Begining of March....wait it's already more than halfway gone.

I started this post 2 weeks ago. Coming back a LOT of stuff has been going on.  I started it off with doing the Portland market, and getting the line in some new stores yay! Prepping for a trade show is a TON of work, so I'm glad the first one I did was in my hometown.

In what could be construed as bad news, my car was diagnosed by the mechanic as "ditch it while it still moves", so I did.

 

So about this point in time you may  be asking yourself, dear lord what in the hell has she been driving? Well it was a 1988 Buick Electra Estate Wagon. I named it the Beastmaster. 3 years ago I had to get a car after moving out of downtown and not driving for quite a while. I need it quick, cheap and able to haul around fabric and such. I ended up with this, and thought it would last me maybe 6 months. Instead I had a fun 3 gas guzzling years,  and it only cost me low low price of $750. I for sure got my cash money worth out of it. And it even ran when I sold it.

Before the Beastmaster I had the Tuna Boat. Which was my 1961 Bel Air that I learned to drive on. I sold it in a weak financial period during my last term in college. Smart financial choice, but over all sad end of an era. My parents had a 1954 Chevy 5-window pick up as our farm trunk, so needless to say I have old cars in my blood. 

Anyway, back to the present. 

I'M OUT OF DRIVING PURGATORY!

 DUDES 390!!!! VROOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!

What is that? Well, it's a 1964 Mercury Montclair. It's pretty, and does need some work, but it's a much snazzier daily driver than the Beastmaster. Best part, the back window rolls down. Sweet.

In other March news (aside from making the pretty dresses) my house has a new foster dog. His name is Rusty, and he's adoptable through Hopes Haven.  He's a sweetie pie, and has recently had a rough go of things. He's working on trusting humans again, and has already made some great progress in our house outside of the shelter. He's 15lbs, around 7 years old, and likes other doggies. He's a Poodle, and loves to cuddle. He's definately a bit more wary of men, but is warming up to my husband, especially when food is involved. If you'd like to meet him, I'd LOVE to hear from you. Here's a video of him being cute (please disregard my annoying puppy voice).

Also, April 6th is the Spring Trunk show at Union Rose. So put it in your day planner, myself all the pretty dresses will be there!

Fade to Light - AMAZING!!!

AMAZING!!!!! I'll let the photos do the talking. Below are my favorite looks of the night from the other designers, and then the full set of my clothes. Huge thank you to Sarah Giffrow Creative for the photos. 

Stuio SKB

Ms. Wood

Chicago Harper

Clair Vintage Inspired:

  

Spring Cleaning Sale - Friday 3/2 at Union Rose

Yup, that's right, 2nd annual Spring Cleaning Sale at Union Rose. I won't be able to  be there myself (see tying up all lose ends for trade show the next day), but lots of other lovely vendors will be there for the evening. So far these PDX brands will have mega-sale items:


 Big Brown Eyes
Carolyn Hart
Clair Vintage Inspired
Daisy Rock
Dress Up Alice
Eclectikid
Estate
Hubris
Patricia de Salis
Scissorstitch
Seaworthy
SheShe
Sulu
and MORE!

One night only, prices so low I'm not going to say......

Fade to Light: A Multidimensional Fashion Event

Next Wednesday I'm excited and proud to participate in Fade to Light: A Multidimensional Fashion Event. In my, uhm, old age (ok not really, but I sometimes I feel like I am going on 80) I have been participating in fewer and fewer fashion shows. There are only 3 people in town that I will always say yes to if they are running backstage, and one of those is Elizabeth Mollo the producer of this show. She's the glue behind the scenes at Portland Fashion week.

After some thought I decided to show my Spring/Summer line. Mainly since it had never seen the light of runway. Which was a little odd, but again see above about old lady. 

I'm stoked to be in the line up with:
Solestruck x Black Milk
Studio SKB by Bryce Black
Chicago Harper by Joshua Buck
Clair Vintage Inspired
Ms. Wood


A little pre-show loves from:
Portland Monthly Mag
Portland Mercury 

Music by:
DiscJockey Gregarious (my official turning 29 again DJ)
Brainstorm


Also very excited that the lovely ladies from Salon Capelli will be there doing hair. 5 years ago I met Kira Pinksi, at my very first fashion show I did with Clair Vintage Inspired. So I love the fact that half a decade later we are still doing things together. 

Get tickets here:
BUY TICKETS NOW DUDES!!!

I'm teaching a class on knits!

Yup, that's right.
Sewing a simple knit top with Alyson Clair

Saturday May 5th, at the Beaverton Mill End Store.  Space is limited so make sure to register if you'd like to attend. I'm also encouraging anyone attending the class to please  bring me your nastiest knit problems and we can trouble shoot them together.

Spring/Summer 2012

It's been much too long since I last posted on here. It's because I've been so busy with making Spring and Summer dresses, along with sampling out all my Fall and Winter dresses.  I have my very first trade show coming up, and I'm nervous. Fingers crossed some new stores like my dresses.
Anyway, here are the images from my last shoot. I wanted to pick a fun location, and also share a great community resource - The Community Warehouse. They are a non-profit in Portland that collects furniture and household items and distributes them to people in need. Those people include women escaping domestic violence, the elderly, people with mental and physical disabilities, refugee families, youth and adults recovering from substance abuse, and the working poor. They get their donations from people like you and me, and area businesses. I think what they do is pretty amazing. I first came into contact with The Community Warehouse when they were in their last location, a few blocks from my studio space. Along with being a wonderful resource to the community, they also raise funds from their Estate Store. Being an avid thrift store addict, the proximity to my studio was not always a good thing for my wallet. If you are in the Portland area, please consider donating to this organization or stopping by the Estate Store. It's one of my favorite places to shop, and I know it's helping out my community.