raw materials...

As my finished products start rolling into the boutique, I realize all of the elements that make up the ME & Blue line. I've taken trips to buy thread (uuh..100% cotton, poly blend, what color?), and zippers (how many inches, hidden or regular?). And of course --- my favorite, the fabric. I'm lucky enough to now live in LA, so these raw materials are within reach. In the meantime, I'm fine-tuning the woven label, trying to update the ME & Blue website (it still has content from the Philly boutique), and planning on the painting of the exterior with my graphic designer. I'm ready for the weekend!

Tiki time!

Aah...decisions, decisions. What color to paint the groovy tiki bar/counter that will serve as the useful wrap desk in the new ME & Blue? It was made in the Phillipines over 20 years ago, and immigrated here to the US along with its previous owners. I was lucky enough to locate it in Pasadena, then get Dave (shown...isn't he cute?!) and my friend Danielle to help load it into my friend's vintage Toyota Landcruiser. After a few tries, it fit nicely into the truck. It's now in its new home, ME & Blue at 566 Rose Avenue. I look forward to all of the customers that I will meet over this fabulous find. XO, M.E.

flower power!

Ooh! I love bright, fun flowers. My neighbors at Big Red Sun planted my outside garden yesterday...zinnias, cosmos, and other fun plants. I asked for color, and I got it! The zinnias especially remind me of a favorite activity that I had when I lived in Philly...going to the local zinnia flower farm and cutting my own. Now I can go outside of my boutique and have fresh flowers...yay! In the meantime, I have a slew of new ME & Blue clothing coming in from my downtown LA manufacturing...the Debbie top, Anastasia dress, Dani wrap skirt, Candice shift dress, the Goddess dress, and more. Opening day is soon...

XO

M.E.

the new woven label for ME & Blue...inspired by poster paint creations when I was a kid.

Whew! I found a great place to make woven, gorgeous labels to sew into my own creations. It's amazing what you can find on the internet. My original label maker totally flaked out, so I quickly found a new resource. Here's the artwork for the woven label...inspired by artwork that I did when I was a kid. I still remember working on these...easels, poster paint, and I even added seeds to them. I can't believe the poster paint held up all of these years from the images. The original paintings will be displayed at ME & Blue. Opening date is soon.

XO, M.E.

more progress...groovy air plants, string lights, and more!

I am an idea girl. I tear things out of magazines, hold onto artwork from when I was a kid (thanks Mom!), and try to think of creative, affordable ways to do things. I'm not always great at the implementation of the finished craft project...and I've been lucky to have a great carpenter who has helped me along the way. I finally got my EIN# today and am proceeding with getting my other licenses to do business here in sunny LA. In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out placement of my fun string lights (thanks ReadyMade magazine), and what groovy plants I can use to enhance the suspended racks that are now up. My neighbors at Big Red Sun next door let me test out some ideas for plants that will enhance the space. I'm loving this plant...it flowers and doesn't require water (uuhh...hello)!!! Stay tuned. The opening of ME & Blue in LA is coming soon.

A day off!

In the midst of getting ME & Blue up and running here in LA, I got an invitation from Dave (black hat) to go to Santa Cruz Island for the day. His boss, Frank (beige hat) All I knew was that it involved a boat ride from Ventura, CA to this island and that we needed to bring all of our own food. Layers of clothing, good walking shoes, and sunscreen were also needed. I'm so glad that I said "yes!" to the invite. The day was majical. We were up by 5 AM, and drove to the boat to meet our group. The ride there was cold, but the Island Packers boat had some hot cocoa to keep me warm. When we arrived, we were told that the only things that we were to take from the island were photos. And plenty of photos were taken. I left that day with a hint of sunburn, and the best day off that I've had in awhile. From seeing amazing morning glory flowers, beautiful succulents, sea lions, and listening to birds chirping, to a restful nap on the rocky beach, and the suprise of whale watching on the boat ride home, I was so happy. There's something to be said for no cell phone reception and just having a day off. Somedays you just need to push the "mute" button and see what happens.

Production!

I love the idea of being a vertical company. It means in the fashion business to make your own garments and to retail them as well. I buy the fabrics here in LA, have a local patternmaker and seamstress make the small lots, and sell the wares locally. It's a lot of work, but a ton of fun to pick out the fabrics, perfect the patterns with my contractor, and start seeing the finished results. I'm able to be creative, react quickly to the needs of my customers, and spend my energy doing what I do best...making cute, reasonably priced garments that turn heads everytime. What will be even more fun will be seeing the ME & Blue label when I am out and about here in LA. I'll be adding touches of vintage goodies that I hand-pick, and a few fabulous labels to the ME & Blue boutique mix. Tommorow I'm off to buy "Blood is the New Black", a line of tees that supports artists here in the US. XO, M.E.

The new logo...

I found a kick butt graphic designer who was able to interpret my old logo into the new, re-invented ME & Blue style. I'm so excited...it means that I can get my labels printed, business cards rolling, and more! The inspiration comes from the bubbly 7-UP signs of years gone by that I come across when I'm driving through tiny towns in the middle of the country.

progress!

Oooh! I love to see results. And the new ME & Blue location in Venice, CA is coming together quite nicely. Here are a few photos of the renovation... Phillip (my carpenter) going inside the boutique... the fitting room area (that leads into Big Red Sun) and the groovy 70's mirror that I picked up the other day... and the "beach-bungalow meets my bedroom in 1977" racks that are now up.

I spent all day getting my fabric swatches together and planning out the first delivery of ME & Blue goodies. My graphic designer is tweaking the new logo, and I'm super excited to see what groovy garden my neighbors at Big Red Sun will be planting in front of the store.

Stay tuned for more updates! XO, M.E.