~~~~~~Space Scape Fabric Collage Patches / Jackets / Vest~~~~~~~~
This entire project came about when I lost my brother/soulmate/spiritualguide/bestfriend in December of 2016 in the Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire in Oakland CA. He was a musician, and I realized that I wanted to go back to art, it was missing in my life. It helped me process grief. It allowed me to do something that I felt honored him. I only wish he was here to see these.
Outer space is both a comfort and a mystery to me. The fabric collage jackets, vests and patch hoodies, often made while watching Star Trek, listening to podcasts, or music like Tr/st, iamamiwhoami, Drab Majesty, other cold wave/new wave/ synth or the Grateful Dead, are sometimes based on actual space pictures I've seen, or sometimes just what I imagine, my various travels and the landscapes that inspire me or the actual witnessing of celestial events, like seeing the total solar eclipse in 2017.
The composition and how-to of the first one actually came to me while I was laying during an acupuncture appointment. I rushed out of there to the fabric store, super excited. I am hoping to expand on this idea in the future, beyond hoodies and jackets - so stay tuned!!

~~~~~~~~ Vintage ~~~~~~~~~~
Obsessed. I actually am not a fan of shopping so much, unless it is digging through thrift and antique stores. I love to travel the states, stopping at thrift stores to find unique pieces. I don't sell anything in my store that I wouldn't wear myself, and I do not purchase items simply to make a quick buck. I find clothing that feels like it has history to me, or something special about it that makes me FEEL something. I go crazy over finding a vintage piece. Sometimes I cry. Yeah. I do. Fashion, especially vintage and historical fashion, is such art and so important. I love that you can identify the time period of an unmarked photo by the way the subjects are dressed. I love the role it has played in influencing culture in society in so many subtle, or not so subtle ways. It has always been a love of mine. I guess I finally proved my pre-school teacher wrong - Yes, I CAN play dress up all the time!

~~~~~~~~Up-cycled Fairy Ensembles~~~~~~~~~
I love the aesthetic of etheral/gothic fairy dresses. I found however, that the options available were not at all to my liking. I like a bit of a more polished, cohesive look. I found that combining my love for vintage with that fantasy/ethereal aesthetic made this project a natural option for me. I scour for vintage pieces (though sometimes not vintage), usually lingerie, to up-cycle into the bases for these looks. As a completely romantic and nostalgic history fan, I also didn't want to completely alter the beauty of the original piece. Additionally, having worked in couture bridal for many years, I am acutely aware that one size does not fit all! And it is not just a matter of the measurements of a waist - WHERE your waist falls truly affects fit as well. From these two ideas, I discovered that creating skirts that were wrap-around or adjustable in some way, solved both of these issues. It also provides the opportunity to wear just the base piece, or just the skirt with a tank or t-shirt for a totally different look.