgic, eccentric pieces that are amazingly crafted. Check out the Hand of Fatima Designs here.

Tomorrow, I'll talk a little about new additions to the shop.

The Artistic Mother

2010-02-24T06:59:00.000-08:00

I am ECSTATIC!!!! about this book, The Artistic Mother: A Practical Guide to Fitting Creativity into Your Busy Life by Shona Cole, and I cannot wait to get my copy. I browsed though it at the Barnes in Nobles at Cross County and it is definitely the book to have if you are a creative mom trying to squeeze artistic time into your life. If you have read my blog for some time, you know that this has been my challenge. I do carve out time to work on my my clothing line, Nelesc Designs, and this provides a great creative outlet. However, recently, I have been wanting to make more collage art like this, which I posted in March and I think this is the book to jumpstart it given that Shona herself is a collage artist. Since I can only work on my personal art projects when the baby is not at the sitter, I am looking forward to hearing about Shona's tips on creating more time for self expression.

Here is what you will find in her book:

• The Artist’s Workshop, a 12-week art course that teaches you how to bring creativity back into your life

• Step-by-step instructions for more than 12 finished art pieces celebrating motherhood and family

• A weekly action plan to help you make the best use of your time

• Artist Spotlights that introduce you to 7 inspiring artist-mommas

• Tips on creating time and space in your life for your art

• A beginner’s guide to each of three much-loved arts: poetry, photography and mixed media

You can purchase the book at various Barnes and Nobles or here at Amazon.com. Shona also has a wonderful blog which I also follow. Check it out at http://www.shonastudio.blogspot.com/.

Happy Birthday Julia de Burgos and FREE shipping!

2010-02-17T09:13:00.000-08:00

Julia de Burgos was born Febuary 17, 1914 in Carolina, Puerto Rico. She is considered by many as the greatest poet to have been born in Puerto Rico and generally considered as one of the greatest poets of Latin America. She was also an advocate for the independence of Puerto Rico and an ardent civil rights activist for women and African/Afro-Caribbean writers.

So....to honor this amazing woman, I would like to offer free shipping on each of the the two Julia de Burgos items in my shop. I will simply return your shipping fee to your PayPal account after you check out. This will go on for the rest of February and the entire month of March. I can also print this image on a top you send me and I will ship it for free.

Feliz Cumpleanos, Julia!

This shirt is Illegal, reconstruction from the past #2

2010-01-30T10:28:00.000-08:00

Here's another t-shirt reconstruction I did this past summer. My hubby got it from a VOM conference held in my church. VOM stands for The Voice of the Martyrs. The following is taken from their website, http://www.persecution.com/. "The Voice of the Martyrs is a non-profit, inter-denominational Christian organization dedicated to assisting the persecuted church worldwide. VOM was founded in 1967 by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand, who was imprisoned 14 years in Communist Romania for his faith in Christ. His wife, Sabina, was imprisoned for three years. In the 1960s, Richard, Sabina, and their son, Mihai, were ransomed out of Romania and came to the United States. Through their travels, the Wurmbrands spread the message of the atrocities that Christians face in restricted nations, while establishing a network of offices dedicated to assisting the persecuted church." When people see my website, some might think that I am a communist and atheist. I am neither. In fact, I am a Christian who loves Jesus. To me, He's the most powerful revolutionary of all because he spoke of revolution within. Just because I am a Christian doesn't mean that I can't be inspired by Che, Angela or Pedro (some of the people I screenprint). These people were passionate and risked their lives for the poor and disenfranchised. They weren't perfect, just passionate and that is what I celebrate. One day, when I find an image that does Jesus justice, I'll print it on a t-shirt. For now, I like my collection of cultural/revolutionary people and look forward to adding more.

Without further ado, here is this too big t-shirt transformed into a perfect, chic summer top. And yes, this shirt is illegal in 52 countries.

Reconstruction from the Past

2010-01-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

In keeping with my targeted posts, I am showing you one of my past t-shirt transformations that I never posted. I forgot who gave me this t-shirt but it was clearly too big. I added subtle flutter sleeves and a slit neckline.

Happy New Year!!! Blog and Nelesc Designs goals for 2010.

2010-01-22T10:21:00.000-08:00

My first blog post of the year!!! So sorry it took this long. I am really hoping that this year I can post more consistently. I know I said that last year, and although I improved from the year before, I still was not as steady as I wanted to be. I do want to do some new things with this blog which I hope will keep me motivated. As well as posting newly listed items from my shop, I would like to feature other Etsy shops, write about my creative process, interview other creative people and find out about their process, review books about art, fashion, spirituality, and motherhood, and feature contemporary, modern and historical people who have made a difference in the world. I know, I know, for someone who is not a consistent blogger, these are lofty plans but hey, at least I have a goal!

I also decided to focus my attention on three key elements concerning my shop. I will offer more ready made tops with my cultural icon screenprints in multiple sizes and colors. This has been a major request from my clients and I listened! I also plan to create more screens, particularly of men since I only have two males featured in my collection, and, in order to feed my love for design and reconstruction, I would like to do do more t-shirt reconstructions from pre-printed t-shirts and t-shirts I print myself. Not to mention, I still plan to be available for custom orders. I know I will probably vear a bit from this plan but again, a girl has to have a plan to vear from. LOL!! No, really, I really want to stick to this for 2010. When my smallest boy starts school in September, I will be able to do more, but right now I need to focus!!!

So, here's a little taste of some of my newly listed tops in multiple sizes and colors!!! Go to http://www.nelesc.etsy.com/ for more information on sizing. Enjoy, and please let me know what you think!!!

In Memory of Bryson Ross

2009-12-16T12:51:00.000-08:00

I was so saddened to hear that the son of a fellow mom blogger, Shellie Ross’s (@military_mom on twitter), drowned in her backyard pool. He was only 2.5 years old. That is the same age as my little Dan. I have no words except those that come from the Bible in Psalm 34:18, "The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit..."

Please join me in praying for this mom and her family in this time of suffering.

New Sweatshirt Jackets in my Etsy Store

2009-12-09T10:16:00.000-08:00

This is soooo long overdue! I apologize for not posting my new sweatshirt jacket pics. These are now up in my etsy store and have been getting some orders for them. Let me know what you think.

