Mother's Day is right around the corner and usually I'm a big fan of the gift that never fails… a Big HUG! But this year I felt that all the women in my family have been extra supportive and extra fabulous and deserving of more than just a good ol' fashioned hug. I've been thinking about it and I've honestly decided to give them all an Edelweiss Clip!
Check out this quick video of how I make these fab little accessories as well as all the unique ways to wear it!
I decided to give the clips to my mom and grandmothers this year, not because I make them, but because it's a simple gift that goes a long way! Here are just a few ways you could wear the clip:
Click HERE to get your own Edelweiss Clip or to order one for your Mom, Oma, Aunt, Cousin, Sister or any other mother in your life! They're going to love it! I can't wait to see my Oma's face when I give her the clip. I hope she likes it as much as my boyfriends Great Aunt did when I gave it to her while we were in Basel, Switzerland.
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Somehow this week has suddenly become one of the busiest weeks I've ever had! I'm working like crazy getting all the production for Spring/Summer in motion and sewing custom orders, but an opportunity presented itself and I took it… I'm heading to NYC baby! Today (Tuesday) and Wednesday, I'll be in New York sourcing fabric and taking a few seminars on textiles, marketing, production etc. I'm so exited to experience the d.g. expo for the first time, but I'm also a tad nervous… but I'm not one to back down because of nerves (for the most part ;)
The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi start on Thursday this week and I'm soooo excited. I love watching the Olympics, maybe because I have no athletic abilities and I find every aspect of the events fascinating and incredibly impressive. I love hearing all the athletes back stories and learning where they come from. As an American I gotta root for Team USA, but all that aside, I love to cheer on countries like Germany, Austria and Switzerland! My ancestors are from Germany, my grandparents lived in Austria for a few years and my boyfriend's dad is from Switzerland so we cheer for them all!! GO TEAMS!
And then on Friday… I'll be accompanying Jason Bauer, chef and owner of Bauer's Brauhaus on the Mancow Morning show! Myself, Samantha and my bf Nikki will be sporting our Rare Dirndls on TV. So, we will be on MY50 Chicago between 6-8am on Friday morning! Can't believe it!
This time of year is all about family and friends! I love it when I find the perfect gift for the people on my list and a lot of those people would be super excited about these great German gifts that I found/made. So here are my top pics for this year! #1- Let's Get Cookin! DIY German Cookie Mix in a Jar
Everyone loves to eat Oma's cookies and a great way to share them is by making a DIY cookie mix and put it in a decorative mason jar. Take a great oma cookie recipe and collect all the dry ingredients and put them into the jar. Then create quick instructions telling them how to bake the cookies and what wet ingredients they will need to add. Its a great personal gift that will only cost $5-$20 depending on the ingredients and how you decorate the jar! Here is a link for recipes for cookie mixes as well.
German Cook Book
If the do-it-yourself option isn't for you, a great cookie cookbook is another perfect option! I love the cookbook that the American Aid Society's Kindergruppe put together called "Was Gibt's zum Essen?". It's a fabulous collection of German and American recipes. They are $12 each and e-mail erikaneumayer@mac.com to get more details.
#2- Bag it up!
A Perfect Purse
A great way to complete your dirndl look is with a great purse. I love this suede 'Andrea' purse from Bavarian Specialities. It has subtle details with the piping and the edelweiss broach and is imported from Germany. It makes a great gift at $49.90 and is available in 3 colors
Classic Tote
From dance shoes to groceries, school books to toys, the Rare Dirndl Logo Tote is a great gift that is super versatile and one of my favorite new things. This classic canvas tote has the custom designed Rare Edelweiss logo screen printed on it and has already proved super useful for me and is only $10!
#3- Baby It's Cold Outside… Stay Warm!
Hats, and Scarves, and Warmth… OH MY!
I don't know about other people, but during this crazy cold time of year… I've gotta have a warm scarf! I've got a favorite right now and so does by boyfriend. He loves the Swiss füssball scarf I bought for him last year and he highly recommends it! Whether it's Deutschland, or Die Schweiz, its a great buy for the man in your life. You can find them all for $20-$30 online.
