I am always amazed at how our Universe works - and its occasional sense of humor.  Two nights ago I had spent over an hour writing a blog post to introduce you to an amazing non-profit, The BlackPearls.  Cyberspace proceeded to happily dissolve my words before their publication.  Since most of us have experienced that moment of lost work, I don't need to tell you the emotions I was going through.  I just tried to console myself that THERE WAS A REASON this had happened.  So I got up early this morning just to rewrite the introduction and stumble upon this photo while digitally grazing.

I investigated more and determine, to the best of my ability, that Hayal gibi güzellikler is a Facebook page for a Turkish photographer named Orhan Ozkan.  I feel strongly about Photographers giving permission for use and getting credit for their work so I am not posting the picture here, but I did share his post on the Cheval Amour Facebook Page.  (If you visit, pleae "Like" us while you are there!)

Not only does the "siyah inci" photo have its name in common with The BlackPearls, but their core work centers around the uplifting horse-human connection so aptly portrayed in the photo.  This is summed up in their Mission Statement:

The BlackPearl Friesian Association is dedicated to serving our community by brining Joy and Healing to both Horses & Humans alike through Equine Performance Art in events that contribute to and successfully support our local charities.

I first watched this group perform a little over a year ago when they were a headline act at the Washington State Horse Expo in Vancouver, Washington.  I was first struck by their unusual and elegant outfits, for both horse and rider.  As amazing as their dress was, this faded to the background as the JOY with which both the horses and riders performed shown through.  The audience around me was transfixed.

My next encounter with the organization was at the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo in Albany, Oregon.  This time members of the organization found Cheval Amour's booth and Jase and I had a great time getting to know them.  I was amazed when I learned that Board Member Susan McIntosh knew about Bluesign-approved fabrics.  Most people have never heard of this international audit system that assesses fair labor conditions, the presence of toxic chemicals (not allowed), and treatment of emissions (e.g., air, waste water, etc.).  I was further humbled and ecstatic when members of this group, known for their impeccable clothes, walked out of our booth with multiple items.  But I wasn't prepared for what soon followed.

"We would like to chat with you about sponsorship opportunities and custom team jackets, is that something you would be interested in?"

The words jumped off the email at me.  WOW!  What an HONOR!  And what good synergy with a group whose core values are in direct alignment with Cheval Amour's celebration of the positive effects of the horse-human connection. And let's not forget their reputation for great clothing. . .

Fast-forward to the email I got last night, "Jackets are HERE and they are just stunning!"  This from someone who had a career in the textile industry.  I can't even begin to express how happy this makes me.

And now I have a special offer for you.  During our collaboration we decided to make a limited number of the jackets available for sale.  A donation of $25 for every BlackPearl Limited jacket sold through Cheval Amour will be made to the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization The BlackPearl Friesian Association.  Buy your jacket right now!  Because there are only a limited number of jackets available in each size. 

Would you like to learn more about The BlackPearls?  Visit their website to meet the equine and human members, tour their beautiful gallery and donate to their cause.  Stay connected and up to date on their activities by liking The BlackPearl Facebook page.  Check out this video montage of photos from their past performances, practices and encounters with the public made by Jana Peterson Photography.

Speaking of performances. . .The BlackPearls will be debuting their Cheval Amour BlackPearl Limited custom team jackets at this year's Northwest Horse Fair and Expo to be held March 21 - 24, 2013, in Albany, Oregon.  If you attend, stop by their booth, where they will have the jackets available for sale.

Photo Credits:

Top Right:  Patrick Fitzgerald

Middle Left and Bottom Right:  Jana Peterson

The more I have learned, the more grateful I am for finding our first supplier, located in Vancouver, BC, who not only allows small custom orders, but is on the forefront of striving for sustainability in apparel manufacturing.  In upcoming posts I am going to start talking.  I will tell you the story of an Environmental Engineer who decided to start designing clothes and what she has learned so far.

Cheval Amour also attended its first Fashion Show in April near Seattle, Washington. The show was a benefit for the Warrior Family Retreat program - proceeds allow soldiers that have gone through deployment to attend a weekend retreat with their families. The elegant Linda Dewilde-Petersen and her PRE mare Selene modeled Cheval Amour clothing. We understand that the fundraiser was a success with donation goals met!