Sweatshirt jackets

2009-10-04T08:22:00.000-07:00

I am so excited! Yesterday I started on my sweatshirt jacket collection. A lot of people have given me positive feedback on these and I really enjoyed making them. Last year I got a late start and only sold a couple before the warm weather arrived so when saw a great deal on sweatshirts last week, I grabbed them and ran (well, of course, I paid for them first!) . D took a long nap yesterday, so I decided to plow away. I am going to start by making multiples of one design and then go from there. Can't wait to list them on my shop. Will update you soon!

Ladies and Gentleman, Introducing Leather Cuffs!

2009-09-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been almost two months since my last post. I like blogging about my projects but the irony is that if I don't sew, I have nothing to blog about. So I don't blog as often so I can give the time to sewing. So I think that until my youngest goes to school, I will always have this dance between sewing and blogging. I actually should be sewing right now! LOL! However, I felt compelled to tell you all about my newest addition to my shop, wallet leather cuffs featuring my customary cultural icons.

These were really fun to make. I first became interested in leather cuffs when I read about Bunny Lang in the January/February issue of Belle Armoire magazine (www.bunnylang.com). I filed the idea in my head for later use. Later on, I noticed my friend Shavon from church wearing leather cuffs all the time. This sweet girl was all of a sudden transformed into this tough chick. It really made any outfit mean business, she looked more serious in a rocker chic way. But again, I decided to file the idea. I didn’t have any leather and the thought of purchasing it didn't intrigue me.

It was months later, after tiring of constantly fixing the heel of my leather boots, that this idea once again popped in my head. The boots were too busted to give away so I decided to cut them up and begin on my first leather cuff.

I really liked it but how could I incorporate my passion for cultural icons on leather? This process made me realize that I really liked making cuffs and so perhaps, I thought, I could make fabric cuffs and include the icons there. I had been trying to find a craftier way to play with fabric and this was it!!! Thus, my fabric cuffs were born.

At first, these concentrated on family photos, I then incorporated the cultural icons. They were so much fun to make and I have sold quite a few. Then my friend Yesenia asked if I could make them more useful, like add a zipper, etc... I sat on this idea a while. I didn't know how the fabric would stand to yet another addition. I was already adding images, loop closures, buttons. Would they look too thick to wear? So again I simply pondered the idea while i continued to make the cuffs. Then Shavon showed me the inside of her leather cuff and I thought, "hey, with leather and snap closures, the zipper might work!" When part of my hubby' leather coat got ruined in the trunk of our car, I immediately asked him if I could keep the remaining good portion of it. he said yes (as long as i agree to make him a cuff) and I began snipping away.

Making the cuffs has been a tinkering process. I realized I had to buy thicker needles for my sewing machine as it would not sew through the leather at first. I also had to decide whether I wanted to leave the raw edges of the leather or bind them. At first I tried to bind the edges but it made some of the cuffs look bulkier. At the end I decided to leave the raw edge on most of the cuffs and sew around it. They look a bit rustic but I really like the way they came out. When using recycled materials you sometimes want the audience not to realize what it’s made of but in this instance it’s like I’m being true to where they came from. These are essentially strips of leather from a coat with snaps, a picture and a zipper. I like that. Hope you do too. Check them out at www.nelesc.etsy.com and tell me what you think. I love feedback!

I'm Back!

2009-08-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

Wow! I have not blogged for over a month and a half! I do apologize. I have not been abducted by aliens or anything like that. I actually have been working really hard on my business, http://www.nelesc.etsy.com/. I have been printing, sewing, listing and promoting on Facebook and etsy.com. It does makes sense to also blog but I just couldn't keep up with it all and I do love the immediacy that Facebook offers. However, there is something so special about blogging and I don't want to let it go. I am definitely committed to posting more often.

A major change that I made the last couple of months was to hire a babysitter for my little D. I realized that I needed to give creating some importance in my life. I was continuously feeling frustrated by the lack of time to sew or print and making things piecemeal was just not cutting it for me so I decided to do something about it and hired a babysitter once a week. That day I would sew and print all day. It has been glorious and I have seen sales go up because of it. Summer sales have been slow, though, so D hasn't been at the sitter this past month. I am taking advantage of the time to think about my fall fashion line and sewing for moi.

I also started a fanpage on Facebook for Nelesc Designs where I offer promotions for just fans and share tidbits about the business. To become a fan go to http//www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Nelesc-Designs/96002340477?ref=ts I will be offering free shipping this month so stay tuned.

Here are some items which I posted this summer so far. Some have sold, others are still available.

This is how my summer is going so far, how about you?

Angela Davis reconstructed top. This sold to someone in England!

Julia De Burgos top.

Frida Kahlo top made from scratch from shirting material.

Frida Kahlo dress made from reconstructed t-shirts.

Billie Holiday top made from t-shirt scraps. This one sold.

2009-05-14T06:11:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while but I have not been sitting around idle. I joined a gym so that I could do something for YO on a regular basis and I also got babysitting once a week so that I can work on building up my etsy shop. That is precisely what I have been doing. I have a couple of new tops on there that I am excited about. This is one of my favorites. As you might know from my cuffs, I am a big fan of the repeated image so i decided to try it on a top using Angela Davis' image. What do you think? I think it makes a fashionable, powerful statement.

Monday's Muse

2009-03-30T14:29:00.000-07:00

So what is inspiring me these days? I always like to join with http://www.maternalspark.com/ to discuss this very question. In her blog, Heather says, "one of the biggest lessons I’m trying to learn is that just because I don’t have all the time in the world, doesn’t mean I don’t have time to do something. If I have 10 minutes, I can do 10 minutes worth of something creative." Sound familiar? I am always complaining here about my lack of time, the fact that I hate creating without long stretches of time but I think I have embraced the 10 minute dilemma. My fabric cuffs were the start of this and now I have been having fun creating t-shirt shrugs/vests with some of my left over scrap pieces. After cutting the pieces it practically takes 45 minuters to an hour to complete. they are great little shoulder toppers or add a sense of color to a black ensemble. Here are some pics of one I made. I need these short-on-time projects to help me feel productive in between the larger ones.

Heather also recommends looking at http://www.onehourcraft.com/. I LOVED browsing around this site. I totally recommend it if you are creative and are short on time.

