Grim was the world and grey last night: The moon and stars were fled, The hall was dark without song or light, The fires were fallen dead. The wind in the trees was like to the sea, And over the mountains’ teeth It whistled bitter-cold and free, As a sword leapt from its sheath.
The lord of snows upreared his head; His mantle long and pale Upon the bitter blast was spread And hung o’er hill and dale. The world was blind, the boughs were bent, All ways and paths were wild: Then the veil of cloud apart was rent, And here was born a Child.
The ancient dome of heaven sheer Was pricked with distant light; A star came shining white and clear Alone above the night. In the dale of dark in that hour of birth One voice on a sudden sang: Then all the bells in Heaven and Earth Together at midnight rang.
Mary sang in this world below: They heard her song arise O’er mist and over mountain snow To the walls of Paradise, And the tongue of many bells was stirred in Heaven’s towers to ring When the voice of mortal maid was heard, That was mother of Heaven’s King.
Glad is the world and fair this night With stars about its head, And the hall is filled with laughter and light, And fires are burning red. The bells of Paradise now ring With bells of Christendom, And Gloria, Gloria we will sing That God on earth is come.
Originally published in the 1936 Annual of Our Lady’s School, Abingdon, Tolkien’s “Noel” was unknown and unrecorded until scholars Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull discovered it while searching for another poem in June 2013.
Favorite spot in the Twin Cities? Walking along Summit Ave. I love homes with character.
Coffee, tea, or cocktail (and how do you take it)? Black tea with either almond milk or soy vanilla creamer.
In a few words, explain your style: A true Minimalist in style and my life. I stick to a very neutral color palette. I hate clutter and having money sit in my closet. Everything has to have purpose!
Any daily rituals? I start my day by making a cup of tea then heading back into bed and reading a book or listening to a podcast.
One piece of advice you've taken to heart: Be happy with what you have while working for what you want.
Which is your favorite? The best looking key chain award goes to the Building Block Key Coil. The design is innovative and chic while being practical. I don't think I can ever lose my keys again!
3 / The Shaina Mote Tether Top featured with HOPE Stay Jeans is distinct and customizable. Leave the sides out in a more relaxed manner or knot the panels in the front or back for a tailored look.
Favorite spot in the Twin Cities? Tanpopo Noodle Shop in Lowertown St. Paul. The food is wonderful and the space is really beautiful and unpretentious. It's the place that made me fall in love with St. Paul.
Coffee, tea, or cocktail (and how do you take it)? Black Green Whiskey
In a few words, explain your style: Unexpected tailored. I enjoy mixing volume, shapes and textures. The beauty of style is that it can always be evolving and changing. Feeling great about who I am and showing that through what I'm wearing, that's my style goal.
Any daily rituals? Very hot coffee and loving my kids. Everyday!
One piece of advice you’ve taken to heart: "You could!" -My Mom
Which is your favorite? Hopper Coat by Studio Nicholson. It's classic while still having a modern edge. The coat feels really amazing on-it lays beautifully and is made so well!
What keeps you stable during the chaos of your work? This season has felt particularly busy, as I’m 33 weeks pregnant right now. We’ve been working double time to get things organized and finished in time for baby’s arrival, trying to ease the transition. I’ve been learning a lot about building a team, and letting the brand have its own life. I feel very connected with this work, so things are always harder than they seem - we’ve been pretty particular about sourcing and fostering healthy relationships with our partners and in the whole design process. But, what seems to keep me stable is perspective - which has changed a lot since becoming pregnant. There are so many things that can happen in a day that distract and deter your energy towards a certain goal, but as my time becomes even more limited with work, I’m finding that it’s easier to weed out what’s not worthwhile — allowing myself to more truly focus on what matters.
What people/place/things do you find yourself consistently going back to for inspiration? I really admire certain writers, filmmakers and artists - filmmaker Terrence Malik in particular has been someone who does a really incredible job of capturing human interaction and emotion that seems so real and honest to me. After I saw the Tree Of Life for the first time, I was silent for like 30 minutes! His ability to show beauty using the medium of film has been a constant inspiration for my work.
Flip to a page in the last book you read and give us an excerpt. This isn't a book, but I recently read a New Yorker article by Richard Brody who was reflecting on Terrence Malik’s “Knight of Cups” and it’s really stuck with me: “Physical and emotional pain is everywhere; poverty imposes specific and grievous agony, people who endure it are very nearby, and you’re likely to be upset by the sight of those who suffer from it—as you walk past them. Family relationships may suffer; that’s a sad commonplace. And there may well be a temptation to leave, to go home, or to go, at least, elsewhere. You are not likely to be an angel; it’s not part of the job description for being in the business, or, for that matter, for being an artist. But be honest about your experiences, about your failings—and about your enduring intimations of beauty even in places and situations that you’d hesitate to call beautiful, because the production of beauty in a world of suffering, and from your own suffering, is the closest thing to a higher calling that an artist has, the closest thing to the religious experience that art has to offer.”
What is your background? Is it specifically in fashion design? My background is in Intercultural Social Work - I’ve worked in South Africa with women dealing with HIV, and also in Nashville with refugees in resettlement before moving to New Zealand. It was while my husband and I lived in Wellington, New Zealand that my textile journey began to take shape. There I began a journey of being immersed in handspun knitwear, and had my first exposure to the fashion industry as I began to collaborate on knitwear projects with New Zealand designers. The brand really started there, and though we moved back to Nashville in 2013 to be closer to family, the work has been an exploration of textiles and beauty ever since.
If you weren’t a designer-- what other occupation could you see yourself in? I’m pretty good at math, and have been since I was young. I’d sometimes think being a math teacher would be fun — something that’s concrete and has answers :) I’m not sure I have the patience though and think I would really miss the creative process in what I do now. I feel pretty drawn to my work right now, but there are so many other interesting things to explore in life!
Hometown?
Hometown?
What keeps you stable during the chaos of your work?