Bead-Dazzled Read Online Free PDF Page B

corner with Lexie.
    * * *
    Later that afternoon, Charlie showed up in her studio with Holly. He brought square, white containers of dumplings and crispy tofu. “A feast,” he declared, jabbing the air with a chopstick.
    “We’re ready to work. We’re going to huddle in this corner and watch fashion show videos,” Holly said. “We brought headphones. We won’t bother you, promise.”
    Emma nodded, barely looking up. She furiously scavenged the back issues of Madison that she collected. She never threw one away, even scoring some vintage issues from the 90s at a used bookstore in the Village.
    She needed inspiration. She needed an idea. A theme. A collection had to be cohesive. All the outfits could be different, but they all had to hinge on that one idea that knit them together. One story.
    Using Post-Its, she flagged designs that caught her eye. A slouchy blue-and-white striped boat-neck top. Moss green gauchos with a wide sash. A long gypsy skirt trimmed with tiny gold coins. An embroidered silk tunic with fierce dragon details.
    She sketched a moto jacket that sparkled with little coins.

    She drew a high-necked gown with embroidered flames.
    For two hours, she sketched and sketched.
    “What’d you got?” Charlie asked, after he and Holly had overdosed on runway review and downed all the dumplings.
    Emma flipped through her sketches. Each design wasn’t bad on its own, but none of her ideas fit together. “It’s a mish-mash,” she complained.

    “The theme is Goin’ Green. Eco-friendly.” Charlie said. “Focus in on that.”
    “You could make everything out of different shades of green fabric,” Holly suggested.
    Emma tried to imagine a head-to-heel green palette. She did love green. Bright grass green, deep forest green—but there could be too much of a good thing. “Too Kermit,” she decided.
    “Agreed.” Charlie said. “And maybe too literal.”
    “Fabric, fabric…” Emma stood and walked to an old armoire she’d rescued from the curb one rainy afternoon. Her mom had helped her to strip it, and they’d repainted it a brilliant yellow. Inside, she kept all her extra bolts of fabric and the remnants of the fabrics she’d already used. She took stock of the few pieces she had left. Then she added up the money she’d gotten for the holiday gifts along with the gift certificate to the fabric store. “Big trouble. There’s no way I can buy enough fabric for a whole collection.”
    “How many pieces do you need to make?” Holly asked.
    “I’m thinking four. But some outfits should have more than one piece. You know, a jacket or a vest or something.” Emma tightened her ponytail. “That’s a whole lot of fabric.”
    “What about your dad?” Holly asked.
    “He’s paid for so much already. I’m sure he’d help if I asked, but I kind of want to do this on my own,” Emma said. “I doubt Michael Kors has his dad paying for his fabric.”
    “Maybe he did at the beginning,” Holly pointed out.
    “Maybe you don’t need fabric,” Charlie suggested. “Think outside the box. Goin’ Green means recycling, right? What if you used plastic water bottles or cardboard or even newspapers?”
    “Seriously?” Holly rolled her eyes. “This isn’t some arts and crafts project, Charlie. Go outside and show me one woman who is wearing newspapers or plastic bottles!”
    “Wait.” Emma began to pace her small space. “Charlie’s idea isn’t so off. Just a bit half-baked.” She smiled at Charlie. “The recycling idea is actually good.”
    “What’re you going to recycle?” Holly wrinkled her nose. “Nothing gross I hope.”
    “Not exactly recycle,” Emma explained. “More like repurpose. Use again. Instead of using brand new material, I’ll use old material. I’ll take old clothes, deconstruct them, and make them new.”
    “Can you get enough fabric that way? You know, big enough pieces to work with?” Holly asked. She had a better grasp of the sewing part than Charlie