Now we are back in brainstorming mode! We are working on Cheval Amour bags and a highly-requested sleeveless shirt. We have also had multiple requests for saddle pads with the Cheval Amour logo. Here is our first prototype! Let us know what you think!

I am well known for requiring my morning mocha and for also being very particular about the taste.  I blame this on growing up in the Pacific Northwest as part of the Starbuck’s Generation.  What I never expected was the beauty that now surrounds this small ritual in my life.

Growing up, I never thought I would be a coffee drinker.  My mom drank coffee and I loved the signature morning aroma, however, I always wondered how she could stand the taste.  In college, I would occasionally have a little coffee in my hot chocolate; particularly around midterms or finals.

It was early in my professional career that Starbucks addicted me to their mochas.  My order:  A grande non-fat with whip mocha.  Are you wondering about the logic?  It is simple.  The whip cream keeps the rest of the drink from sloshing out of the cup on the drive to work.  Try it some time, it works!  

After we got married, my husband took my addiction seriously, and was even understanding of my need for the mocha to be made with gourmet chocolate.  This has lead us to discover delightful cafes on our travels together.  I always get quizzed, “How does this mocha rate?”  My award-winning favorites are as follows.  The gold medal goes to the Green Salmon in Yachats, Oregon (they have a hot chocolate menu!!).  The silver medal goes to the Wild Flour bakery in Banff, Canada.  The bronze medal is a tie between a little nook in Skagway, Alaska, and my most recent find:  The Honolulu Coffee Company. 

Somehow the mochas I make at home just don’t compare.  A regular indulgence has become a drive in to our little town, where our local café serves a mean mocha made with organic coffee beans.   This ritual has evolved into a space of joy in my day, with each trip being its own journey.  The seven mile drive is often taken with my husband Jase.  We have serious conversation, light chatter, and everything in between.  Our other co-pilot is my constant companion, a 12-year old blue heeler named “Kodi” who has blessed my life since he was 6 weeks old.  Kodi loves to bark at the “sheep”, “cows”, “horses”, “geese”, and “alpaca” on our morning coffee shop excursion.  When I am alone, the drive provides me with rare, uninterrupted thinking time.

The other luxury this indulgence provides is an ever-changing, but always breathtaking view of our valley.  I used to feel guilty before leaving because it would often be a challenge to carve out the time to drive into town.  I finally came to realize that the breathtaking nature displays are priceless calming fixes against the chaos that often surrounds my busy life.

At the Dawn of 2012, as we enjoy a moment full of hopes and dreams for the New Year, I would like to toast a mocha to you, my dear reader.  Here is to priceless little luxuries and their unknowing importance in our lives!  May you be blessed with many this year.

2011 has been both challenging and exhilarating.  We went from Cheval Amour being a concept to having our website up and running.  It is still hard to believe that ten months ago in February we had a name, a logo, and a concept of selling our products on line.  We attended an Internet Retailer Conference in Florida where we were lucky enough to meet Betsy Emery, CEO of TellusWeb.  TellusWeb is the company that took our vision and created the amazing website you now see today.

During this time we also applied for trademarks for our logo and name.  Seeing our trademarks published in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Official Gazette in July was among the first of many highlights we were able to cherish while watching our new company evolve.

With a virtual storefront under construction and legal aspects addressed, our next order of business became finding the company to make our clothing.  This was not as easy as I had expected for two main reasons:  1) I am very particular about quality, and 2) most companies require large minimum orders.  Additionally, I dreamed about being able to create a product that is of the highest quality that is also made with environmentally and socially responsible material.

We did a lot of searching and met with a few different companies.  Everyone that we met with was wonderful and helped us immensely in our research and learning curve.  Finally, one night after some obscure Google searches, I happened upon a manufacturer in Vancouver, Canada that was offering exactly what we were looking for.  The final piece of the puzzle fell into place and I was able to put my designing concepts to work!

Late this summer I could not have been more overjoyed as Cheval Amour officially came to life.  First, product samples arrived.  We gave the very first Cheval Amour garment, our Napili Jacket, to my father.  Next, I had the privilege of being the first to ride horseback in Cheval Amour.  Later we named the Koele jacket after this event.  

