Every Day Is Halloween

Market Season had come to an end for me in October, and Halloween Night was fast approaching. For pretty much my whole life I have loved Halloween, and the season surrounding it in general. It has always felt like a magical time of year full of mystery, and strange coincidences.

A week prior I had seen ads for a show for a musician that was familiar, Random Rab. Before moving back to Southern Oregon, his music had gotten me through a tough transitional period, while trying to switch from full time kitchen management to starting my own custom sewing business.  Last minute I saw they were looking for Vendors and when I reached out, I was surprised to find a spot! Organized by CrashMacProductions at The Hivve, Vendors were arranged in the foyer for the beginning of the show; allowing attendees to shop and peruse art and handmade goods while the openers were playing.  Not having ever vending any music shows or event types like this prior, I found it a really fun and refreshing change of pace! I do love a good reason to wear a costume or get dressed up, and socialize with great music and art.🎶

So around 10pm it was finally time to pack up my (not so) little booth, and make my way upstairs for the musician I had come to see. Prior to the event, I had spent a ton of time making custom appliqué patches hoping that smaller items would sell, but hadn’t had much luck on that avenue. During the time spent vending earlier that evening I had only made one mid-sized sale, so to be honest I was feeling a little down on myself. I got upstairs just as it was starting, and found a spot in the crowd. Ready to immerse myself in some amazing live music, it finally clicked why what I was seeing onstage felt so familiar.

It honestly probably took me a few minutes to register what I was seeing because it felt so surreal. Much to my surprise, I saw the one garment I had sold earlier that evening up on stage, on Random Rab himself! “The Moth Goes to the Ball” had finally gotten its debut, and a top notch one at that. An elaborate up-cycled piece I had created during the first years of The Neon Odditorium, it had gotten oodles of ooh’s and ahh’s.  Many days of markets in front of the booth, but no one seemed to be drawn enough to purchase my grand textile vision. I had started to feel discouraged and that perhaps my inner artist was too “out there” or over the top like many of my peers in my youth had suggested. Seeing it up on stage coming alive alongside the music and energy of one of my favorite musicians felt like such a moment of clarity and permission, that maybe I didn’t know I needed! I even had someone else come back and ask to buy one of my patches I worked so hard on.

I can safely say that though I’ve had grand aspirations, I was never expecting to see my garments featured in such a prominent way, in such as short time. Theatrical/Stage wear was a huge influence in driving my desire to learn sewing as my craft. The grandeur and movement of fabric brought alive by the wearer has always really spoke to me, and in that moment I felt my inspiration renewed yet again. In the time after I have pondered about how much of life is composed of beautiful little patterns and coincidences to renew our hopes. The feeling was incredibly validating, and healing to my creative inner child. That my art has a place, that it can be appreciated, and I should continue on my journey of finding what crafting clothes, as well as textile art means to me. And with that said, all I have left to say is whatever uplifting journey you feel your soul being pulled to, give yourself permission to follow there.

Highly recommended you check out his beautifully evoking new album The Geometry of Coincidence !