It has been just over 3 weeks since we went to the Maryhill Museum and I’m still all a-buzz from the wonder of it all.

First and foremost, to our attendees: THANK YOU. Again, thank you. I love making events, but you may have noticed, I find the “cocktail party” to be a tired and failed format for socializing. Blame my early years in marketing, going to and creating too many “networking” events, but they just aren’t fun to attend or make in my experience. They’re not memorable. Do YOU remember the last networking social happy hour at whatever hotel back room? So, when I come up with an idea like “let’s charter a bus to go out to eastern Washington” and YOU believe in me enough to jump on board, I do NOT take that for granted. Here is the HANDOUT from Steve: HANDOUT Théâtre de la Mode 2023

Second, but no less, to our Sponsors: THANK YOU. Your trust and belief in our community and my ability to pull off an event is also not taken for granted.

This is a symbiotic relationship.

What does that mean? That means as makers, we need to support the companies that support us. Please spend money with our sponsors first. Their spend to help our event needs to have a return so they can survive too.

Our sponsors for this event:

@pdxsewingstudio – lanyards & bags
@josephinesdrygoods – photography & bags & swag
@lafinchfabrics_new – wine & our racial equity sponsor
@boltfabricpdx – swag & name tags
@daughterjudypatterns – photography
@sewhouse7 – swag
@portlandfashioninstitute – swag
@seamwork – swag
@brooklynmotif – swag
@paradisosewingpatterns – swag
@stitchwellandprosper – swag
@fluidplusdrape – swag
@swedetrap – videography
@krishnamuirhead – photography

Notes about our sponsors:

Our seasoned veteran sponsors: Josephine’s Dry Goods was the first sponsor Portland Frocktails ever had. Bini was in my DMs not 60 seconds after I announced the first event in 2018.

Sewing Studio was a close 2nd (and probably has the fastest shipping times in the PNW not to mention my go-to for merino knits), and Bolt Fabric Boutique was 3rd. Have you been to Bolt lately?? That new location is TO DIE FOR. So big, such good light, AND the upstairs classroom is starting to open up!

If it wasn’t for Seamwork using their audience clout to promote the first Frocktails, I never would have had the visibility to sell out tickets. Peggy of Sew House Seven has supported us EVERY YEAR giving us WHOLE and PRINTED patterns.

Brooklyn Motif has been with us since they started, which I think was 2019 or 2020? Before their business even was out of the red, they were sponsoring us, I know that! But better than that, you’re supporting a woman-owned business and a sewist. Don’t get me started on SOME printing companies and their mansplaining printing to me, a 25+ year print designer, when I told them their print drivers need to be updated, ahem. Please support large format pattern printers who support us back. That one that shall not be named is not our friend and that’s all I’m going to say about that.

Sharon Blair of Portland Fashion Institute has been our cheerleader from 2019 on including hosting BOTH Sew Many Bikes rides, many teachers and students have attended, and this year PFI loaded us up with swag.

Now, for our Sponsor “newcomers”:

I’m a blubbering mess. Chelsea of Daughter Judy patterns has met me once. Once. And she threw down to help pay for our professional photographer. I think we can all agree getting pro photos is really the cherry on the sundae, and Chelsea with Bini helped make it happen. I’m a bit of a pattern-math snob, and Chelsea is the real deal. Her patterns are solid, and her Substack is a STEAL. Please support Chelsea and make something! She’s got me convinced I should try knitting again…

I first met Cheryl of Paradiso Patterns in 2019 up at SewExpo in Puyallup, WA. I remember this bubbly, energetic, kind person just chatting with us like we’ve all known each other forever. And that is exactly what Cheryl is like…when you meet her, it’s like you’ve always been friends. She sent this big box of patterns for us WHILE having a family snafu (ah, sandwich generation, anyone?) Just such a huge heart. Give her a follow and some love.

Josie of LA Finch Fabrics…Josie has never even met me IRL, she was in the middle of moving shops (again), and not only supported our event in a big way by buying ALL the wine, but she also donated her ticket for racial equity. That’s right. The Pacific Northwest is so very white…to the point we (me, I’m white, I mean me) can’t see the dang forest for the trees anymore and think it’s normal. Thanks to Josie’s generosity, we had an extra attendee make our mix so much better. Please check out her amazingly curated shop. She’s got some great swim fabric in now and I’m eyeing some rayon-linen…

Bethany of Fluid+Drape is also new and still finding her perfect shop-situation in Eugene, Oregon, but that hasn’t stopped her from taking the fabric world by storm. I don’t know what witchcraft she has, but she actually got Fabric Godmother in GB to let her sell their custom fabric! AND have you seen Bethany’s custom block prints?!?! I just keep going back for more and you should too because she sells out like funnel cake at the fair. 2 colors of the tigers are sold out and I’m not going to say it was because of me, but I def helped.

And last but not least, Mary, Betsy, Robert and Krishna.

I’ve known Krishna since… 2007? 2008? He’s an incredible photographer, a huge DIYer, his mom is a sewist, he’s a cyclist (like bike-camps with the whole family!) and is just a really great human. I am forever grateful we got him during prime wedding season. Please keep him in mind if your company or family needs photos. Check out his page, bookmark it, and please give him photo credit when you share his photos of our event.

Betsy & Mary can always be seen at Frocktails events, helping me hand out nametags, clean up after, and generally making sure I have been drinking water.

Robert is my partner and has been at every event, helping with AV, moving chairs, DJing, bouncer (that is a funny/not funny story I’ll tell you some time), and videographer, like here’s our latest Video:

Going back home, happy and exhausted, on our private bus.