Nina skirt #2 + a helping hand!

Today I’m presenting my 2nd Nina skirt. My very first test model of the basic A-line. After this one, I adjusted the fit at the hips but actually that all I have to say about the skirt! Easy peasy skirt. Nothing special. A wearable muslin in fact! My favourite skirt at the moment (the only one that is acceptable to wear!).

But I love these pictures a lot. That’s what brings me to telling you a story about Bjorn, my husband (in fact we ar not married, but I think it sounds better)! About 2 years ago, Bjorn and I lost our jobs at the very same moment. Most of the people in our surroundings were really worried about us, we saw this as an opportunity. Finally I got that kick in the ass I needed to start Compagnie M. My father gave me some marketing work in the beginning to help us financially, but after a half year I decided to go 100% for my own pattern company. In the meanwhile Bjorn worked freelance and whenever he could he helped me a bit. From the beginning he was extremely supportive.

But the workload started to grow and I still wanted to focus on drawing new patterns, so that’s when we decided to start working on this project together! After the launch of the paper patterns, Bjorn started working for Compagnie M. as well. He’s still a freelancer because financially we need it, but every single day he’s helping me now. He’s picking the paper pattern orders, he’s build the website and is my personal photographer. Whenever you have questions about your orders-, he’s the person that will help you! So say hi to this helping hand! He’s amazing.

I never ever thought we would work together on a pattern design company. We’ve just grown into it. Every single day we work together (Bjorn’s freelance job is in the evening so we spend a lot of time together). I work in the open kitchen and just around the corner in the living room he’s always trying to optimise the website, helping you with practical problems, picking orders, editing pictures,… He’s amazing! Especially since he never followed a course or training to design websites. He just did it. Thanks Bjorn! Thanks!

So if you ever wondered: I take most pictures of the kids, but of course when I’m in front of the camera, he’s the photographer! He does a great job, don’t you think? Of course, he’s professional photographer. Although this skirt is not that spectacular, I love how he presents it. Bjorn prefers taking pictures of buildings in stead of people, so that why we kind of try to combine both in our pictures. On the other hand I of course feel better to be posing. It’s always been a struggle to accept myself and my body, but of course I’m feeling better with it right now.

I don’t know if you like these ‘personal stories’? But I think it’s important for you to understand that I can not handle all the work by myself anymore. And still, I sometimes have the impression that we have to focus more on social media, organise more actions,… But we simply don’t have any time left! I’ve never ever worked this hard in my life and that certainly counts for Bjorn too. But we’re happy. The kids don’t understand what we are up to with all these boxes in our living room stuffed with patterns that have to be folded, but they just know that they want to become pattern designers just like mom! :) Funny girls!

Thanks Bjorn for being so supportive. It’s just so amazing to see that in the beginning, you kind of thought I was crazy to jump into this adventure  (how can you ever live from 7euro patterns, he said) and that at the moment you’re my partner in crime! :)