Alexandra Underhill and Xanadu Designs
How can just one person change the world around her? Alexandra Underhill, also known as Xan, is definately influencing everyone who meets her. She is a fascinating individual, fiercely creative, and passionate about recycling.
Her talent, her passion, and her experience combine into wonderful fashion innovations that also help keep our world cleaner. This lens is an introduction to the Art of Xan.

Discovering the Art of Xan
and Xanadu Designs

- Xanadu Designs
- Alexandra Underhill
- Xanadu Designs
- Alexandra Underhill in the News
- Recycling Men's Ties into New Fashions
- Xan
- Alternation
- AlterNation
- AlterNation Blog
- Other Books by Shannon Okey
- Xanadu Designs
- New Designs
- Lake Erie Artists Gallery Book Signing
- Art of Xan Online
- Do You Like to Make Things Yourself?
- What Do You Think of the Art of Xan?
- More Lake Erie Artists
- About lakeerieartists
Xanadu Designs
Creativity combined with Passion

I first met Alexandra during the holiday season of 2004 when we both manning a booth for Lake Erie Artists (a co-op back then) at a Borders store in Westlake, Ohio.
My first impression of her was that she was very different from me. She was younger, she was very into raw foods, and her hair was a combination of blonde, orange, and pink.
Over the few hours that we spent together, manning the booth, what I discovered was that with all of our outer differences, we were much more alike.
Alexandra really impressed me that day. I was so overwhelmed by her sincerity, her kindness, and her easy nature. She came across to me as a person who never judges others, but takes people as they are and welcomes them into her world. And that image of her has held true through all of my own interactions with her since then, and the interactions that I have observed with others.
Alexandra is what I think people would describe as a "gentle soul". She is an activist for creating a healthier world through recycling, but is never what I think of as a stereotypical activist. Alexandra never, ever pushes her ideas in your face. She leads by example, and I am proud to know her.
Alexandra Underhill
In Her Own Words

