Journal — Behind the Seams

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,...

Madder root (Rubia tinctorum) is a natural plant dye material I have been wanting to work with for a while because of the various hues of deep red, pink, corals, rust hues acquired from it. I wasn't quite sure what to expect as I'm a beginner when it comes to botanical dyeing, but I was really pleasantly surprised with the soft palette of petal pink.I read several different posts and watched Youtube videos and decided on doing an alum mordant on four Atèlette pieces that had the slightest imperfections. I'm talking tiny pin...

I am someone that is moved by the small beautiful little details in life that reminds me of how poetic it is to exist, right here, right now. I have been brought to tears while watching the sun set at the ocean, have yelped in delight witnessing someone experiencing unexpected joy, and have shrieked with awe when driving by tall fields of grass dancing in the breeze. I feel fortunate that I am someone that can easily find beauty and wonder in things that most people overlook or don't bother to pay attention to. Or they're...

Growing up, my mother always instilled in me the idea of recycling, reusing, repurposing. Not necessarily because she was an environmentalist, it had more to do with being an immigrant and growing up dirt poor. Nothing was wasted. When we immigrated to America (I was 8), I remember having to wash every jar so they could be reused (great for leftovers, for organizing, for vases). I washed and dried to-go containers (great for lunches or bringing food for your neighbors). Garments you grew out of were sent back to the...

With a professional background spanning well over a decade in the vintage clothing trade, followed by six years dedicated to curating contemporary apparel from various brands for Adored Vintage, I have traversed the extensive spectrum that delineates finely crafted attire from its less distinguished counterparts. This journey extends beyond the realm of aesthetics, delving into the quintessential attributes that distinguish a high-quality garment. There are and should be distinct price points for the differences. My mission is to share the knowledge I have garnered, with the explicit aim of enlightening...