Product Reviews

It's that time of year again ...
a little slower than usual this year ... when compared to last year.

That gives me more time ...
for creativity ...
for introspection ...
for walking every day ...
and especially for incorporating new things into my life.

So ...
I signed up to do a few product reviews.
I LOVE new stuff!
and I love supporting new companies who are bringing new products into our world.

And if I can do anything to help get the word out about something they are doing
I am here to help in any way I can.

So ... stay tuned ... I'll be posting pics and writing about some really cool things arriving in my mailbox.

There might even be a giveaway or two  =)

Countdown ... 13 Days to Go!

We've been busy these last few weeks ... really ... really ... busy.

As of today, we're less than two weeks' away from our trip down to San Diego.

Just yesterday, I finished the 10th Look for the Collection.

Here's a peek of the shoes:

sorry ... for now, all I can show is the box.

As for the actual garment ... here's two more sneak peeks:  

 
To show the finished look would spoil the Surprise!

I CAN show you these amazing shoes that Hourglass Footwear created for one of our very first looks ... a look we released in June and in July ...

 
it's a pretty incredible overall Look ... one that is super comfortable to wear ... all in organic cotton

18 days until Fashion Week ...

13 days till we travel ...

We're pretty excited!

September's Sneak Peek!

This week's Sneak Peek from our 2014 Eco ArtWear Collection to launch on the runway

 during Fashion Week San Diego!

Uber comfortable t-shirt crafted from walnut-dyed, hemp knit. Cropped pants made from a beautiful hand-crafted, rayon batik from India.

From our 2014 Eco ArtWear Collection:

Model: Crystal Geller
Hair/Makeup: Beigeblond - Brett M Allred, Molly Miles Hickman, Aliya Chaidez
Accessories: SteamCircus.com
Photo: Barbara Hill Photography, Barbara Hill
Location: La Bottega in Vancouver, WA
From our 2014 Eco ArtWear Collection:
Model: Crystal GellerHair/Makeup: Beigeblond - Brett M Allred, Molly Miles Hickman, Aliya ChaidezAccessories: SteamCircus.comPhoto: Barbara Hill Photography, Barbara HillLocation: La Bottega in Vancouver, WA

Made for a Woman ...

"Strong enough for a man ... but made for a woman!"

That's the marketing gimick that's been associated with Secret Deodorant since the beginning of time.  And it's no wonder ... it's a phrase that, when combined with the ultra-feminine packaging, totally appeals to every aspect of a woman's psyche.  It's pretty.  It smells good.  And on our sweatiest, highest stress days ... we still come out of it smelling like a rose.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, Secret Deodorant carries no acute or chronic health effects.

Well ... if you overlook that nasty aluminum ingredient ...
and talc ...
and cyclomethicone ...
and behenyl alcohol ...
and pentadecalactone ...
of course there are no serious health effects!

And when you take into consideration that aluminum in deodorants cause breast cancer and Alzheimer's ... well, you can completely understand why this particular brand specifically targets women.  And if you cannot, let's just say that there's a fuckton of money to be made off of cancer research [especially breast cancer research] ... and the more women using conventional deodorants that contain harmful chemicals, the more women that you have fall into a higher-than-normal risk for breast cancer and other related diseases that the pharmaceutical companies can then make money off of ... it's a vicious cycle perpetuated by greed.

So ... let's take a closer look at these ingredients ...

Aluminum [in any form] - a strong human neurotoxicant and an endocrine disruptor that is directly linked to breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease.
Talc - proven to cause tissue injury and fibrosis; is also a skin and lung irritant
Cyclomethicone - a silicone-based solvent and is used as a "wetting agent" for personal care products
Behenyl Alcohol - a saturated, fatty alcohol used as an emollient, emulsifier and thickener in cosmetics
Pentadecalactone - a perfume and/or fragrance ingredient added to health and beauty products.  It is a pheromone derived from the male human and is used to attract females; in OTC body products, it is included in it's synthetic form.

YUCK!

Personally, for years and years, I fell under the sing-song spell of this particular brand.

