We’re delighted to feature the Rockford Shawl by Amy Opie of A. Opie Designs as the “grand finale” of our 2021 Fall/Winter Collection. One more time, Amy’s wonderful sense of design and color shine through, and we’re thrilled she approached us to include this fabulous pattern in our collection. We think you’ll find this accessory is a “must have” to add to your autumn and winter fashion play.
For those of you who haven’t the pleasure of meeting or knowing Amy, we’ve captured some of the fun banter we’ve had with her over the past weeks and invite you to read on.
What inspired your design for the “Rockford Shawl”?
I wanted to take a break from stranded color work (just for a minute! 😉) and design something a bit different. I’ve always loved the wearability of top-down triangular shawls and began playing around with textured patterns and color combinations. So really…my inspiration was simply the need to explore and expand my design repertoire.
Please share your favorite color pairings(s).
Blues and greens are speaking to me for Fall and Winter…so the Eyelet, Corduroy, Open Sesame combo holds a special place in my heart. And I can’t lie….the 70’s retro vibe of the En Garde, Hey Sunshine, Powdered Sugar pairing is pretty awesome too!
What will you be wearing your “Rockford Shawl” with for a casual lunch?
Hands down…I’d be in jeans, my favorite loafer tennis shoes, and a classic white button down. When the temps dip a bit, I’d just swap out my tennis shoes for boots and add a jacket. I’d top it off with the shawl worn with the “V” in the front! It’s my favorite way to wear a triangular shawl.
And how about a nice dinner out?
No question….I’d throw on my iconic “shirtdress” from a beloved Atlanta women’s clothing store. This dress is a wardrobe staple…it’s a flattering silhouette and easy to wear, plus shawls look great with a shirtdress. And guess what…I’d probably style the shawl the same way ….“V” in the front!
And, if the temps drop below 40 F, boots and tights get added to the shirtdress and shawl combo…this southern girl’s gotta stay warm heading into the Winter months!
What else is on your needles?
Because color work will always be my heart….you can guarantee there’s some stranded color work in a couple of project bags. Then there’s my ongoing obsession with mohair….and cashmere…oh and Plucky's new Luxe Ultra Fine Merino….hahaha….is that enough to make your head spin?
We know you like to bake! Any yummy favorites you’d like to share for enjoying with a favorite tea or coffee as the temperatures dip?
If you aren’t following Half Baked Harvest on Instagram, you should. Her recipes are fantastic. I’ve made this delicious buttery berry crisp several times. It’s prepared and served in a cast iron skillet and is a real crowd pleaser. I think any fall fruit would be outstanding as a substitute for the berries, maybe apples? How delicious.
Here’s the link to the recipe. https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/buttery-cherry-berry-skillet-crisp/