BACON is yummy...

Hi friends!

I started the blog after feeling like I was lightyears behind other artists and handmade crafters for not having diary-type literature about ourselves on the web. I am, anyways, a journalism graduate. So, here's to making years of J-school seem like it is finally paying off...

BACON Handmade Neckwear began as a craft project in 2008 and advanced into an artistic skydive in 2009. Now, in the first milli-seconds of this double-digit decade ('10), Jenni and I daily soak up the yumminess of what it means to run a young "business" that sweats and bleeds for the old techniques of bespoke tie-making.

By old, I don't mean "geriatric," nor "obsolete." By this I mean that the art of the bespoke tie is rather seasoned, mature, venerable. Wherein commerce is soulless and impersonal, J-to-the-enni and moi strive to discover ways to bridge utilitarian modern lifestyle/fashion and the distinct, polished look of vintage. And what does that mean in layman's terms? Oh boy...

It means putting new spins on tried-and-tested construction techniques. It means having to watch TV less so we could hand-paint and hand-dye fabric. It means to have calloused fingers and carpal tunnel hands. It means trying to remember what my late Lola Isabel (grandma) said about how to embroider like a true post-Castillian Filipina. It means Jenni later on finding out that ironing before sewing is better than sewing before ironing. (We will patent that technique one day! Now don't go stealing it) It means speed-eating ramen noodles to leave more time during the day for pin-tucking. (By now, we would have killed 6.9 trillion brain cells from all that ramen MSG)

And on certain days, it means Jenni and I butting heads, sneering at or avoiding each other, crying discreetly in each of our bedrooms while not allowing the other to know that one is much upset. On these certain forsaken days, it means she and I find no solitude, no harmony, no encouragement in the company of the other. And when these days come, we remember that we are not perfect, not even as a company. It is at these times that we are most convinced that we DO need each other, that either of us desperately needs the polar-opposite personality, skills and spirit of the other team-player to keep BACON going.

We, Jenni and Cinelle, are BACON. There is no avoiding the drama because we are no corporate heads speaking into intercoms, having our secretaries fetch us coffee (neither of us actually drinks America's powerdrink), whipping our "designers" and "seamstresses" for not meeting production deadlines. And you know what, we. love. it. We are part of the world's 1.7% population that actually LOVES to get up in the morning to work. We, unlike most manufacturers, actually are deeply infatuated with our products. We DREAM about them, seriously. And that is what makes BACON Handmade Neckwear yummy.

So what is so delish about the next coming weeks?
-Jenni is making a trip out to New York (home!) to visit Mood Fabrics and Lost City Product's showroom for fabric and visual inspiration.
-I'm heading out to the ATL to find fabric as well
-We have given in to hand-embroidery services. Belt out those embroidery hoops and sit those butts in those grandma rockin' chairs!
-I'm looking into hand-painting habotai silk scarves for the spring.
-Sample Sale Party to benefit Jessica Forbes, who is leaving for missions in Prague
-More brainstorming with Plain Jane Designs owner, Jane Bennett
-Still praying for a huge W-holesale opportunity. W-ink, W-ink.
-NEW lower shipping rates! Half-price on shipping within USA hereonafter.

That's it, babies.

Much love,
Cinelle