And then quit ... cold turkey ... about three years ago.
I plan on remembering who my kids are when I'm 90.
I also plan on having both of my breasts.

But ... I still sweat.  And on really, really warm days ... I prefer smelling more like a flower than a gym sock.

So ... I did the research ... formulated a few recipes ... and voilá!

Organic Deodorant

Only 4 ingredients ... tested on pregnant women & teens ['cuz they can really sweat] ... and no complaints.
No clogged pores.  No yucky ingredients.  Made by a women ... for humanity.

Three scents are available ... more to come!

Chamomile & Lavender

Mother Earth [bergamot, cassia root, cedarwood, nutmeg, lavadin, & peppermint]

Basil, Sage & Mint

Click ... Click ... Snap!

We've successfully completed the shooting of all garments that will be contained in our Look Book.  The online site for this book has been created and will be available for viewing the last week of September ... for launch during Fashion Week San Diego. 

We've also sent the hard copy of the look book to print ... we anticipate having the book in hand within the next two weeks.  Lot's of photos ... a few words ... all on glossy paper ... we're pretty excited!

Our Final Press Conference for Fashion Week San Diego is this evening at Roppongi in La Jolla, CA.  It is during this PC that another Sneak Peek from our 2014 Collection will be released to the Press and General Public.  We're excited about this release ... as it's a completely different look from the overall feel of the rest of the collection.  It's attached to this update ... kind of a pre-release of a pre-release  ;)

The countdown to our Travel Date is official ... less than 30 days' remaining.  We will be posting updates on our social media pages all through the next month as we get closer and closer to the runway debut.

Enjoy your week!

=) Caryn

Our Kickstarter Project Sponsors!

Our deepest gratitude goes out to the following people who contributed to our Kickstarter Crowdfunding Project:  Taking an Organic Road to Fashion Week.

Thank you for being a part of our incredibly beautiful adventure!

Jacob Nordby
Peggy Stockwell
Karen Mengersen
Jennie Dougherty
Wendy Willingham
Janet Lynn Espinosa
Karen Davis Smith
Shasta Gaughen
Michael Bukraba
Sarah Nash
Reg Try
Cyndy Hagin
Rachael Coughlin
Ammi Brooks
Llewellyn Rhoe
Jamie Moore Fox
Elisabeth Svinth Davidson
Krysta Bell
Christopher Allen
Frank Miller
Steve Stockwell
Suzan Monson
Catherine
Peter Dougherty
Ganin Lovell

In the News!!!

It's been an exciting week!  Handed out more than a few fliers at our events this week to those interested in learning more about the project.  And our story was published in Saturday's Columbian, our local newspaper.

In the Living Section ... above the fold!

and if that wasn't cool enough ... we were featured in the upper right corner of the front page, right under the banner!!!

I don't know about you ... but I think that's pretty damned cool!!!

And ... in case you haven't been following along on our Facebook page ... this goes hand in hand with our Kickstarter Project.  Which, by the way, we're excited to announce that we've reached 1/3 of our goal with only 14 days to go  =)

If you have a moment, please check out our project and share it forward ... we'd appreciate it immensely if you did.

Just wanted to share ... and if you would be so kind as to please share this with your friends and families ... I'd really appreciate the love.

xoxoxoxo

Photo Shoot - Day 1

Today's shoot ... successful and completed!

My deepest gratitude goes out to La Bottega in Vancouver, WA, Barbara Hill Photography, and Beigeblond for the incredibly awesome work they put in to pull this off. It's not every Sunday that folks are willing to roll out of bed at 6am to help create something amazing! And let's certainly not forget Crystal and Deanna ... my two beautiful models ... without them ... well ... the clothes would still be hanging on the rack.

Additional thanks to my amazing husband ... he managed to help keep it all together so we could do this.

And finally ... to Harmony Art Organic Design for the incredible fabrics, Hourglass Footwear for the omigod pumps, Wasataylor & Steamed Circus for the accessories, and Neema Bags for the spot-on handbags.

While I cannot release shots of the actual garments until they have been released at Fashion Week San Diego, I can release this test shot that we did ...