Mirabal Sisters Cuff

2009-03-26T11:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a new addition to my Nelesc Design's shop on etsy. It's a cuff feauturing the Mirabal sisters. The Mirabal sisters were political activists and highly visible symbols of resistance to Rafael Trujillo’s dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. . They were repeatedly jailed, along with their husbands, for their revolutionary activities toward democracy and justice. On November 25, 1960, three of the Mirabal sisters, Minerva, Patria and Teresa were murdered, along with Rufino de la Cruz, their driver, by members of Trujillo’s secret police. The three women were being driven by Rufino to Puerto Plata to visit their imprisoned husbands. The bodies of the three sisters were found at the bottom of a precipice, broken and strangled. The news of their brutal assassinations shocked and outraged the nation and helped propel the anti-Trujillo movement. Trujillo was assassinated on May 30, 1961 and his regime fell soon after.The Mirabal sisters have become symbols of both popular feminist resistance. In the years since their deaths, they have been commemorated in poems, songs, and films.

I really loved making this cuff. I have been an admirer of the Mirabal sisters for years and am so glad one of my clients requested it. Here, the design consists of three stenciled images, one for each sister, Maria Teresa, Minerva, and Patria. They are framed by an abstract/island like pattern in soft pastels, a bow to their femininity and Caribbean culture. The stark black and white portraits of these strong, fearless women, make this a powerful and stylish piece. Check it out at http://www.nelesc.etsy.com/.

Remembering Archbishop Oscar Romero

2009-03-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

Today, March 24, is the anniversary of the death of Archbishop Oscar Romero. I remember learning about Archbishop Romero in one of my Latin American history classes in college. His story immediately impacted my life. As a Christian, I was always looking for role models who engaged in the world. I was raised in a very strict church that viewed the world as evil and encoraged its members to retreat inside its own comfortable walls. I was struck by this preacherman's compassion for the poor and the courageous stance he took against those that opressed them. I would like to be like him.

This is a short biography from http://salsa.net/peace/faces/romero.html

Oscar Romero was born in Ciudad Barrios, a town in the mountainous east of El Salvador, on August 15, 1917. He was the second of seven children. When he was thirteen he declared a vocation to the priesthood. In February 1977, Oscar Romero became archbishop of San Salvador.

As Archbishop of San Salvador, Father Romero was a source of strength and hope for the poor and for the oppressed of his country, working with and for them, taking their struggles as his own. Romero wrote and spoke passionately and publicly of the need for Christians to work for justice, frequently faced with threat and danger from those who opposed his ideas. On March 24, 1980, while celebrating the Eucharist, Archbishop Romero was shot and killed at the altar by a death squad assassin, paying the highest price for the commitment about which he spoke so often and so eloquently. Because of his courageous stand for justice, he became a martyr not only for poor Salvadorians but for all struggling to overcome oppression and poverty. Today, his sermons are read as powerful reminders of Christians' obligation to fight for a just society. Shortly before he was murdered, Romero said: "It is my hope that my blood will be the seed of freedom and the sign that hope will soon be reality." The example of Romero's courageous life and ultimately death continue to inspire those who struggle for human dignity and justice.

Faith through Art

2009-03-23T05:43:00.000-07:00

I am once again joining with www. maternalspark.com to talk about what is inspiring me this week. Well my son, M is. This is a collage I did two years ago in a moment of fear, doubt, and uncertainty, concerning his future. My oldest son, M, was diagnosed with autism when he was two. When I made this collage, M was about to enter Kindergarten and I was fighting with the Board of Education for an appropropriate setting for him as he is high functioning and had a lot of potential. They either wanted to put him in regular ed or in a low functioning program. Neither was acceptable to me. As I made countless calls, visited programs, prayed and cried out to God continuously, I decided to create art. I was lead to this verse in the Good Book, Jermiah 29:11, which says "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. " The text is over M's face as I am pictured praying. Somehow, creating and believing this simple image and text concoction symbolizing my giving M to God and letting Him handle the situation, let me rest.

M is now in an amazing inclusion program, talks a mile a minute, is a legos master, loves music and drama, and is quite assertive. He is an inspiration. Recently, my younger son also was diagnosed with mild autism. I immediately took this collage out in a moment of sadness. It made me feel hopeful. If God can work miracles with M, he will do it with D too. God's power and reassurance through art, never ceases to amaze me.

Productive Day Today

2009-03-17T17:22:00.000-07:00

I had such a productive day today. I have a great new customer who ordered a bunch of items which I am custom making for her and I am about done with the first item. She wants this jacket with longer sleeves, in black, and with Che Guevara on it. This is what I worked on today.

As I mentioned before, I hate working in piece meal fashion; cut the fabric one day, sew the bodice the other, the next, sew the sleeves, etc. I LOVE long stretches of creative time. Have I mentioned that before? Yes, about a zillion times on this blog. Anyway, I decided that with two kids, if I wanted to get anything done, I had to give into working this way. So I cut the pattern yesterday and would have been content today if I simply got the bodice of the jacket done. However, I was pleasantly surprised when my little D continued to be distracted by the fish tank, his toys and the Baby Einstein video I put on for him, that I just kept sewing. When he took his customery 2 hour nap, I was surprised to have finished the entire jacket save the buttons and the serging. So just when I finally gave into working piece meal, he goes and gives me time to finish the whole thing. Now I am spoiled and expect this same kind of behavior from him all the time. Aaaaaah what to do.

Finding my Inner Revolutionary

2009-02-04T14:23:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have written which means I have reneged on my promise to be more faithful at updating my blog this year. But here I am. I am not giving up yet. That's what revolutionaries do.

Revolutionary, me? Lately, I have not felt much like a revolutionary. The message of my clothing line is that you can strive for change just like the people on my designs did. However, recently, I have felt stuck. I remember the days when I used to march for the release of Irish and Puerto Rican political prisoners when I was in college, when my husband and I would buy canned food for the church pantry, when I used to hand out food to the homeless and pray for them. I miss my public life. I am now home with two kids with special needs and although I try really hard to perceive that as a revolutionary act, as an act that involves changing my kids' lives, I still want more. I often feel tired, burned out, and lonely. I guess revolutionaries get lonely too. Why do we make them to be out like gods? They were real people.

As I try to find my way in this motherhood thing what helps me is to read honest writing from other mothers. I have been following Dawn's blog about motherhood. She is so honest and quite irreverent. Here's a link to one of my favorite posts from her, http://balefulregards.blogspot.com/2006/03/cult-of-motherhood-redux.html.

I also just finished watching the In the Time of the Butterflies DVD. It is a movie adapted from a book by Julia Alvarez which I read years ago about three sisters who confront the injustices of the Trujillo regime, a dictatorship in the Dominican Republic, in the 60s and 70s. A client recently requested I make her a cuff of the Mirabal sisters which was fate (I like to call it God) because I had been thinking about designing one before she made the request. Anyway, I wanted to reacquaint myself with these sisters before I made it. Reading powerful stories about women makes me feel better. It calls to my inner revolutionary. It helps me summon that spirit of hope and potential that can keep me from drowning in my feelings of quiet desperation.

