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Are You Livin’ La Vie en Orange?

Livin la Vie en Orange

How are you living la vie en orange?

Shakespeare knows a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but La Vie en Orange by any other name? I’m skeptical :)

My best friend came up with the name; orange is my favorite color and on a good day I speak fluent French.  But it’s super fitting in other ways as well.  In French, la vie en rose is about looking at life through rose colored glasses and seeing this hyper-beautiful reality.

I like to think that my company, La Vie en Orange, and its products are a little bit like that too, only brighter, a little bit sun-shine-ier.

So. How do you live la vie en orange? Thinking about the little things in my life, I think it’s by things like:

  • dancing with reckless abandon, pretty much whenever I dance :) Last night it was like Muppets.  You should try it :)
  • skipping and running sometimes just because it’s fun
  • not suppressing squeals of delight (I have no poker face)
  • being creative every day (even if it’s just making dinner or making a game out of walking home from the bus stop :)

So. How do you live La Vie en Orange? Comment below! I can’t wait to find out :)

xoxo
Kori

P.S. If you have a few minutes or need some background music, I love this clip of Sabrina where Audrey Hepburn sings La Vie en Rose to Humphrey Bogart, and of course there’s in the incomparable Edith Piaf… :) And then, en anglais, there’s Louis Armstrong. Oh. And there’s this guy too. He takes his convertible up on two wheels in an amazing way. :) Did someone say Ricky Martin?

Women Take Over: Elles Inspiration

On the underrepresentation of women artists in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art

I never really found myself as part of a feminist conversation until I started La Vie en Orange. The more I talked to lovely ladies about their undies, the more I realized how much power and responsibility I had both as a female business owner and especially selling something so intimate. I could send messages about submission and sex-objects or I could send messages that felt healthier, more empowered, and empowering.

I choose the latter.

This week Zac and I found ourselves at the Elles exhibit visiting the Seattle Art Museum from the Centre Pompidou, the modern art museum in Paris. It is a ground breaking show (though it shouldn’t be):  the Pompidou removed male artists from their galleries and only showed its female artists. Ever seen an art history book? It’s full of men. The Pompidou’s move:  badass.

In its only North American stop, the Seattle Art Museum hosted part of that show (and it was courageous of them to do so, but again shouldn’t have been) and concurrently showed only works by female artists in its modern art galleries.

So refreshing.

It’s hard to put into words the energy I felt. It bounced off the walls. I felt as though I was in community with the women who had bared their souls through their work. While I couldn’t take photos, I found some goodies to share on SAM’s website/facebook pages.  :)

Even if you don’t have 14 minutes, the statement made in the first 15 seconds of the video still has me thinking.  There’s also a bit of nudity later in the video, just so you know.

The Blue Room (La chambre bleue), 1923, Suzanne Valadon (French, 1865-1938), oil on canvas, 35.4 x 45.7 inches, Centre Georges Pompidou, Musée national d’art moderne, Paris.

It all just gave me more to think about. Especially now that I’ve started to self-identify as an artist (It’s scary. I never felt comfortable calling myself that before I was regularly drawing very important things to be screen-printed on underwear:)).

Inspiration found me, and I hope these at least make you smile or muse and at the very least know that I’m sending warm fuzzies your way. What do you think? Please comment below!

xoxo

The rights of all images remain with the owners.

Sparking creativity, DIY style!

Are you a crafty person?  Creative?  Sometimes I feel that way, especially when sewing or with textiles, but there are lots of things I feel too scared or clumsy to try.

Mallory Paige

Enter Mallory Paige!

She is the creator of Spark which helps push us past these DIY insecurities (and we’ll learn more about that later).  She’s also a dear friend and all around fantastic gal.  And she’s my first interviewee!  :)

But she should be telling you her story :)

How did you catch the DIY bug?

I spent a long time dreaming about DIY – reading books and visiting craft stores – without ever actually making anything. I was frozen by the thought that I wasn’t “creative” or “artistic.” Once I successfully completed one project, though, I felt this amazing shift. I realized that I could make things (absolutely anyone can!) and with each project I felt better and better. I became happier and more self confident because I was in the Creative Esteem Cycle. And once I experienced all the benefits of creating, I was addicted and knew that I would never stop.

