beginning friday may 18th at 9 am, the spring & travel collections will be 40% off !  i am clearing the decks for a summer collection on it’s way in about one week.

some samples in my ETSY for sale:  the button down shirt w/shell buttons in two cool summery colors.  clean sleeve, no cuffs.  front pocket.  the parisienne in a lemony retro print cotton.

i love this picture of oami with her recent runway collection for a show there in raleigh.

we shot the little holiday collection yesterday on lara.  the dresses will be available mid-october.  the fabrics all come from the same mill in france, a super slinky viscose knit.  the quality is beautiful.  they just feel fantastic on.  wonderful drape.  the one in the middle of the bottom row is actually a Prada fabric.

i’ve been looking at rescue dogs for a couple of weeks now, my heart set on a boston terrier or french bulldog.  the kind of dog i can take to the studio with me each day.  i love this guy, garfield.  he came up in the listings of available dogs this morning and i jumped on the application.  he’s 3 but he looks like a baby.  fingers crossed cause i already love you.

unbelievably, the next sale that comes up in my etsy shop will be number 1000.  i’d like to offer this customer a fiji dress along with their purchase.  at the moment i have the pink plaid in all sizes so it’s going to be the dress pictured above.

1000 is a big number.  of those i surely cut and sewed hundreds and hundreds and hundreds over the past couple of years, mostly from my kitchen studio.  etsy started as a fun way to do a children’s collection with my daughter who was quickly becoming a clothes horse at 3 years old.  it turned into a way to reach an online audience around the world.  the whole thing took me completely by surprise and i’m forever grateful to etsy.  making all those clothes may sound like a real drag to some but i loved it.  there was endless freedom to make whatever i wanted and then the added benefit of being able to sell it.  to feel like i’d contributed something that day to our finances made me feel good.

selling to stores can be lucrative to be sure.  it’s also a bit of a rollercoaster, ask any indie designer.  some seasons you’re the belle of the ball and others you find you missed the mark somehow.  you seldom get feedback from the customers who buy from these stores so you’re sort of in a void, hoping things are going well.  being able to sell clothes in your own shop is different.  you not only get feedback from customers, you get ideas, forge friendships and i think just find your way more easily.

big thanks to everyone i’ve met through etsy.  your loyalty, and in some cases your friendship, mean the world to me.

u.  xo

well you all know what i look like now so what’s to hide anymore!  a new sweater will be available soon.  the gia in a super soft heathered grey silk, mohair and wool blend.  it’s a bit drizzly today so i wore it over my crumpled up fog linen blouse.  yesterday i wore the black st. francis over an old silk blouse and it was just right for this in-between weather.  what i love about these wool and silk blends is how nice they feel on your skin.  the grey should be available in the next week or so.