Monday Inspiration

2009-01-19T14:09:00.000-08:00

Dwell as near as possible to the channel in which your life flows.Thoreau, Henry David.

The creater of the blog, http://www.maternalspark.com/, came across this quote today and asked anyone who wanted to muse on it. To her it meant "to surround yourself with things and people who feed your inner spark." That's what it means to me too.

I am inspired by people who get me, who encourage me to be who I am. Today, I want to pay homage to M,. my bestest (that's the way I like to say it) customer, who has now become my friend. She requested I do my funnel neck cropped Pedro Albizu Campos jacket in her size. I am used to sewing for my size but I took the challenge which actually turned out to be a great experience for me, especially dealing with M, who is a dream of a customer. She is always praising my work which means a lot when you work from home when there is no one consistently there cheering you on. Here is my jacket and the one I did for her. One of my New Years resolutions was to learn how to sew for all sizes and she got me on my way. Thanks M!!!! Your an amazing person!!!

M, also has an amazing shop on etsy. Check it out at http://www.thehandoffatima.etsy.com/.

2009-01-13T17:49:00.000-08:00

Today I had a particularly rough day. I started my day by doing three loads of laundry with D in the stroller. I am a sight to see when I do laundry. I carry one large bag on my shoulder. One in the basket underneath the stroller and one hanging from the stroller handles. I look like a crazy woman!!! Hey, it's the only way I can get in done. D had a therapy session at 12:00 and I was cutting it close so I was rushing. I had to get the laundry in the machines, feed D breakfast, go to the post office, then get the laundry and put it in the dryer, then go to Rite Aid, go home and drop off my purchases so I could have room for the laundry when I take it out of the dryer, etc. I was trying to do all of this in a rush when my neighbor stopped me, while dropping off my purchases, because she had to tell me something "pressing". She ended up telling me something that ultimately hurt my feelings. I tried very hard for that comment not to affect my mood for the rest of the day but I didn't succeed, I still felt belittled. I guess my son M caught on that I wasn't myself because he kept staring at me (he does that when he perceives something). While we were having dinner, he told me, out of the blue, "Mommy, you are very, very smart." We weren't even talking about anything in particulr when he came out and said it. I thanked him profusely. Then he said that I was beautiful and that I was never wrong. Where did that come from? I just felt grateful. In his own way he was trying to make me feel better, and he did. Lately, my kids have been a weight on my shoulders. Today, I am so glad I have them. Thank you God!

Pedro Albizu Campos Fabric Cuff!

2009-01-10T17:14:00.000-08:00

I just added this new cuff to my online shop, http://www.nelesc.etsy.com/. Pedro Albizu Campos was the most prominent Puerto Rican political figure of the 20th century, a National hero who sacrificed his life for the freedom of his country. Under his direction, the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico became a major force in the fight for independence. A powerful speaker, thousands would gather to listen to his passionate discourses of freedom. He urged the Puerto Rican people to reclaim their cultural history and national symbols such as the flag and the national anthem.

I really enjoyed making it and hope to do a lot more. It's different from the initial cuffs I made mentioned in this post http://nelesc.blogspot.com/2008/12/monday-inspiration-fabric-cuffs.html which were more family oriented. Here, I am going back to my revolutionary roots. Let me know what you think.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T22:16:00.000-08:00

Although it is technically January 2 ( I am writing this at 1:16 am 1/2/09) I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I had a lovely January 1st. I have been under the weather so I rested a lot in the morning while my hubby took care of the kids. Then I did about 3 loads of laundry!!!! It made me feel good to bring in the new year with clean clothes. Finally, I had a short dinner with a college friend. She had to return home swiftly because she had family over for the holidays and she promised she would see them off. She forgot she made plans with me and didn't want to cancel so we just shortened our rendevous. That was fine with me because I spent a glorious two hours in Barnes and Nobles after that. There are two books that I looked at that I must have: True Vision: Authentic Art Journaling by L.K. Ludwig and Canvas Remix: Techniques For Creating Mixed-Media Accessories by Alisa Burke. When I get them, which hopefully will be soon, I'll attempt to share projects inspired by these crafty ladies. Here's to a crafty, creative, artistic 2009!

Still Musing about Family over the Holidays

2008-12-30T20:22:00.000-08:00

I am still excited about my big sister being here from Alabama. I spent the whole of yesterday with her. She came over with the boys, my husband took the older ones out and I stayed home with her and my youngest. When D took his nap, A and I chatted away about our creative endeavors. She makes jewelry and showed me all of her new pieces, I showed her my new fabric cuffs (she also got one for Christmas) and other projects I was working on, it was like a manic show and tell session that had been pent up for a year (I only see her once a year).

Remember, my last post about my youngest being attached to her even though he only saw her once a year? Well, the same thing happened with my oldest and her boys. The minute they got to our house, M turned off the TV (M does not turn off the TV for ANYONE!!!) he went right up to them ,said hello and they went off picking up where they left off last year...wrestling, throwing things across the room, playing race cars. Very intriguing male bonding. That's like another world to me. I grew up with two sisters. I am so girly. I sometimes don't understand why God gave me boys, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I have a Masters in anthropology, it' so exciting to be privy to this secret lives of boys that I never grew up with. My sister and I had a lot to talk about on that topic , too.

Anwway, I am just lost in family musings these days. It's incredibly uplifting, inspiring, intriguing, mystrious. Family can get on your last nerve, yet it is an unbreakable, inexplicable bond. I could be so upset at my sisters or mom after a fight or something but when I am hurting, they are the people I come to first (well, after my hubby, he's family too). I don't think that I am as vulnerable with anyone else as I am with them. That says something.

Sisters together on Christmas

2008-12-28T07:41:00.001-08:00

The best part of the holiday season is seeing my sisters. My younger one lives near me but my older one, A, lives in Alabama and I only get to see her once a year. Having both of them here makes me feel complete, we compliment one another so when A comes back home, she brings out and confirms a lot of things about me and who Iam.

