Whispirit
Sandy Ligget, Designer
My art is inspired and informed by childhood imagery, the luxurious drape feel of alpaca fiber and the quiet beauty of New Mexico.
As a young women, I loved to create my own clothing. I made my prom dress and my wedding dress because “my style” was never on the racks. During my college years, I made a decision to pursue a legal career first and set my love of art, creativity and individual passions aside for later enjoyment. I set aside my sewing machine for more than 25 years, with my farewell project being to create stylish professional maternity clothes in my own style at a time the maternity clothes market was offering only “little girl” pinafores for pregnant women.
Raising two boys and finding the love of my life has provided me with a true grounding I never knew growing up. Our boys are now young men, who travelled unique paths to find their own relationships and careers. I have spent my career serving colleges, universities and currently the UNM Foundation as inside counsel. My legal career has focused on preventing problems, helping decision makers anticipate dangerous waters and the effective management of talent. I have had the privilege of working with passionate and disciplined people who believe in the transformative power of education and who have dedicated their talents to helping change worlds.
I never lost my love for design, color and imagination, allowing myself to spend hours creating and planting gardens utilizing locally native plants. (My husband and I delight that we have been committed to changing the world one garden at a time!) I would indulge by taking classes in drawing, watercolor and eventually pastels. I learned that colors, particularly when set in contrast to each other, define the lines and shapes I see.
In 2005, I made a decision to leave my then-current job in Texas and move to New Mexico, a place that had long captured my soul and made my spirit dance. I knew I wanted to do something different, but knew I could not find it from Texas. I would never have been able to predict that I would find my new direction by creating a ranch called Whispering Spirit Alpacas, breeding our own alpaca herd and focusing on fiber arts. Forty alpacas and six years later, my creativity has found its voice through Whispirit, a label of simple but elegant women’s fashions made from alpaca fabrics I create and garments I design to show case their beauty and feel.
As a young women, I loved to create my own clothing. I made my prom dress and my wedding dress because “my style” was never on the racks. During my college years, I made a decision to pursue a legal career first and set my love of art, creativity and individual passions aside for later enjoyment. I set aside my sewing machine for more than 25 years, with my farewell project being to create stylish professional maternity clothes in my own style at a time the maternity clothes market was offering only “little girl” pinafores for pregnant women.
Raising two boys and finding the love of my life has provided me with a true grounding I never knew growing up. Our boys are now young men, who travelled unique paths to find their own relationships and careers. I have spent my career serving colleges, universities and currently the UNM Foundation as inside counsel. My legal career has focused on preventing problems, helping decision makers anticipate dangerous waters and the effective management of talent. I have had the privilege of working with passionate and disciplined people who believe in the transformative power of education and who have dedicated their talents to helping change worlds.
I never lost my love for design, color and imagination, allowing myself to spend hours creating and planting gardens utilizing locally native plants. (My husband and I delight that we have been committed to changing the world one garden at a time!) I would indulge by taking classes in drawing, watercolor and eventually pastels. I learned that colors, particularly when set in contrast to each other, define the lines and shapes I see.
In 2005, I made a decision to leave my then-current job in Texas and move to New Mexico, a place that had long captured my soul and made my spirit dance. I knew I wanted to do something different, but knew I could not find it from Texas. I would never have been able to predict that I would find my new direction by creating a ranch called Whispering Spirit Alpacas, breeding our own alpaca herd and focusing on fiber arts. Forty alpacas and six years later, my creativity has found its voice through Whispirit, a label of simple but elegant women’s fashions made from alpaca fabrics I create and garments I design to show case their beauty and feel.