The Creative Esteem Cycle

Mallory Paige’s Creative Esteem Cycle

What is the first DIY project you remember feeling really proud of?

I took a knitting class with my mom and sister and made a felted bag. It was the type of project I never thought I would be able to make and I was so proud of it. And when I took it out and about, I got tons of compliments from people. It was my first clue that there’s really something special about handmade that speaks to people.

I love the way you mix and match patterns and prints in your sewing projects (like your Quick and Easy Flannel Blanket and your Dia de los Muertos Applique), but sometimes I feel nervous about trying to do the same. Can you tell us about your road to boldly DIYing?

Once I had a few successful projects under my belt, I felt confident enough to start experimenting more. I don’t have a very specific method for picking fabrics to mix together, but just go with my gut. I lay a bunch out together and just pick the ones that make me happy. I find it best not to get bogged down in the “right” way and instead just do what makes you joyful – because that’s what really matters.

The blooper reel: Have you ever had a project that didn’t turn out the way you wanted it to?
I once made magnets out of bottle caps for friends for Christmas. My friend Becca and I didn’t mix the resin correctly, and they were just a drippy mess that never hardened. I gave them away anyway. Because I was so excited about how they should have turned out and kept the faith that they just needed to “dry” a little bit longer… :)

Yes, too many to count! One that sticks out in my memory is the first time I tried to make strawberry jam. I was so excited to try preserving and thought that everything was going great. A few weeks later, though, when I opened my first jar of jam it was hard as a rock! I had cooked it way past the jam stage right into a candy. Not only was it inedible, but no amount of heating or soaking would get it out of the jars, so I had to throw out the entire thing – a definite handmade fail:)

What’s one project that you have been super proud of or always get compliments on?

The Bejeweled Epoxy Pendant is quite popular and I just love the way it looks. And if you like that, you’ll love the first Spark kit ;)

Bejeweled Epoxy Pendant with Mallory Paige

So tell us about your new undertaking, Spark!

I’m super excited about Spark! My entire motivation with Spark is to get people creating and feeling the benefits of it like I have. As I talked to people about the things I make, I realized that there are some major barriers to DIY. Mainly, it’s a total hassle to find detailed instructions, hunt down supplies, and find a community when you need help or have questions.

I realized that if I could make DIY easy, everyone could enjoy all the happiness and confidence that comes with making something by hand. And that’s what Spark does. It’s a subscription service that delivers a DIY kit straight to the member’s doorstep each month. The kit has easy-to-follow instructions and all of the high-quality supplies needed to complete a DIY project. Plus members get access to the online Spark community where they can connect, ask questions, and share pictures.

Monthly DIY surprises from Spark!

What kinds of projects can us members expect? I’m super excited to have joined- I can’t wait to branch out beyond fiber arts! What kinds of supplies or equipment do members need to already have?

I wanted to make Spark accessible to anyone, so members don’t have to worry about having a bunch of equipment on hand. Every now and then you might need to have your own basic supplies like a pen, bowl, or spatula, but for the most part everything needed to complete the project will be delivered in the box.

One of my favorite parts of DIY is exploring the different projects out there, so Spark projects run the gamut from making jewelry to lip balm and from felting to stamp making. There are so many fun ways to get creative and I want to help people explore all the possibilities.

How can someone join? Or give membership as a gift?

If you’re interested in joining, go here and decide what type of membership works best for you. All payments are processed securely through paypal and you can use a paypal account or credit card.

For a gift subscription, follow the same instructions as above. Once in the paypal checkout, notify me in the “Add special instructions to merchant” comments box in PayPal that this is a gift. You can also write a message for the recipient there and we will be sure to include that too. And enter the gift recipient’s mailing address for “Ship to” in PayPal.

Thank you so much, Mallory! Is there anything else we should know?

Thanks, Kori! The only other thing I want to say is that Spark is for people whether they think they’re creative or not. For those who already have a craft they enjoy, Spark will help them branch out and get inspired. And for those who think they aren’t creative (just like I did a year ago!), I guarantee that you can complete these projects. This is the perfect way to try DIY and get into the Creative Esteem Cycle.

********

Hooray! So what do you think ? Hopefully you are as excited about meeting Mallory as I was!  I’ve already signed up for Spark and can’t wait for the first kit.  Maybe the most exciting decision:  who to gift it to. :) Will you join us?

xoxo

Panty-Powered Rockets

This Underwear of the Month Club launch is panties powered! 