Cheers!

Kickstarting it Into High Gear!

We've launched a Kickstarter Program to help cover the remaining costs associated with getting our Organic Women's Clothing Collection to San Diego for Fashion Week. It's an All or Nothing Deal ... so, there's really nothing to lose ... and you gain a wonderful feeling of helping an artist recognize their Dream ♥

Check out our Kickstarter Program!

Facing Fears

This coming week marks a milestone of sorts.  On Monday, I will be participating in a Press Conference in Hollywood ... designed to promote me and my art form ... my participation in 2013 Fashion Week San Diego.  This Press Conference serves to introduce Who I Am and What I Do to the rest of the world.

I am excited ... and scared ... all at the same time.

So many "what ifs..." are coming to the surface.

What if ... I am late for the conference?

What if ... I say the wrong thing?

What if ... I drop my drink/food/purse/etc.?

What if ... not one person likes what I make?

What if ... no one likes me?

The last one is kinda a biggie to me.  I spent many of my formative years fighting against a parent telling me that I would never be "good enough".  Impressionable teen years railing against classmates that bullied or ridiculed me because I was too smart or too pretty or too quiet or too whatever happened to be their particular pet peeve at that moment.

Over the last 10 years, I've worked tirelessly to face and remove those fears.  I've brought those concerns to the forefront of my life ... letting those who participated in my growth know that the words spoken in the past  no longer have an affect on my present or on my future.

I love me ... who I've become ... and the path that I am creating for my future.

I love my life, the profession that I've chosen to invest my heart and soul into, and all of the decisions that I've made along the way to get me to where I am right now.

And I suppose ... in the bigger picture ... it doesn't really matter what other people think ... so long as I have put my best foot forward and put everything that I Am into the Dream that I have chosen to pursue.

I am reminded of words spoken by Darryl Anka:

            "circumstances do not matter ... state of be-ing, matters".

I know this ... to my very core.  But sometimes ... I forget.

Guess it's time to dig it out, dust it off, and put it into practice.

Will let y'all know how it turns out.

xoxoxo

I've been a bit remiss ...

Being wrapped up in the planning and preparations for a super big event ... a person tends to get a bit overwhelmed ... and forgetful.  Some days ... REALLY forgetful.

And in the last 45 days ... WOW!

So much planning ... so many trips back and forth to San Diego ... and then the sudden planning of having my daughter come out for the summer ... the Sponsors' page for the website kinda got shoved to the back burner just a little bit.

With just a smidge over 3 months remaining before the release of our Spring 2014 Collection, I finally had a moment to get everything up to date on the site.  YAY!!!

So, with no further ado, here is a listing of our amazing Sponsors ... for their help and generosity I am eternally grateful ... because my Spring 2014 Collection wouldn't be a complete collection without their help!

Proud sponsor of Second Star Designs for 2013 Fashion Week San Diego
providing GOTS Certified Organic Textiles for the creation of our SS14 collection

Proud sponsor of Second Star Designs for 2013 Fashion Week San Diego
providing discontinued textiles for the creation of accessories for our SS14 collection

Proud sponsor of Second Star Designs for 2013 Fashion Week San Diego
providing discontinued fabric samples for the creation of our SS14 collection

Hourglass Footwear
Proud sponsor of Second Star Designs for 2013 Fashion Week San Diego
providing custom designed footwear for our SS14 collection

Proud sponsor of Second Star Designs for 2013 Fashion Week San Diego
providing exclusive jewelry designs to complement our SS14 collection

Neema Bags by RH
Proud sponsor of Second Star Designs for 2013 Fashion Week San Diego
providing exclusive handbag designs to complement our SS14 collection

Proud sponsor of Second Star Designs for 2013 Fashion Week San Diego
providing exclusive hair & makeup design for the lookbook production of our SS14 collection

Proud sponsor of Second Star Designs for 2013 Fashion Week San Diego
providing exclusive photography services for the lookbook production of our SS14 collection

Proud sponsor of Second Star Designs for 2013 Fashion Week San Diego
providing an excellent location for the lookbook production shooting of our SS14 collection

A Sneak Peek!