My current focus is giving life to man made objects by using recycled materials, fabrics, fiberglass and the human body in an exploration of color, weight, movement, density and structure. The resulting pieces are speculative rather than historical, reflecting the sleek, fast, technological work that draws us in, toward the future.
Alexandra Underhill grew up in Elmira, NY and came to Cleveland to attend the Cleveland Institute of Art, from which she graduated with honors in 1993. In the years since, she has continued to expand her professional career in sculpture and jewelry, as well as in the theater arts, in set design, costuming and installation. Alexandra has worked, lived and traveled through Africa, Asia, Micronesia, The Middle East, and Central America, and her conscious integration of foreign experience, rhythms and religions is reflected in her works.
He current work is an amalgam of memories and dreams, providing a visual dichotomy between heavy, succulent, reptilian, coral-like surfaces and soft, sandy, mummified forms.
My materials are my tools. They teach me about the wisdom of inter-connections.- says Alexandra.
She offers the viewers a cornucopia of retinal and visceral experiences via the emphasis placed on the synergy that occurs between the materials and the processes utilized. This is achieved through the marriage of diverse, often organic materials (such as African porcupine quills, sand, bronze screen, cinnamon sticks, rubber, avocado shells, tissue paper, and wire) and the unique transitions between them, using a wide range of processes (such as electroforming, drilling, repetitive stitching and edging, and painting).
According to Alexandra: "Travel has undeniably shaped the evolution of my work. I gravitate towards underdeveloped countries as I find their ways of life and topographies less synthetic and less jaundiced by the effects of progress. Immersing myself in foreign cultures with different languages and different rules, forces me to confront myself, and to rely on alternative means of survival. It enables me to study rhythm on many levels, to see the inter-relationships with greater clarity, and to be enlightened by nature, time and time again. The resolution of each piece I create always entails finding a visual, emotional and spiritual balance."
Xanadu Designs
Alexandra Underhill
Alexandra Underhill in the News
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer
PEOPLE IN STYLE (From Cleveland Plain Dealer Wed. July 9, 2008)
In AlterNation, Shannon Okey and Alexandra Underhill share their creative secrets.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 Evelyn Theiss Plain Dealer Reporter
One of the few drawbacks some people have found in shopping thrift or vintage stores is that clothes can be too darn small.
Mostly. Or they're too big or too long, or they don't fit in some other way.
Sounds like a problem, right? Not to Alexandra Underhill. She's an artist, so on such occasions, she sees opportunities.
Skirt or shirt too small? Cut into it just right, and add a crisscross bodice tie. See a permanent ink spot on the long sleeve of the T-shirt you love? Cut off both sleeves, and add half a scarf to each shoulder for a new look -- a Jackie O-in-Athens-style top.
Those are just a few of the hundreds of creative solutions Underhill, 38, (a raw-food devotee who looks 23) has devised.
She has long been reworking clothes to fit her body and aesthetic, but now, in the new book "AlterNation," which she co-authored with local knitting guru Shannon Okey, she shows the rest of us -- even those with minimal sewing skills -- how to do it. "Reduce, reuse, recycle," Okey and Underhill say in the book. "We'd like to see everyone, coast to coast, daring to be different by remaking clothes in their own style.
"No more cookie-cutter catalog dictators telling you what to wear; no more buying everything off the rack." And even if you do buy something, there are easy ways to individualize it, says Underhill, who occasionally buys a garment at a discount store. She has cut off the hems of her black stretch dance pants and made a cool headband from them. Then she has topped the pants with a cheerleader-length skirt sewn from men's ties.
"Set the trends, don't follow them," is her mantra.
Underhill came to Cleveland from her hometown of Elmira, N.Y., to study at the Cleveland Institute of Art, majoring in fiber arts. She began working in costume design for the avant-garde Cleveland dance company SAFMOD and as part of the costume department for some Cirque du Soleil tours.
"Everything always led to clothes," she says. Now she sells some of her fashion redesigns (and jewelry that she makes) at local galleries and markets.
Underhill is also a dancer and stilt-walker, well-known to the crowds at Parade the Circle, and teaches art workshops around the country.
For this book, she created most of the looks. (Okey did the ones that required knitting or crocheting.) "I'd make the stuff, and Shannon was the writer," says Underhill, whose home and studio are on the near West Side. "We did it all in three months." For the 5-foot-3 Underhill, it was an extension of what she did with her own wardrobe.
"I was constantly shortening or adding insets," she says.
If something was too big, she didn't just take it in. "That would be too boring," she says. Instead, she thought of a different silhouette, perhaps decorating with zippers or laces.
"What we did for the book were the simplest designs," so even a person with minimal sewing/crafting skills could do them, she says. "And it doesn't even have to be about buying. Before you get rid of stuff you have, look at it in a new light, and make it into something new."
Recycling Men's Ties into New Fashions
Old fashion given a new form
Alexandra recycles men's neckties into many new fashions. And her work is superb. Every piece she makes shows her care and quality.
The most interesting thing is that the ugliest men's ties make the most beautiful fashions. Here are some of the items she makes:
Tie wallets:
I love the tie wallets. They are made from the wide part of the tie into a perfect size for business cards, a cell phone, or change. I use mine for my business cards.
Tie skirts and tie aprons:
The tie skirts go all the way around, and the tie aprons have straps that tie in the back. Both are meant to be accessories to go over yoga pants or leggings.
Tie purses:
Full sized purses made out of neckties are my personal favorite of all of Xan's work so far. They are exquisitely made, and very attractive. Xan uses ties for the body of the purse, and then makes the handles from other materials like leather, wood, and plastic.
Xan also makes other designs out of ties, including vests, bibs, and jean skirts. You can see pictures of all these items throughout the lens. For more information on purchasing these items, contact sales@lakeerieartists.com.
Alternation
Xan is an author