Last but not least, I made this quick video to show you my top 5 Rare Dirndl items (all under $100)
BONUS!!! So I can't end this blog without mentioning this book. The book by Elizabeth B. Walter is one of my favorite books. Having participated in the Kirchweih Fest for both the Karlsdorfer Verein and the American Aid Society, it is a tradition that should never be lost. This amazing book is tells the story of the celebration of Kirchweih from Banat to America. All the artwork was also done my "Tante Elsa". They are etchings! Its a very tedious process involving metal, acid, and a boat load of talent. I helped her with the page layout for the book, but I honestly LOVE love love this book. I have a copy on my bookshelf and am selling the book on my site for Tante Elsa. Click here to buy it or see more sneak peeks of the inside of the great story and fabulous artwork.
If you think any of this info would be helpful to your friends, I would be honored if you would send them to this blog post so they can get some fresh holiday ideas. I hope this helps you with your Christmas shopping for those crazy-fun Germans on your list. I know my list is full of them… and I love them all!! Merry Christmas to your family from ours!
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This month is flying by and our trip to Germany is right around the corner! I've been working like crazy to get everything ready for the big debut of Rare Dirndl in Germany at the Münchener Trachtentage March 16 and 17!
One of the items I knew I had to bring back is the Lederhosen purses! As of early this week I'm all stocked up with all three of the styles we had around the holidays as well as the newest addition, the clutch!
All of the bags are made from genuine goat skin leather, fully lined and up-cycled from old pairs of un-worn lederhosen.
Along the same lines... I'm very excited to meet with the folks from Herzhirsch! They have got an über cute product that I absolutely love, the Hirschbandl! Its perfect for family gatherings when everyone has a beer stein and then 10 minutes later you don't know who's glass is who's. Each is handmade in Munich from traditional tanned deerskin and is such a fabulous way to make sure you don't drink any of ol' cousin Stefan's backwash! I'm pretty sure that each member of my family is going to need one of these.
T minus 26 days until the Rare Dirndl team boards a plane for Bavaria!
Ever wonder what dirndl style you are? Take our dirndl quiz and find out! Simply type in your email here
Sometimes my clients have ideas in their heads about the ultimate dirndl. I'm just the person to help them with that! I can take ideas, inspirations and color stories and turn them into real life one-of-a-kind pieces. But how does it work? What is involved? Lets start from the beginning using Rachel's Dirndl as an example.
It all started when she asked if I could do a ballerina-inspired dirndl with pastel colors and tulle. She didn't want it to be too poofy or "toddlers and tiaras" but tulle was definitely something she wanted. She liked the idea of using pink and off-white, so I put together a sketch for her that would be a rough draft of what it might look like. Once she approved it, it was off to the fabric store.
Instead of using baby pink, I used blush... a color that is not only very in, but also a more grown-up version of pink. I also picked out a tone-on-tone champagne satin damask fabric that would be a great compliment to the blush color.
She said she wanted a lace up front, but I could tell she was looking for more than that. I wanted to make sure that this piece oozed elegance and
poise like a ballerina, so I found a beautiful pink pearl and pewter beaded trim that I thought would be the perfect accent to the colors and look of the dirndl. Once the fabrics were picked out and approved, I got her measurements and made a pattern in her size and got ready to cut!
After cutting out all the pieces for the dirndl I used left over fabric from the bodice and used the wrong side to make a slight contrasting piping. I make all my own piping, especially for custom pieces because it really brings the whole piece together. Then its time to sew it all up.
Creating volume for the skirt was important for this ballerina piece and so I used white tulle attached to an underskirt as well as a small layer of white and pink at the bottom that would pop out just a tad giving the illusion of a tutu.
Once the volume on the skirt was created I added the bodice, zipper and finished the hem. Now it was time for the handwork. The beading was attached by hand because A.) it wasn't going to fit under the foot of the machine and B.) the final outcome can be much more precise and effortless. The more effort I put into a dirndl, the more effortless it looks. Nothing is worse than a design that looks tortured!
