This week I am in Marfa, Texas visiting my friend Lorna Leedy and working at her store Fancy Pony Land for the trunk show for Alabama Chanin. Marfa is a portal for thought explosions, its not just the “lights” but its about the people who are pulled here. Each time I’ve visited, I’ve been able to experience a shift in my consciousness surrounding the situations I’m creating in my life. This time, I found myself in a conversation last night about an advertising movement called Magic VS Logic. I know I’m definitely working on the sides of magic, logic is the structure I try to funnel through my abstract and random thoughts, but what was interesting was how the person I was talking to was describing it in terms of the creative economy and how its time we figure out how creatives are paid for the magic- the stories, the experiences, the knowledge and learning, and brightness that comes from experiencing great creative work. It’s a difficult structure to consider right now as our economy struggles to hold on to old models of creating currency. I thought about it while we were talking and realized that when I look at it, I really am not wanting or lacking for anything in my life. I have exactly what I need right now to the extent that I have exerted the work for it. And that happens magically, whenever I really need something, someone steps in and shows me how to get there. I think that happens because when you create art and design, you create connections to your audience, and those connections are the actual currency that is exchanged, and its value is beyond monetization. Natalie Chanin told us that this business is not for the faint of heart, that you aren’t going to make a million dollars. You have to do it because you love it. For me its not just about the love of creating clothing, but also the love for how creating, showing, and experiencing my work with other people creates a crazy bartered luxury in my life that manifests far beyond the sales.