A Sneak Peek at the Designer Line-up for 2013 Fashion Week San Diego

The ride of a lifetime has now begun ... please keep your hands inside the vehicle at all times!

More to come ... so please stay tuned!

365 Days of Creativity - Day 4 & 5 - Shhhh!

On Monday, I was accepted as an Official Designer for Fashion Week San Diego.

YAY!!!

So, life's a little exciting around here at the moment.
And on Day 4, I spent most of the day working on 2 designs for San Diego ...
can't show them to you, 'cuz it's a S.E.C.R.E.T!

For those that know me, you know how much I love sharing on FB the stuff I'm doing in the studio.
Day 4 ... notsomuch ... 'cuz no one's supposed to know about any of it until like, October.
The kids have been sworn to secrecy ... bribed with candies for the next 6 months!

Now ... Day 5 ... that's a completely different story.

I can tell y'all about today ... until the cows come home.

Except, there's not much to tell ... we chopped about a pound of habaneros.  Okay, not "we" ... my husband chopped them for me ... and now they're marinating in the slow cooker for our next project.

which will be shared with you ... tomorrow.

Until then ... hasta la manana!

365 Days of Creativity - Day 2 - Ice Dyeing

Last week, with the arrival of my tax refund, I placed an order for new fiber reactive dyes from Dharma and some raw bamboo/cotton & hemp/cotton yardage.  At our local thrift store, I found a number of blank, white men's t-shirts and baby onesies that I could add to my newest passion:  Ice Dyeing.  Since it's more cost effective to dye projects in large quantities, I rummaged through my overstock and discovered about a dozen of my Made in Oregon t-shirts that, for one reason or another, hadn't sold.  I added those brilliant white t-shirts to the steadily growing pile of stuff needing color.

With the equivalent of about 20 yards of fabric, I decided the best way to tackle the prep work was to throw it all in the washing machine, split over two loads.  First the fabrics were washed in Synthrapol to remove any sizing or fabric softener residue.  Then, the fabrics were soaked in a soda ash mixture for about half an hour before being wrung out and placed into the two dye tubs.

This time around, I decided to layer the fabric, ice and dyes.  Seven colors were used in the first tub and four in the second tub.  Each 64-quart tub held about four layers of ingredients:  fabric, ice, dye, repeat ... then covered with a lid and allowed to sit overnight so the ice could melt and do its job.

 

This morning heralded in the grand reveal:  opening the tubs, rinsing off the fabrics, and surveying the results.

I have to admit ... they look pretty damned cool!

365 Days of Creativity - Day 1 - Gypsy Skirt

I dug into my endless supply of Thrift Store Treasures to create today's spark of creativity.

A women's pair of size 18, mauve colored silk pants was the first item to be dismantled into usable pieces of fabric ... followed by over-sized t-shirts, a beautiful cotton velour top in a dark camel, and a remnant of lightweight, cotton madras plaid.  Offcuts of pink and white, patchwork stretch lace and a chunk of synthetic suede in a light mauve completed the color array.

All of these pieces of fabric were then lovingly cut up and stitched together to create one of our signature Gypsy Skirts ... in a women's size large.  I figure this will be perfect for the new store that's opening out in Lincoln City the first weekend in March.

365 Days of Creativity

Lately, there are some days when I have ended up being a total "slacker" ... complete days filled with nothing more than lounging around the house in my jammies until noonish, drinking tea, and simply enjoying the world for all that it is.

There's nothing wrong with this, but I have a greater drive than that ... resulting in a mental admonishment that I could have done more with today than I managed to do.

So ... I'm setting myself a goal of sorts ... 365 Days of Creativity.

Starting Now.

And I will be posting these creative accomplishments on my Fan Page. One a day for the next year. If you're interested in seeing my progress, you can head on over to my page this evening and check out the photos. ♥

Back by Popular Demand!

Back by popular demand!

