Bargain Hunting

Second Star Designs makes boutique clothing and treasures for the princess in all our lives.
Products are individually hand-crafted with strict attention given to both quality and detail. Second Star Designs wants customers to be happy with their treasures … enough to pass them along to future generations. Where ever possible, Second Star Designs takes steps to reduce their overall footprint by using innovative ways to turn discarded clothing items into wearable art. Their Philosophy is simple: when it’s time to leave, make sure that what you leave behind is better than what you originally found.

Second Star designs will be selling a little bit of everything for Princesses of all ages at the next Bargain Hunting…Romantic skirts, wings, arm warmers, onesies, tu tus, and more.

1.  What are you most excited about selling at the next Bargain Hunting?
Everything. All of it. Just as we did last year, we utilized the event to move some of our older merchandise, things that didn’t sell over the course of the previous event season.

What’s the price?
We’ll once again be offering everything in our booth at a 50% discount from the marked, retail price.  For those customers using cold, hard cash for their purchases, we’ll be rounding down to the nearest whole dollar amount of their purchase.  It’s just our way of saying ”thanks for not letting us incur credit card transaction fees”.

2. What inspired you and keeps you going creatively?
Honestly … I don’t wish to return to a corporate place of employment.  And, I love color and texture and putting it all together to make new things. Eventually, you either “suck it up” and pursue work in the corporate world because you’re an adult and responsible and it’s something that you’re supposed to do so that you can support your family OR you walk away from it all and follow your Dream.  I returned to the clothing design field, choosing children’s clothing because I have a built-in sounding board for all that I create:  my kiddos tell me if what I’ve made is either a good or bad idea. They are what keeps me going … as does chocolate, good coffee, and the idea that I haven’t yet begun to tap into my creativity … there’s still more out there to explore … more colors, designs, textures, everything.

Any tips for staying on track when you’re in a creative slump?
On the walls of my studio, I am surrounded by inspirational “stuff” – photos, quotes, drawings made for me by my kids, stickers, whatever strikes my fancy as being inspiration.  I play music to keep the mood light. And when it all comes to a stop, when I’ve hit the wall on having the next

“amazing” idea … I step away from it all.  I play Castleville on Facebook to help empty my mind of all the “stuff” that arises from running a business. I take an entire day [or two, or three], close the door to the studio, and walk away from it all as best as I can.  We spent the day at the Chinese Gardens in Portland the other day … had tea … played tourist … it was the most refreshing thing to do to clear the cobwebs. What it all boils down to is this:  don’t worry about staying on track; don’t worry about being in a slump … those thoughts, those ideas, will continue to keep you in that slump.  In order to break free, you must first break free … whatever it is that you choose to do instead will bounce the creativity ball right back into your court.

3. What fashion era do you love best and why?
I’m fascinated with the 1800′s – the massive yards of scrumptious cloth, the leg-of-mutton sleeves, the exquisite trims used to finish the garments, and the incredible accessories to round out the image.  Of course, there’s also the glittering simplicity of the Roaring 20′s and the timeless beauty of the 1940′s.  In the world of fashion, every era provides inspiration and beauty.  Okay … maybe not the 1970′s … that era appears to be a fashion failure at first sight.  However, without the 70′s, we wouldn’t have had the launchpad we do now for mixing colors, patterns, and textures.  The 1970′s can thus be viewed as a platform for even better fashion design … allowing people like me to bend and even break the rules in order to create something magnificent.