As an artist, I get a certain charge (and validation) every time I get a custom commission request. Back in early November, I got a message through my website that a client wanted to use her cashmere sweaters for a good use - new, cozy travel wraps. The client was fantastic, easy to work with, and made the deposit right away. Since I was using some of her own sweaters, vs hand picking them from my supply, they came via courier (aka my mom visiting me in London from Florida). Through a zoom meeting, we discussed what style and colours she wanted in the wraps (she had enough stock to make two).
Then the holidays came on hard. I’m also working as a full time freelance florist and we agreed that the travel wraps would most likely be made after Christmas and be shipped off after the holidays. I needed to work the flower (and Christmas tree) grind hard and wouldn’t have a minute to design them. I was right. The season proved to be short, but intense. Long, cold days and even a windstorm thrown in for good measure. After the Christmas rush (and catching up on my sleep), I was ready for a rest.
And rest, I did. The deadline was coming up - New Year’s was over, Birthday was done (Capricorn in the house!) and it was time to get to work. I had a hard deadline to get them to the states. In the meantime, we had decided to switch our daughter from her state (read public) school to a private one. She was just a term into year 7 (7th grade for my US friends) and the school wasn’t a good fit. I call it a SHITSHOW, but I don’t blame the school entirely. Well, the bullies who made my daughter feel awful I totally blame. But the system wasn’t set up for her. So we moved her. Same thing happened to me about this age, but that’s a Substack for another day.
So I’m now rested, the deadline to design and assemble and ship the cashmere blankets is looming, and we’re switching to a new school. New uniform, new bus route, new friends. You couldn’t pay me enough to be in my gal’s shoes. Life felt like it was going upside down in December when we made the decision to move her, but now it was happening.
So for a good 5 days, I worked during the day and put the travel wraps together at night - washing, drying, cutting, and designing them to be the perfect size, the perfect composition, the perfect heirloom. The vintage cashmere soothed my soul. Oh so cliche, I know. But it did. I felt calm and happy every time I cut the cashmere with the rotary blade, put it into the serger machine to join up with another square using neon pink thread, and kept going. I watched BASQUIAT (the fictionalized version) for the umpteenth time as I took each sweater that had been washed and dried, cutting them up into usable squares to assemble. I burned the midnight oil.
My daughter was having a terrible time as the week started, we navigated public transport to get her there and home safely, and I think I cried several times. I even did one of those primal screams when I got home. It was awful. It was cold and dark (still is). But the cashmere got me through. And then they were done - they were ready to travel to their new home. I did the final touches - lint roller, hand sewed my label, a quick photo shoot (hello blue skies for a minute), and off they went. I was happy to say goodbye, but even happier that they were going to a good home.
CUSTOM cashmere blankets and travel wraps from pre loved cashmere sweater
As an artist and designer, I love working with colour and composition, but mostly in creating something that uplifts the recipient. In this case, I received a lot of that goodness through making and creating these pieces before sending them off. For this I am thankful.
As I wrap up this post, I think of that word of the year that I think will guide me this year. Last week felt more like SHITSHOW as I was getting through it. But really, I’m going with GRACE for 2024. The grace to get things done, to take a deep breath, feel and create my way through tough times, and the grace to give myself a bit of time to feel all of it as it happens.
And if you’re wondering, things are feeling better - she’s settling in, still looking for a good friend (I tell her that will come), and taking a quiet ride to and from school. Whew.
And if you’re interested in a custom cashmere wrap, or original floral monoprint, or simply want to say hello, get in touch. I’d love to hear from you.
XO, M.E.
The end! I feel like Ferris Bueller. The blog post is over, thanks for watching! You can go home now. `
I love following your fantastic journey through life. Sketching clothing designs in your journal in high school, having your own label/shop in Venice Beach. (Loved watching you paint that shop all groovy.) Now feeding your artistic soul in London.