Using the magic that is Rafflecopter, in honor of our 5th Anniversary, Second Star Designs will be awarding a $25 online gift certificate to one lucky Fan when we reach 600 Fans ... and another $50 online gift certificate each to 5 fans ... when we reach 750 Fans on or before February 28, 2013.

♥ MINIMUM OF 600 FANS REQUIRED FOR DRAWING TO HAPPEN♥ WINNERS WILL BE DRAWN ON MARCH 1, 2013♥ 7 CHANCES FOR ENTRIES EVERY DAY - 35 POINTS/DAY♥ SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY♥ YOU'LL FIND THE LINK UNDER "GIVEAWAYS" AT THE TOP OF OUR PAGE

Giveaway opens on February 1, 2013, and runs thru the end of the month. Winners' names will be posted on our Fan Page and must respond within 24 hours or another name will be drawn.

Good luck ♥http://bit.ly/Tin9MS

You Should Know - the Wonders of Healing Salve

To start the New Year off right, we're putting up another batch of our Organic Healing Salve.  It's becoming quite popular ... just this last week, two more stores are carrying this amazing product.

For those of you unfamiliar with the ingredients found in this tiny tin of wonderfulness, I've put together a list of the ingredients and what they do for you when it comes to things like bumps, bruises, cuts, burns, scrapes, bee stings, diaper rash, sunburn, eczema, and the like.  Because there are no synthetic chemicals, there's really nothing that our salve is not good for ... we've even used it on our pets.

Every product that we've created and eventually placed into a store was borne of a need here at home to have the best products available ... products that do not harm the environment or harm our family's health.  Every product we make we use first on ourselves to ensure that nothing bad would happen ... even if it's accidentally swallowed.

The herbs used in our infused oils are grown on our property.  No fertilizers.  No pesticides.  No synthetic chemicals are used to grow these amazing ingredients.  Our free range chickens and ducks provide all we need to fertilize the garden and control the pests.  The oils, beeswax, and honey used are all certified organic and come from local farmers.  Because we are aware of the importance of maintaining the integrity of the ingredients' health properties, we process small batches of our salves at low temperatures ... high temperatures kill the "good stuff" found in each ingredient.

You can find this product in our online store at www.secondstardesigns.com, in our Health & Beauty section.  To find a store in the greater Portland/Vancouver area which carries our products, simply click on the "stores" menu tab.


Only good things for you and your family.

***************************************************

Coconut oil works wonders for dry and damaged skin, cuts, bruises, and speeds the healing process while it fights infection.  Coconut oil forms a protective barrier against the skin to hold in moisture while penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin tissues to help in keeping the connective tissues strong and supple.

Grapeseed oil is naturally astringent, antiviral, and contains a number of antioxidants as needed by the human body for health.  As one of the primary oils in our salve, grapeseed oil provides anti-inflammatory pain relief as well as aiding in improving the skin's overall circulatory health.

Chamomile contains spiroether, a strong antispasmodic agent that relaxes aching and tense muscles.  Chamomile also contains compounds that are antibacterial and anti-inflammatory and is used to promote tissue regeneration.

Calendula is a particularly good treatment for all types of skin irritations, insect bites, and minor wounds.  The antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties of calendula make it effective toward the healing of many types of wounds and skin irritations.

Comfrey is one of the best-known healing herbs and has been used for centuries ... as far back as the early Greek and Roman civilizations.  Its name, symphytum, comes from the Greek symphyo and means "to make grow together" ... and was used at the time to heal fractures.  Comfrey relieves pain and inflammation caused by injuries and degeneration of the skin tissues.  Topical treatments are used to heal burns, skin ulcerations, abrasions, lacerations, insect bites, and any other skin irritation.  Comfrey's naturally occurring astringent tannins help to form a protective surface over wounds to promote healing of the underlying tissues.

Plantain is a naturally occurring herb used to stop bleeding in minor cuts and abrasions, and helps in treating all forms of skin irritations, superficial ulcerations of the skin, and burns.

St. John's Wort is naturally anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and is naturally analgesic.  It's used in the treatment of damaged skin and helps to calm the pain of sciatica and arthritis.  It is a singular healing herb that when included in an ointment, helps to open obstructions, dissolve swelling, and close up wounds.