D, my youngest, was sick on Christmas and only wanted to be carried by me the whole time which was quite exhausting!!! So when I had to take a bathroom break I gave him to my hubby and he cried bloody murder ( D, not hubby). A was nearby and D reached out towards her and allowed her to hold him as he gently layed his head on her shoulder. When I came out, A motioned to me and whispered, "I think he thinks I am you." We do look a like and have the same kinda voice. That was so interesting to me. The fact that he only sees his aunt once a year and is still drawn to her. It speaks of the power of family and connection. I am still thinking about it.

Monday Inspiration - Fabric Cuffs!

2008-12-22T08:43:00.000-08:00

Once again, I am participating with maternalspark.com and writing about inspiration. As I mentioned in an earlier post (November 17), I have been looking for other ways to use fabric, my artistic medium of choice. I love designing clothes and printing on it but I have been wanting to branch out. I bought and took countless books from the library about fabric books, artist trading cards, fabric jewelry, etc. trying to find something that would call to me and I think I found it.....fabric cuffs!!! I have been having so much fun with the few that I have already done. It combines my love of faces (I just can’t get away from that! What can I say, people inspire me), my interest in wearable art, and my desire to use recycled fabric. It is also something I can finish in a small amount of time which gives me a great sense of accomplishment.

I decided to start by making some as gifts. The top and bottom are gifts for my sisters, they each have three kids so I decided to stencil faces of their children onto the cuff. I love stenciled faces and I thought that this would allow for a more artistic interpretation rather than just printing their photos on fabric. I also did one of my favorite people, prominent in my clothing line, Frida Kahlo. I am definitely going to make a lot more of these for my shop. One of my goals for the new year is to offer more variety on my shop in terms of products and sizes, continue working on my designing skills, and update my blog more often. Stay tuned!!!

WORLD AIDS DAY and Monday Inspiration

2008-12-01T14:34:00.000-08:00

As usual, I like to join Maternalspark.com in talking about what inspires me. In addition, in honor of World Aids Day, I would like to honor those who are living with Aids a well as those who have passed on from the disease.

Today, in particular, two people that inspire me are my cousin P and my close friend S. Both of these beautiful women lost their parents to Aids at a time in their lives when they needed their parents most. S was raising a budding family and P was just starting on her journey of womanhood. When I think of them, I stand in awe at how they have continued to persevere for themselves and their families. S is a strong woman who is a fighter and refuses to be a victim of her circumstances. She continues to love life and tries to instill that in her children. P has had some set backs but always gets back up and continues to strive. I am so proud of her. I honor you today, S and P, you inspire me to be a strong woman in spite of what may be going on in my life. I am grateful to know you!!!!

Monday inspiration

2008-11-24T13:51:00.000-08:00

My husband and I have been having a hard time finding time for a date. We planned something last week and my mom, who was supposed to come over to babysit, cancelled on us. We planned something else on another day and one of the kids got sick. Another time, we realized that we simply had no money to hire a babysitter. It kept going on like this for quite some time that I finally blew up and told him that we needed to get creative if we wanted to go out (okay, I said some more things but I don't want to go into it here). So since going out at night was not working, hubby rearranged his work schedule so that he could work 4PM-12AM, I asked D's physical therapist to arrive half and hour earlier, and we arranged for my mom to watch D while my six year old went to school. Cool! Everything was working as scheduled. The therapist arrived on time, Good. I got a call that M had thrown up all over himself and he needed to be picked up, NOT GOOD. Okay, okay, we can work something out. I called my mom and asked her if it was okay for her to watch two kids instead of one (she said yes, of course, and told me how silly I was for asking, i asks anyway because I want to teach her a lesson about boundaries, but that's for another blog post) and I then tell my husband he needs to pick up M from school. Okay, everything back on track. M gets home and he seems okay. I ask him how he's feeling and he says he's feeling better. I don't ask him twice for fear that he might come down with something at that very second and, even though my mom's home, I would feel guilty leaving her with a sick child. Anyway, M then tells my husband that he has a headache, I pretend not to hear and grab my coat. There is no way in heck that we will not have a date today, darnit!!! So we made it out the door and into the car and off we went. We didn't even do anything ultra special. We had breakfast together and then went to Barnes and Nobles and his favorite, KB Toy Store. Okay, my hubby is a big kid too. It was just great to be with him, alone, and talk. That stirs my creative juices, to feel like an equal in a relationship, to feel like there is a give and take and not just a take which is what happens when you are with needy kids all the time. I also realized today that creativity is not just about putting stuff on paper, on fabric, about making something tangible. It's about making time to be with the one you love. I am inspired today.

Inspiration Monday - Monday's Muse

2008-11-17T07:05:00.001-08:00

I am once again joining www.maternalspark.com in sharing what inspires me this Monday. Well, I have been really obsessed with fabric. Yes, fabric. I know that I use fabric all the time when I reconstruct and sew. But lately I have been wanting to do more with all the fabric sraps I have lying around. I love screenprinting faces on fabric which is what my clothing line Nelesc is all about (http://www.nelesc.etsy.com/) but I am interested in doing more. I borrowed Create Your Own Handprinted Cloth by Rayna Gillman, from the library and it has really gotten my wheels turning. I have also been wanting to make fabric books. Recently, I bought Fabric Picture Books by Gwen Marsten. My kids have these amazing fabric books that they love and I would love to custom make one for each of them or even make themed books for grownups. I have so many ideas in my head with so little time. We'll see how I fit it all in my schedule. For now, it's inspiring enough to see, through my books, what other people are doing with fabric.

Julia de Burgos Screenprinted Top

2008-11-16T12:17:00.000-08:00

Hello all! Here is my new addition to my etsy shop. It's a new face, Julia de Burgos! De Burgos was born February 17, 1914, is considered by many as the greatest poet to have been born in Puerto Rico and generally considered as one of the greatest poets of Latin America. She was also an advocate for the independence of Puerto Rico and an ardent civil rights activist for women and African/Afro-Caribbean writers. She fits perfectly with the line and I am so glad that I finally added her. Let me know what you think.

YES WE CAN!

2008-11-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I, and two friends, got up and voted at 6:00 in the morning with a sense of mission and charge. It was exhilarating, exciting, goundbreaking, to be able to vote for someone who signified change and hope. I took a picture near a "vote here" sign because I knew how historic that moment could be. Last night when I heard that Obama won, I was so overwhelmed with emotion. I called my mom, sisters, and anyone else I could get in the line to share the moment with. I felt the need to connect. To be part of something bigger. And I was. I think that was the most exhilarating part, that at that moment, I felt connected to the rest of the country, there by myself in my living room. It's an awesome feeling. I think i see a new image for my clothing line coming on.

