Year Three Recap
Time flew by so fast that another anniversary of the shop went by. It’s been a busy year but I am determined to write down what this year has been for LOVESHORE.
Dreamland: The Collection
I’ll be writing a separate post that dives deep into the collection so I’ll be covering the basics of what this collection has been.
Starting off 2021, I was dealing with burnout from a very life-changing 2020. I formulated the idea of Dreamland to dive deep into my artistic inner world and to focus more on creative content. The shop was very business-centered in 2020 because it exponentially grew so fast. While shifting the spotlight on my creative process, I was able to create a lot of content and grow my audience. I wanted to get personal and tell a story through art.
Feature on MackBeck’s Dreamy Collection (Jan. 2021)
The amount of collaborations I took on this year was A LOT. It all started when a jewelry small business MackBecks reached out to me about the colorblock cloud sweater she bought from the shop. She has a jewelry collection called the Dreamy Collection and I was so thrilled that my sweater got to be part of the photoshoot.
Model by Instagram @wwwdotbecca
Brand by MackBecks
Photography by Instagram @lauren.pusateri
Calm Homemade’s Square the Love Project (Spring 2021)
I had to hop on this project for my friend Abby who started the Square the Love Global Project collecting crochet squares from all over the world to create a beautiful cardigan. This project was to raise awareness on mental health and also bring the community together through crochet. I designed my square to be a lotus flower on an ombré blue pond square with a pearl attached inside the flower. This was a reference to Dreamland. Lotus flowers symbolize growth and enlightenment, which represents my current mental state.
Collaboration with Sunnyvie Designs (Summer 2021)
I got to work with a dear friend of mine who owns the cutest sticker shop on Etsy, @sunnyviedesigns. This sticker pack is a combination of her adorable dessert illustrations and a reference to my spring floral designs. We created six pastries including: a rose macaron, a tulip sandwich, cherry blossom crepe, sunflower cupcake, daisy Swiss roll, and a lotus pond cake. A free sticker pack comes with orders that are $100+.
Commission with AertbyAri (Summer 2021)
I commissioned this piece with a talented friend of mine to create an illustration of the Dreamland Collection. This illustration is inspired by the artwork ‘The Birth of Venus’ in my crochet two-piece set and pink wig. I wanted to go for the siren, mermaid fantasy for this collection and this illustration captures that. I’m definitely going to print this as a poster for this era.
Dreamland Photoshoot ft. NamasteandCrochet Design (Summer + Fall 2021)
This was a dream photoshoot idea I had years back that I wanted to do at Laguna Beach with some friends. I’ve been eyeing NamasteandCrochet’s angel skirt and lotus top design for the longest time. I decided that this design suited the occasion and contacted my friends to do this shoot. The results were magical. This photoshoot is definitely one for the books and captures the essence of my brand.
I wanted to pay homage to a designer that I look up to while also creating my design to show my growth as a crocheter. I contacted namasteandcrochet and she said it was a full circle moment for her since the first shoot she did for her angel skirt was at Laguna Beach. I fangirled.
Model Instagram: @andrea_cs8 & @miss__shore
Pattern design by Instagram: @namasteandcrochet
Photography by Instagram: @photosbyvsanchez
My friend also did a shoot for the sunflower cardigan that I made for her. I shipped this cardigan all the way to Niigata, Japan. This shoot was romantic and the perfect jumpstart to the fall-winter half of the Dreamland Collection.
Photography by: @dchocoa.wav
Model: @xprincesserenity
Another friend of mine also did a shoot for the bikini sets I made in Los Angeles, California. It was the perfect shoot that I needed for my swimwear designs. I wanted to make sure I hit all the categories this year under a cohesive theme. I am beyond thankful my friends stepped in to volunteer to do a photoshoot. I appreciate you all. <3
Model: @daratheivy
Photography by: @fxxknjesus
Feature on Middlechild’s ‘Romantic Children’ Collection (Winter 2021)
A while ago, I was contacted by the brand owner of Middlechild. They’re a brand based in Long Beach, California and Los Angeles, California that focuses on the Cambodian-American experience through clothing design. They’re under a rebrand and wanted me to have some of my crochet pieces be featured in their upcoming 2022 project, ‘Romantic Children’. Stay tuned for more content. Their preview in Dec. 2021 was an announcement for this project.
I created a two-tone houndstooth sweater and a houndstooth sweater vest for them. It’s an honor to be featured and connect with other Cambodian-American creatives. Stay tuned for 2022.
Collaboration with Ribblr (Winter 2021)
The landscape of social media content has changed rapidly that I didn’t expect to get a collaboration from an app! Ribblr is a free app that is a modern platform for designers to share crochet, knit and sew patterns while also connecting with the fiber arts community. I was able to write three patterns through the help of Ribblr’s easy to use platform. Can’t wait to share more as I start to shift into being a content creator.
My RIBBLR shop is: https://ribblr.com/shop/loveshorestudio
Where To Next?
What a journey this was. I did not expect to accomplish what I did especially during the era of Dreamland. This era is one for the books and I will cherish the significance it held in my life. Much like the quote, “carpe diem”, I took on these opportunities with enthusiasm and an upbeat attitude. This collection has opened my eyes and taught me a lot about the courage to share your art with the world. I will dive deeper into it in another post. :)
I definitely want to slow down with crocheting next year and rethink about my work routine. I have finally reached a point where I caught up with the skills that I need to sustain me for the time being while I focus on other endeavors. This collection got me to tell a story that I’ve been wanting to express while also creating pieces people can enjoy wearing. Thanks for enjoying Dreamland.
Cheers to a very full year and cheers for what 2022 will bring. If you read this far, thanks for following my journey friends.
