Since you're here, I thought I'd take the opportunity to mention that I decided to follow my dreams to launch a children's clothing line, "ele story"...please visit my facebook page to "like" me and follow me there!
I am currently designing for spring/summer 2014...it's been a crazy ride, but so incredibly rewarding at the same time. This logo just finally got completed this week! whew! now to the printers for labels and hang tags...
You can also read a little "about" Ele Story here:
Very recently, my baby girl June started humming a song she had learned in daycare that brought back memories of this very familiar tune my mother used to sing to me in my native tongue:
"Elephant, elephant,
Why is your nose so long?
Mama says, long noses
Are just beautiful..."
Why is your nose so long?
Mama says, long noses
Are just beautiful..."
I love that the mom is teaching her baby elephant that her naturally long nose is what makes her beautiful. In my own life, embracing the part that is "natural" has not been easy. Despite having amazingly encouraging parents growing up, it wasn't always easy for me to be proud of who I was. I was tall for my age and it made me awkward in pictures with my friends. Even though I loved to draw, I was so self-conscious that I shied away from working on art projects in school and would wait till I got home to start.
Having lost my mom over 5 years ago now, I reflected on what a positive and encouraging influence she has had on me, and remembered that she has taught me to love what has been ingrained in me--which is a desire to create things with fabrics. When I was about 5 or 6, I asked my mom (timidly, as if she would say 'no') if I could have a piece of lace to make dresses for my dolls. I remember getting into a taxi with my mother and traveling deep into the fabric district of Taiwan to pick out my lace material. When I received it in a plastic bag, I kept reaching inside to touch it. It was a magical moment for me, and I remember being so giddy during the ride home. I took other materials I had collected: used socks with holes, unwanted pj pants, and mom's pantyhose, and this new pristine lace, and quickly created a collection of dresses for my barbie doll. Mother was beaming when she saw the finished product.
Fast-track 15 years, I was in my costume design MFA program (a story I'll leave for another post), not at all sure about my abilities to tackle a challenging design project. My mom let me talk through the script with her, and with her great confidence and pride in me, told me "You're the best I know, and you'll figure this out." She was telling me that what I have loved and invested my time and energy in all these years was not worthless--the little girl that had asked her for lace to make doll clothes with was following what was natural to her. That she was destined for this.
I have been missing my mom horribly, especially as I face the daily challenges of motherhood with my baby girl, growing up all too quickly. My mom was not perfect. She made many mistakes in her life, her marriage, and even as my mother--but what she did right was the unwavering belief she had in me. It took me this long to realize, but she WAS my biggest fan, cheering always on the sidelines for me to embrace who I was.
Ever since I became a mom, my baby girl has inspired me to sew beautiful things for her. She gets so excited when she sees new items hanging around our house that are made for her. She has started saying "Mama's [clothes]" (in Chinese). She is now my biggest fan (next to my loving hubby of course!), getting all giddy over clothes that I put on her to try on. Her proud face while wearing my handmade garments makes me know that my mom is smiling down at me, and at her granddaughter whom she had never met. Starting a children's clothing line has been my dream ever since--this is my "ele story" being written.
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