After taking a break from NYC a couple years ago, I started hanging out in Boston where my parents live. I would go back and forth from NY to Boston while I still had my apt in Brooklyn NY (williamsburg). The views were amazing:
(photo by Beau Colburn)
After feeling like I didn't have one home, I decided to leave the comfortable life I had in NY behind me. I always gravitate towards positive energy, and Boston was calling for me. So I found a 4,400 sq ft commercial space just over the river in Somerville MA. What sold me on the place, was how much I felt at home and like I was back in the streets of Brooklyn. There's something about feeling a little dirty, scared, unrefined and uncomfortable that makes me feel the most artistic and have the most drive. Then the best part is the little hole in the wall amazing eateries. Some of the best food in Boston. Everywhere you go, you meet designers and artists just like yourself. Then you realize this is where they all hide out.. just like Brooklyn.
Well, I've found my home now, and we're under construction but should be up and running in a couple weeks. We have lots of exciting new chapters. I have a new consulting studio opening, as well as launching a new collection, and continuing to work with and consult a multitude of brands. Now I will have a home with lots of helpers so I can focus on designing. =)
For the past 6 months, I have been working on a very fun project with a friend of mine whom goes by the name of Johnny Cupcakes. While I was taking a break from the big city and visiting my family back in Boston, Johnny Earle (his real name) and I got together and instantly connected one night while he told me of his big dreams for his company. Being very passionte people, I think we both had tears in our eyes as we went back and forth on all the amazing ideas we could make happen for Johnny Cupcakes.
Being a multifaceted designer, I have been trained in every aspect of design from draping, patternmaking, sewing, to artistic and conceptual design, computer design, production, business decisions etc. So when someone asks me to design menswear, womenswear, accessories.. its no problem. I had many opportunities to work with very large fashion companies, but at the end of the day you have to do what makes you happy. And building something from scratch.. or as we say at Johnny Cupcakes, baking from scratch makes me very very happy!
This Saturday we will be releasing the 1/2 dozen cupcake crossbones stud earrings set. They are my favorite little earrings, I have to say I haven't been able to keep them off my ears!! We were going to make one color, then they were so cute that we couldn't decide on only one, so we came up with the idea to do a 1/2 dozen, designed a cupcake tray to place them inside and named them after our favorite cupcake flavors.. strawberry sprinkle, key lime, blueberry cream cheese, chocolate raspberry, black forest, red velvet.. the key lime even glows in the dark!
This is only the beginning.. so stay tuned. So much more to come, cut&sew, more accessories, summer photo shoot.. very excited to share it all with you!
