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UGH...5 month has passed...Does the reflect my journaling skills!?!

I feel SO embarrassed to even post after leaving it for almost 5 months! The main reason I do not, is that I am really bad at keeping photographic records of my life- primarily because I do not think I am very photogenic- and consequently I think the posts would be rather boring without a visual representation.- I suppose that is my aesthetic mind's perspective.

It had been my intention to provide daily updates for those of you who have been so faithful to pray for me, my business, and my travels. However, due to technical complications that will be explained below, I was unable to communicate for the length of my trip.

Let me begin by declaring God's faithfulness, and the power of God's people when they pray.

Sunday morning, the day before my departure, my pastor asked me to come to church, so that they could pray for me as a congregation. It was a special moment for me, because I felt affirmed that I was going with the blessing and covering of the church. After I sat down, Catherine Williams- who leads our church's prayer team- gave me a note that she said were some words that the Lord wanted me to know. She said that I had probably heard them before, but she wanted to give them to me just the same. Upon reading them, I just about fell off my chair, because it contained a word that the Lord gave me 9 years ago, while I was living in NY.- I have it written in my journal! It was such an empowering encouragement to have, knowing I was walking in God's favor.

The opposition I was receiving in preparing continued to escalate 48 hours before my departure... Fergus- my dog- running away twice (in -18 weather) deterring me from getting my work done, my computer crashing the night before I left- thus preventing me to any access to any business or correspondence files, prior to, and including my entire trip, and none of my selling materials being printed or laid out prior to leaving.

When Dean- my jewelry designer- and I got to the airport, we discovered our flights did not match, and they had to reroute him through Montreal to meet me in Paris about 30 min after I was to land. This error actually ended up being a blessing in disguise, because I was able to have a row to myself, catch up on sleep, finish reading Breakthrough Prayer by Jim Cymbala, and praying. This allowed me to have the most amazing quiet time with the Lord, getting focused, and recognizing how desperately we need God to move.

I arrived in Paris, and Dean arrived shortly after as scheduled. My collection and the hangers arrived safely. However, they had ticketed my personal luggage to go with Dean, his bag came and mine did not. PS. It never was transferred to Paris, and as a result, I had no clothes, etc for the duration of my stay there. Consequently, I got sick due to arriving in 3 degree rainy weather, and not having a coat. Nevertheless, I think that my solo flight, having that time with God, prepared me to have the state of mind to bare whatever else was to come.

Prior to the commencement of the trade show- For those of you who did not know...I was invited to show my collection a premiere intl trade show in Paris-
there was a number of things that I believe only your prayers could have assisted me in accomplishing...I was able to find a printer- who spoke English- that was able to print the sale material I needed. My knitwear arrived from Ireland safely, and I was able to find buttons and ribbons for them items that needed them. I was able to find a mannequin for our showroom at a reasonable price.

The trade show in Paris was an educational experience. We met some great vendors and learned a lot from more seasoned presenters. We saw interest from Russia, Saudi Arabia, Berlin, France, and a few stores in the US. Although, none confirmed orders for this season. But, we were told by the venue organizers that it typically takes about a year before you see a return on an investment.

Aside: At the show, I was able to have some amazing conversations with some vendors from Texas. They appear to travel in the social elite circles of Dallas. I was able to share my testimony of God's faithfulness and the power of prayer. It was apparent that they were moved by the evidence. They invited me to come down and present a trunk show to their friends to conduct some direct marketing, and possibly meet with some retail buyers they are acquainted with in town.

Despite knowing the odds of selling at the trade show in the first season, we were still a little discouraged by the amount of effort and finances it took to show in Paris and the apparent lack of ROI at that point. However, we had the most encouraging information passed on to us, as we were standing waiting for the shuttle to take us back from the venue to our hotel. Two girls from Berlin that were showing on our floor at the show, asked us how we felt the show went. I told them we had never done a trade show before, so we had nothing to compare it to. She remarked with amazement that this was our first show, because apparently the Tranoi trade show is one of the most exclusive in Europe. She went on to tell us that there is up to a 3 year waiting list to get into the show. They had waited for almost 1.5 years, and we were accepted in our first season! Needless to say, we left feeling like we had been apart of something special.

