AWFUL PICTURES FROM AN INDEPENDENTS SHOW AT BERNIE'S CIRCA 2007

I TOLD YOU I DON'T WEAR SHOES AT SHOWS

IT JUST GETS WORSE

AM I TEXTING OR SOMETHING, WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY FACE AT SHOWS?

SOCIAL DISTORTION TOUR UPDATES

SOCIAL DISTORTION HAS ANNOUNCED THIER FIRST SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR - IT WILL BE IN 2010.  REALLY, THE FIRST SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR...THAT JUST SEEMS WIERD RIGHT?

KELLI MARTIN - FASHION ON HIGH

In case you don't know who Kelli Martin is, she is a designer, shop owner, seamstress and reluctant retail queen. She can take an item from the thrift store you'd sooner throw away then wear into something you would give your right arm to own. She is also really friggin' hot, just so you know.

Kelli Martin has been designing forever, basically. Growing up with her grandmothers who let her just be who she was helped her find her way to fashion at a very young age, young enough in fact that she doesn't really remember quite when she started. She spent her adolescence listening to punk and going to shows in outfits she made herself out of thrift store finds and fabric remnants.

After living it up for a while post- high school she woke up one morning at 19, decided life was passing her by and she needed to get on with a career of some sort. Next thing she knew, she was on her way to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. While in the program, she received a serious honor when she recieved a scholarship from Bob Mackie that allowed her to present a full-on fashion show at FIDM's Annual Fashion Gala, thus launching her own line, Antilabel, www.anti-label.com .

Kelli returned to Columbus after her graduation from FIDM with a degree in Advance Design. After designing for Antilabel, selling one of a kind items on eBay and even working for others over the years, she decided to open her own shop here in town, Black Market. She appeared in Season 5 of Project Runway in 2008, where she designed the dress that won the first challenge but was off the show by the fifth episode. Kelli says the show didn't do much to challange her out look on designing. She still wants to stay true to her vision, drawing on everything from pinup to punk and to make amazing, well-crafted, mostly one of a kind pieces.

Since the show, she has closed her shop but is still working her fanny off. Items from her 2008 collection were featured in the Miss Ohio shoot for C-Bus Magazine.

She is currently immersed in designing a new collection for fall of 2010. She still occasionally sells items on eBay and is forever being scolded by others for not setting her prices higher. She isn't interested in starting any mass producing any time soon. Having participated in producing a line before, she doesn't enjoy the aspects of creating the same item over and over or the fact that once the garment is out of her hands it's quality plummets. She also enjoys knowing people have a unique piece literally noone else has.

FEAR AND CLOTHING 76

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Amy D - Local Designer, Mom, KICKASS

When I met AmyD, aka Amy Dalrymple, at her shop at 211 E. Arcadia, she had just dropped off her intern after running errands all day. She was an adorable wisp of pink in a hand altered tee, funky socks, pink high top converse and one of her signature skirts. Immediately she was light and fun and as apt to drop the f-bomb as I am. As she helped me maneuver my daughter and her unwieldy stroller into the tiny storefront she chatted about her kids, one of whom was starting high school that day. She also checked her mail and pulled items for a client she was meeting later. The epitome of a multi-tasking mommy.

Amy is a local Columbus designer that is gaining some national recognition right now online and in print. She is most known for her circle skirts and aprons. The aprons are her own patterns and have features like beer pockets. Her skirts are made from both new and re-purposed fabrics (like t-shirts). Her skirts are universally flattering with knee to mid-calf lengths and elastic waistbands. Other items like her Ohio coffee sleeves, felt pins, capes, t-shirt jackets and dresses made from tees and used fabrics are all comfy, cute and beautifully made.

Her items can be found online at www.madebyamyd.com , on etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=1145 and at Wholly Craft (3171 N. High Street). If you go to her shop and it appears to be empty, don't freak out, she is moving. She was offered a spot at the Kickstart at 913 N. High Street and will be there as of September 5th. Amy is very excited about the move. The location is better, she loves the staff and it is open more then she is able to open her own personal shop. She will also be appearing at the Craftin' Outlaws Craft Fair, October 17th.

I asked her about her start and it began as a child growing up around her mother and grandmother, whom she describes as MacGyver crafters. She learned to sew in 8th grade home ec. and despite getting a D in the class, it ignited a lifelong love of making the things floating around in her head a reality. Made by Amy D was officially born when friend Shannon (of the Lucky Ladle) offered her a bunch of vintage estate sale jewelry. Amy made her a thank-you apron and that turned into a $100 apron order as well as new business. Her inspirations include other diy-ers, Cyndi Lauper and just the weird stuff in her head. Her biggest push is the desire to create what isn't readily out there.


Not to confuse you, working from home isn't lounging around, sewing while watching t.v. all day. She gets up at 5:30 am weekdays to prepare her kids' lunches and get them off to school. The rest of the day is spent in her sewing room, meeting with clients for custom orders, going to her shop if needed and working out 3 times a week. Amy says her husband "indulges her obsession" (and that he's sooo cute!). Her ultimate goal is to get to the point where she can hire a staff to sew her creations for her. Sounds reasonable. She doesn't want to hire a bunch of whoevers to work in a shop though. She wants to train single moms and dads and parents that want to stay home with their kids to make her designs, set them up with a sewing machine and pay them a good wage. Amy would like other parents to get to do what she is doing, stay home with her kids while keeping the electric on. How much do you love her?

My favorite question to ask everyone (because I'm obsessed with fashion, makeup and skincare), "What are your top 5 can't live without items?"
1. John Frieda Anti-Frizz serum
2. Mixology Mineral powder and blush
3. Mary Kay Waterproof Mascara (she discovered it while on the hunt for the perfect waterproof mascara for her wedding, being a self-professed cryer. She says it passes the Schindler's List test)
4. Flamestitch brand purse
5. AmyD skirt (she really does wear one almost everyday)