Houston, we have liftoff!  The Underwear of the Month Club launch is off to a raucous start!  I was totally into making ridiculous graphics this week, so here’s another:

Underwear of the Month Club Founding Members

Can’t wait to cover this whole map with Underwear of the Month Club members!

Today is your last chance to get free shipping— your gift when you come on as a founding member!  You’ll have a pair of rocket adorned panties to look forward to (the above rocket graphic without my face as captain or the panty trail will be hand-screen printed onto the first month’s pairs :)).  I’ll be sending the first shipment the week of November 11.  To see all the perks and get the details on membership, click here.

Are you thinking about giving membership as a gift, but don’t want the first shipment until December anyway?  Here’s a fun idea:  You could join right now, save all the shipping costs, enjoy the rocket launch undies for yourself and then we can transfer membership to your lucky gift recipient for December?  Win win, right?

And while the Undies Club has been keeping me busy lately, the next couple of weeks are also going to be wonderful.  Because:

  • An amazing friend is launching a business and I’ll be excited to interview her here!
  • I’m thisclose to needing fit models for my female-to-male transgender packer undies.  And I’ll put the call out here— free undies (no photos necessary) in exchange for feedback on what works well and how I can make them better.
  • And more!  :)

Stay tuned!

xoxo

Not Your Average Granny Panties: A Tale of Custom Underwear

Grammie's nightgowns

January and Gwen had special plans for Grammie’s nightgowns

Have you ever had a good idea, and then someone else piggy backs on it into the stratosphere? Best feeling ever!

I love the nostalgia of making your new favorite underwear out of your old favorite tshirt, but twin sisters Gwen and January reached out with an even more touching and special idea.

Gwen explains:  ”In late July my dearest grandmother (“Grammie” as we called her) passed away. My entire family went up to say our goodbyes and go through all her belongings. We sat in a hotel going through her pants, shirts, and nightgowns crying as we looked at each piece. When my sister picked up one of Grammie’s favorite nightgowns and cried because they still smelled like her, I knew we had to hold onto these special pieces of clothing. My sisters and I remembered her wearing these special garments and just could not part with giving all of them to Goodwill. But they were old fashioned nightgowns and not a size that we could wear.

Animal print shirt and underwear

Grammie’s animal print shirt turned into some seriously special granny panties

 

 

“Then I remembered Kori’s site on Etsy ‘Underwear out of your favorite old t-shirt shirt.’ She advertised that she could make underwear out of your own personal shirts. I just knew we had to try to do this. Our Grammie always recycled and reused things (and was constantly on us about doing the same) so what better way to honor her then to recycle her nightgowns and shirts into pieces her granddaughters could wear for a long time.”

Grammie and January at a 2006 Halloween party

Grammie and January at a 2006 Halloween party

January continues:  ”Kori was very sensitive to what we were wanting to accomplish. She was very sweet and willing to turn our Grammie’s cherished items into fantastic underwear that my sister and I could wear for a long time. When I received my first pair it was better then I had ever imagined. I knew the moment when I put them on that my Grammie was looking down on me and so proud. Not only would her memory live on in the underwear, but the fact that we recycled something would have made her even more proud.”

January called me “the underwear angel that was sent to our family when we were in need of uplifting. Seeing what she did with my Grammie’s underwear has brought a smile and happiness to us when we needed it the most!”

Acorn shirt and granny panties

Gwen was excited about this pair being done in time for Halloween- Grammie loved the holiday and often wore this shirt in the fall.

I couldn’t have imagined a more touching and special project.  It meant so much to me to be a part of this process with January and Gwen.  I was so honored that they would trust me with their beloved Grammie’s nightgowns.

I loved opening the packages with the nightgowns and hearing about Gwen and January’s memories of their grandmother.  To be invited into this journey of grief and joy felt like a gift.  It was around the same time that I lost a mentor, and working on this project for Gwen and January helped me grieve Gary and celebrate his life the way January and Gwen were grieving for and celebrating their Grammie.

Gwen and January's Grammie panties

It’s like the Brady Bunch of undies!

