In the Fall of 2003, I began sewing for friends and local community theatre. (Though the first costume I ever sewed was in 2002. A full-length medieval gown from Lord of the Rings!)
Shortly thereafter, I formed Strike Daekins™ along with my sister, Brynn.
We had been immersed in our passion of unique costuming,
and Celtic lore & Medieval times from a very early age.
Come to think of it, we pretty much enjoy most periods prior to the 1960's! We loved Victorian, Tudor, Regency, and the styles of the Revolutionary War, and so many fantastical imaginings.
Deciding that something needed to be
done to combine these two passions of time periods past and costuming, (and to be able to pay for my excessive fabric consumption!) I finally went ahead and started advertising my sewing services professionally. The idea of creating a clothing and costume company
began to be batted back and forth in the expanses of my imagination. Finally, from my sister's and my vivid
imaginations, sprung what you now know as, Strike Daekins Designs.
The meaning behind this phrase has both historical and (more personally)
family meaning to us, and is not just a random name. We are of Norse
decent, and this was part of our family's ancient battle cry. (Yes, there was a battle cry. Not exactly something one would use in the construction of such fine garments....ok, well sometimes I feel like using it!)
The full phrase being: “Strike Daekins, the Devil’s in the Hemp!”
Over the centuries, the name became respelled, moving the
ae to ea, thus being now pronounced "Deekins" instead of "Daykins".
So there you have it!
A brief history of the significance and meaning behind our name. Hope I didn't bore you too much! Are you still reading this?? Well then! Here's some more...
Since the inception of the business, much has evolved,
as time will always guarantee.
In the summer of 2007, I was married...after meeting and falling in love with someone I met while selling my wares at a Renaissance Festival. Seriously! One day, I will write our story and post here. Its pretty fairy tale. Four years later in the summer of 2011, Brynn also was married. Though we live about 2 hours from each other now, we no longer operate from the same home these days. When you look at my galleries of what I have created, you are looking at the work of ONE person. Yep, that's me! I became the sole owner as well as the sole seamstress, designer, promoter and web mistress, among other titles for Strike Daekins. There is just not enough time in the day! Occasionally, I am joined by my husband, Eddie, who designs and crafts unique one-of-a-kind hand drums. He is also the lead singer and drummer/guitarist for the Irish band, Whiskey Wagon.
Brynn, is now venturing out into her own business called Hill Girl Crafts and makes wonderful knitted apparel. Her husband, Wesley, is a budding blacksmith.
