My first memory as a designer was draping a scrap of tan, poly-silk onto my Barbie. The criss-crossed bodice, fitted through the skirt, was my version of a “safari” dress. Perhaps she would wear it to dinner, after a long day scouting big game in the African bush? It was very glamorous. At least, I thought so.

I started sewing at age 7. With my mother’s guidance, I made a blue and white seersucker blouse with a button placket at the neckline (I think it was a McCalls’ pattern). Throughout my childhood, I reinvented my clothing and dabbled in doll making, purses and home decor. My family was not wealthy by any means, so I was left to my own creative devices to keep up with the fashion trends. I recall making a white knit miniskirt with a gauze ruffle in 7th grade. Despite its tackiness, I received lots of compliments from fellow classmates. This further encouraged me to make tackier ensembles.

At age 16, I started my first official job at House of Fabrics, the same location my mother worked when I was a toddler. I made quite a few pieces for myself during this time, including a formal for my boyfriend’s, sister’s Quinceañera. It was a maroon taffeta, off the shoulder, boned bodice dress. The full skirt hit just above the knee and was finished with a net underskirt trimmed in maroon/gold braid. Many chiffon, baby doll blouses and dresses followed, as this was the height of early 90′s fashion.

Upon graduating H.S., I made a b-line to the Academy of Art College in San Francisco to study fashion design. I felt out of place in the department and after one semester, changed my major to Illustration (?), finally settling as a Fine Arts Painting/Printmaking major (???). I neglected to mention that in addition to sewing and design, I had always shown a keen interest in art; an avid sketcher as a child, often drawing caricatures of family, friends and the cast of Saturday Night Live.

I continued to sew for myself and did clothing repairs and alterations for friends throughout art school. I worked odd jobs—shucked bagels, waitressed, was a sample coordinator for a textile firm—until finishing up an internship my last semester of college and landing a permanent position with the Catharine Clark Gallery, a well respected, contemporary art gallery in SF. Through this connection, I simultaneously worked as a personal assistant to Jeff King, an artist and general contractor, helping him manage his art career and green building company, Jeff King & Co.

To further my personal art career, I actively participated in exhibitions and sold a fair amount of my paintings, but just wasn’t satisfied. The art world from my gallery perspective was sour and I had a hard time swallowing it. Feeling void of inspiration, I left my Registrar position after 4 years. At a friend’s urging and to serve the greater good, I decided to try teaching and found myself as a “site support” substitute teacher for a very troubled elementary school. I became particularly passionate about teaching students with special needs and decided to go back to school to get my Special Education credential. I was accepted into the teaching program at SF State, but my plan was quickly halted when the State of California finally got around to processing my Emergency credential paperwork (7 months after the fact) and discovered my B.F.A. degree from the Academy of Art College wasn’t *properly* accredited (I’ll spare you the bureaucratic details). I was told I could not teach in the public school system any longer, unless I obtained a second, undergraduate degree. Only then, would I be able to resume the two-year credential program. Righto. So, California lost another teacher, and I continued managing payroll and administrative duties for Jeff King and later found additional contracting work assisting two Oakland based realtors.

With the loving support of my then boyfriend, now husband >Brian<, in 2005 I decided to launch my handmade handbag company, Olas. In preparation, I took a business course through the Women’s Initiative to draft a plan and sharpen my bookkeeping skills. I built my own web store from scratch and my bags started to sell. A few boutiques and surf shops placed wholesale orders and I was off to a successful start. I participated in a number of retail events, and was invited to feature my handbags in underground fashion shows and benefits. I quickly discovered that making the product myself was not profitable, if I was to continue selling wholesale. I hired an intern who assisted with cutting and pattern making, to expedite production, but I couldn’t get ahead. In order to break even, I would have to cross over to factory production. This was not in keeping with my handmade vision and bottom line, I didn’t have the capital. I had built my business on a shoestring–it was a one woman (+ a less than part-time intern) show. And to be frank, my heart wasn’t in it. After three years of production, I made the difficult decision to turn my handbag business into a “hobby” and took a 9-5 job as an Executive Assistant/Office Manager to pay the bills and recoup my losses. I continued to sew, focusing my energy on custom wedding gowns.

In August 2008, I relocated to beautiful Ventura, CA and currently reside in a lemon and avocado orchard with my husband and two cats.  I officially launched Pillow Farmer, a home accessories business, in November 2008 from my home studio. I also work remotely as Office Manager for Exponent Partners, an IT consulting firm for non-profits, based in San Francisco. I continue to do custom alterations and now teach sewing lessons on the side. I am an avid surfer and member of the Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches.