Halloween

Hello!

This week I'm working on my Daughter's Halloween costume. She wants to be Bjork wearing that dead swan dress. I love doing this! I first made a skirt with an elastic waist out of basic white jersey fabric. Then I cut strips of tulle and made tons of ruffles, placing them at 2" intervals along the entire length of the dress. I used about 25 yards of tulle. Then I made the top of the dress by making a separate piece that goes over one side and added a peplum that would hook in the back. I had so much fun sewing white feathers to it to give the illusion that the entire bird was being draped over the body. All I have to do now is make the long swan neck and head. I hope to have it done by tomorrow. I'll take pictures!

Let me know if you are making anything special for Halloween. :)

I was so close in setting up shop. I finally found the perfect location but it needed some work to get it to look like a boutique. I had contractors come in and give me estimates and the prices were outrageous! So, I'm still looking for the right place that maybe has a ceiling and a floor. That would be nice. lol

But, I started making more of my boutique items to sell such as painted scarves, and evening bags. I thought about putting them on my website, but even that has to be changed.

So much to do!

I really hope someone is listening.

9/14/10

Settled into my new home and my sewing room is complete. I'm working on several projects right now and I have also started looking into renting space to set up my new business. Hopefully, I can open shop within the next couple of months. Several prospects have crossed my path, so I have a lot of leg work to do.

9/8/10

I'm still organizing my stuff. Getting in the creative mood to start designing my own line of clothing. I've been sketching for a long time and there was never enough time to concentrate on making those creations come to life. I think I should take advantage of this time and get going! For every item I make for myself, I will make a second one to sell. I'm going to start by making a jacket. Living up north, a lightweight jacket is always welcomed and I can never seem to find the right one. Since fall is here and I will need one soon, this is a good place to start. I'll let you know my progress. :)

8/24/10

OK, I know it's been awhile, but I was busy packing and moving from Florida to New Jersey. I'm now just getting settled and fixing up my new sewing room. I can't believe that I still don't have enough room for my supplies. I guess I'm going to have to get rid of some. Anyone out there interested in purchasing some gorgeous fabrics or fantastic trims? I will make you a fantastic deal. Why is it that after you move you realize that you should have thrown things out before you moved? I should have remembered that after the last move. Oh well! As soon as I'm unpacked a little more, I shall continue to write about my sewing adventures. Please be patient.
Thanks!

7/20/10

I know it's been some time since I've written, but there have been so many other distractions. In between sewing for clients, I've been trying to sell some of my fabrics and trims to make room for new ones. This is much harder than I thought it would be. It's amazing how much I have accumulated over the years, and as I sort through them, I dream about all the things that could be made. A never ending battle.

6/28/10

OK, I know that I haven't been talking, but I've been busy sewing! I finished all the alterations for my Daughter, and I made her two more skirts and cut out another dress. But, withing the last week I realized that I myself have two weddings to go to within the next few months and I have to think about what I'm going to wear. I actually hate sewing for myself because I have to find a style that works for my body type, and I hate trying it on and off several times to alter. What a pain! It's so much easier to do it for someone else. Anyway, I tried this weekend to go out and try dresses on in the stores to see what style looks best. I might also add that the last time I wore a dress was somewhere in the 1980"s. Here in St. Augustine they just don't have the stores that I'm used to up north. No one dresses up fancy. Everyone lives in shorts and tank tops. The only large stores here are Dillard's, Belk, JC Penney and Bealle's (which is like sears, tropical style). Dillard's is in Jacksonville, so I started here locally and hit the small stores like Dress Barn. I actually found two dresses that the styles looked decent, but the fabric was nothing to write home about. Wouldn't you know that they both had ruffles and pleats that would be time consuming if I made it myself. But these styles are possibilities. Then I ventured out to Dillard's and I found a gown that looks really great on me. Again, it has ruffles and lace but not the quality that I would like to wear. I bought it and I'm planning on copying the design and producing it in better fabrics. I still plan to venture out again to Jacksonville and look in boutiques this week, before I attempt to do all this work. I would hate to wear this gown and find myself coming and going. That is what I hate about ready-to-wear. I guess I'm spoiled. But then again, the question remains, do any guests wear gowns to weddings today? Will it be appropriate to wear one? Let me know what you think?