New Addition to Nelesc Etsy shop

2008-10-31T20:54:00.000-07:00

Here are two new additions to my shop on etsy, http://www.nelesc.etsy.com/. These are sweatshirt jackets made of 2xx sweatshirts I purchased. I love them so much, I kept the first two I made! The grey one has a hood and the blue doesn't. Let me know what you think.

Support Creative Entrepreneurial Women

2008-10-09T06:25:00.000-07:00

Our Creative Life is having a link exchange today of women entrepreneurs on her blog. If you are a woman who has her own business, go on over and add your link, but be sure to also leave a comment so that everyone can learn a little about you and your business in return! There are some fascinating women on this exchange, I am proud to be among them!

Visit http://ourcreativelife.blogspot.com/2008/10/support-women-entrepreneurs.html to leave your link and to browse the sites of other creative women.

Angela Davis Hat on Etsy

2008-10-07T13:36:00.001-07:00

So here's a new hat I made yesterday that I just posted on my etsy shop. I stitched an image of Angela Davis on the back. I am now addicted to making these. What do you think?

Inspiration Monday

2008-10-06T07:13:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been very much inspired by Fall. I love the changing colors of the leaves, the brisk weather allowing me to wear jackets and hats (I love these!) and the start of the academic year, signifying a new beginning. So in keeping with that, I have begun to make hats out of recycled or, just too small to make anything else, pieces of fabric. It's been fun, a new venture in my sewing and also something I could accomplish in a day. Having an 18 month old, I have had to work in a piece meal manner, doing a little at a time. This is a new way to work for me as I used to have big chunks of time pre-kids. I often get very impatient, not wanting to see the end result over the course of a week, but right now!!! The hats give me that immediate sense of gratification. More to come on my etsy shop!

Reconstructed Mens Shirt on Etsy shop

2008-09-25T20:24:00.000-07:00

Here is my third reconstructed mens shirt. I added puff sleeves and this one has more of a flared waist. I love the way it came out so I decided to add it to my etsy shop, http://www.nelesc.etsy.com/ . I am working on another one for the friend who originally requested one and got me on this journey. What do you think?

Monday Inspiration

2008-09-22T10:06:00.001-07:00

I am joining Maternalspark.com in making Monday's post about the topic of inspiration. This weekend I was inspired by one of my son's favorite TV shows, Imagination Movers. "Described as a combination of the Beastie Boys and Fred Rogers, the Movers combine pop and rap music, education and fun in their videos about such child-friendly topics as cleaning up your room, eating right, and being afraid of the dark" (from https://secure.lpb.org/shoplpb/imovers.cfm). I was watching it this saturday with my oldest son, M, on the Disney Playhouse channel when I realized that they don't like to use the word "problem." When they have a "problem", they quickly correct themselves and say, "no, we have an idea emergency!!!" An "idea emergency". What a great way to attack a problem. It's so full of possibilities, so hopeful. I have a lot of "idea emergencies" right now. My biggest one is my need for a part time job that pays well, jives with my son's bus schedule, and is accomodated by my finding a babysitter that would stay with D part time (this is proving to be very difficult since babysitters want full time assignments). I have been frantically searching for babysitters, looking through job announcements, and fighting with my son's bus driver because she has yet to pick him up at the same time since school started. How am I supposed to find a job with set hours when I don't even know what time the bus is supposed to arrive? Can anyone say "idea emergency?" I am yet to find the perfect job, but in the meantime, the solution to my "idea emergency" is to calm down, take a deep breath, and wait on the Lord. That works for me.

New Angela Davis Top

2008-09-16T05:33:00.000-07:00

I listed this Angela Davis top in my etsy shop yesterday. Some of my friends and family members question my decision to use the image of Angela Davis in my clothing line given the controversial aura that follows her. I love this image. To me this image screams STRONG BLACK WOMAN. I don't agree with everything that she did but I do love the fact that she is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. We need images like these, I need images like these. Images that remind us of the strength that I/we possess, of the potential that we have to confront injustice. I am not a confrontational person, by all means. I am the middle child, I am prone to keep the peace in any argument, no matter the cost. But when I see strong images of men and women who have won battles that we didn't have to fight, I can't help but feel grateful, re-charged, STRONG. That is part of what Nelesc is all about.

2008-09-12T17:52:00.000-07:00

Recently Maternalspark.com asked readers when they felt most creative. I have been wrestling with finding more time to be creative. More and more I realize that it doesn't matter when I am most creative, if I want to accomplish anything I have to push myself during those times that I don't necessarily feel creative but have a little window of time. I am learning to work piecemeal which is hard for me, I like big bulks of time. So i cut a sleeve now, pin later, later on, i sew it, etc. It's not ideal but I recently have been accoplishing more like this instead of waiting for the kids to fall asleep. Many a times I have headed to my sewing machine bleary-eyed only to plop my head on whatever I was working on.

By the way, maternalspark.com is an amazing blog. Please go and read it, it will not disappoint.

Second attempt at reconstructed men's shirt

2008-09-11T19:21:00.001-07:00

Okay, here's my 2nd attempt. A little better, a little looser but i do like the drama of the first one. This one is a bit too tame. I will definitley put an image on this one, will post that when it's ready. I am having a lot of fun with these so I think I am going to make a bunch of them and list them in my etsy store, http://www.nelesc.etsy.com/.

First attempt at reconstructed mens shirt

2008-09-11T19:15:00.001-07:00

So here's my first attempt at the reconstructed men' shirt. It is still not finished. J had given me a bunch of his old shirts to work with so I have lots of practice fabric. I like it, i just wish i would have made it a bit looser, too snug in the middle but i do like it and would definitely wear it. What do you think?

Frida reconstructed men's shirt

2008-09-11T19:10:00.001-07:00

About a year go I made this reconstructed men's shirt and screen printed Frida Kahlo on it. I recently went to the school I used to teach in and one of the teachers absolutely loved it. She asked me to make her one. So i am now on the journey to remember how I actually made the thing.

Back from long hiatus

2008-09-11T14:54:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long hiatus. M was home from summer school starting August 11 and I had to constantly think of trips and stuff to do to keep the kids busy. We had a good time, lots of museum, Bronx Zoo and playground trips. Then M started school and I was busy with that. But things are now getting back to normal and I am soooo ready to start sewing again. I did print on new and recycling clothes this summer and added them to my shop, http://www.nelesc.etsy.com/. I also did a couple of t-shirt recons too.

