I'm sure I've mentioned that I have worked for Christine Jonson. It all started, back in 1995, before she decided to do her pattern line. I did do some shows with her at the beginning of the pattern company, but I moved farther North and focused on sewing, while she concentrated on developing the Pattern Company and didn't have work for me.
Lucky for me, she has a show coming up and not enough time to do the sewing she needs done for it! I am having a great time sewing all of these beautiful fabrics into garments.
Most of the patterns I'm working on are new to me. Either she didn't do them at the store when I was a part of it, or they are brand new inventions altogether.
I've got to get these finished in a reasonable amount of time, but I plan to go over each of the patterns I'll be making and show off the finished garments.
So far I've made the Shirred Top #424(a new one for me), a line dress with a slash #930, Basewear II Skirt #1025, Swirl Skirt #419 and 2 one seam wraps #1117 ( both also new).
The only thing I'm sorry I won't be able to show you is how wonderful these fabrics are to work with.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
NYC Nolita Market is a Bust!
But not because my clothing ever made it there! This whole thing totally fell apart right after I sent the stuff out, and I had to wait 2 1/2 months to get everything back.
Everything is back from a vacation in NY, fortunately perfect, just needs a fresh press and a hanger.
My things *were* taken to several stores in NYC.
On a positive note, the feedback I received was useful (and positive!), but the whole experience was a major irritation.
I learned the importance of knowing your target market. NYers are smaller (must be all that walking), and its important to have available what is appropriate for the current season.
I got positive feedback on my designs, refashions and ideas, just not exactly right for the season or the sizes.
Though, in my defense, it all happened very fast and I was under the impression that the stuff I hurried out (all inventory) on the 11th was going to be at the market on the 16th, so there wasn't much time for creating. Or picking and choosing. She saw what I had available and told me she wanted to give it a try at the market.
I find it a little funny actually because I was told there was too much color for fall, I just sorta fly by the seat of my pants right now, I don't have a line or a plan, and I am such a dull dresser!
This was all arranged by a mutual friend, I've never met the NYer. I understand a face to face is not always possible, but I will make things go slower next time. My patience was thoroughly snapped by this person. I would not consider doing business with her again even with the awareness I now have about the potential market in NYC.
What not to do if you enter into a business relationship:
-Do not have any contact with the person with whom you are doing business for 2 months, even though you have 2 phone numbers and 2 email addresses, and even if you didn't write them down they have been sent to you via email just in case you lost them.
-Make lame excuses about being busy when you finally do call (2 months later) because you are the only one who is busy.
-Do not let the person with whom you are doing business know when you send a package in the mail.
In my mind 2 weeks would have been rude, and the reason of being busy would have been irritating, but could have been excused. Waiting 2 months, its crazy! I didn't even care at that point, I knew I wasn't doing business again, I was just trying to be nice long enough to get everything back undamaged.
I'm mostly mad about the lack of email contact. If you are swamped you should still be able to find a couple minutes to honor your commitments via email.
I almost want to take it to Nolita Market myself! I would have never found out about it, except for this experience, and who know it could be fun!
Everything is back from a vacation in NY, fortunately perfect, just needs a fresh press and a hanger.
My things *were* taken to several stores in NYC.
On a positive note, the feedback I received was useful (and positive!), but the whole experience was a major irritation.
I learned the importance of knowing your target market. NYers are smaller (must be all that walking), and its important to have available what is appropriate for the current season.
I got positive feedback on my designs, refashions and ideas, just not exactly right for the season or the sizes.
Though, in my defense, it all happened very fast and I was under the impression that the stuff I hurried out (all inventory) on the 11th was going to be at the market on the 16th, so there wasn't much time for creating. Or picking and choosing. She saw what I had available and told me she wanted to give it a try at the market.
I find it a little funny actually because I was told there was too much color for fall, I just sorta fly by the seat of my pants right now, I don't have a line or a plan, and I am such a dull dresser!
This was all arranged by a mutual friend, I've never met the NYer. I understand a face to face is not always possible, but I will make things go slower next time. My patience was thoroughly snapped by this person. I would not consider doing business with her again even with the awareness I now have about the potential market in NYC.
What not to do if you enter into a business relationship:
-Do not have any contact with the person with whom you are doing business for 2 months, even though you have 2 phone numbers and 2 email addresses, and even if you didn't write them down they have been sent to you via email just in case you lost them.
-Make lame excuses about being busy when you finally do call (2 months later) because you are the only one who is busy.
-Do not let the person with whom you are doing business know when you send a package in the mail.
In my mind 2 weeks would have been rude, and the reason of being busy would have been irritating, but could have been excused. Waiting 2 months, its crazy! I didn't even care at that point, I knew I wasn't doing business again, I was just trying to be nice long enough to get everything back undamaged.
I'm mostly mad about the lack of email contact. If you are swamped you should still be able to find a couple minutes to honor your commitments via email.
I almost want to take it to Nolita Market myself! I would have never found out about it, except for this experience, and who know it could be fun!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Inspiration Books
An invitation to My Inspiration Book on Flickr has got me thinking, "What inspires me?".
I knew I had inspiration books. So I dug them out this morning. The picture is of the two I found. The one on top was a gift about 12 years ago from an artist friend I worked with many years ago (I love, love, love this "Dressmaker" series that she did) and the second was carefully selected from the discount table at Borders Books. Why can I remember it so clearly? I really was suprised to find them empty. I *know* I wrote in one at one time. I wonder where it is!
I am inspired by so many things. Great sewing books, Pattern making books, vintage patterns, clothes I see others wearing and everything I've ever sewn for someone else. I'm even inspired by the Inspiration books I see in the Flickr group! There are so many places to find inspiration on the internet, blogs, Flickr, etsy, my mind starts to boil just *thinking* about all the possibilities!
I get an idea in my head, sometimes it sticks around and gets better form, other times it fades. My biggest frustration with the inspiration books is my lack of ability to give it proper translation in writing. I have terrible penmanship, and can't draw to save my life! I've often said, "I can sew a straight line, but I can't draw one."
This skirt is an example of something I just couldn't get out of my head, It turned out so well I've got another one living in my head just busting to get out. This sweater is a not so well translated experiment, but the project deserves more exploration.
I knew I had inspiration books. So I dug them out this morning. The picture is of the two I found. The one on top was a gift about 12 years ago from an artist friend I worked with many years ago (I love, love, love this "Dressmaker" series that she did) and the second was carefully selected from the discount table at Borders Books. Why can I remember it so clearly? I really was suprised to find them empty. I *know* I wrote in one at one time. I wonder where it is!
I am inspired by so many things. Great sewing books, Pattern making books, vintage patterns, clothes I see others wearing and everything I've ever sewn for someone else. I'm even inspired by the Inspiration books I see in the Flickr group! There are so many places to find inspiration on the internet, blogs, Flickr, etsy, my mind starts to boil just *thinking* about all the possibilities!
I get an idea in my head, sometimes it sticks around and gets better form, other times it fades. My biggest frustration with the inspiration books is my lack of ability to give it proper translation in writing. I have terrible penmanship, and can't draw to save my life! I've often said, "I can sew a straight line, but I can't draw one."
This skirt is an example of something I just couldn't get out of my head, It turned out so well I've got another one living in my head just busting to get out. This sweater is a not so well translated experiment, but the project deserves more exploration.
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