We are all small fish.

Here is the link to vote:

http://www.rawartists.org/view-artists/userprofile/mendedmosaic


So, back in July we were asked to do a fashion show for an event called RAW: Natural Born Artists. I was so excited to put my vision into reality, and I eagerly accepted.

We pulled together a few of our beautiful friends and co-workers and after we fit all our models, selected our best rock and roll track - we were busy at work back stage getting ready for the show. Jen Levi and her side kick Shelly Wilson made hair that dreams are made of. With enough crimp, tease and toulle, we had the biggest hair. My god, it was INCREDIBLE! Iris Guevara and her side kick Hermina Chamnankit brushed on some intense black eye make up and lashes to put Bambi to shame. All the grit and grime and glamour that one person could handle, add that up with legs to high ho heaven and the sexy smell of leather and the dull blingity blang of the studs on the jackets. It was truly a sight for sore eyes.

Watching our vision walk the catwalk with all the photographers and videographers and all our people standing by, I have never felt more proud. It was like paparazzi!

And so this competition appears. I've never been the competitive type, I feel like my talent, quality, or charisma will inevitably carry me where I need to go, and I don't feel like being an aggressor or pushy with people to get want I want. That being said, I want to win this thing. We need to win this. And most of all, we deserve it. We have an incredible product for seemingly the first year of focus with leather jackets, we have quality, we have impeccible style and taste, and we are good people, damnit! But how do you push people to vote for something that seems petty and weird..especially with everything circulating around facebook? How do you get people to understand the desire to share the link, vote everyday and take an active role in our success when honestly, isn't that our job?

Ask, I suppose. Educate. So thats where I am at. I don't know if anyone truly understands what will happen to our business if we win this competition.

As the best fashion designer of all raw artists we will get:

Consignment placement of winning collection in Fred Segal, Santa Monica*
Consultation with Chloe Dao, Winner of Bravo’s Project Runway 2
... Feature in Flux Magazine
Feature in Raine Magazine & One Year Free Print Subscription
... RAW’s Golden Ticket: The opportunity to show in every RAW location (21) once
throughout the 2012 season with 20 free tickets
Fashion Show at the annual RAWards Show in Hollywood (date/location TBA)
Feature write-up on “Fashion Treat” Blog (Hollywood)
Feature on RAWartists.org Fashion page for the 2012 year
On camera interview at the Winner’s Reception
RAWards Official Winner’s Seal & Accolade

And thats not even all of it...the amount of exposure is undeniably attractive and I feel like I'd crawl through the rain, scraping the dang pavement to reach out and grab it. We deserve this.

I am asking you. Pass this word on. Share the link on your wall, ask people to vote. Vote everyday.

If at any point we have inspired you, if you have worn our gear, participated in a show, been to a show, wanted a piece of ours or if we've ever been nice to you (ha, ha) ....Help us out. We are all small fish, we all need to help each other out, grass roots style to get into the goal. I will be there for you, I will encourage you and I will lend you a hand when you need it.

And thank you to Daylene for this:

"Stay focused and keep your eyes on the prize. Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off your goals."

Collaboration.

Chelsea Ross is a photographer who I have been wanting to shoot with for months. We wanted to shoot back in May..but like most artists, time just flew away from us. The time finally came last weekend to have everyone schedule line up and we had our models, Jen Levi, who always shows up with hair and make up that is super versatile to flatter our models, and a location.

I guess it wasn't until the day I was packing up all the leather jackets that I'm thinking to myself...Huh! I guess it didn't occur to me that I'm asking my models to wear leather jackets..in August. It's actually a nice breezy day as I am walking to my car so no big deal...right?

Hair and make up is coming along nicely and we all set out for the journey to the south side of Chicago for our warehouse space Chelsea has found. Upon arrival..its locked. After a lot of detective thinking, we finally find a man who lets us in.

When we finally get to the 4th floor, we find there is little air circulation and the sun is streaming in making everything hotter. Its stuffy, and really...really hot.

Not wanting to lose the light in the space, we decide to just put the jackets on and go. Jen and myself, who are doing more styling work and not running around, are not sweating as much as Chelsea who is crouching in circles, capturing the most beautiful angles and lighting. And even Chelsea is not sweating as much as Teanna and Ryan, our models who are covered in leather.

We are shooting for hours, we use chairs, the pillars, the setting sun streaming in the glass blocks, and the depth of space that surrounds us. Its positively gorgeous.

Before the last of the golden sunlight was gone from outside, we decided to circle the building and see what we could find for the last shots. A pile of tires. A pile of tires?! Am I in heaven? Next to it, a huge trash heap. All under an overhang that is completely rusted. Yep, I am in heaven.

Near the end of the shoot we are running faster and faster to capture everything before we lose the light. It was like trying to remember all the details of your lover's face before they have to leave in mere minutes, for fear of never seeing them again. The beauty of this shoot was a lot like that.

After we left, feet aching, sweating, muscles exhausted and hungry...it was a wrap. There was not much we could do but just shake our heads and smile in disbelief of how amazing we all felt from what had just happened among us. The high of a collaboration, each person invested so deeply in creating something so beautiful...that's a lot of special energy.

I recently watched a talk given by Elizabeth Gilbert who wrote Eat, Pray, Love. It was called Nurturing Your Creativity. She talks about this African dancing that was performed hundreds of years ago, and when the dancer was dancing, sometimes he or she would clearly be out of body, and other worldly. When this happens the people around would start saying "Allah, Allah, Allah"..and call it what they see it. A glimpse of God. When they traveled into Spain and over time it translated to Olé, Olé, Olé" which is still heard in bull fighting or Flamenco dancing when someone has done something so beautiful, so incomprehensible.

