ad hoc MOM

Crate and Barrel Parker Chair

In the face of all odds--lack of health insurance, no sick time, kids with ear infections and patchy daycare--a lot of incredibly talented and capable ad hoc moms manage to produce significant and inspiring work. Here is our first feature in a planned series called ad hoc MOM MADE. Today's subject: Hannah Alderson, a textile designer whose fabric design appears on Crate and Barrel's Parker chair. The chair was recently featured on the Today Show.

Description of product: I work as a designer for a fabric importer. This design was inspired by a kind of Central Asian textile called a suzani. A lot of my inspiration comes from antique textiles which I then translate into a style of my own.  I created the drawing, drafted all of the weaves (a technical process that involves making what some people think look like little "crossword puzzles" of black and white squares), and prepared all of the dying and color instructions. These are then translated and woven at a mill in China and then imported into the US for sale to the furniture market here.

Number of work days per week (with home/office split breakdown): Home: 1.5 days a week; Office: 2 days a week (3 hour roundtrip commute, ugh.)

Daycare:  A crazy quilt: Son Sam (2): Jewish Community Center day care 3 days a week and mother in law half day a week. Daughter Harper (5): preschool 5 days a week, with after school program 2 days a week, mother in law one afternoon a week, and pick up by grandparents 3 other days a week.

Health Insurance Through my husband's job.

What you love most about working in ad hoc fashion: Not having a real boss. I'm never around any one place long enough to feel like I'm part of a corporate culture. I don't have to show up to holiday parties or deal with office politics.

What you like least: The constant need to change my schedule, and the expectation that I and not my husband will do it because my job is more "flexible." The hours seem to erode away from work from the moment I wake up every Monday morning. I am always behind. I miss coworkers and the positive side of office relationships and humor.

Wish you had more of: Guilt-free time to work on pursuing my real dream: starting my own business. Maternity leave. Unemployment benefits. If I were to lose my job I wouldn't be entitled to it. I have co-workers in textiles who work full time who have lost jobs and been entitled to free tuition for re-training under a Federal Act to protect employees who lose jobs due to competition from overseas manufacturing. College babysitters with a driver's license and endless supply of energy for games.

Wish you had less of: Commute. Uncertainty about what every week would bring.

Plans for future: To one day have a line of fabrics which will be sold under my name. My own studio where I can leave my house to go to work. It will have lots of light, heat (our house's heat is set to go down to 62 degrees during the day when "no one is home." That is except the mom who is actually using her home as her office), space, and I can play whatever music I want. I will hire young designers and have a family friendly work policy. And a napping couch.