Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Local Featured Seller: Li Sashay

Who are you? We are Dara and Nash, we run Li Sashay. Sashay is a French word for a model's walk down a runway.

Where are you located? 5825 Triangle Drive, Raleigh, NC

What do you create? Nash does metalworking and woodworking while I sew.

What is your favorite place to visit in the "triangle"? Our favorite place to visit in the Triangle is this little cheap sushi restaurant in downtown Raleigh called Sushi Blues. We started going going there in college when we were broke and it was all Nash could afford because they had Buy One Get One Sushi after 10 pm. We'd do there late on Friday nights once a month when we got paid. Now we're out of college, but we still like to go back for the food.

Big Daddy Shop Apron
When did you start creating?
Dara: I started sewing when I was 5 years old. I made a handmade pillow for my father of a giant heart for Father's Day. He loved it.
Nash:  Ironically, my first craft was also for my Dad, it was a custom paperweight for him I fashioned from found electronics parts.

What is your most cherished handmade item?
Dara: My most cherished handmade is a handmade cedar bowl Nash got me for cooling sushi rice in for our first Christmas together. Every time we have company over to eat Asian food, the warm smoky rice makes our company smile those full-eye crinkle grins where you unexpectedly put something simple in your mouth and the flavor explodes leaving this small bit of happiness behind. I love simple handmade items like that for everyday living that surprise you by adding happiness to your day and the day of those you love. Nash: My most cherished handmade item is a wooden sword I made as a costume prop for a masquerade party.

Why did you choose your medium?
Dara: My family was in the clothing business growing up so I have a lot of warm memories from childhood of a favorite shirt, pair of pants, or other piece of clothing. Clothes weave their way through your life like good food making an every day backdrop of happiness.
Nash: I like metal because it feels right in my hands, especially when I'm working blacksmithing. My great-grandfather was a carpenter and it feels as if I'm going back to my roots when I work with wood and metal.

Animatronic Ear Form with Black Cat Ears
 Where do you create?We both create out of our shared studio space. We like working together every day.

Why did you choose your shop/company name?The name comes from our two favorite clothing words in French and Japanese fashion. I love how meticulous and beautiful their clothing is, the attention to detail, and quality. Li means length and Sashay means a swaying walk, normally reserved for a woman who is happy walking down a runway. We wanted to create clothing and art that made people feel happy when they walked through life. That little boost in your day.

What are your goals?Dara: Well, right now I'm planning our wedding in October which is a lot of fun and I'm using the excuse to catch up with a lot of friends. It's so much fun to see the paths that people take through life. Long-term, we'd love for the company to be a success and help grow jobs here in North Carolina.
Nash: Getting more time to work with my hands and growing our company. Running a business has a lot of paperwork most artists don't realize when they get started, especially in the beginning. I'm looking forward to being a few years further down the road with a small house with Dara and 2 dogs.
Apple Garden Hat
What do you do when you are not creating? We love to cook homemade meals together and watch our favorite tv series. We tend to go through a series, one episode a night/week. Also, we like to go for walks together with our dog. We're pretty boring in many respects as we enjoy each others company a lot which makes the simple pleasures in life really rewarding.

After you've checked all of the wonderful items at Li Sashay on etsy, don't forget to check out their website, blog, and facebook page!

1 comment:

  1. Happy to have a sweet couple and great artists on the team!

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