WINNER: a jewel of new mexico

My Life in Blue Fish!

Howdy, folks!

I really don’t have a “story” to tell about my journey with Blue Fish...it’s more like my version of the “why-I-need-a-Red-Ryder-BB-gun-for-Christmas” essay in the film A Christmas Story.  Anyway, here goes:

It’s been a long time since I bought my first piece of Blue Fish clothing on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, of all places.  It was a big, sage green jumper that had, as we later discovered, “cat-sized” pockets (hours of mindless fun ensued).  This was back in the days of the old stores in Santa Fe and Taos, which were like magical realms I loved to visit, and of paper catalogues (remember those?) which I would spend hours looking though. I still have them. 

Ever since then, the whole Blue Fish style has represented a kind of joy and playfulness to me, full of anything-goes creativity and a freeing disregard for the trends of the mass market.  They have a handmade feel and are as comfortable as pajamas to wear, but are never pretentious.  Instead, wearing them feels like an invitation to step outside of the box of mainstream culture and live, feel and think differently.

Now, after steadily buying a few pieces a year for over 15 years, I have more Blue Fish in my closet than anything else.  Other clothes come and go, but nothing is as special, or as fun to wear, as my beloved Blue Fish.  I baby those clothes, and even though I now wear them for everyday as well as special occasions, they have withstood the test of time beautifully.  Even better, a fifteen-year-old piece can combine perfectly with a seven-year-old piece and a brand-new one!

So here I am, pictured above in the center of my labyrinth at my home in Placitas, New Mexico, wearing a couple of pieces from the Daisy Chain collection.  Formerly an illustrator of book covers, today I work as a jewelry designer, making one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by the desert to sell at craft shows and on my online shop at Etsy.com, Desert Talismans. 

My style evolved from seeing a certain style of jewelry in my mind’s eye and eventually figuring out that I needed to make it myself because a) I couldn’t find anything like it out there, or, b) I couldn’t afford it when I did!  One thing led to another and before I knew it I had a full-time job on my hands.  Actually, a lot of my style has been inspired over the years by the Blue Fish aesthetic, and by wanting to make something that felt right with the clothes.

So anyway, back to the clothes...

What is it that makes them so special?  Well, a lot of things.  Mostly I love the way they make me feel when I’m wearing them: that “outside of the box” feeling I mentioned above.  I actually find myself thinking differently when I wear them; it’s a whole different vibe.  They’re softening to the spirit.  I don’t rush around as much...I’m in a gentler space.  There’s more of a sense of grace.  It’s like being reminded that it’s OK to play, to have fun.  They help me stay true to my soul while out there in the midst of everyday life. 

I’m sure that a great deal of this is due to the spirit in which these clothes are made.  Jennifer Barclay is a fellow artist and her creative energy is in every piece.  The people I’ve come to know in the Taos store are all delightful, and the entire place, from the shop to the printing studios, have great energy.  You can tell that the people that work there really do care about the clothes, and love to wear them.  Recently I lucked into being part of the photo shoot for the Verve collection, and it was a blast!  Who would have imagined that I would end up as a fashion model on the internet?!   

The ecologically-aware approach of the company as well as a respect for the materials that go into the clothes surely contributes to their overall good energy.  I would rather pay extra for something that is made (at least in part) with organic or sustainable materials, and that is sewn and printed by people who are paid fairly, than something made without love or care in a sweatshop overseas.  If only more people felt that way!! 

As a business owner, Jennifer has been a great inspiration to me.  Blue Fish has been through a lot of ups and downs over the years, but she always manages to adapt and stay true to what the clothes are all about.  I’m impressed by creative people who have a unique vision, and who have the courage to stay true to it and be as authentic as they can.  Jennifer is one of those people.

I’m about to do another show in a couple of weeks, and I’ll be wearing my special “show clothes” in my booth—Blue Fish, of course!  They’re all ethereal, flowing cream-colored combinations that have kind of evolved as my “style”.  I always get compliments, and you can bet that I tell people where they came from! 

….anyway, folks, whether or not this entry “wins” or not, I just wanted you all to know this...I mean, I come up and buy clothes and trade jewelry for them, but I don’t think I’ve ever articulated how much I appreciate them and how great I think you all are!  THANKS a million, and may Blue Fish continue for many years to come!

Best wishes to you all!

Hugs,

Dawn

Pssst...click here to check out Dawn's Etsy store, Desert Talismans!