#multiplicityPDX

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5th Story: Family City

A little over 5 years ago, my wife and I decided to do the unthinkable: leave paradise.  San Diego, the city that boasts a gluttony of 70-80 degree days every year and miles and miles of soft sand hugging the endless Pacific, became a little too expensive for our quest of starting a family.

 A trip to Vancouver, BC and Seattle put the Pacific Northwest on our radar.  From our follow up research on cost of living, employment, crime and family friendliness, the cool little city of Portland, Oregon jumped out and put our attention on a headlock.  After reading article after article, glowing review after nauseatingly glowing review, we had no choice but come up and visit.  Within 3 months, my wife and I both found jobs, found a place, packed up our stuff and left San Diego for what we consider to be one of the most pivotal times of our lives.

 Portland is a fantastic place to start a family.  Many magazines and websites ranks Portland high in safety, recreation and air/water quality, but to really understand why, you will need to meet the people.  So with that being said, we will dedicate our time connecting with your everyday families and show why Portland is such a wonderful family city.

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Places

As we come to the conclusion of our time with Portland's Fashion Design community, we are once again struck by the amazing people we met and experiences we gained.  Everyone had a unique journey and it's fascinating to see the different paths they took. 

We started with the quick-witted and incredibly energetic Jenna (Bashionista) Kirwan. Jenna had a very intense past faced with emotional and physical trials and tribulations.  Yet despite the challenges, she asserts to us that she is living the life she wanted and that she is happy.  Without the hardships, would she have followed a different path? Perhaps without those tough times she would still be searching for happiness.

Our next stop was with the creative and ambitious Sarah Giffrow.  Her current life is highlighted by courage, dedication, and passion for her work.  Taking the leap to work for herself, she claims that it's her biggest decision in life and that her biggest regret is not having done it sooner.  It's been two years since she started her business and there seems to be no wasted time with Sarah; no moment taken for granted.  She is still moving full steam to push her company to success while simultaneously having fun and embracing her individuality.

South African born Sami Van Der Westhuizen was a pleasant surprise for us.  Her kind and loving soul was evident in the way she spoke about the people in her life.  She openly defines her life by her relationships with her family, partner, and friends.  Sami's accomplishments, inspirations, and passions are deeply rooted in people serving as a reminder about the importance of human connection.

Next, Katie Guinn, a Portland native, musician's wife, kick-ass mother, Portland Mercury writer, freelance designer, and self-proclaimed party animal, is one of the more complete representations of Portland.  Her goal is for her and her family to live a fulfilling life and with the way she swallows experiences and opportunities, she's on the right course.

Rounding out our community, Margaret Heald.  Reflective, curious, and full of beautiful life.  She absorbs inspiration from the world and radiantly emits it back.  Unafraid of the bumps and bruises, she discards the thought of a safe life and instead choses to enjoy the ride.

We so often as humans fall into societal pressures and feel that if we don't abide we won't succeed in life.  The funny thing is in this time that we've been doing MULITPLI [CITY] we have not one person's path duplicated.  The only consistent them is change and leaps of faith people take.  So, choose different paths, meet friends,  pick up the pace, rest, celebrate, cry, embrace, escape, reach, and finish.  All of it are pieces of your journey and all of it matters. Own it and make it yours!  As one surprisingly wise and playful feline have said: "You have brains in you head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself any direction you choose..."  

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Profile: Margaret Heald

Name: Margaret Evans Heald

Nickname: Marg, Margs, Margo, Maggie, Madge, Marjorie, Margarita

"My favorite part of having an old timey name like mine are the nicknames people give me."

Occupation: "I rarely articulate my entire job title, usually I just say I am a designer.   But for those playing along at home......  Senior Designer for Accessories and Equipment at Columbia Sportswear"

Hometown: Worcester, Massachusetts

"I like to say East Coast by birth, West Coast by choice."

"I had some family friends I grew up with who went to college in Portland. I wanted to move to the West Coast but wasn’t so sure about cities like San Francisco or Seattle. I came out to visit once summer during my college days and fell in love with Portland. I went to Mt Hood, the coast, grabbed beers at the original incarnation of Bridgeport Brewing in the Pearl, went swimming in the Clackamas River......just doing all these very Portland things. I moved out here with my dog Bo in 1995 and have lived here ever since."

What are 3 words that best describe you? -Curious -Sporty -Kind

Who are the most important people in your life? (right now and/or ever)

-my family: mother/father/brother

-my friends: too many to count, but each and every one of them is such an important part of me and they make my life richer in so many and such different ways.

-art teachers: for encouraging me and contributing to my talents, the lessons from grade school to college have stayed with me and continue to enlighten along the way.

-previous boss: sadly, I no longer get to work with her, but she set such an sterling example of how to work, how to think, how to create, how to dream.....mentor just doesn’t quite cover it....she’s such a creative bad ass.

