The Human Connection

There are three remarkable, wonderful, perfect experiences in my life that I hold on to tightly no matter what other nonsense is crashing, recessing, decaying, or just plain annoying me: the birth and growing up of my children, walking through the streets of Paris, and receiving these photos of little girls in Afghanistan holding up my audreydresses.  And now after a few weeks of working nonstop and tucking away an extra month of summer rent, I am anxious to begin again.  What better way to kick off another several months of audreydresses than with this photograph from a world away?  Looking at these girls and listening to Dr. Rolfe tell their stories was a wonderful gift to me . . . the fabrics that I bought and were donated, the hours I spent stitching backstage and in the early mornings before dog walking, and the intense desire I have to be part of something larger than being comfortable and buying things was all worth it and answered by the look in their huge dark eyes.  My very grateful thanks to Dr. Rolfe and Hope for making this human connection a reality.

Meaning and Purpose in Pink and Blue

This little skirt is bound for Afghanistan as well, and with the construction and delivery of "Marie was a little girl once too", I have found myself in a wonderful but somewhat unfamiliar place.  I am strapped running like the white rabbit himself between openings and runnings of plays--and that has a lot to do with paying rent--but also, I am taking a little time in the midst of long theatre hours to look back on a few months very, very well spent . . . designing, stitching, and MOST OF ALL--CONNECTING.  I have wallowed in websites, emailed many strangers who have become contacts, listened to stories heart rending and inspiring, and received many kindnesses, donations, and words of wisdom along the way.  So where now Audreydresses? My wish is to continue creating beautiful dresses and skirts for girls of need, to ever widen my circle of artist friends, and to keep on keeping on constructing a life of meaning and purpose through my art and stitching . . . with the help of many dogs of course. Love always!

Audrey Dresses Go Global

You already know that one of the most important reasons I make my dresses is to maintain a sense of connection, and to feel like I have a place in the world.  A local dentist has dedicated his life to a self-contained, state of the art dental clinic which he flies to Afghanistan. His dream is so grand, and everything has been collected and made by him in order to help the people of Afghanistan maintain their smiles and healthy teeth.  I am beyond proud to send my little messengers of satin, tulle, beads, donated fabric (thanks Linda and Sharlene!!), and even a happy chameleon to Afghanistan with Dr. Jim Rolfe. My sincere hope is that in some small way they can bridge the many miles and make at least three little girls feel so, so beautiful and appreciated. Oh! And I would never eat a chameleon! Dash calls them the Corgis of the Lizard world.

A Corgi Co-Pilot

Just in case you were wondering . . . an artist's life never runs like clockwork.  Unless the clock in mention is the one from the Tea Party which was full of butter and crumbs.  And yesterday, after the Auction Dress, I hit the wall.  Throwing caution to the wind and four dogs in my little car, we all went on a fabric buying trip down south, stopping at every beach and park along the way.  A Grand Explore for sure.  And we were rewarded for our journey with a storm which hung right off the coast, never quite hitting full on.  The beaches were blessedly empty of people and rival dogs and my four reveled in gale force winds, huge crashing surf, gulls who never needed to flap their wings sailing overhead, and umm . . .lots of wet sand.  Here is Fox, my co-pilot, begging for an after beach Pringle and guarding my new purple fabric destined for a dress traveling to Afghanistan.  Can you see it in my bag? The glorious Auction Dress which was in my life for much too short a time. And yes. I do feel better.  Thanks.

Family of Trees

STAND BACK!! This new skirt makes me happy for so many reasons.  The easiest to explain is that I used a technique from the PARTY DRESS queen, Mary Adams.  Her book explains how to use bias strips which I cut to make the leaves of the tree.  A little more challenging to explain is why I used "Family of Trees" . . . ah--challenging but sweet for sure.  It is a song that I really like, and it ties in so beautifully to a cafe story my manager without equal daughter told me about the powerful love of connected family. Hand painted birds of course. A circle skirt which encompasses everything.

Love Day Dresses

I know, I know, what is with all of the PARTY DRESSES?  Well, a lot of it has to do with Mary Adams and practicing ideas from her PARTY DRESS book, and even more of it has to do with the feeling I get when I think about small children and their ability to make every moment a party, and even, even more has to do with the KINDNESS OF PEOPLE . . . women who have taken the time to go through their fabric and send me some precious scraps.  These are not only 3 Party style Audreydresses, they are also SCRAP DRESSES!! Made completely from donated fabric-THANKS to Del, Linda, and Shelia.  SEW IT FORWARD  in a big way.  Love makes all things possible!

Expect a Great Experience

Here is a minor . . . well, OK--MAJOR miracle in my sewing life: a BRAND NEW electronic machine!  I researched like crazy for a new machine that could make buttonholes, and launch me into the world of more machine sewing and less handwork, but I was old school in regards to machines.  Buying local was dear to my heart so a trip to ART AND JENNY'S SEWING MACHINE CENTER in Ventura seemed like the place to try a new machine.  Little did I know that I would have a GREAT EXPERIENCE with their top salesman and knowledgeable son, Brian, a whiz kid who looks like a rock and roller and knows literally everything about a sewing machine you would ever want to know.  Their wonderful store is like a sewing machine museum with every make and year of machine imaginable sitting on counters and lining the walls--an entire history of our beloved art!  So here is my DREAM MACHINE, made possible by my GRANT and the kind and generous people at Art and Jenny's Sewing Machine Center! JANOME RULES!  Thanks so much Brian!