I've been gearing up for an extended trip to West Texas, and after a month of nonstop work, I'm looking forward to a few days completely unplugged. I'll be camping through Arizona and Texas before settling in Alpine TX for a couple weeks to work, get inspired in a new environment, and do some camping in Big Bend. I haven't been in that part of the country since I moved from NYC to Los Angeles back in 2016, and am really looking forward to a change in scenery.

In early September, I experienced my first earthquake. Then, the fires kept us stuck indoors for about a week, surrounded by a sepia haze. Due to the air quality we stopped taking the daily walks that I've grown to rely on, and getting back to the simple pleasure of that daily routine was (literally) a breath of fresh air. It was a reminder how grateful I am for my neighborhood and for the outdoors, as well as a reminder to enjoy living in California, enjoying the beauty and sunshine as long as I'm able to.

The first half of September was also focused on completing a new coat. As part of a collaboration with the Italian Dyeing House Gallery, I used a Merino Wool yarn, much softer and more loosely spun than the sturdy rug yarn I typically work with. It presented all sorts of new challenges, and also created a beautiful, delicate textile. I'm proud of this piece. This is also the first new coat that I've completed since December, and it renewed my excitement for all the possibilities of this form.

There's this idea from Art & Fear, that "Working within the self-imposed discipline of a particular form eases the prospect of having to reinvent yourself with each new piece", and I've been thinking about that recently. The coat has become a meaningful, consistent canvas where I can explore punch needle, and by keeping it's shape uniform, the focus stays on the textile itself, celebrating the history, beauty and possibilities of this craft. The form of a coat is also very personal to me, and represents my love of design and background in fashion, as well as my disillusionment with the fashion industry and the way it traditionally operates. I feel that I have been trying to say something through these pieces that I can't quite articulate, but it is important to me that making one of a kind coats slowly, by hand, over a period of many weeks is in direct contrast to the way that the fashion industry works, which values speed, quantity over quality, and fast moving trends.

I'm entering the early stages of a new commissioned coat that I'm particularly excited about, and I've been feeling really grateful for the opportunity to keep making work, to keep pushing myself through this form!