Journal

My intention for Atèlette wasn't to create a sustainable clothing brand. First and foremost, I wanted to create beautiful & timeless garments that brought me joy to create that women could wear year after year, turn to again and again. I wanted to create garments that would be cherished, loved, and became integral pieces in a woman's wardrobe that reflected back to her the life she lived and the life she aspired to have. Like cloth talismans that reminded her of who she was and where she was headed.  That...

I was a freshman in high school the first time I heard Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush. This was 1999, so she wasn't mainstream anymore, so I am not entirely sure how I came across this song. I do know it was during a random poking around the dawning of the internet. Though, come to think of it, I had just finished reading Emily Bronte's gothic novel, Wuthering Heights, so maybe I was searching for something, and it led me to the track?  Ahh, I remember those early days of...

Most of the floral patterns and prints I create for Atèlette are inspired by antique textiles I have found through antique pattern & fabric sample books such as this one from Old Pacific Print Works, a textile company based in Massachusetts. I came across this collection from 1880-1881 and there are so many beautiful motifs inspiring me for Spring and Summer of next year.   Source: Printer's Sample Book (USA); Manufactured by Old Pacific Print Works; leather, paper, cotton; Gift of Frederick J. Whitehead from the collection compiled by his father...

For about 1/3 of this year, I have been dealing with health issues related to my immune system that I really did not start to get better from until I took my health a bit more seriously. Around mid-October was when I finally started to see the light at the end of the dark passage and I feel as each week passes, I am feeling more and more like my old self. Though, I am not 100% certain I will ever be exactly my old (younger) self again. A few...

This really isn't my 61st mood board, I've probably made hundreds of them to be honest though I rarely share them because I think "Oh, these aren't pretty enough" or whatever self-limiting/self-doubt speech I'm giving myself that day. Anyhow, I thought I'd just start sharing them in the journal and not really because they're inspiration for any single particular piece I am working on, but to show that my inspiration is drawn from so many things and sometimes it is just a piece of a photo, or just a detail...

A few months ago, I was misdiagnosed with a skin condition that turned out to be a bit more serious. Normally I have a lot of energy, I can go and go and go, but one of the rarer side effects of this condition is extreme fatigue that comes in waves. There are mornings I wake up, despite sleeping for 9-10 hours, that I feel so bone tired. There are also days where I experience so much brain fog, I can't even succinctly recall how I got through the end...

One of the first Christmas gifts I received when I immigrated to America was a diary, a "Secret Garden" themed diary to be exact. I am not sure why my parents decided to get me this, though to be fair, I had asked for a Brittanica Encyclopedia for Christmas...so perhaps the diary didn't seem so farfetched. I remember my Dad having one of those large video recorders (he has and still is very into whatever latest tech gadgets exist) recording me opening up the Encyclopedia and me ripping open paper...

Stay, stay awhile,The days are long, carefree.We have today, we have tomorrow,Yesterday was ours too.Light filters through aged lace curtains,Golden dapples, hitherto, hitherto.On ironstone and clay,Sun kisses on late summer blooms.The quiet leafing through a book.Tendrils of your hair,Against your cheek.Lost in another world.Sussurus beyond the window panes,Your eyes close, a knowing smile.Of which I know of.Savouring these final moments,Of our summer ennui. Image credits: 1, 2, 3

I am currently at home nursing the tail end (I hope) of a migraine that started 24 hours ago. I don't get migraines too often, but when I do, they're whoppers. Anyhow, I spent a bit of this morning sitting out in the garden with my eyes closed, trying to meditate, but I kept seeing delicate black tendrils floating behind my eyelids and everything was turning bright fuchsia red. Still, a bit of sun is always reviving for me and there was a nice breeze. I picked some calendula and...

Taking a moment right now to give myself a pat on the back as I've just released my newest batch of designs for the upcoming summer season. I suppose I should preface by saying I don't really work in seasons, I tend to just design as the inspiration comes, but it has been interesting how rhythmic my creativity has been with the seasons, thus far anyway. I am so excited to see all my latest work all together! Some of these pieces still need a little more finetuning with fits and details,...

I am taking a leap of faith and taking a big risk on embarking on this new venture for Atèlette, a flagship brick & mortar shared with our sister shop, Adored Vintage! The opportunity fell into my lap when I wasn't really looking for it and so far everything has happened without too much effort and has felt very organic, so my heart and spirit feel really good about it all. Of course there's always a small tinge of fear, but this isn't my first brick & mortar rodeo, so I'm...