Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Introducing, "Knowing Bliss"

I'm happy to introduce my new clothing line, "Knowing Bliss." It is near and dear to my heart and comes from a place deep inside me. It combines some of the things that makes my own heart beat faster: romantic clothing, vintage lace, comfortable wearability and simple beauty. I love pairing up unlikely elements: denim and lace, casual t-shirts and sumptous ruffles or utilitarian garments with exquisite antique details. It's that juxtaposition that makes my heart beat faster. There's a different sort of beauty about a garment that was dreamt to life, one-of-a-kind, uniquely beautiful in the way these pieces are. I rely heavily on vintage clothing but I also enjoy incorporating new pieces and making them into something that is anything but mass-produced.

My inside "knowing" has been leading me to this venture for years. I remember when I was about eight and I was given my first sewing machine, I used to lie in bed for hours imagining the clothes I would make for my doll. A child is a natural at "altered clothing" and "repurposed beauty." She thinks creatively and often quite naturally dreams up ways to use what's on hand in a new way. My own daughter took a stained canvas bag and "made it pretty" just last week by drawing all over the bag with markers so that the stain wasn't visible. She was delighted with the result...it was prettier than how it was before, she told me. And it was true!

This clothing line is something that in so many ways expresses who I am. It honors the past and respects the reality of today while it envisions ways to make something old, forgotten, unused, unappreciated or messy into something beautiful. For me, "following my bliss" is the same thing as listening to my own "knowing" and acting upon it. So for many reasons this new venture is "Knowing Bliss." If you would like to purchase pieces from the Summer/Fall collection, please visit here.



~The farmer's daughter walk with a grace the French coquette can no attempt.~


~Imagination is stifled by a pair of ill-fitting pants.~


~"I think I dreamed you into life..."~


~Things are pretty, graceful, rich, elegant, handsome, but until they speak to the imagination, not yet beautiful."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
~


~A beautiful garment is only as beautiful as the woman who wears it.~


~"We grow great by dreams." -Woodrow T. Wilson~


~"Love is a canvas pattern furnished by Nature, and embroidered by imagination."~



~A little garden in which to walk, and immensity in which to dream.~




~The seamstress' needle rose and fell

for days and nights and nights and days

and what she made was the stuff of dreams.
~




~No longer shall I paint interiors with men reading and women knitting.
I will paint living people who breathe and feel and suffer and love." -Edvard Munch
~


~Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
But by the moments that take our breath away.
~


11 comments:

april o. said...

Congrats!!! Lovely stuff!!!!!

Adeline Country Cottage said...

Congrats on your new line, I'm so loveing the pink wrap top/jacket, perfect colour.

Also you Memory Book you made for Cathy is breath taking, loads of eye candy.

Hugs Kirstie.

maggiegracecreates said...

Cheryl - these are gorgeous - my favorite is the farmers daughter dress - but alas I am still a big girl -- best wishes with this new venture -

Teresa

Diane Mars said...

Very Pretty I sure do love that feminine touch, I wore those type of lace high collar clothing in the early 70's. Opps I'm giving away my age! Great Collection!
Congratulations on your new Tat you brave one!
Hugs, Diane

Betty said...

Just stopping by to see what you've been up to. I love your new clothing line! You'll have to go see the blouse I redid. It's along the same lines. The book you made for Cathy is absolutely gorgeous too!! You are so talented Cheryl!!

Unknown said...

Cheryl, congratulations on fulfilling your dream!! Your pieces are just beautiful! And all in my size wich is so hard to find! I am so excited for you and wish you much success!
Hugs,
Amy

Anonymous said...

Just lovely, Cheryl! I love to see you branching out in new areas. That pink jacket is so cute but I really love the brown top, too.

I "lost you" in a recent computer over haul but little by little I'm getting everyone tucked back into my favorites. ☺

It's been almost a year now since I signed up for the Sweet Six Art Retreat. It was such a boost for me! Thanks again for having participated in it. ♥

Anonymous said...

Ooops! Brown DRESS, not top. ☺

LuLu Kellogg said...

So glad I found your Blog.

How lovely! The model's dark hair and lovely features really set off your designs!

LuLu Kellogg

bluemuf said...

Beautiful and stunning clothing. I also love your fabric book.

Karen

Unknown said...

Congratulations on your lovely new clothing line! Pretty things! :)