This next collection I have planned is going to be small….3 dresses that’s it. and maybe a tote bag if I can find a great leather man/woman to work with me…next week I’m off to see one, a friend’s uncle. Finding artisans to work with here is akin to searching for a needle in a haystack…BUT once you do find that needle, it’s usually diamond studded.

I met with an embroider last weekend, Carolina, she lives in a pueblo names San Juan, and the day we went to visit her, Sunday, happened to be the day San Juan’s fiesta was talking place. So naturally she invited us to stay and celebrate with her family. We had one of the best red mole’s I’ve ever encountered (she promises to teach me the recipe next time she needs to make a batch), in addition to multiple types of tamales, home made ‘mosqito’ I liken this to a sweet moonshine Carolina’s husband Julio prides himself on making at home…tequialla, beer et all. and that was just for lunch. We ate and drank like kings with a family who however little money they had in the bank, made up for it ten fold with love and life.

So obviously I have to hire her…such a wonderful woman Carolina is. Her embroidery is some of the best I’ve seen, though she has yet to give me her rates, I’m sure she is expensive (embroidery is tedious, time consuming hand work) but however much she will ask, she is well worth the work she produces. And so, you’ll be seeing Carolina’s work in this next collection, I don’t want to give away too many secrets, but the dresses will be lower priced than my past collections (!!!) by about 1/2, I’ll also be hand dying a few things as well. And even though the prices will be lower, the quality and handwork will be top notch. I’ll be buying all my fabrics in Mexico (instead of NY which will make a huge difference in the end costs)-and everything will be made from 100% cotton, easy and breezy. Seasonless… great for vacations, running about the streets of NY, sleeping in fields of French lavender or any tiny little Mexican beach town.

I’m going to be making 4 of these small ‘seasonless’ collections a year in addition making the always available one-of-a-kind pieces too….and I’m currently working on two wedding dresses…will also have to begin my own dress soon…it’s going to be linen I think, with Carolina’s handiwork. Lots to do, lots to plan. Can’t wait to see where my friend’s uncle, the leatherman, lives…hopefully there will be a fiesta nearby!