Feeling Portland's Fashion Love

One thing I love about being part of Portland's fashion world is the way, like the city itself, they embrace change. The easy-going, eco-friendly, love-the-world persona is true to Portland, even when it comes to the ultra-mini fashion world. Although the world is small in comparison to our sister, Seattle, the mega-fashion city, Los Angeles and the king of it all - New York, we are a city that understands what it means to be artists.

Truly exemplified on an international level, Portland has sent finalists and at least one winner through Lifetime and Bravo's Project Runway. What an amazing story that has been for our city! Way to go LeAnne Marshall and Seth Aaron!

I am proud to be part of Portland's fashion world, because we are not just designers making a name for ourselves, but also a family helping each other reach our goals. LOve you all!

Being an Entrepreneur can be Sunny

Are you still living in the cold of winter, with your business? Now is the time to wake up from winter, and start living in the sunshine by fulfilling your dream -starting your own business.

It's amazing how things add up!! I started my company, Belladonna Marie thinking this is how much money I will need to make it happen. Once I started buying things, however, and checking things off my list, I realized how important it was to cut costs and save money wherever possible.

Indiebizchicks.com has been an enormous resource to me, as a woman and entrepreneur. I honestly can say that I have saved $$$100's of moolah by using their incredible resources. In fact, I just recently signed up for HARO, a link provided in one of the many 'tools' given on indiebizchicks.com, and have since received daily e-mails from reporters.

Being a woman and an entrepreneur is difficult, but with the right resources, anything is possible. I love how they are creating a community for all women to go out there and catch their dreams, getting rid of the most common obstacle - finances.

If you are reading this and are someone who is looking for a way to jumpstart your idea at little to no cost - check out indiebizchicks. Here is a great link, to get you started - http://bit.ly/b40ahZ. This contains one year of marketing and blogging!! Did you read that correctly? That means all the work in one of the hardest areas (PR/Marketing) of your business, is done. Why wait...join this successful team of women and get your marketing done for 2010. I did, and I could not be happier. Even if you don't like their ideas, which is highly unlikely, at least you didn't blow 100s on it.

Smile...you are about to be successful!

Prepping for PFW 2010

I have spent the last 7 months planning and preparing to launch my line. As a fashion designer, and a full-time mom, I could not be happier of what is coming. I am keeping all of my inspirations under wraps, until the launch of June, 01, 2010. I will, however, be sharing some of the steps that got me where I am today.

After years of attending PFW (Portland Fashion Week), this year my plan is to be one of the presenters! Keep watching...

This is me, with one of my favorite models, on our way to PFW 2009!!!