Last Monday’s interview isn’t generating as much interest as I had hope. The Dress A Girl interview was on three television stations and it ran on the evening time slot and then again in the morning.
I have received two phone calls- one was from a woman with beads that she thought we might be able to use. The other woman wanted me to make dresses for the flower girls in her wedding scheduled for June 2012, and that is pretty much it.
Tho I am happy to have caught the eye of at least two people I would be less than honest if I didn’t admit that I was disappointed.
However with that said I have met some wonderful people all of which I have really enjoyed talking to. I have found that people are quite receptive to a conversation so I am beginning to think a television spot might not be the best way to reach out to the ‘caring community’ that I live in.
May 22.… Les Fabriques a local fabric store is sponsoring a Sew-Along for Dress A Girl. Maybe I 'll call the local paper to see if they would be interested in coming to the Sew-Along. I hope to meet a lot of new people.
I am still finishing up my dresses for the Dress A Girl contest. I will snap a photo before I send them off.
Wish me luck!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
RIP My Old Iron
It happened yesterday. My iron died. One moment we were ironing away and the next time I went to pick it up it was luke warm and fading fast. I stopped what I was doing "I need an iron, I can't live without an iron." I hopped in my car and headed into town. I was a woman on a mission.
I have not had a lot of luck with irons. I had a Rowenta but that wore out after only a year and a half, then I went with a Black and Decker it had a short life as well. I finally gave up and bought the cheapest iron I could find...a Sunbeam. It lasted just over 6 months.
I don't know about you but I sort of have relationships with my appliances...my sweet toaster who doesn't object when I jam 4 pieces of bread in to two slots, my vacuum that had sucked up legos and my boys underpants when I was too tired (or lazy) to pick them up, and last but not least my iron.
I don't like my appliances to break and I don't like buying a new ones.
My first stop on my quest for a new iron was a local fabric store because I had a 50% off coupon, but the girl as the register said "you obviously didn't read the fine print, irons are not included." I left the Simplicity iron on the shelf because I wasn't 'in-love' with it anyway. I headed over to Lowes.
Lowes had three irons, two of which looked like vintage irons of the 60's, the other one had an inch of dust on it and the label on the bottom of it has permanenly bonded to it. So I jumped in my trusty VW and headed to Bed, Bath & Beyond...And there it was The Shark! Reasonably priced, sleek, self-cleaning....yep this was an iron that I could learn to love.
I stuck it under my arm, wandered to check out, and headed home.
When I got home I bagged up my old Sunbeam and carried it to the dumpster. Rest in peace my old friend we made yards of beautiful bias tape together. You'll be missed!
I have not had a lot of luck with irons. I had a Rowenta but that wore out after only a year and a half, then I went with a Black and Decker it had a short life as well. I finally gave up and bought the cheapest iron I could find...a Sunbeam. It lasted just over 6 months.
I don't know about you but I sort of have relationships with my appliances...my sweet toaster who doesn't object when I jam 4 pieces of bread in to two slots, my vacuum that had sucked up legos and my boys underpants when I was too tired (or lazy) to pick them up, and last but not least my iron.
I don't like my appliances to break and I don't like buying a new ones.
My first stop on my quest for a new iron was a local fabric store because I had a 50% off coupon, but the girl as the register said "you obviously didn't read the fine print, irons are not included." I left the Simplicity iron on the shelf because I wasn't 'in-love' with it anyway. I headed over to Lowes.
Lowes had three irons, two of which looked like vintage irons of the 60's, the other one had an inch of dust on it and the label on the bottom of it has permanenly bonded to it. So I jumped in my trusty VW and headed to Bed, Bath & Beyond...And there it was The Shark! Reasonably priced, sleek, self-cleaning....yep this was an iron that I could learn to love.
I stuck it under my arm, wandered to check out, and headed home.
When I got home I bagged up my old Sunbeam and carried it to the dumpster. Rest in peace my old friend we made yards of beautiful bias tape together. You'll be missed!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Sew-er's Block
I love where I am right now with my sewing. For several weeks before I got involved with Dress A Girl I had a serious case of sew-er’s block. I would walk in my new sewing room AND it just wasn’t there. Sewing and designing kids clothes is my passion so it was a bit of a desperate feeling when I lost my motivation. I worried about this a lot.
Ever since I heard about Dress A Girl but I have felt energized. I am not kidding when I say I am designing in my head all the time, when I’m doing all the mundane chores of daily living but I am sewing in my mind.
It was a beautiful day today. I worked outside, re-potted my tomatoes, cut out all the dresses I plan on making tomorrow.
Ever since I heard about Dress A Girl but I have felt energized. I am not kidding when I say I am designing in my head all the time, when I’m doing all the mundane chores of daily living but I am sewing in my mind.
It was a beautiful day today. I worked outside, re-potted my tomatoes, cut out all the dresses I plan on making tomorrow.
Friday, April 8, 2011
One Shirt- Two Dresses
Last week I lucked out and found a XXL Eddie Bauer shirt at the Goodwill. It is a beautiful piece of fabric…green and blue check. I cut the sleeves off and tossed them to the side and laid out a little dress using the shirt button band on the front of the dress. I found a great red gingham shirt and cut it into bias strips for the ties and I was good to go.
When I finished up the dress, and was clearing off my table it struck me that there was enough fabric in the sleeves to make a second dress. So I cut the cuffs off the sleeves and cut them up the side so that they laid open. I ended up with a dress front and back with a sleeve placket a little off center. The curve of the top of the sleeve made a nice curve on the hem.
I had to cut a little strip to run the elastic through, I put a piece of bias tape around the curved hem.
Aren’t they just the cutest little dresses?
When I finished up the dress, and was clearing off my table it struck me that there was enough fabric in the sleeves to make a second dress. So I cut the cuffs off the sleeves and cut them up the side so that they laid open. I ended up with a dress front and back with a sleeve placket a little off center. The curve of the top of the sleeve made a nice curve on the hem.
I had to cut a little strip to run the elastic through, I put a piece of bias tape around the curved hem.
Aren’t they just the cutest little dresses?
Friday, April 1, 2011
Slow Poke Karen
I am sitting here with two dresses cut out and one put together and I worked all afternoon! I AM really slow.
Recently I have been suffering from a little ‘dress-envy.’ Look at all these sew-er’s AND all of their beautiful dresses! How will I ever speed up production?
I confess I am a perfectionist that certainly doesn‘t help. I do change the color of the thread a lot, I tear out seams, and go back and hand sew little edges that I missed with my sewing machine.
Every night when I turn out the lights, sewing machine included, I promise myself that tomorrow I will push myself just a little harder to make some serious time with my sewing AND everyday about mid-afternoon I realize that I am poking along “maybe tomorrow” I tell myself.
On Saturday, Les Fabriques fabric store is having an Open House. I'm looking forward to meeting lots of interesting people AND maybe some speedy sew-ers. I could use a few tips to speed up production.
Recently I have been suffering from a little ‘dress-envy.’ Look at all these sew-er’s AND all of their beautiful dresses! How will I ever speed up production?
I confess I am a perfectionist that certainly doesn‘t help. I do change the color of the thread a lot, I tear out seams, and go back and hand sew little edges that I missed with my sewing machine.
Every night when I turn out the lights, sewing machine included, I promise myself that tomorrow I will push myself just a little harder to make some serious time with my sewing AND everyday about mid-afternoon I realize that I am poking along “maybe tomorrow” I tell myself.
On Saturday, Les Fabriques fabric store is having an Open House. I'm looking forward to meeting lots of interesting people AND maybe some speedy sew-ers. I could use a few tips to speed up production.
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