In October we were in Los Angeles and my husband Jase surprised me with VIP tickets to a Journey concert.  That evening I wore our signature item, the Cheval Amour Spectator Jacket.  We knew we were going to have a photo-op, but could not have imagined that we were going to have one like this!!!  (See photo below.)

November arrived and we had our first actual photo shoot.  While photos were being placed into the “waiting spots” on our website, we began to realize how far we had come in less than a year.  Shortly thereafter, the site was live and we started filling our first orders!

I am incredibly grateful for all the people who have helped us bring Cheval Amour from concept to reality.  I look forward to all of our adventures next year as we continue to grow and expand our line.

Like most Equestrians I know, I am involved in a lot of different activities both personally and professionally. This has blessed me with many circles of friends and has provided me with a very full, rich and entertaining life.  In this Blog I look forward to sharing experiences, discussing ideas, and taking you on the journey involving my newest venture:  Cheval Amour.

While attending a close friend's birthday party last evening, I had an insightful conversation with another guest I had just met. She inquired as to what path could have taken me from being a civil and environmental engineer to starting Cheval Amour.  I talked with her my about my passion for horses and how they have always been the main thread running through the story of my life.  

It all makes sense when viewed through the lens of this passion.  My mom rode her horse while pregnant with me and had me on horseback before I could walk.  My childhood was shaped by the ponies and horses I spent time with as well as any horse book I could get my hands on and read.  The U.S. Pony Club formalized my training and brought me into the world of the well-tailored equestrian.  We attended rallies where we competed as a team.  We were scored on our riding ability, knowledge, stable management, and presentation of a  well-groomed horse and rider.

When I was in high school I had the opportunity to spend a summer as a working student for my riding instructor.  I realized then that I did not want to depend on the horses I loved for income as I did not want to jeopardize the deep passion and love I had for these soul-touching animals.  This led to my decision to become an engineer.  An obvious one, right?  Okay, maybe not for everyone. . .but I found that math and science came naturally to me. Using teenage logic,  I decided that becoming an engineer would provide me with the future income to be able to afford a horse.  I must confess that  I am not passionate about engineering.  That said, I don't regret the path I chose for one moment. Challenging myself  has allowed amazing opportunities to present themselves.  I have had a backstage pass to visit and understand many different types of manufacturing processes. I have been involved in cleaning up contaminated sites - small to large; I have worked on large construction projects which included preparing sites for a new hospital and research building.  I enjoyed my college summers inspecting bridges all over the beautiful State of Washington.   I had the opportunity to work with incredible, honest, hard-working individuals throughout my engineering career. 

So how did Cheval Amour originate?  When one has a passion that runs as deep as the passion that I have for horses, this passion will remind you when it is being denied. After five years working in the consulting world for a company, I quit.  I could no longer look forward to coming to work in a corporate enviornment and manage alI of the politics that went with a job such as the one I had found myself in.  Unsure about what my next move would be I went to the organization SCORE, which counsels people who want to start business.  The mentor I met with was an engineer who had had his own business for 30 years.  He wouldn't even let me tell him about my idea of starting an online gifts and collectibles business related to horses.  Instead, he counseled me on how to start my own engineering consulting business.  It was very overwhelming (I was still very young as engineers go and had just received my Professional Engineers License), but I enjoyed it because I got to work with amazing clients on my own terms, and it was through their support that I grew in my practice.

Flash forward.  Twelve years later my other business idea has never gone away, it just sat on a shelf in my mind. Sometimes I would take it down and play with it, update it based on life experiences, but then decide that I had too much going on, and put it back on its shelf.  Like so many things, I woke up one day and suddenly it made sense.  I looked around and realized the life I had created was like a garden tilled and groomed in the spring, and now it is ready to be planted.  To this day horses are an integral part of my life and always will be.  I am blessed to have a supportive husband and family.  Additonally,  I have time-bought experience of running a business.  

Cheval Amour celebrates my passion for all things equine, yet is not dependent on the equines in my own life.  Bringing Cheval Amour to the launch stage has been a steep and energizing learning curve.  The smile on my face has never been bigger.