A Studio Visit with Photographer Sarah Deragon

A few years back I was privileged to be included in an awesome women's indie business group called The Success Squad. Sarah Deragon and Lisa Anderson Shaffer (Zelma Rose) invited me to join at a time where we were all making pretty big work transitions. Honey Cooler Handmade had just started and I found myself struggling to coax a fully-formed business from a mere concept. One of my biggest challenges was staying on task when working from home, and our monthly Success Squad meetings lit the fire that got me to push through my hangups. And here I am at the Fashion Incubator - certainly a large step! Sarah now runs the immensely successful Portraits to the People - she's so in demand these days that I was beyond flattered when she asked to come by to take some shots of my new space.

Check out her beautiful work below. And be sure to check out Sarah's amazing work on her website - she's the one responsible for my kickass headshot below. Sarah's also working on an incredible passion project, The Identity Project, for which she's gained international recognition.

Three 'Grams: Spring Pastels

This spring has been an amazing one so far. With my residency at FiSF well underway, I definitely have my hands full. At the moment I busy working on my Spring/Summer 2015 collection which features some beautiful pastels and florals. Happily, those color trends have seeped into my life outside the Incubator too! Take a peek at these shots from my Instagram feed:

My closet

Our Easter party spread

A sneak peek of Spring/Summer 2015

On FiSF: 5 Reasons Why it's Great to be a Designer in Residence

If you've been following me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, you already know that I was accepted to the Fashion Incubator Program at Macy's in San Francisco. I started working on HCH from downtown SF in March. The transition from business-from-home to working in a full-on office and workroom has been a really exciting one, and one that has filled my days to the brim lately. Needless to say, I haven't been blogging much! That said, I did write a post for the FiSF blog last week about what it's like to be in the program. Read on!

So what's so special about being a Designer in Residence at FiSF?

Headshot by Portraits to the People

1. SPACE – I started Honey Cooler Handmade from my kitchen table. A dedicated space at the Incubator means that I not only have my own work table for pattern making, but I also have an industrial sewing machine that never has to be put away, a huge cutting table that allows me to cut multiple pieces at once instead of just one, and an office that I can close up at the end of the day with my work inside. When I hop the bus back to the Mission at night, I can truly be home and eat dinner (and NOT sew) at my kitchen table!
2. EXPERTISE – The Incubator operates under the direction of an executive board with tons of industry experience, and that board regularly brings in the best of the best to help us navigate the complicated world of fashion production. From dealing with factories or figuring out effective branding, the thought of facing the myriad challenges unsupported is stressful beyond measure, but FiSF ensures that we are never alone in our endeavors.
3. IDEAS – Jeanne Allen, FiSF’s executive director, has had decades of experience in the fashion industry. Her advice and support come from an innovative mindset coupled with an intimate knowledge of how production truly works for a San Francisco brand. Her husband Marc is our resident design expert and is a wonderful resource when it comes to working through design puzzles. Not only do we have access to the this amazing and experienced executive board, but each of the FiSF designers comes from varied backgrounds, all with very different, yet firmly established perspectives.
4. CAMARADERIE – Honey Cooler Handmade started as a series of lingerie pieces where each garment was made individually, out of different fabric, using deadstock vintage laces. Needless to say, larger scale production is a huge leap for me. Luckily, each of the Designers in Residence is going through the same complicated process of producing their lines. The ability to share the triumphs and frustrations of doing so with the rest of the FiSF class is one of the most valuable facets of working from our amazing space. My initial fear was that working alongside such talent would leave me feeling totally inadequate, but the truth is that we all struggle with the universal self-doubt that all artists deal with. We are a united force and we each want the whole group to succeed.
5. VALIDATION – The Bay Area is full of talented designers, so gaining acceptance to the FiSF program is no easy feat. Learning I was accepted was probably one of my happiest moments – to have an entire board of industry professionals believe in Honey Cooler Handmade and my abilities enough to admit me to the Incubator program was a truly validating moment. Admission to the program is a big step for any line; For me, it means that Honey Cooler Handmade has serious potential as a marketable, profitable lingerie line and I’m very excited to see what’s next.

Three 'Grams: (Not) Neutral

This week's Instagram photos were almost all neutral in color, but the week left me feeling anything but beige. I finished the first samples for my silk collection, set to release later this year. My first fitting with my lookbook model is next week, so I'm heading into the weekend with a huge sense of accomplishment. In the collection, you'll find updates of old HCH styles and a few new ones. A sneak peek below along with other shots from this week, including a peek into my previous life as a dancer who loved to play dress up - So... not much has changed!

Duck fat peach blackberry pie for a birthday party

New style: HCH Garter Belt

Steph in middle school

Au Revoir, Europe!