The hooks were added last and then it was time to add the apron and blouse and voila! A completely one-of-a-kind piece just for Rachel!
Do you have an idea in your head? Maybe a custom piece is right for you! Custom pieces are charge by the hours it takes to complete and the cost of the fabrics. Can't wait to see what my next client will request.
Ever wonder what dirndl style you are? Take our dirndl quiz and find out! Simply type in your email here
One of the most common questions I recieve is "do you ever make anything for children?" I don't typically make children's clothing because creating fabulous little things usually comes with an unfabulous price and I can totally understand why a parent would not want to spend $120-$200 on a dirndl that may not fit in... 4 months!
But I have a few things that I love and work perfect for our favorite little ones! The children's fleece is so soft, 100% washable and perfect for a chilly spring day. It is a fun bright blue color with a splash of either pink or red down the front with the adorable edelweiss flowers on the trimming. The best thing about the fleeces are that they have a looser fit so your little cutie patootie can get more wear out of it.
Another fabulous little item I've made is the black edelweiss beret! Designed for a petite head, this little hat is too cute for words. Perfect for a snowy day or a spring day at the park.
Black Edelweiss Beret
There is always the custom option for a Rare Children's dirndl or trachtenshirt, but if your budget doesn't budge too much (like mine) I still have a couple fun items for your favorite little lovelies!
Custom made Trachtenshirts
Ever wonder what dirndl style you are? Take our dirndl quiz and find out! Simply type in your email here
I'm going into production on the Last Kiss Vest next week Monday. This vest is black lace over black polyester poplin fabric with adorable edelweiss buttons. It goes great with just about any blouse and any skirt. I wear this vest all the time and its my go to when trying to mix in my regular clothes with my trachten.
Regularly $165, you can get the pre-production price of $99. Place your online order for this vest from now until Monday at 10pm. Keep in mind, this is pre-production... so your vest will be shipped in approximately 6-8 weeks.
This is the perfect time to get a brand new simple black vest that I guarantee you'll get tons of use out of!
Ever wonder what dirndl style you are? Take our dirndl quiz and find out! Simply type in your email here
Christmas is a wonderful time of year, but finding the perfect gift for those who love all things German might be difficult at times. I've got three great gifts ideas (under $100 from a variety of online stores) for just those people! And you might find something for yourself along the way...
#1. Jewelry- love a little Deutsches bling!
My 1st pick is from German Import House. The Edelweiss 3pc set includes a necklace, earrings and a bracelet and is $39.00. I love this set because it can be worn altogether or one piece at a time. The antique finish gives the pieces a vintage look and would look great with any outfit!
My 2nd pick is from the Schnitzel Shop. The German Flag glass pendant is a fun little gift with Sprechen Sie Deutsch on it. Only $12.00, it's a more casual necklace that would look great with a t-shirt and jeans.
#2. Leather- Not just about the lederhosen anymore
My 1st pick in this category is a Rare lederhosen bracelet! The Lederhosen Bracelet with Buckle is an adjustable leather cuff style bracelet that goes easily with any outfit. Made from lederhosen, this piece is soft, comfortable and only $20.00. It's the most popular of the lederhosen bracelets and I can see why!
My 2nd pick is the Square Lederhosen Purse. This purse is made from goat skin lederhosen and is a fabulous way to give a nod to your love for Germany with an accessory. At $94.00, this purse has a braided and buckle strap, button closure and functional outside pockets. Measuring approximately 15in x 12in and fully lined, this item is one of my all time favorites.
#3. Beer Stein- Classic gift for the man in your life!
My 1st pick in this category is this Stein depicting the Oktoberfest Clydesdale and Beer Wagon from Northcote Imports. I love this one because it has an antique look to it and trimming on the top includes edelweiss, pretzels and wurst! It holds 0.4 liters of beer and is $79.95.
My last pick is a different style glass mug from 1001 Beer Steins.com. The Glass Deutschland Beer Stein is $88.99 and features the fabulous colors of the German flag and pewter embossed appliqué depicting the German eagle. It holds 0.4 liters and is a really unique stein for anyone!