What are most important to you in life right now? (goal and/or passion)

"I love my career, I feel so fortunate to get to do creative work that is challenging and inspiring and satisfying.  I am very focused right now on how to continue to make that path as meaningful as possible.

That being said, I am guilty of being a workaholic, so my goal for 2014 is to spennd as much time and energy for those things that inspire me outside of work, to not lose myself in the corporate grind.

I am focused on learning some new sports like stand up paddle boarding, determined to get back into triathlons as I miss the training, and creative projects - do something crafty outside of my day job. I’d also love to learn another language, maybe Spanish as I want to go to Barcelona. I’d also like to figure out how to volunteer somewhere, to start to pay it forward or pay it back somehow. It’s too bad I have a day job ( ;"

What inspires or motivates you?

inspires:

"music, art, good writing (books, poems, articles) photography, nature + being outdoors, getting my heart rate up, sunshine, people and the stories they have to tell, travel."

motivates:

"to learn as much as I can, in the time that I have; to be kind and true; to know that I gave my best"

What is your personal philosophy?

I have 2.

#1 : “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting ‘Holy shit…what a ride!” - Hunter S. Thompson

#2 : “I live to laugh, and I laugh to live.” - Milton Berle

What is one of the most important decisions you’ve made in life?

#1 moving to Oregon

"It changed my life. Not just geographically, but it changed who I am and the kind of person I have grown to be. The people I have met along the way, the experiences I have had, the things I do, all of it. If you would have asked me all those years ago, if I could see myself where I am today, I couldn’t have imagined it. I love the life that I have here."

#2 changing careers

"I’ve been fortunate to have had multiple careers in a wide range of fields - worked in Montessori schools out of college, worked in the lm business after that, and i'm a designer now. Every time I made the decision to change jobs and change careers, the world opened up before me in new and exciting ways."

What is your best accomplishment so far?

"Ask me that question when I’m old and grey, i don’t really feel I have any."

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Small Things, Big Smiles: Katie Guinn

"What are the small or subtle things that make you smile?"

The fact that I'm able to make art

Flowers

Oregon's cumulus clouds

Sunsets

My daughter, step daughter, my husband, and my nieces

My lovely homey home

Music! Music! Music!

read more about Katie Guinn

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The best thing about being a kid is that you can just be free

Karen White Grundon

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Small Things, Big Smiles: Roger Ramones

This morning I found my sneaky black lab, Cade, curled up next to my slumbering 3 year old in her tiny bed.  Cade does this once in a while, but seeing the two trouble-makers peacefully enjoying each other's company always puts a big smile on my face.

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Small Things, Big Smiles

You can't help but notice that there seems to be an emphasis on self-aggrandization today.  You see it in the movies, sports, social media, etc.  We often times have our eyes affixed or looking ahead on the best, the epic, the legendary and we lose sight of the subtle that in the end puts the same smile on our faces.  These "small" moments envelop us and is abundant in our day to day, and I find that when I put a little effort in being present and being aware of things occurring around me, the smiles come more often.

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LIVE CREATIVELY

Creativity-the use of imagination or original ideas.  Usually associated to the production of artistic work, but definitely occurs in every aspect of everyday life.  Things like your day’s outfit, the shape of your morning pancake, the design on your latte, your car’s carefully considered weaving path through traffic, the tone and inflection of your greetings, the color combination of your excel web chart, the crinkle cut of your French fries-Creativity can be found in day to day experiences.

We have only seen a small part of Katie Guinn’s life, but she is a creative person through and through.  In speaking with Katie, she is in tune with the creative inspiration that surrounds her.  The seasons of the Northwest, the various Oregon flowers in bloom, her daughter’s vibrance, the beautiful relationships she’s built with her family and friends all feed Katie’s creative process that lead to her beautiful designs.  When you witness someone like Katie absorb inspiration, conceive an idea, and bring it to life, it’s ethereal. 

Next time you take on what seemingly is mundane or routine, tap into your surroundings and use some of that creative inspiration.  Don’t let the opportunity of realizing something beautiful elude your everyday life. 

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To me everyone's purpose is just to live life. Be present. It's a good thing to have.

-Katie Guinn, on the purpose of life

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KATIE GUINN GEAR

Kate Spade Sun Glasses

Nordstrom's Shoulder Bag

Samsung Galaxy

Clutch Wallet

Assorted Rings

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PROFILE: KATIE GUINN

Name:
 Katie Collins-Guinn

Nickname:
 Kate

 Hometown:
 Portland

 Occupation:
 Designer, freelance writer, artist and mother

3 words that describe you:
 -Optimistic
 -Passionate
 -Not gonna lie, Party Animal

Most Important person in your life:
 "I would have to say my husband.  He is my rock and makes it possible for me to make my dreams come to life.  If I didn’t have him I would be in a warehouse somewhere slinging boxes. I know it's corny, but we're soul mates, we balance each other out. He's a great Father and is always there for others; he's the most wonderful man I know. "

What is most important to you in life:

 "That is a deep question……to answer later (laughs)….Okay, I can answer now!

