Hello and welcome! I’m Holly Chayes

I help makers, thinkers, builders, operators, creators, etc. implement solid containers for creative chaos, and functional systems for sustainable momentum, all in aid of making a life or business you love. 

Right now I’m working with people and businesses in a couple capacities… 

Business

Business coaching and consulting for small businesses ready to dig into the practicalities of what’s next.

When you’ve graduated from mindset-only to mindset+ 

When you’ve built something that functions but doesn’t flow yet.

When you’ve outgrown and overrun what used to work.

Whatever your stuck, we can get you moving on to what’s next.

Learn more and get in touch here

Individual

Life and clothing magic for individuals who thought they would be more prepared for this moment.

Personal or professional.

Once in a lifetime or every day.

A surprise or something you’ve been working towards for years.

Whatever this moment is, we can get you ready for it.

Discover more here

Projects

Keep Reading

writing, editing, weaving, and a skirt fit for a pirate queen

Each Wednesday, I post a snapshot of the projects I’m working on, and where my brain is at.

weaving squares and reading through shawl geometry

After the last round of Shawl Geometry Book Three edits took an age and a half, typing up all the edits seemed to simply fly by. I’m reading through the whole thing now (not in one sitting, that was a nice fantasy!) and I’m slightly shocked but thoroughly grateful that the whole thing doesn’t suck!

I’ve trusted through the whole editing process that the final thing would be excellent (otherwise I would have stopped!) but it’s really nice to get some perspective, and have that trust confirmed in the read through!!

Next steps are notes, and edits, and then to the technical editor.

I’m still weaving piles upon piles of squares on the zoom loom, still haven’t set the handspun yarn I finished last week, and am contemplating a next spinning project.

On Who Wears Who? – after the summer 10×10 wardrobe challenge I’ve found myself reaching for tee shirts far more often than I used to, and clothes from my Self-Made Wardrobe project are still in heavy rotation. I wrote this morning about the qualities that one of my favorite skirts invoked – it’s been fantastic being able to think and write more about the pieces I made for that project, but this time from a style perspective rather than a technical one. You can read that piece right here.

finishing and starting: edits, spinning, weaving, and style challenges

Each Wednesday, I post a snapshot of the projects I’m working on, and where my brain is at.

weaving squares and shawl geometry edits

spinning yarn and editing

It would seem that this week was the week of finishing and starting things!

I finished this round of edits/rewrites of Shawl Geometry Book Three, and started typing them up!
Then I finished the spinning project I was working on, and started playing around with a zoom loom!
The summer 10×10 wardrobe challenge has wrapped up, and I’m starting planning posts for next week on Who Wears Who!

This current round of edits/rewrites on the third Shawl Geometry book feels like it’s been going on for absolutely ever. And I have to say, I’m thrill that this round is over. Compared to the snails pace of rewriting, typing everything up seems like it’s happening lightning speed (even though there is a TON to write up).

My quickie spinning project is all plyed together – now it just needs a nice bath and a project to use it for.

But of course I wanted another low-key fiber project to work on, so I (rather impulsively) picked up a Zoom Loom and started playing around on it with some handspun that I’ve had sitting around forever, waiting for the right project. It’s been highly satisfying, and each square is pretty much instant gratification.

And over on Who Wears Who, the last day of the summer 10×10 wardrobe challenge was Friday! The whole whole challenge was a ton of fun, and I can’t wait to experiment more with clothing & style over on that blog – so if that’s of interest to you, come check it out!

more spinning, more rewriting, more personal style

Each Wednesday, I post a snapshot of the projects I’m working on, and where my brain is at.

spindle spinning yarn and editing shawl shaping

Summer 10x10 Dress+SoupTee3

I finished the singles for the small spinning project I’m working on. Now they’re resting, and next I’ll just ply them into a simple two-ply yarn. It’s been fantastic to work on a project that’s quick and easy – no big commitment, no over thinking, basically no planning.

This spinning project has been the perfect current counter-balance to editing/rewriting the third book Shawl Geometry Series.

I know that there is an end to this rewriting/editing project, and I know that I’ll find it eventually, but at the moment it feels very far away. (Though maybe that means it’s closer than it appears? Who knows, I’m just rolling with it.)

And over on Who Wears Who…
Today is day 8 of the Summer 10×10 Wardrobe Challenge, and I’ve been loving experimenting with a limited wardrobe again.

The basic premise of a 10×10 Wardrobe Challenge is to create a wardrobe of 10 pieces, that will create (at least) 10 looks, to be worn over 10 days – 10 pieces of clothing, 10 looks, 10 days, it has a beautiful symmetry to it.

Of course this time it’s not a 100% made by me wardrobe, but it’s still an exploration of personal style, and I’m enjoying mixing my handmade pieces with regular store-bought pieces just like I do day to day.

If personal style, and wardrobe challenges are of interest, come over and explore the new blog! I can’t wait for you to see it.