Giveaway! Name my new shirt to win a free one.

After nearly a decade of upcycling thrifted T-shirts into new, structured garments, I'm offering my very own screened T-shirt with a logo that plays with the upcycling theme of my collection.  The logo features standard sewing pattern markings that any true fashionista or sewing lover would recognize. It plays on the idea of cutting an existing Tee to recreate into a different style, however the actual shirt already has a feminine and flattering fit so it doesn't need to be upcycled.  Shirts will be available in size XS-XL in May or June 2013. If you'd like to help vote on the color options, click here.

How to enter:

To be eligible to win one of the shirts you must ............

WHAT IS LABELHORDE?
If you were in the fashion business in Arizona in the early 2000’s, you probably remember LabelHorde/AZ Fashion Foundation. LH started in 2002 as a glossy magazine that featured a directory of local fashion businesses and evolved into the hub of the AZ fashion industry in the early 2000's. The website offered a home base for AZ professionals namely in the form of a directory (like a yellow pages) for fashion businesses.  The website also became a place to network with fellow fashion business owners, a place to promote fashion businesses and fashion events and a resource to find everything from seamstresses and models to fabrics and supplies.  You may also remember the LabelHorde Fashion Ball which ...

THE STORY OF HOW WE WON A $4,000 SWEEPSTAKES TO SEE PROJECT RUNWAY AND ENDED UP WATCHING IT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA IN A DETROIT AIRPORT INSTEAD

Heidi Klum’s famous catchphrase became my reality when my Project Runway finale tickets were snatched from my hands by a NY Blizzard working like a common street thief.

HOW DID I END UP IN NY FOR PROJECT RUNWAY AND FASHION WEEK?

You may remember in my last newsletter that I mentioned my MCC student Ashley Cooper was a contestant in the Aquafina Pure Challenge event.  I had encouraged you all to vote for her sketch to be a finalist to compete in NY for their “Pure Challenge”, and as a bonus every voter would be entered into a sweepstakes worth $4,000 to win a trip to NY to see the...

I’ve been a fashion designer for 17 years and am not afraid to say that I know I am a capable and skillful designer….yet, there is one major obstacle (aside from living in Arizona where there are no manufacturing resources) that stands in my way.  That obstacle is my lack of training in the CAD programs that have become a necessity in the industry. At age 41, I’m feeling more and more like an old dog unable to learn the new tricks.

I’m a hands-on designer. I create my patterns by hand, sketch my croquis (fashion illustrations) and flats (technical illustrations of clothing) by hand and even grade (size) my patterns by hand. These are skills that took a lot of time, effort and money to learn in design school (...

I’m very involved in the local fashion industry, I teach fashion at two local colleges and I offer small fashion business consultation services based on my experiences in the industry to young design entrepreneurs wanting to start small design lines.  I’m often asked the same questions by hopeful designers and I hear a lot of criticism of small design lines particularly those out of AZ.  Because I am a small line, I know the reasons behind the obstacles that small design lines face.  So, I thought I would address those issues in this latest blog entry.

When I lived in LA, I used to own a regular clothing line (mass produced in quantities of 100+ pieces per color per style and not “one offs” like...

I've recently been invited to join a FB group to critique Phoenix Fashion Week.  I'm honored that I was chosen to join because it is reserved for "fashion industry professionals" only.  However, I have been hesitant to comment for a number of reasons.  As many people know, I'm heavily involved in Scottsdale Fashion Week.  However, I do have a great appreciation for Phoenix Fashion Week because the two events are actually very different.  I would totally be involved in PFW if I had more time.  But, I only have time for one fashion week so I chose SFW because they were very receptive and open to my suggestions and because I live in Scottsdale.  So, instead of writing out a lengthy ...

I have had my website for so long, but never had a blog.  So many people have asked me why I don't blog.  I've always said it was because I thought it was pretentious to blog.  And I didn't understand why anyone would really care about what I had to say.  I also don't read blogs because I don't have a lot of extra time on my hands.  I'm busy making clothing, teaching fashion classes at two colleges, volunteering for fashion related organizations and events in Arizona, and being a wife and mother of 2 kids.  And besides, even if I had time on my hands, what would I write about? 

But a friend of mine recently said that she'd actually be very interested in hearing my ...