Follow your Dreams!

Citrus Boutique's website

Have you ever visited Citrus Boutique?! If you haven't, you must! I am not exaggerating when I say it is the one and only place I shop for clothes, (clothes, that I can wear outside of my studio). It's a lovely little boutique located in the Ridley Plaza, on Fourth Ave, in St. Catharines. This wonderful shop is where I met Chloe, several years ago. Her mother, Caron, owns Citrus and Chloe helps her to run it.

Over the years I have enjoyed going into Citrus to talk with Caron and Chloe. I find their shop a sweet little spot for a burst of inspiration. Chloe and Caron have a natural flare for designing warm, creative, well-staged window displays, and they continue the vibe throughout their store. Recently, I noticed these beautifully woven dream catchers hanging in their windows. They were bold in detail and size, and soft in texture and hues. Some were adorned with vintage lace and others were strung with a beautiful web pattern.

I was absolutely inspired, and not at all surprised to learn Chloe was the artist behind these dreamy creations. I was, however, surprised to learn she wasn't planning on selling them, or turning this passion into a small business...not yet, anyway. They were so unique and well-made, who wouldn't want one!?

But Chloe was bashful and modest, not really certain what the next step was for her and her dream catchers. Eventually opportunity presented itself and the demand for her work was too overwhelming to ignore, and it was then, that Dreamt By Chloe was born.

I am excited for you to meet Chloe at the shed and Friends Open House in December. This is her first show! I have been following her obsessively on Instagram to see the progress of her pre-show prep and I encourage you to do the same!

https://www.instagram.com/dreamtbychloe/
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Here's a pic of a small collaboration involving shed and Dreamt by Chloe. My mother commissioned Chloe to make a dream catcher for a new born baby girl.

Dream catchers are a Native American arts and crafts tradition believed to confuse and catch the bad dreams in its web, and let the good dreams pass, allowing us to follow the wisdom of our dreams and guide us through life.

A word from dream catcher artist, Chloe Leigh Blom:

I am so fortunate to have grown up in a creative and supportive family. Textiles, painting, pottery, graphic design, needlework, music, woodworking, fashion the list of what my family can do is endless. Everyone has their own distinctive style and I wasn’t sure what mine was until now. Dream catchers were not the plan, just a project to fill a window display at Citrus Boutique, the shop my family owns. My Mom suggested I create bohemian style dream catchers to fill the store for a spring display and next thing I knew people were trying to buy them. For months they weren’t for sale until I realized the organic opportunity that had presented itself to me. I had quite a bit of free time and was looking for a way to express myself creatively, Dreamt by Chloe was the answer.

I enjoy discovering materials that make my work unique. I search through craft shops, used clothing, handmade yarn, vintage lace & my grandparent’s homes. I’m also guilty of coming home from every walk with sticks and leaves to incorporate in my work. I am inspired by different techniques that help me evolve daily. Fiber art has always come naturally to me, I can pick up fabric or string and tie it into something beautiful. I have explored looming, embroidery & knitting. I am always learning.

My goal is to create things that make people stop and really appreciate the beauty around them. The longer you look at one of my dream catchers the more detail is revealed to you. When you take the time to create something, you pour your heart into it. As an artist you hope people appreciate that about your work and are inspired by it. There is no quick way to really appreciate art, it must be digested slowly or you will surely miss the very best parts.

dreamtbychloe@gmail.com