you become less so you can become more. eckhardt tolle

we lose things. objects. people pass, leaving us to dwell in the darker parts of ourselves, so that we can emerge, brighter.

naturally at peace.

i was going to only post the second picture that we took the night before, but instead have been really drawn to the first one.
a wake-up shot, fresh out of bed.
i want to share how much i've been appreciating my natural self.
it's not that i don't love embracing the girliest girl inside me and getting all dolled up for any occasion.
because i do!
it's more about feeling finally at peace with me.
it's that i don't have to get dressed up and go out to feel like i am being seen.
i get to wake up, roll over, give my first smile of the day to the sweetest man in the world, and know that he sees my spirit shining.

Happy Birthday Daddy

spring came again without you

and i've been seeing lots of fairy homes

and beautiful mosses so happy from the rain

leaves that looked like birds to me ( i bet to you too)

and i felt you following me every step of the way

i saw your heart

and i feel like today i honored you in love.

A Life of Her Own Fashion-ing

deerfield's, the wedding spot :)

marmie and her boy

lake of love

So...I'm waiting for pictures of my man's birthday to download. 30 years old!!! It's been an amazing two years of watching him truly blossom and his whole being shines in all the ways.
I'm a very lucky girl.

I just returned home from Hatch Asheville which brings together established artists and designers to mentor and pass on all the goodness to new and emerging designers/artists and the sort. The first panel that I sat in on today was "Slow Design: There are too many Clothes in the World.'' Yoshiko Wada and Elisa Jimenez reminded us that while we are here to make a contribution with what we put out into the world, we must remember to make it a conscious contribution. When I first started Sweet Cheeks, my panty line the ideas revolved around embellishing and screen printing already made panties. As I ordered my first samples from companies like American Apparel, I realized that not only could I decide on the cut, fabric or fit, I was really just pushing more unnecessary consumer products out to the public. I'm just still in the initial stages of really discovering how the panties and my creative contribution are going to unfold. I know that I love fashion. I know that I have a style that is always evolving and a love of sharing fashion with other women, so we can learn to dress to show who we are. I feel like I may be bouncing around from idea to idea here, as I address all of this in my head I'm putting it onto the page.

As we've gone forward with the business plan for opening the boutique, I constantly am questioning if what I'm doing is really meaningful. I feel like the shop will be the stepping stone to really knowing our ideal customer and creating a line that develops organically out of that. As I've grown in myself I find myself wanting to hang on to things, to purchase clothing that not only is beautiful by design, but will last and last. It will be something I can pass on and if it tears or rips, I'll fix it. Not buy into our throw away culture.  The idea of a one of kind design that isn't about label or size but the art of the design and how that goes along with the life we are all fashion-ing together...(one can dream, right?!)

But, back to slow design...

Elisa put it as though we are all fasion-ing a life. We are fashion-ing a career and we get to choose how we make a mark. I want to make sure my creations are positive and that the story behind my work is one of creating beauty and love. I want to take the time to learn the crafts that are being lost on bigger manufacturing, so people can consume and then so quickly turn around and throw away the latest trends. Where are the clothing lines that mix and match? That have functionality, quality, and will last and last? Where are the hand embroidered pieces that make you gasp at their beauty? And, what happened to not just wanting the best deal or lowest prices but making a real investment to add to your closet, slowly and with thought?

As I watch my mom get ready to turn into a beautiful sixty year old woman, I sometimes hear the worry in her voice when thinking about trying to maintain her youth. Elisa shared with us how she truly believes that the clothes that are lived in have more value, just as we have more value as we continue to get older and live our lives. And, how at almost 70 her mom is her favorite model to dress. Isn't it about not maintaining our same old beauty, but evolving inside and out and turning that beauty turn into a wisdom that shines brighter?

All these things spinning in my head as I waited on these pictures! Mom, these are mainly for you (my only reader by now:)

Believing in the Abundance that is Everywhere.