Summer is ending and many of us makers are already in process of planning and making our wares for the holidays. Many of my table linen products are being sold in the highly successful Made Here PDX store in downtown Portland, a store which sells all sorts of groovy, Portland designer made items.

I have been wanting to make a line of wool neckties for a while and finally did it.

The exterior fabrics are all made out of men’s wool suiting, and the little triangle of facing at the back of each tip are prints from my own collection of designs. I’m finding endless pairings of wool and prints that are very cool.

Last week at a potluck dinner, I asked a few of my friends’ teenage boys if they would like to model my latest necktie samples for an ad hoc photo shoot in their back yard. It was so fun to see them donning their nice shirts, tying their ties, and having fun in front of the camera.

At one point one of the dad’s said, “why not lose the shirts and keep the ties!” Lots of enthusiasm around that suggestion, as well as some eye-rolling by some of their sisters.

The collection should be out by mid-october, if not sooner. Look for them at Made Here PDX, or contact me directly if you would like to pre-order one. They will retail for $98 and are all handmade by me!