JOURNAL

An introduction to Emily Nora O'Neil a Maine knitwear designer and our model for SS23.

It all started with Simplicity 6520.  I made myself a pajama set in flannel, adjusting the pants pattern so there was enough ease to remove the zipper.  Sewists that work with vintage patterns will be familiar with the popularity of elastic waist pant patterns from the 70s with zippers in the back. :)   After wearing them for a while I thought, damn, I'd like a pair of jeans like this, but with pockets of course. The elastic waist accommodated my changing waist (post 2 pregnancies) and I liked how they made my butt look. :)  These weren't your standard...

This year's POP UP at Herself!

Inspired greatly by her beloved state of Maine and the beautiful chaos her two daughters bring - Rachel Gloria Adams is a textile designer and painter living in Portland, Maine. Her most recent project and business venture TACHEE utilizes imagery she developed through painting as textile print.

    I had the pleasure of talking with Kristan Vermeulen @makersofmaine to share a little background about the story of Herself and myself.⁠⁠We talked about my lifelong love of fashion and the craft of clothing making, the circuitous path that it took to launch the business and all the help that I received along the way. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Starting a solo business can be lonely and without the support of friends, family, co-collaborators and supportive customers it would be downright impossible!⁠⁠  A blurb from the feature:  “My mother was a sewer and she used to always bring me to fabric stores. I can still...

With my first official season under my belt, I've decided to make some changes.  I'll be offering all Fall styles made to order.   Calculating the magic number, how many to make of each garment, is difficult as a small business.  With made to order I'll only make what people want! In this business there are a lot of inputs before the consumer sees a wearable garment  ~ growing the fibers, milling them into fabric, sometimes dyeing, shipping between vendors, and finally cutting and sewing.  All those steps involve not only natural resources, but human resources.   I'm not willing to waste these things.  The...