AlterNation
With this book, readers will make something cool without spending a ton of money. Step-by-step photos showcase fun projects and readers will learn basic skills throughout the pages. Unlike other titles that focus only on t-shirts or sweaters, AlterNation offers something for everyone with a wide range of projects such as handbags, skirts, leathercrafts, painted shoes and more. In no time, readers will find themselves creating their own personalized DIY fashions.
AlterNation
by Alexandra Underhill and Shannon Okey
AlterNation: Transform. Embellish. Customize.
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 11/26/2009)![]()
List Price: $19.99
Used Price: $2.00
Release Date: 12/31/1969
Usually ships in 24 hours
AlterNation Blog
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byOther Books by Shannon Okey
Knitting, Crocheting, Sewing
Shannon is Alexandra's co-author for AlterNation. She has written several other wonderful books about fiber arts.
Alt Fiber: 25 Projects for Knitting Green with Bamboo, Soy, Hemp, and More by Shannon Okey
Although DIYers have been using salvaged materials more...0 points
The Pillow Book: Over 25 Simple-to-Sew Patterns for Every Room and Every Mood by Shannon Okey
Can't afford a new couch? Cover it with pillows! E more...0 points
How To Knit In The Woods: 20 Projects for the Great Outdoors by Shannon Okey
Wow your fellow campers and pick up new skills wit more...0 points
Knitting for Dummies (For Dummies (Sports & Hobbies)) by Pam Allen, Tracy Barr, Shannon Okey
Now updated and better than ever--the bestselling more...0 points
Felt Frenzy: 26 Projects for All Forms of Felting by Heather Brack, Shannon Okey
Designed with the absolute beginner in mind, this more...0 points
Spin to Knit: The Knitter's Guide to Making Yarn by Shannon Okey
Knitters who want new worlds to conquer can reach more...0 points
Knitgrrl: Learn to Knit with 15 Fun and Funky Patterns by Shannon Okey
%u2022Great price %u202215 funky patterns teach kn more...0 points
Knitgrrl 2: Learn to Knit with 16 All-New Patterns by Shannon Okey
%u2022 High-quality look in a low-price book! %u20 more...0 points
Crochet Style: Chic and Sexy Accessories (Style) by Shannon Okey
Crochet Style offers inspiring pieces to accentuat more...0 points
Xanadu Designs
Fashion Show

New Designs
Scarf Sleeve Blouse
Recently, Alexandra started making blouses out of a t-shirt base and scarf sleeves.
These are really nice designs that appeal to a wider range of clientele than the tie skirts. I really like them and I can't wait because she is making one for me!
Lake Erie Artists Gallery Book Signing
In Tower City


