from baby blue to mom's clothes too

My story of Blue Fish started about 4 years ago in Taos.  I had moved to Chama, a small town just over the mountain to the west of Taos.  We had moved there from Oklahoma with our six month old daughter, Isabella.  We had several reasons for going over the mountain to Taos, even in the winter when the highway pass was packed and glimmering with snow.  The most important was check ups with her pediatrician, and another was for mommy to “putter” around the shops and get a little city on her.  Chama is not a big town, no stop light at all, so going to the big town was a must.  Without exception, we would stop at the Overland Sheep Company and see what was new.  We would spend quite a bit of time there but would never venture out to the other stores on the ranch.  One day I tried something new.  While my husband shopped around Overland, I found this wonderful little children’s store called Baby Blue.  I had never seen a store that fit my personality so perfectly!  There were these wonderful clothes that were made out of organic cotton with the cutest hand blocked designs on them.  I went crazy!  I bought a few pieces for my daughter and a wonderful pink, floppy dog named Fluffles. She is still my favorite stuffed animal my daughter owns!

Life in Chama carried on as usual except when my daughter wore her Blue Fish clothes; people always went nuts over them.  I could mix them with her other clothes and Blue Fish made the outfit pop.  Naturally our visits to Taos increased!  My husband got to go to Overland more and I couldn’t wait to see what was new at Baby Blue.  Before long Isabella had quite a nice collection of Blue Fish and wore it almost everyday.  Her little sheep skin boots from Overland looked great with the outfits too and were perfect for the endless snow falls of Chama. 

Things changed and we had to move back to Oklahoma and I made sure I could order my Baby Blue via phone and/or on-line.  I was not happy at all that I would not be able to just pop in Baby Blue and mingle with all of the amazing, unique items in there, including those that worked there.  The experience in Baby Blue was always uplifting.  In Oklahoma I constantly had people asking me where I got Isabella’s darling clothes because they had never seen anything so cute and comfortable.  I would always refer them to Taos!  One day I called the store to order a gift for a friend’s daughter and they told me the store was closing and the Blue Fish had not been restocked and the supply was very low.  I was devastated.  I was not able to make it to Taos to see what was left nor to say goodbye to the wonderful people I had met.  They told me that Jennifer would keep a small stock up in the women’s store and I could check up there.   I still miss Baby Blue.

We now spend summers in Chama so the next time we were in Chama I headed to Taos to see if the children’s Blue Fish had a new supply.  It was my first visit to the women’s store and I was blown away.  I shouldn’t have been given how I felt about Baby Blue!  I checked out the children’s sizes but found nothing in my daughter’s size.  What I did find was several pieces for myself and I have never been the same since.  I have never worn clothes that made me feel so at ease and comfortable in my own skin.  I come alive and have a different glow about me every time I wear Blue Fish.  I have people stop me on the streets asking me where I get my clothes.  I cannot explain how it feels or why I feel the way I do when I wear Blue Fish.  However, I think it is Jennifer’s love of what she does and who she is coming through in her designs.  Wearing Blue Fish has brought out my artist within and I have reopened that part of my soul.  It has been asleep for over 20 years and every time I wear my Blue Fish, more of my artist comes out.  I was lucky enough to meet Jennifer and spend a few hours visiting with her and meeting her makes everything fit together.  She is one of the kindest, most generous women I have ever met in my life.  The clothes she designs are quite simply her, and by wearing them you receive a gift of love and are inspired to be a better woman.  Thank you Jennifer!