Lavender helps to relieve pain, kill germs, heal burns and skin rashes, and provides an overall calming effect, reducing your perception the pain associated with any skin trauma.  Its naturally antibacterial and antiseptic properties kill bacteria and help to clear up acne.


Honey offers incredible antiseptic, antioxidant and cleansing properties for your body and overall health.  Its natural healing properties can be used as a head-to-toe remedy for everything from eye conjunctivitis to athlete's foot.  Its powerful healing attributes have been recognized for thousands of years to promote healing for cuts, cure ailments and diseases, and to correct health disorders.

Beeswax acts as a surfectant and when used in conjunction with other oils, forms a protective barrier on the surface of the skin.  This barrier provides a film of protection against irritants while still allowing the skin to breathe.  Similar to honey, beeswax offers anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral benefits, making it beneficial for treating minor skin irritations.

DISCLAIMER: These statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. These products are not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or medical condition. Please consult your doctor before using these or any product during pregnancy or if you have a serious medical condition.

Eco-Partnership with French Quarter Linens

Saturdays are always good days in which to receive news ... especially news that is exciting in nature.

But this story goes back to its origins on Thursday.

See ... I found myself wandering into this incredibly amazing shop in the Pearl District of Portland.

An exquisitely lovely bedding and bath shop called French Quarter Linens.

I wandered in with the intention of talking to them about certified organic cotton sheets.
'Cuz there's this company that I work with that creates some incredible fabrics that would be to.die.for as a set of sheets ... and ... I know a seamstress.  Personally.

Never even got to mention the subject ... I was sidetracked by the incredible tranquility, the soft music, the vibrant colors, and the luxurious textiles found at every glance ... in every nook and cranny of that glorious store!

I was swept away to Wonderland ... 

And then ... I saw the display cabinets filled with sample fabrics ... swatches of every imaginable textile any one could wish to have created into one form of amazingness or another, for the personal spaces within their homes.  The Creativity Muse made her appearance ... gave me the proverbial push toward the sales counter.

So ... I wandered up to the counter and had the opportunity to speak with a member of their Sales & Design Team.  I asked him what their store did with their textile samples once they were discontinued.

His answer met my surprise head on:  they threw them away.

!!!

In our subsequent conversation, I explained that I am a clothing designer, creating two clothing lines for next year's Baltimore FashionWeek.  Eco-friendly clothing lines.  He explained that his store was very eco-oriented; doing whatever they were able to reduce their overall ecological impact on the environment.

I offered to take their discontinued fabric samples to be used in my clothing creations ... in exchange for advertising that they will be a primary sponsor for Second Star Designs.

An Eco-Partnership.

In today's email, was a response that French Quarter Linens would love to work with us on this project!!!

Yay!!!

We're very excited ... we're helping to change the world ... one pretty, textile at a time  =)

My name is Caryn ... and I've been a Facebook User since 2008.

With the most recent changes implemented by Facebook this past week, I was disheartened to discover that the posts that I have been making on both my personal and business pages are no longer being shown to my total audience.

With over 300 followers on my Second Star Designs Fan Page, instead of each post being shown to 150 or more people ... now, only 20-30 people are seeing my posts.

And the automatic Twitter feed linking my FB Fan Page to my Twitter account has been deactivated.

In order for my potential customers to see anything that is posted on my Fan Page, Facebook now requires you to promote your post ... for a fee.

$7.00 per promotion.

Or ... you could pay for advertising ... a minimum of $1/day for pageviews.

Since Facebook went public, it was only a matter of time before they did away with the small business social media promotions ... requiring all businesses to pay for advertising on an otherwise "free" platform.

Times are a-changing.

And in a similar manner as the migration of MySpace users to the "new" social media platform known then as Facebook ... it's time to once again migrate to a new platform.

Diaspora.

It's Facebook + Twitter + MySpace ... without the game feeds.

I'm there.

Check it out ... www.diasp.org ... the future of social media  =)