Featured Designer: Le Petit Forest

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Miss Sabrina Peterson has brought in her latest collection of jewelry from her label Le Petit Forest. This extensive and cohesive collection of earrings, necklaces, and bracelets is sophisticated and pretty. Sabrina employs techniques including beading, wire-bending, knotting, stamping, and her amazing talent for digging up and rescuing precious vintage pieces, to make her jewelry. Aged gold chains hold mysterious ephemera, like old motel room key chains. Copper pendants proclaim “I love you” in French. Inky birds peek out gilded window lockets. Her aesthetic is the perfect balance between modern uniqueness and vintage quality and romance.

Bio: "I was born and raised in Bayview. My jewelry line started with a glue gun and string at the ripe age of sixteen. Nowadays it's an organic process. I deconstruct retro a/o vintage jewelry I find and piece it back together with modern elements. Le Petit Forest is young and still growing up. I try to tap into the mainstream (what I think is cool) but still add that vintage and off balance design aesthetic that makes it my own. I want it all to be pretty."

It's so F-ing Cold Out

This fun invention keeps you nice and toasty. It's the hood-scarf. They've been really popular this year, but luckily, our designers have been making lots of them this season. So there's still a really killer selection of them. Most of 'em are made from recycled materials. The one pictured was made from a vintage sweater by Madam Chino.

January's Featured Designer

Since starting their company MODESTo! in 2005, designers Brad and Stephanie Towell have been designing and developing their line, which includes one-of-a-kind dresses, vintage wear, men, women and children's shirts, as well as one-of-a-kind "MEba babies", screen printed mini-plushies, leather accessories, art prints and limited edition gig posters.

MODESTo! blends nostalgic air with fashion forward design to create a custom vision for the present. MODESTo!'s goal is to draw from the past and create something new and uniquely fashionable for the men, women and children they dress. They blend their DIY attitude and love of high end fashion to create affordable and stylish one-of-a-kind and limited edition garments for a market of "real life" consumers - AND their children!

February Workshops

DIY Fashion Workshops at Fasten
February 2008

DIY Screen-Printing
Thursday February 28th 6-9 pm
Fee: $20
Learn the best tools and techniques for in-home screen-printing. Through demonstrations explore stretching screens, image prep, drawing and photo emulsion, exposing screens and the printing process
Supplies: all provided.

Novice Knitting
Wednesday February 20th 6-9 pm
Fee: $25
A class for beginning knitters or those with some experience. Beginners will learn basic knit and pearl, those with some experience will be taught some more technical and complicated techniques. Students will choose one wintery apparel project to design and complete
Supplies: One pair of needles per student will be available for use during the class but students are encouraged to bring their own (larger than size 5) to keep and continue knitting, they will last a long time. One skein of basic yarn will be provided but students are welcome to bring their own.

T-Shirt Reclamation
Thursday February 21st 6-8 pm
Fee: $20
Rescue old boxy t-shirts from conformity, Learn patterns and draping, cutting and pinning techniques, the use of origami in fashion, and visual design elements for transforming all of your old tees into fitted and flattering articles. Take home tutorials and one ready-to-sew garment.
Supplies: Please bring 2 or 3 old T-shirts, one box of safety pins, and your own sewing machine (if available)

Basic Sewing
Saturday February 16th 12-3 pm
Fee: $20
This class is for all with an interest in garment making or repairing with little or no experience. Students will learn how to use their machines and with guided practice become comfortable with basic seams and hems. We will also discuss fabrics, patterns, cutting, and the basics of garment construction.
Materials: There is only one machine available to rent for the class for $5, so students are encouraged to bring their own or borrowed machine. All other supplies provided.


GENERAL WORKSHOP INFORMATION:

-All workshops will be held at Fasten in Bay View

-Students are expected to bring their own machines, however, there is a house machine available for a $5 usage fee.

-Students receive a 40% discount on supplies purchased at Fasten during the month of class.

-Students must sign up at least one week before the class date.

-Call 414-747-9229 to pay by credit card, Or mail a check with your name, address, phone number, and the class title to Fasten Collective 2224 S Kinnickinnic Ave. Milwaukee WI 53207