That inspirational video I watched was something to aspire to when I saw it. But what she described was what I felt at this collaboration of artists.

Olé!


Thanks to all who were involved getting us in the space, Chelsea Ross, Jen Levi, Teanna Zarro, Ryan Jones, and as always...Louie Mendicino my love.

The California Honeydrops.

Nothing like good ole fashion inspiration to get your choo choo to the motivation station. With the first order of jackets on its way and mostly spoken for, movement is in sight. It feels good to have the to-do list in hand and feet on the pavement. I can always tell when we are gettin' closer..and I'm really feelin it now.

Last week we took flight to San Fransisco and made our way down the coast. Walking the streets of hilly San Fransisco, I was wearing my trusty leather jacket and I have to say, it was the perfect weather for it. Shop after shop, talk of trunk show and festivals I started thinking that Mended Mosaic would be in a great flow with that city. It was indeed the first time in a long time I have looked at the sky, eyes closed, and nodding my head like I was answering a question. But I not only felt a surge of excitement, but inspiration for my sweet home of Chicago, like suddenly I am going to take it by the horns and just take the risks, no matter how hard I appear to be pushing on the dashboard to slow down.

When we finally made it to Lightning in a Bottle, I was so excited to see such amazing designers everywhere. For once, Louie and myself weren't behind the booth and could take some time to run around and talk with our designer friends and catch up with the wonderful people we've met along our own path. All in all, it was so lovely, my face hurt from smiling. Its so cool to see people who are living their dream. We also got to finally meet the lovely Jillian Ann who is an extremely talented musician and gorgeous model..With a collaboration on the horizen, my mind just started reeling at the team we're going to put together for that photoshoot in July.

Finally back in LA, I got to spend some sweet time with an always inspiring designer and friend, Sequoia from S&G Clothing. We got to bounce so much off one another..not only does she absolutely melt my heart with how sweet she is, but she is literally leaking with talent and has such an eye for rich, decadent beauty. I ended my last leg of the trip from her cozy home to her luscious boutique on Melrose! I walked so slowly through the store, great music, and so much eye candy you could burst.

On the plane ride home, I seriously felt like my whole being was buzzing with inspiration and excitement for this next part of Mended Mosaic. Looking at so much success, I am ready to watch us grow.

Its simply time to grow.

I am going to end this entry with some links to people and companies who I got to spend sometime with this past week and are a part of this incredible feeling:

Maya Organic - www.mayaorganicjewelry.com

S&G Clothing by Sequoia and Gita - www.sandgclothing.com

Charles Shaw - http://www.realitysandwich.com/exile_nation_drugs_prisons_politics_spirituality

The California Honeydrops - www.cahoneydrops.com/tour

Jillian Ann - http://jillianann.com/

Elana Bee - http://fiercefragile.wordpress.com

Steamtrunk - www.steamtrunk.com

Jan Hilmer - http://www.janhilmer.com

Skin Graft Designs - www.skingraftdesigns.com

Braindrops - www.braindrops.com

The Revolution Cafe - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/XmJvy41_tJLOS8WCAVQB5g?select=T8qrJEBMG8vULERF3wnwGQ

Liquid Fire Mantra - http://www.liquidfiremantra.com

Its a good time.

Time seems to be flying by way faster than I even know, and we have still to receive our order. The list of people securing sizes and colors and styles is getting longer and longer so by the time it actually gets to us..its already 60% accounted for. This is so exciting, to watch the pieces that I am passionate about be so coveted. I am excited that our trip to San Francisco and L.A. will be coming up soon, we'll be toting along with us a small collection of sizes to see what boutiques will be interested in having the new 2010 line.

Nothing to big to report until the order actually arrives into my hands...but I can't wait to surprise the list of people I have with their new jacket.

Self - Reliance.

When we started our company, I realized there was a lot of stuff I couldn't do. I don't do photography, graphic design, I am not handy with websites, or even basic stuff like receipts or invoices. It takes a lot of people and a lot of time, that most people don't realize, behind one image. So much goes into keeping a business steady and fully working, and all the while creating words, fliers, and images for eye candy.

I have been blessed to know people who are incredibly talented and also willing to help. There are a lot of people who are willing to help for a price. Often, however, I have ideas brewing in my mind that I just want to execute without relying on anybody else. And so it began, I sat down in front of Photoshop and my father busted out the basics for me. I am able to do some simple, basic arranging of each style and name them. I actually think they came out rather nicely.

All the photography comes next...with models...photographers..make up artists....

You gotta bet, if you're going to win.

We have been home for about 2 weeks now,and we are organizing and planning like we never have before. Already, the energy we have surrounding the 2010 collection is bigger and more exciting than anything we have felt so far. There is this confidence that is almost causing hesitation on my end. It's almost as if I am scared to succeed.

I have never been afraid to take chances or take on change. In fact, all my life change and risk have been some of my best qualities. So what is it that is holding me back? I am making all my lists, down to the last detail to make sure we have all the right pieces. I want to be prepared in all ways.

So I have started facing my fears. I opened excel to figure out an order sheet. I finished the wholesale order sheet. I have made a list of our first order for samples for reps, and the little touches I want to add for internet ordering.

If you asked me 5 years ago if I would be a business woman, a woman excited about business...I would have laughed. I never thought I would be so excited and fueled by the possibilities at my fingertips...not only the creativity but the logic behind it all...

I have included our a picture of our clutch...'cuz weren't you wondering about how it ended up?

Our Collection.

Don't I just feel like a proud mom.

In the works of posting the 2010 collection. We cant' wait to hear what you think!