Another year gone.

Luckily my birthday this year coincided with the Jewish New Year. Shana Tova to you! And Yom Huledit to me! My Hebrew's rusty but an ex-pat friend of mine, Jill in Israel, just sent me the greetings... And because my bro and I have done some extensive research and are pretty sure of our Hebraic roots this makes a perfect time for me to assess. Some personal observations:

1. This was for sure the best year of my life for the following reasons:
JJ still loves me.
I've planted a garden.
I have a job and I like it.
I've hired Hilary.
I have great hair.
We live in Silverlake.
I've made new friends and kept the old!

2. Life is easier past your twenties for the following reasons.
You know what you're good at.
Other people know now too.
Things are not as personal.
But the good things are exceedingly personal.

3. Things I've learned this year, an abbreviated list.
Don't plant habanaro peppers in your garden.
People thrive in praise.
Everything works better if you admit you are blessed and that's probably why.
Fabrics and blending take time, time, time.
The Vogue offices don't look like the movies.
Buy art as soon as you can afford it.

P.S. If you don't get our emails we are offering a birthday discount from now til Sunday, just type happybirthday at checkout and it's 20% off. (I think... confirm with Hilary if it doesn't work.)

Wee Fall.

Fall is always a strange time for me, verging on emo. There seems to be stillness even amidst busyness and change. So, I find myself purging everything from wardrobes to dishes then look around and still feel a wee bit empty. I think this is why we send kids to school in the Fall, keep them busy, occupy minds. Help them to ignore time's blatant display of passing or onslaught of nostalgia. I've not found a remedy for the rest of us, I'm just lamenting.

Our dad's hat.

My friend Jen told me her dad said, " Your creativity should go into the way you live, not just into your work." And since that conversation I've found myself trying to implement it into my life. I've found I'm either pushing a collection, landscaping, or my kitchen cupboard issue. That's not really life is it? But what is "your life"? When I showed my dad the current look book, he was quite enamoured with the use of his hat. He asked where the hat band was, I said it's on her head in other pictures, he liked it. He said he was really proud of buddy and me for doing our own photo shoots. He told me people get paid a lot of money to do that stuff. I don't think he knows I used to be a stylist. Or that Buddy's a magazine editor et photographer. I think he thinks of us as girls who laugh a little too loud and can catch a mean trout or who paddle out when it's a little too big for our skill set. And that is evidence of living.

Spring 09

We shipped our last box out to NY for market yesterday at 5:30. I went home and dreamt of hook and eyes I didn't double check and hems I can't remember if I'd finished. But such is life. You pour and pour into something and at some point you must let go... I have to ask myself -if the collection was perfect what would keep me going? Because I know the answer, nothing. But I did my best, my very best and am happy. Happy and relieved. Like the pic I'm showing from the collection. It's a dress we are continuing -the Judy. (I'm extremely careful not to show anyone the collection before the buyers. If I've showed you the collection and you are reading the blog, I must really love you.)