Welcome to the Charm Artist Collective (Patreon)

It’s finally here, patrons: The unveiling of our brand new theme! It’s time to bid a fond adieu (for now!) to Camp Gertie and to welcome the Charm Artist Collective, our new theme for 2022.

What is the Charm Artist Collective?

Picture it: Greenwich Village, 1956. You duck into an unassuming cafe and walk down the steps into a dimly lit room. You hear soft jazz music, the unmistakable sound of shears briskly cutting fabric, spoons clinking against coffee cups, and laughter and conversation flowing. These are your people: the Charm Artist Collective. We’re a group of free thinkers and bohemians, and we believe in effortless glamour with a DIY spirit.

In this new year of Patreon, I was inspired by the Beat Generation, European cafe culture, and international artist collectives of yore. These midcentury iconoclasts left an indelible mark on the world in every discipline: art, literature, poetry, music, dance, film, and certainly fashion! Think Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face wearing cigarette pants, a turtleneck, and loafers. Or imagine Brigit Bardot in a tight skirt and off-the-shoulder top with tousled hair. But these bohemian ideas and images originated from around the globe and in every part of society: not just the Greenwich Village Beats and Hollywood’s interpretation of them–but Harlem’s Jazz evolution, Vienna’s cafe culture, London’s Teddy Girls, Mexico City’s thriving art scene, and many more.

The Collective = Fabulous Guest Artists for Charm!

As part of this theme, I am thrilled to announce that we are inviting some very notable illuminaries to join our collective. We will introduce a series of guest artists throughout the year to bring you fabulous bonus pattern designs. At the $10 level and above, in addition to your monthly pattern we will also be releasing 6-8 guest designs throughout the year! We’re pleased to announce that Jasmin Rodriguez (Vintage Vandalizm), Dandy Wellington, and Amanda ofModern June Cleaver will be lending their aesthetic expertise to create their own exclusive patterns, released only here on the Charm Artist Collective. And stay tuned for more guest artist reveals! These guest patterns will explore new disciplines and areas of fashion, to complement our already bursting archive of vintage-inspired garment patterns. 

Of course, we will also continue to focus on fabulous monthly designs from Gertie and the Charm Team (think of the amazing inspiration to be had with this theme: cigarette pants, Breton tops, and more!) as well as education in our monthly videos. The first of the month will be as thrilling as always! For the $10 tier and above, we will also be releasing a series of 4-5 video fit clinics to help you take your sewing journey further and understand how to make our patterns fit your unique figure like a glove.

Above all, our main focus will continue to be community. You are all members of the Charm Artist Collective! Because you continue sewing, learning, and making each pattern your very own, you are each an artist in your own right. Thank you for joining us and allowing us to continue this creative path together!

But What About My Tier?!

Please see our home page for a detailed list of the new tiers and their benefits. All tier levels and prices will remain the same, and no tiers are being added or deleted. The names of the tiers have been changed to reflect the new theme: Poet ($7), Artist ($10), Beat Princess ($16), and Bohemian Princess ($19). 

We have also made some changes to the tier benefits, so please read the tier descriptions carefully. The biggest change is that the merit badges in the $10 tier and above are being replaced with the 6-8 guest pattern designs throughout the year–these are in addition to your regular monthly patterns, and will be released mid-month. We are also introducing a series of video fit clinics that will drop on the months between guest designs, so you get an amazing extra every month! Our first guest design lands on January 15th (in just two weeks) so if you want to snag it, make sure you’re in the $10 tier or above. If you change tiers, you will only be charged the difference between your old and new tier until the next billing cycle.

What if I am in a grandfathered princess tier from 2020?

This paragraph only applies to you if you are in a grandfathered tier from pre-Camp Gertie (the princess tiers that declined to receive merit badges and stayed at their lower prices of $14 and $17). You can still stay in that tier at your lower rate, but it may be time to make a move. Only patterns in the $10 Artist tier, $16 Beat Princess and $19 Bohemian Princess will receive the bonus guest design patterns and fit clinics–and we don’t think you’ll want to miss them! (Note: Patrons in the grandfathered tiers will receive all other benefits listed  in the princess tiers.) If you change tiers, you will only be charged the difference between your old and new tier until the next billing cycle.

What if I paid for the year but want to upgrade my tier?

No worries! You can upgrade and you will only be charged the pro-rated annual difference between your old and new tiers.

Wait! I can pay for a year at once?!

Yes! You can pay for a whole year in advance on your membership account. The biggest benefit to this is not dealing with monthly charges on your credit card, and the peace of mind knowing that your membership fee won’t be declined if you get a new credit card or your card expires. (So you won’t risk missing out on anything!)

More questions?

I’ll be doing a live event just for patrons on Monday, January 3rd. Stay tuned for details!

I hope you love our new theme. It's going to be a great year!

xoxo,

Gertie