I'm finally back in San Francisco after three weeks in Europe, a trip my husband and I had been waiting to take together since we graduated from college.

We spent the last few months planning our journey, one that saw us from Reykjavik, Iceland all the way to Barcelona, Spain. We spent all 21 nights in twelve separate, beautiful locations, each with its own specific charm, language and climate. (Let's just say I'm glad I packed both heavy duty galoshes and diaphanous dresses - we saw our share of both freezing rain and warm sunshine!)

What a wonderful adventure, and thankfully I was able to take some truly fantastic photos of our explorations - here are a few of my favorite Instagram shots, and there are plenty more here!

Thingvellir National Park - Iceland

Victoria & Albert Museum - London, England

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Antwerp, Belgium

Hotel le Clos Raymi - Epernay, France

Tuileries Garden, Louvre - Paris, France

Palais Garnier - Paris, France

Me in our Paris apartment

Amboise, France

Galerie des Glaces - Versailles, France

La Boite aux Huîtres - Bordeaux, France

Biarritz, France

San Sebastian, Spain

Basque countryside, Spain

Zaragoza, Spain

Casa Batlló - Barcelona, Spain

Though each city and town was special in its own way, I found myself really drawn to San Sebastian - a big surprise, since I thought Paris would be my favorite place out of all of them.

Where's your favorite place to travel?

A Trunk Show Isn't Complete Without...

...a trunk! (And I have a few of them coming up soon!)

Those of you who follow Honey Cooler Handmade on Facebook and Twitter know that I purchased a shabby, yet stunning 1920's magician's trunk on ebay awhile back. When I opened the big box it arrived in, I realized that along with the gorgeous trunk came a not-so-gorgeous smell, presumably from the ancient glue that was holding the old black silk lining inside.

Left: Trunk exterior, Right: Scraping the old glue

While I was initially bummed about having to tear out the ancient lining and the hours needed to scrape out the smelly, shattering glue, I realized that redoing the interior would allow for an awesome amount of artistic freedom and... PINK PEAU DE SOIE! My hesitation in finishing this project mainly arose from my fear that I'd somehow screw it up, either by snagging the expensive fabric, ruining the trim or grossly mis-measuring. My husband's months-long insistence that this trunk not lay around in pieces on our bedroom floor was the reason for its swift completion this week, and I couldn't be more proud of the results.

Take a peek at some snaps below, and if you want to check this puppy out in person, you can do so at my trunk show next Sunday - details to follow!

The finished product: re-lined in pink peau de soie!

A New Look

Honey Cooler Handmade has a stellar new look for the holidays! Check it out and keep your eyes peeled for a very sweet deal up ahead...

If HCH Made Light Fixtures...

I've never considered getting into metalwork (thought it would be awesome to make jewelry), but after seeing this specimen at Big Daddy's Antiques in Potrero Hill I may just change my tune.

Just because it's metal, doesn't mean it can't drip with ribbons, bows and general frou frou.

Like an excited schoolgirl I pointed this baby out to my husband who shook his head: "Too girly."

No. Such. Thing.

Lost in Translation: A Day at Daiso

Last week, the amazing Tammy George (of PuNk rAwK pUrL fame) and I eschewed our sewing machines and decided to take a field trip to Daiso.

Daiso is the stuff of dreams: an emporium of colorful Japanese imports at ridiculously low prices. It's not quite the size of Michael's or Target, but it's certainly big enough that Tammy and I spent a good hour and a half wandering its endless saccharine aisles. If you're anything like me, the Serramonte Shopping Center seems incredibly distant (both in actual distance and in spirit) from my beloved hipster haven that is San Francisco. But I will say this: Daiso is a gem of squee-inducing design and bad translation. Let the tour begin!

What's the appropriate reaction to receiving a gift bag like this? "I have something to tell you" never seems like a good opener.

Snacks! I picked up some Pocky and Chocorooms for my husband and succeeded in holding myself back from the rainbow of assorted sweets.

This bag might have been among the most expensive things in the store (most items are $1.50), but in all fairness Daiso's copywriter DOES deserve a substantial bonus for making me laugh.

Me too, little bear, me too.

I really want to make eclairs now!

I've never felt the need to buy hors d'oeuvres toothpicks, but there's a first time for everything. The cute colors were giving me cavities!

More impossibly precious toothpicks!

Shoulder pads. Please note the English translation of the unsatisfied, and then satisfied, user. Is "It's good enough" really a selling point?

A cornucopia of food erasers!

Tammy carefully considers some uber-cute bowls.

If you haven't been to Daiso, GO for God's sake! After an hour and a half and a full basket of knick-knacks, I wound up spending around $14. Daiso is to shopping what Stevia is to a sweet tooth. Yummy yummy!