When my husband and I were looking for a middle school for our daughter, we left no stone unturned. We looked all over- going to open houses, touring, and listening to school leaders make their pitches. When we visited the school we ultimately chose, (Westminster in Annandale, and yes, I can tout it) an answer the principal gave to another parent sealed the decision for us. When this parent asked how Westminster accomplished attracting such a diverse student body, his answer was simple. He said, “We tell people how they are alike, not how they are different, and it just works out.” This answer made so much sense to me.

I think this is probably why Danielle Romanetti and I get along so well. Yes, we seem like very different people, but really, we aren’t. So, while some might be surprised we are close friends, our friendship has always been a really easy relationship. One of the greatest rewards of having a small business in Old Town has been the other amazing women who are small business owners as well. They are all a force, and I can only speak about retail stores, but pretty much all of them are female owned. Fibre Space is really a special shop and anyone who knits knows you will never find a better knitting store. Anyone who owns a business and asks Danielle for advice (all of us) knows no one is better at running a business than she is. I dream of my enterprise being a well-oiled machine like Fibre. It’s so good, she should really start a business helping other businesses run more efficiently. She also knows how to get everything done at City Hall, and when I say everything, I mean everything. Okay, enough about my love letter to Danielle.

For years, Danielle and I have talked about doing some marketing together. One of our commonalities is that we are both pretty good at marketing, or we at least enjoy it. And despite the fact that we are both really good at getting things done, this has taken us forever.

We have always wanted to show how the things you make can easily be incorporated into your wardrobe. You can really build your wardrobe around these handmade, homemade pieces. They can work for any event, “work, play or dinner” as we like to say around here. And although I have yet to make something I can wear, (I will one day) I can’t imagine anything more rewarding than wearing something beautiful and made with your own hands. Danielle, if you are reading this, I would receive the same joy from something you made as well.

So, if you are like me and have always wanted to figure out how to make something, I encourage you to start this fall. Maybe if we start now, we will be finished by the time the weather changes.