 

To January and Gwen:  thank you for inviting me to be a part of something so meaningful in your lives.  I’m beyond thrilled by your response and my heart smiles thinking about your Grammie looking down on you.

To you, dear Reader, if this story strikes a chord or if undies that honor someone’s life and preserve their clothing get you thinking, please comment below or be in touch via email at koriel.jock [at] gmail.com.

xoxo

Unofficial rockets of the Underwear of the Month Club launch

NASA’s Delta Rocket – Another unofficial rocket of the Underwear of the Month Club Launch

Oh yes, you read that right- unofficial rockets.  Because the official rocket is coming soon!  The Underwear of the Month Club launch is just 5 days away!

Until then, please enjoy these rockets unaffiliated with the launch!  They are lovingly shared via NASA’s “Rocket Gallery.” The official rocket of the Underwear of the Month Club launch will be unveiled next week!  :)  I assure you, it is o-fficial and it cannot wait to meet you!  T-minus 5 days and counting!

See you then!
Kori

P.S.  Need more?  Head over to NASA’s “Beginner’s Guide to Rockets” for more science-y goodness!

P.P.S. Want to know more about the Underwear of the Month Club?  Check out this sneak peek, and then be sure to come back Tuesday for the official launch!  :)

NASA's Atlas Rocket

NASA’s Atlas Rocket – another rocket unaffiliated with the Underwear of the Month Club launch.

NASA’s Rocket Redstone – So many rockets. Only one official Underwear of the Month Club Launch!

 

Summer Screens

Hello hello!

So this week I’ve been thinking about what the summer will bring, on my undies, of course!  I thought I’d share a few preliminary sketches for some upcoming screens I hope to print on a pair of underwear near you.  Check them out, and please comment below- I’d love to hear which ones you like best, and if you think I’ve left anything out… :)  For extra credit, read all the way to the end for a little bit more about my creative process, at least in the silk screen arena :)

One of the things that’s a fun kind of challenge in creating artwork for screen printing is that the only way you can “shade” in screen printing is through cross hatching or little dots or some other opaque manner.  So it’s interesting to try to figure out how give depth to drawings without shading (like on the planet’s rings)…

I still have another class to take at the Vera Project before I’m ”qualified” for multi-color printing on fabric, so one color printing is another fun constraint…  I’ll take their class eventually and hope to get some multi color printing set up at home shortly there after.  All in good time!  :)

When I have a fabulous idea (or even just a mediocre one- those just usually don’t make it so far in the process…  :)) I generally:

  1. Get my sketch book out
  2. Become paralyzed by the blank sheet of paper (I much prefer to work in fabric- there’s something really comforting about the finite-i-tude of the human body.  The possibilities are somehow not so endless… :))
  3. Stress out a little bit
  4. Decide for the millionth time that the only way I’ll become a better drawer is by actually drawing.
  5. Draw
  6. Erase
  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6
  8. Repeat step 7 as many times as necessary
  9. Sigh
  10. Draw
  11. Smile
  12. Repeat  :)

So what’s your process like?  Which sketches did you like?

Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo

If Worms In a Can Were Sustainable

Hopefully you can see how sparkly this sand on Shi Shi Beach is.  I assure you that it is also warm (those are my feet). And while cute, our worm farm isn’t sparkly or in a can.

Well, dear Reader, I must tell you, I have had an amazing week.  The comments on my interview with Seattle Stevie have filled me up with sparkly warm fuzzies (which are as ridiculous as they sound), and I spent all day Saturday checking out the MBA program in sustainable business at Bainbridge Graduate Institute.

I have been riding the melt of positivity.

Then on Tuesday night, I heard the founder of Patagonia, Yvan Chouinard, in an interview on NPR talking about why there’s no such thing as “sustainability.”  He said it was a bit played out, like “gourmet.”  (Think about everything that you can get that’s “gourmet.”  Did it make you smile? :))  He also said that our impact will never be “sustainable.”  There is something inherently unsustainable about modern life.  Yes.  I see what you mean, Yvan.  Luckily the choices you make (like wearing upcycled undies) still matter.  Accordingly, Patagonia is a huge role model in terms of their corporate practices- paying living wages, their clothing recycling programs and on and on.