From there, Dean went back to Calgary, and I went on to Toronto to prepare for the runway show there. My Personal luggage was suppose to be transferred from MTL- where it apparently was the entire time in Paris- to Toronto. But, unfortunately that did not happen, and the remainder of my trip continued without a wardrobe.

Aside: It was a rather ironic experience being on a business trip for fashion, and not have anything but a t-shirt and pants to wear for 16 days. Although, I was thinking that it taught me that when the essential comforts of today's world (ie: Laptop, cell phone, clothing) are removed, it really heightens your other senses...in particular, your spiritual senses. There was a new intimacy that I experienced with God as a result of it.

The show preparations all went rather smoothly. It was almost a bit unsettling after all the obstacles prior to and while in Paris. There was a tremendous amount of support from the Ryerson Student body, friends in Toronto, my PR agents and my show's stylist....Not to mention all the people from the church back home who were helping me by taking care of all sorts of things in Calgary. I felt SO blessed to be amongst so many people who demonstrated a desire to serve and believe so highly in the vision I too feel called to.

The day before the show, I spent some time reading and writing, and the Lord took me to another passage, that contained the same words as the one's Catherine Williams gave me before I started this journey. They reflected His sovereignty, His ability to deliver and redeem people, and His desire to bless with a double portion.- All things related to the theme of this collection, and the promises I was claiming.

The day of the show was a bit of a gong show.

Aside: For those of you who do not know- This Season my collection is all inspired by Edgar Allen Poe and his fear of death. I was using it as an opportunity to convey a message of Deliverance and Redemption. I staged a mock funeral... and I was believing for it to be a profound moment in Canadian Fashion.

For the first time in 8 seasons, I was able to turn the tables on the fashion media, and bring them into my world, and all that I believe and stand for...It was an opportunity that I am- from a spiritual perspective- taking very seriously. I had tremendous favor in planning this event, securing one of Canada's Top hairstylist's, MAC cosmetics, and Brown's shoes as corporate sponsors. I also had secured a reasonable rate for the models, a church and even a casket. Further, I secured one of the rising operatic sopranos- who is a Christian- to come and sing gospel spirituals to relay the whole message of Fear to Redemption through song!

The day of the show...

I picked up friends from the airport at 630am. We all went for breakfast, then shortly after I went to conduct the buy with Holt Renfrew. From there I had to run several errands, including getting the coffin for the show. There was a heightened intensity of frantically putting everything into place. We continued to have tremendous favor with all involved: the church- who accommodated all our needs, the florist- which we found the day before the show, and did our flowers for cost-, the hair and makeup team- which we found the day before the show, after our initial team fell through.

The guest list for the show was our best ever. (Some of you may have seen photos from JT's site...I am hoping to have official show pics next week.) All the who's who of fashion, Canadian celebrities, and social elite. Although, those people paled in comparison to having my close friends from Church, my long time supportive clients from out of town, and my pastor.

The day after the show- once the interviews were finished- I was able to have a bit of down time with my out of town guests. One of our most memorable experiences was the opportunity to visit with my friend Dan Lanois, who, for those who do not know, is the Grammy award winning producer/artist for the likes of U2, etc. He expressed an interest to write and perform live at my next show! He played some music for us, in particular, a song that he has been working on that he co-wrote with Bono...Stay tuned for updates as to our alliance.

In conclusion to this season, I sold more for this season than I did in almost my entire last year. I received a sizable compensation from my insurance company for my lost luggage, and randomly my bag showed up a couple weeks ago. Moreover, I feel confident that ideas were challenged and seeds of truth were planted.

Moving forward..

Big changes are ahead. I just renovated my studio, before starting on the next collection. On the home front, Steve Gross and Jeff Town are moving in to complete a FULLHOUSE!!! And, my next season is in the planning stages.

And as Porkie Pig says...'Th th that's all folks!'

PS. Thanks to my Parents for a new computer and a vacation in Palm Springs