My Friend's Art Opening tonight

2008-07-30T19:26:00.000-07:00

Well, it has again been a while. A lot has been going on but I'll update you on that later. For now, I want to talk about the art opening I went to tonight . My friend Kirten Springer-Delgado is an artist. I met her at the Museum of the Moving Image where we lead tours together. She's a really interesting person. Although we've talked about art a lot, I've never seen her work. Mostly my fault. She is constantly inviting me to her open studios and I was never able to make it, until tonight.

Well, the minute I walked into the walkway of the studio spaces I see a big screen with images of various asses. No I don't mean donkeys, I mean human butts, right there in your face and not just with the cheeks closed, you could see the whole ass hole and everything. "Dorothy, you are not in Kansas anymore!" Or better yet, "Nellie, you are definitly not in the Children's Museum of Manhattan!" Well, although I don't love that kind of art, it did feel good that a big giant ass was welcoming me into the world of adulthood. When you have 2 young children, it's easy to get lost in the land of Never Never land, in endless Blues Clues episodes, in countless Legos buildings, in Mr. Potatohead conundrums. It was just nice to, again, be immersed in the sometimes self indulgent world of art, if just for a moment.

Kirsten's work is pretty adult. She's a photographer so she had these beautiful photos of women, some naked, some in intimate apparel, shot in bedrooms. However, they were either hidden by a wall or a door. They were very intimate and vulnerable, yet very guarded. She's also working on a series of naked men which she showed me some photos of. Her work was definitely edgy yet more subtle than what I was greeted with.

I had a great time. Even the train ride to and fro was great. I just love riding the subway, people don't get that about me. Nowadays it has become a symbol reminiscent of who I was before kids. The first time I took the subway on a consistent basis was to get to Laguardia High School of Music and Art. I then took it to go to Hunter College where I studied art history, then to my first museum job, etc. So the subway has a deep connection to my love of art. After M was born, I continued to take the train but I ended up more and more uptown, first to Queens where I worked at the Museum of the Moving Image and then to Harlem where I taught at the Studio Museum in Harlem. Right before I had D, I began working in the Bronx as a teacher and then with the birth of D, I am now home. So, as I had children, I progressively worked closer to home. So going all the way downtown today, to 14th street, was a way of reconnecting with my old self. Now don't get me wrong. It's not like my old self was a trip to Disney Land. I have grown so much since those days, I have actually transformed into a pretty insightful, interesting person. I would never give that up, not for a minute, all that I have gained today. A great husband, two wonderful kids, being able to stay home with my children, being able to rediscover my love for sewing, the insight I have now, etc. However, I do feel like I need to reconnect with her, my old self. I miss her. She's still part of me and I need to repect that and aknowledge that she once existed.

Anyway, it was great to see Kirsten. I talked to her, she introduced me to her friend who is an interior designer, we talked for a while. I then ran into a mutual friend from our museum job and we shared, I met an artist who would be perfect for my middle schoolers, if I ever decide to go back to art teaching. In total, I had a wonderful, rejuvenating time. If you are an artist, and a mom, it is imperative that you get out and look at art, talk about art, even write about art. It's urgent that you occasionally take time to recoonect to your old self, the self before kids. I came back home with so many ideas for, not only my clothing line, but for two dimensional work. I came back home feeling like an artist, a person with an opinion about art, a person, feeling like my old self.

DIY style today and project I worked on

2008-07-17T13:19:00.000-07:00

So first off, I got dressed quickly this morning because I realized that I had run out of milk and when I glanced at what I was wearing, I realized that it was all my own clothes, that is, I made them all. The vest is grey, i made this recently but the pants were made a while go, maybe 6 years ago, wow! That's a great feeling when your creations become so much part of you, your life. That's when I realized that I would like to sell the stuff I make, cause I like them so much, so maybe someone else would too. Oh, wait a minute the tank top underneath the vest is not mine. I did purchase it.

Also, this is what I worked on today. It's a dress made from three different t-shirts, a grey one that was given to my son but did not fit him, the blue with stripes was also given to him but didn't fit him either and the blue from the skirt was a purchased one. It is still quite unfinished. Needs some type of binding on the neck and sleeves and the back is longer than the front for some reason. It came out shorter than I wanted to so it could either be a beach dress or a tunic worn with jeans. I think I'll add a graphic and have it go towards the Nelesc line. I keep keeping the stuff I make, it's time to start creating towards the collection again. I had to take the pic while leaning back because the straps are still not attached in the back.

My DIY Recon Style Today

2008-07-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

Well, I am really making up for lost time. Here is a pic of what I wore today. It's all DIY (do it yourself). I found the Evita shirt in a thrift shop in Queens. It was big so I took in the sides and shortened it and cut the neck out. The pants I had from about 7 years ago. I love them so much but they were getting a hole in the knee so I cut them from the knee, added triangles in the sides and back and voila! gauchos are born.

Brown and Green Eco Dress

2008-07-15T13:44:00.000-07:00

Here's the brown and green dress that I wrote about on June 21st. It too is part of the scraps idea I wrote about earlier. I wore it about three times already including my son's IEP meeting which went very well. I know it was God but I think the dress helped too (just kidding!) I call it the eco dress because after it was done it looked like a tree trunk with brown leaves and a lonely green leaf hanging on. Like a cry to the universe to save our planet. This is one of those times when I made something and the end result was not what I intended it to be. I do try to live green ( I do use recycled materials in my line) but I didn't begin the dress with this intent in mind. I am very happy how it turned out. I guess the dress had a message to tell.

The green was from a t-shirt my mother in law gave me, it was hers, and the brown on the bodice was scrap from a previous project. I did buy a new t-shirt for the skirt part. The browns don't match perfectly, but that's okay with me.

By the way, the pattern is also mine. I am so excited about this new patternmaking venture.

Sorry it took so long to write

2008-07-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

Aaaahh so sorry for taking so long to write. I have had so much going on. First of all it was M's 6th birthday and we had a birthday party and all that took up some of my time. My hubby was also directing a play which filled our house with endless props. I don't know about you but when the house is cluttered like that, I can't manage to find the mental capacity to make stuff. Another thing is that this week D will get evaluated. Given our history with autism (M was diagnosed 4 years ago) we thought it was prudent to have D evaluated. He's not really talking or pointing although he is extremely relational; makes eye contact, plays peekaboo, laughs all the time, etc. I am trying not to worry but I am worrying. I will keep you posted.