"It's to live life and to feel fulfilled.  Try to be the best person that I can be and connect with other people. I'd like people to think of me as a kind and good person who has a genuine heart. I want my family to feel fulfilled and happy and I want to do wonderful things with them."

Biggest regret in life:
 "I used to say I didn't have any regrets because that's what you're supposed to say, but I do wish I would have been less naive while attending college. I'm happy I have a degree and it's allowed me to be an educated individual, but I had no idea what I was doing and didn't have a solid plan. I wish I'd have taken some business classes and basic classes at community college along with my art classes before going to art school. It's not too late now, it just would have saved me a shit ton of debt! "

Your inspiration:
 "Well, there really isn’t just one.  I’m inspired by everything.  Everywhere I go.  Music is a huge inspiration. History.  My kid inspires me.  I want her to think of me as a successful mom and look up to me, be proud that I'm her Mama."

Your personal philosophy:
 "Don't let any negativity bring you down and what I mentioned above about what's important to me in life." 

"As far as fashion philosophy, I believe there are a few categories of designers that are most prominent: Those who "design" clothes just to make something for people to wear (boring people, haha), those who snag trends from the runways and make slaves create the dumbed-down, sinfully cheap versions, designers who create things that oppose current trends and just do their own thing completely, and some designers who go with a mix of some current trends along with their artistic ideas, which is always a nice balance. 

"There is room for everybody (except the pilfering slave drivers). There are so many different styles that fulfill a lot of people’s different needs.  Every part of fashion is important for this reason.  I sincerely hope for more people to be conscious of their fashion and where it comes from, fast disposable fashion is our worst enemy, not just designers, but us earth people as a whole.  I think more consumers are realizing that clothing made with love lasts. If you're willing to pay a little more now, it will save you money in the long run because those finely made pieces are made to live with you." 

Biggest accomplishment so far:
 "I’m still working on everything.  Until I die I will still be trying to accomplish... everything."

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Katie Guinn

A little over a month ago, during one of our open calls for members of the Portland Fashion community, Katie Guinn reached out to us to let us know she’s interested in our project.  Countless emails, texts, and emails were sent back and fourth, but for some inexplicable reason we were not able to make anything work.  Determined to connect with us, Katie relentlessly attempted to make every schedule consideration for us to sit down and have a conversation.  Well, finally our wait is over!  Katie Guinn—fashion designer, blogger, Portland native, mother, wife and all-around chill lady—had us over to her home and studio to share her perspective on the fashion scene in the rose city and general thoughts on life.

As we drink some Hendricks Gin and as Roger gets cozy with Katie’s flirtatious cat, Lucy, we get a download of the intricacies of Portland fashion and the realization of how little we know about this community.  Katie is an excellent Portland fashion ambassador and we are excited for her to show us a glimpse of her world.

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"When there's something wrong, it seems to be always the bobbin"

- Katie Guinn, on sewing machine maintenance

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THIS AND THAT, FROM A PDX SMALL BUSINESS OWNER

On Tuesday night we sat down with Sarah, Upswept Creative’s Benevolent Overlord, at her studio to talk about her goals and some of the things she enjoys most about her business.  We have been bothering her quite a bit lately, so we brought some spicy thai drunken noodles and buddha’s delight to make the meeting easy to palette.

While the conversation started about how Thai food makes us (mostly Roger) sweat, we transitioned to talking about Sarah’s ultimate goal with her business.  I am always curious to know how entrepreneurs keep pushing once they finish—in my opinion—the hardest part of running your business: getting started.  Sarah said that her goal would be to have enough work and revenue to bring in other designers and developers in a more permanent capacity.  Or as Sarah puts it “have a little elite ninja force.”  She does mention though that she wouldn’t want it to get so large that she isn’t part of the production portion of the operation.  ”I like to be personally invested in what I do; collaboration with a smaller team would be ideal.”

Sarah mentions that some of things she has enjoyed lately is being a little more selective in who she works with.  ”When you first start out you are taking every job you can get thinking you are Superman but you quickly realize it’s not sustainable.”  Part of her process in knowing if the relationship between her and the client will be a successful one is to ask  herself some basic questions: What are their values?  What brought them to start this business?  Where they want their business to go?  It’s important to Sarah that the client is involved in the vision.  Some people might want hands-free and full service.  However, Sarah believes every client has an idea as to what they are looking for, but are either too afraid to step on her toes or don’t know how to vocalize their vision.  

As our food coma slowly sets in, we ask her what she likes least about her job….. without hesitation she growls: “invoicing!”.  Both the act and thought of invoicing bothers her.  She much rather have someone else take care of that part and she can focus on the creative process.  

Sarah finishes our conversation by saying, “I really love taking a project from start to finish and really investing myself into it.” - which I’m sure sounds like a sweet song to her clients’ ears.