Regardless, I’ve been thinking all week about my views on sustainability.  And it seems like a can of worms.  If worms in a can were sustainable.  How did they get in there, anyway?  :)

How do you define sustainability?  I’m working on my definition.  And I promise to share in the not-so-distant future.  :)

So!  Comments below!  Sparkly warm fuzzies to the best “gourmet” product comment, and additional sparkly warm fuzzies for your thoughts on sustainability.  I’d love to hear your musings, and I’ll definitely be revisiting this topic in future posts :)

xoxo

Studio Dreams

My current well-loved, I-wish-it-weren't-so-messy-right-now studio :)

My husband and I have recently made one of the biggest decisions of our adult lives:  to become homeowners.  So scary and so grown up and so logical (?) in this market and with these interest rates.  And exciting.  Because we found a place we really love, have made an offer, and are waiting to hear back from the bank (we will be until May or so…).

I have to admit that I’m a little bit nervous about all the energy moving and becoming a homeowner is going to take.  How will it affect my business?  How long will it take to get settled in?  Will I still be able to give customer service I’m really proud of?  I’m trying to not over think it, but also trying to figure out what I can do ahead of time to ensure smooth sailing… :)  Any ideas for me?  Please comment below!  :)

But!  The super super fun parts that I’m getting really excited about are:  the garden (I have grand dreams for a gray water reclamation project- I am loving reading The Urban Homestead- scroll to the bottom), all the decorating, and.  The studio.  :)  Because there’s a whole room with a whole bank of windows just for me and my ideas.  I can’t wait.  I’ve made a board on Pinterest with ideas for sewing studios and details I love.

So what do you think?  I’d love to hear any wisdom you might have about moving or becoming a homeowner.  Any ideas for a badass sewing room?  Please comment below, and, if you pin, please include a link to where :)

xoxo

P.S.  Another big move coming up soon- we’ll be transitioning to our own [dot]com!   Stay tuned!  :)

Creativiting

The current mood board in my studio

Dear Reader! How art thou? I am feeling silly and excited and a flurry of activity!

Exciting things lay on the horizon – lots of fabulous feedback from the mens about their undie needs. I heard a lot about “the junk.” But also some really giggly insights like boxer briefs being “not too creepy to cook breakfast in.” And that boxers are “grave danger when biking!”

I’m reading “The Accidental Creative: How to be Brilliant at a Moment’s Notice” and have loved some of Todd Henry’s insights about how to build structure into your schedule to nurture creativity.  He’s got lots of recommendations (which I will now boil down into a neat list of bullet points, but the book is totally worth checking out!):

  • Focus – reframing challenges by asking questions (helpful list in the book) and scheduling time to deeply explore ideas/situation (without being a slave to the next task on your list or email in your inbox- so hard!)
  • Relationships – carefully choosing who you spend time with, and surrounding yourself with mentors and others to bounce ideas off of and energy with (ideas about how to structure this too…)
  • Energy – Planning for how the demands on your energy will be affected by the projects you’re working on; recognizing that compartmentalizing (“work/life balance”) isn’t too realistic when you think for a living (this is a huge one for me)
  • Stimuli - He recommends scheduling time to study things that interest you and paying close attention to the stimuli (news, books, tv, blogs, etc) you take in. Looking for diverse perspectives and dissenting opinions to challenge you in new ways
  • Hours – Giving yourself time to just sit and come up with ideas. About anything. And taking time to create for the sake of creating. For yourself.

I’ve been reading lots of books about business lately (most of the recommendations from Making a Living Without a Job) and visiting lots of museums, but some of the topics Henry explored were challenging.  I sometimes use sewing time to keep up with pop culture and watch terrible tv.  Jersey Shore?  One episode was enough, thankyouverymuch. Toddlers and Tiaras?  Same. Only a little bit of shame… :)

Some of his suggestions were really exciting:  like the importance of exploring topics that are personally intriguing even if you can’t see a connection- I’m planning on reading some of the classics I’ve always neglected.  And maybe studying modern dance.

One quote he cited that really got me was, “We say we waste time, but that is impossible.  We waste ourselves.”  -Alice Bloch. Alice! That hurts! But so true.

So I’m curious about what you do. Do you study or spend time exploring anything completely unrelated to your day job or side hustle? How do you nurture your curiosity and your creativity?  Please comment below!  (Feel free to include any recommendations for classics or dance anything…  :))

xoxo

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