Spring is almost over.

It's hard to believe it's already almost June. I feel like my life has been on fast forward for the last 6 months. It's officially been 6 months since my exit out of corporate America. I am the most fit, least stressed, and most happy that I can recall in a very long time.

I'm working on updating this more regularly, since I like to look back and see all the things I have been working on. Here's Spring/Summer 2015. I really love it.

Article in Seamwork Magazine

If you haven't already, check out Seamwork Magazine. It's a monthly publication by Colette Patterns with some fantastic downloadable patterns and good articles. I wrote one for this month's issue on working with double knits.
You can read all about it here:
https://www.seamworkmag.com/issues/2015/01/working-with-double-knit

Happy New Year!

I started out this New Year with the annual tradition - A Naked Lady party at my studio space, hosted by myself, Rita and Carolyn. It was a fun time, and we even had it catered by Brass Tacks. A definate repeat for the festivities next year.

So HELLO 2015. I think you are going to be full of wonder and delight. Happy New Year!

I'm in USA Today Modern Woman Magazine Fall/Winter 2014!!

I'm so stoked to be included in the Fall/Winter 2014 USA Today Modern Woman Magazine! It hit newsstands this week, so pick up a copy if you see it out and about.

I'm on page 34, along with Max, Bambi, Cheryl, and Coco. Of course usual suspect Sarah Giffrow of Upswept Creative on camera.

 

 

SQUEEEEEEEE!!!!

Oh and here's me reading it to Max.

 

 

I have the POWER.....erhm I mean Optitex key.

This may be the all time high so far in my career as an apparel nerd. I just bought my own Optitex key.

OMGHDTVBBQLOL

This is no small thing.

I'm also getting laid off from my day job at the end of November, due to the office closing. December 1 - I'm trusting in myself to be my own boss. I will always make the dresses, but sadly that is not self sustaining. If I stay in a structured job, the next step is management. Working at a company where factories are overseas, I have struggled with not being around the actual make of something. If I were to step up in job, I'd be even more far removed, which makes me sad. It's been 5 years since I worked IN a factory, and I've had a hard time with a lot of those. (I've also enjoyed no tiny sewing manager pinching me with her razor sharp nails every time I cuss when taking patterns down to the sew floor) I'm pretty sure a being a maker is in my blood, which is why I want to be more connect to the products that I help create.

So anyway, once it arrives I'm going to be all:

Holiday/Winter 2014

Photography: Upswept Creative
H&MU: Heidi Cuthbert
Models: Coco, Tanesha, Heidi, Theo the rescue St. Bernard and senior rescue Max!

Babes!!

Holiday/Winter Teaser

I'm still a tad behind from doing the book! Plus I've been kind of swimming all summer, for a much needed mental health time.

Anyway, here's a sneak peek of one of the looks we shot the other weekend. Isn't Tanesha a total babe????

 Also, this is a low res screen shot, but my BRAIN JUST EXPLODED!!! Max is the cutest. That face!

Can't wait to show the rest.

I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK (well here that is!)

A while back I switched all of my bloging over to my Clair Vintage Inspired website. I was stoked to get it all snazzy and integrated.

Except one thing - Wordpress confuses the shit out of me. Maybe I'm just a creature of habit, but I find Blogger easier to use. I've also done a lot of different things this year, and my line is not my only thing going on. So I like to keep a little story, if not only for myself, as to what all I have going on.

This happened:


So I'm back here, this blog is what I'm up to, with all of the things I do.

In the most exciting news, I will be embarking out of a corporate "day job" into a freelance Patternmaker. December 1 is my first day as my own agent. I'll still be doing my line, and other things I do, but I'm excited (also see a wee bit scared!) to be my own gal. I think I'll be happier in general, and get to work on a lot more things in a capacity that I love.

 

I froze my T+A off last weekend

But it was for a good cause! One of my oldest friends, Jenny, keeps convincing me to do the Polar Plunge. This year we went for swimsuits only, instead of fully clothed. We got Snuggies to go over them and put velcro up the back so we could rip them off in dramatic fashion. (and stay sorta warm!) Plus we got sweet swim hats!

Together we raised $680 for Special Olympics Oregon.

I just hope new year some more people will join us! We get sweet ass swim hats, get to hot glue gems on things, and best of all we are TEAM ICEHOLES!

dork-o-rama

We were having a little too much fun at Sarah Giffrow Creative last week. It was product shot time, and Cheryl and I were running a muck before and during the shoot.

First off we got waaaaaaaaaay too excited about the new window space and were trying out our mannequin poses. (ya know, in cause either of us ever have to quit our day jobs)

 I thought I had a straight face until I saw this big. What you are missing is Rita popping out the door to the left.

Then we came to the realization that I am super short, and Cheryl is super tall. So we did this quick pose Twins style. (I'm Danny Devito)

S/S '13 Teaser!

You know you have some REALLY good pals if they will do an outdoor photo shoot with you in December in Oregon at night, and in spring dresses.

I just got the teaser from Sarah Giffrow. I may pee my pants when I see the rest of them.

story of my life

Really.