But in the midst of that I did manage to finish some stuff and organize my sewing area. I decided to yake a break from making stuff for the line and make pieces for myself. This would allow me the time to practice on myself and see if there is potential to then include the designs in the line. as for organizing, I placed some of the books from my bookcases elsewhere and placed my fabrics in the bookcases so I can see them. It's an investment in my desire to make my sewing a business. I really don't know if it's possible but it's a step of faith. I also put a serger on layaway!!!!!! Another investment in my business plan. It's more than half way paid off. i overlock stitch my garments with my brother machine but i now want to up the anty and make my finishing more professional. I'll let you know when it arrives.

Anyway, here is a pic of the black and white dress that turned into a top. I am very happy with it and already wore it to church with rave reviews. This is my attempt to make pieces from scraps using my own patterns. No faces on these, this will be another facet of the line.

I learned how to drive today

2008-06-22T20:05:00.000-07:00

I don't know how to drive. I have never driven a car, I have never had a steering wheel in my possession. So today, after we took my niece home, my husband gets out of the car and tells me it's time that I got my first lesson. I got my permit a week ago after thinking about getting it for years. Listen, I am a subway girl, a city girl, an urban chick, I am the fifth Sex and the City girl, the city is my playground, I have a love affair with it, even from the Bronx, so why would I want a car? to drive to the city? No way. Well, I'll tell you why I now want to drive, cause I have two kids!!!! that's why!!!! lugging a six year old and a one year old in a stroller up subway stairs ain't pretty. So maybe soon I might be able to drive to central avenue with the kids, drive to my mom's house, drive to amusement parks, drive by myself somewhere, drive my husband crazy trying to pry the car away from him.

So having that steering wheel in my hand, the gas petal at my foot, was scary and exhilarating. My husband gave me nice clear directions and I went managed to drive around the block without hitting another car or killing anyone!!! i told my husband that in no time I will be driving him around while he napped. He said, "yeah sure and i'll wake up in heaven...if I make it there." He's funny. I love that about him. Well, today I drove a car. the possibilities are endless.

Here's a pic of the black/white dress

2008-06-22T19:51:00.000-07:00

So here's the pic of the black/white/grey dress I was talking about. I like it but I think I am going to make it a blouse. The stripes are a bit overwhelming to be a dress and I think that I didn't match the stripes well. oh, by the way, this is my own pattern, I am so excited about that. I have been practicing and reading about pattern making. This is my second attempt. Anyway, will update you on this reconstruction.

Much better day yesterday

2008-06-21T08:07:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a much betetr day. I put D in the baby sitter (I usually do that once a week but we have not been able to afford it the past three weeks, maybe that is why I have been so gloomy) and headed out to buy some t-shirts to complete one of my reconstructed t-shirt dresses. On my way, I ran into one of my dear friends, S, who lives near my babysitter. We chatted, I vented, it was great to talk to a live person who understood what I was going through. I only stayed a second because I wanted to make the most of my 5 hours away from the baby. So I bought my t-shirts, went to the bank, stopped by the fabric store to inquire about sergers and then bought turkey meat for dinner. When i got back home, I put on one of my many 80s mixed cds, blasted the volume and vacuumed/danced for about 45 minutes fulfilling my exercise and cleaning requirements for the day.

Then it was time to sew. I managed to sew all the pieces to one dress, no finishing though. I just wanted to know what it would look like on. It was okay, needed more twekaing. This is a dress made from recycled fabric. I had previously made a maternity top that I no longer need so i took it apart to make the striped bodice. The black is made from one of my husbands discarded turtlenecks. On the brown and green dress, I managed to cut the skirt from the t-shirts but didn't attached it yet. Photos to come, i promise!!!!

So creating really upped my mood. I need to do that on a regular basis. Why do i pretend to think that if I go a while without making something, it will be okay. I was the kind of art teacher who constantly taught this concept in my classes. The need to constantly create to get better, to be better. Why don't I heed my own advice!!!!.

Another good thing that happened yesterday...one of my friends from highschool found me on my facebook account, she saw my reconstructed Frida t-shirt from my photo and requested I make her one. Maybe my facebook account will be good for business. Okay, gotta go get dressed, we are all going out to buy a new bed.

Trying to Reconstruct my Life

2008-06-19T18:11:00.001-07:00

So yes, my blog's name is The Reconstructed Life. That is exactly what I am trying to do at this time, trying to reconstruct my life now that I have children. I am in a delicate point in my life and perhaps this is why I decided to begin this blog, a venue to organize my thoughts. I have been feeling a bit displaced. Before my first child (we'll call him M), I had a career in the arts, first in the Curatorial Department of a museum and then in an art school library. I knew that I would probably quit my job when M was born, I wasn't happy with my job and I wanted to go back to the education department of a museum and so I did, after M turned two. When M turned 4, I wanted to expand my interest in arts education and decided to work in a middle school as an art teacher. I liked it enough to want to become certified. I pursued that route as i taught and then in my second year of teaching i became pregnant with D. At this time my husband (we'll call him J) got a new, intense job and we felt that with J's crazy hours at the job, and with the issues I was having with the Board of Education (my son M has autism and it was difficult finding a placement for him, will talk more about this in future blogs) the kids needed stability and that I should take a year off from teaching. I felt comfortable with this decision. I decided I would launch my clothing line Nelesc, during this time, and pursue other creative endeavors as I mothered.

Well, D is now 15 months and M is 6 and while I launched my online shop, it has been very difficult to do my creative work. My husband's intense schedule leaves us little time to talk and also leaves me with very little options for babysiting if i decide to go out with a friend. I feel dispaced, lonely, forgotten, invisible. J says this is only for a while, that when the kids get older, I will be able to go back to work and resume more of a life but the sacrifice seems too great right now. I miss me. I miss the old me before kids. I would love to reclaim a little of that. Is that possible?

On a good note, I did manage to cut pieces to two new dresses. hopefully, tomorrow will be a good sewing day. i will post pics when i am done. Also, I went to the meat store to buy some bacon for J. The butcher asked me where I had been, that he had missed me. Okay, maybe I am not forgotten after all. God is good!

In the beginning...

2008-06-19T11:17:00.000-07:00

Well here it goes, I am launching a blog with much fear and trepidation. I guess the need to be heard is outweighing the fear at this moment.

The blog will be musings about motherhood, the creative life, sewing, updates about my clothing line Nelesc, examples of some of my projects, etc... Enjoy!