Thanks for visiting my blog : )
I’m a fashion designer and a homeschooler (I’m 15). I design knitwear and sell knitting patterns through my website, www.phoenixbess.com and through yarn stores, catalogues, and online retailers. I also sell my ready-to-wear garments online and through upscale boutiques.
When I was 13, I got my start selling hand knitted shrugs to dancers in my ballet classes. Around the same time, I took trunk shows to local boutiques where I sold my scarves, shawls, and evening wear. And, I began taking custom orders for garments. My mom helped me publish my own knitting patterns, and I started selling them through online retailers. I’ve worked with so many great yarn companies, and I’m staying busy designig for knitting magazines and books.
I’m also an actress, model, and dancer. I was 8 when I got my start in musical theatre with roles in productions like The King and I. I love live theater work, and I’ve worked in television and film, so I’ve been almost as busy with my acting as I am with designing. In May of 2007, I starred as Pocahontas for a crowd of over 30,000 in the live theatre finale of Jamestown 2007’s Anniversary Weekend, which was later televised nationwide.
The ballet company I performed with gave me the opportunity to work with some wonderful dancers like Sam Berger of The Rockettes and Movin’ Out, and Travis Wall (So You Think You Can Dance ‘06). But, I was injured in ballet, so I’ve moved on to Argentine Tango. I’ve got to keep dancing because I love to move, and this is the most complicated but fun dance form I’ve ever learned. I love going to milongas to practice and I plan to travel to Argentina to take in the dance scene there soon.
All the best!
this is soo cool.i also knit and have sold some of my things too.I found out about you from GL.
I’m so impressed! How did you make the leap from knitting to designing?
Thanks! It wasn’t really much of a leap. I started designing my own knit wear as soon as I learned how to work the needles. The lady who taught me how to knit didn’t teach me to use a pattern, but instead kind of taught me how enjoyable designing my own work can be. And for the first two years that I’ve been knitting I never used a pattern. My mom had to show me how to use a pattern.
Wow, and I thought I was busy. You do great work and I wish you all the best. I was tickled pink when I purchased your book. The tango sounds like a lot of fun.