Art of Xan Online
- Art of Xan
- Xan's own website.
- AlterNation
- AlterNation website.
- Ismudge
- Xan's gallery on Ismudge.
Do You Like to Make Things Yourself?
Or Just Buy Them Already Made?
Do You Like to Knit, Sew, or Crochet?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes, I love making things myself!
california says:
yeah! i love to sew! i just made my 1st tie skirt yesterday for a school fashion show! i LOVE it
Posted April 17, 2009
The_Homeopath says:
I like altering existing things to suit my needs and tastes - I sew, I paint, whatever it takes.
Posted October 27, 2008
ChristiannaGarrett-Martin says:
I like to customise and quite often rip up my old clothes to make a new effect!
Posted October 26, 2008
dreamsgate says:
I enjoy making my own stuff, but I'm nowhere near that talented.
Posted October 24, 2008
saraht43 says:
I can't knit, but I can crochet, love to quilt and am a beginner at the lost art of Tatting. I also enjoy making plastic canvas Christmas ornaments. Last year I made plastic canvas "mittens" for my 3rd graders class. They had slits in them and I slipped a pencil through for the kids. They can also be put on a package or hung on the tree with money/gift card in them.
Posted October 22, 2008
Stazjia says:
I sew crazy quilts by hand also do embroidery and cross-stitch.
Posted October 22, 2008
No way, I buy them already made.
daria369 says:
One of those things I'd do if there were no computers and Squidoo... ;)
Posted October 27, 2008
dandepp says:
No chance! I give anything that needs to be sewn to mummy! ;o)
Posted October 23, 2008
ArtByLinda says:
Crochet, knit, and sew for fun. But nothing that I wear...just curtains, quilts, etc.
Posted October 19, 2008
What Do You Think of the Art of Xan?
Isn't she great?!
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- Ecolicious Ecolicious Mar 15, 2009 @ 4:39 pm
- this is great
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- GrowWear GrowWear Feb 12, 2009 @ 7:54 pm
- I love it; so creative!
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- a_willow a_willow Nov 3, 2008 @ 1:22 am
- Welcome to Reuse it all! group! Paula, keep them coming! :)
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- Portable_eBay Portable_eBay Oct 28, 2008 @ 9:29 pm
- Hehehehe!!! Fascinating way to use ties... *****
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- The_Homeopath The_Homeopath Oct 27, 2008 @ 8:15 pm
- Very cool, it's about time we saw more artists working with practical recycling.
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- daria369 daria369 Oct 27, 2008 @ 8:47 am
- Amazing creativity and purpose of Alexandra I have to admire - and another great lens of yours! :)
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- Frankster Frankster Oct 26, 2008 @ 10:28 pm
- Wow. I am fascinated by this woman whom I had never heard of before. I have always loved ties and never could figure out what to do with them. Her stuff is really fab! 5 stars for this wonderful lens, made a favorite and I'm now a fan! Bear hugs, Frankster
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- ChristiannaGarrett-Martin ChristiannaGarrett-Martin Oct 26, 2008 @ 4:55 pm
- A really interesting lens! She has great designs and I have to admire her for her convictions also :)
Christianna
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- a_willow a_willow Oct 25, 2008 @ 9:35 am
- Great way of reusing stuff! Would you add this one to 'Reuse it all!' group?
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- dreamsgate dreamsgate Oct 24, 2008 @ 2:51 pm
- What a fun way to recycle. I'll have to show my teenager, I bet she would love this.
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- dandepp dandepp Oct 23, 2008 @ 4:20 pm
- Love the way you lay your lenses out! Great work!
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- aquariann aquariann Oct 23, 2008 @ 10:27 am
- Xan sounds like a fascinating woman! Her designs rock. Thank you for introducing me to her work with this awesome, 5 star lens. :D
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- susannaduffy susannaduffy Oct 23, 2008 @ 5:37 am
- Interesting woman and what a lovely tribute. My word, I used to make a lot of clothes out of ties and scarves once, I feel impelled to take it up again. (They didn't look half as striking as these of Xan's though).
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- ByRoy ByRoy Oct 22, 2008 @ 2:15 pm
- Some great designs here, but not quite my style... Great lens showing diversity in design.
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- BeautifulDreamer BeautifulDreamer Oct 22, 2008 @ 12:46 pm
- This is a joyful lens; I love how you laid it out and enjoyed learning about Xan and her art! And congratulations on becoming a Giant Squid!
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- LucyVet LucyVet Oct 22, 2008 @ 10:34 am
- Great lens, really interesting!
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- saraht43 saraht43 Oct 22, 2008 @ 9:21 am
- Very uniques designs. Great idea for a lens.
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- Stazjia Stazjia Oct 22, 2008 @ 7:33 am
- I'm happy to welcome you to the Art & Design Group. :)
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- Stazjia Stazjia Oct 22, 2008 @ 6:33 am
- My partner's ties are not going to be safe now I've seen this. Have you considered submitting this to the Art & Design Group?
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- BFuniv.com BFuniv.com Oct 22, 2008 @ 1:37 am
- Fantastic. There is a balance and flow to the designs - they really seem to "make sense."
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- mulberry mulberry Oct 20, 2008 @ 6:51 pm
- Interesting, I've always thought that there were a lot of great looking ties out there. I guess now I have no excuse for not wearing them!
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- spirituality spirituality Oct 20, 2008 @ 3:43 am
- Fascinating. Sounds like the kind of person that will go far. :)
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- ArtByLinda ArtByLinda Oct 19, 2008 @ 11:00 pm
- I think she is a very unique seamstress and artist! I like the tie handbag! Linda
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- funwithtrains funwithtrains Aug 28, 2008 @ 9:50 am
- Very unique - thanks for the shout on Digg! 5 stars and a favorite from me!
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About lakeerieartists
Lensmaster lakeerieartists has been a member since June 5 2008, has rated 2,099 lenses, favorited 135, and has created 253 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Eco-Chic Green Fashion". See all my lenses
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