It's Official. I'm Getting Published!

I'm so excited! I have been working on my sewing creations for my Etsy store for some time now. My goal still is 100 items.
I'm working on it pretty steadily.
I'm having a blast creating. I get side tracked so easily. But it always comes out well.

This is one of my favorites. It fits me of course. But I won't make any money putting stuff in my closet.

So back to the getting noticed thing.
I got my courage up and submitted an upcycled red jacket and skirt outfit to Altered Couture Magazine.  Lo and behold within a day after I sent it off, I got an email from the assistant managing editor asking about another dress on my Etsy store.
They hadn't even gotten my package yet!

I guess it was meant to be. I got the "official" email letting me know two of my creations were chosen for a future issue. I'm thinking February. Plus, they still have the red outfit and I sent them another hoping for another submission the future. We will see. Fingers crossed!

Oh, and I get to write two 600 to 700 word articles for the submissions... yea!! (said in a weak voice). I didn't know there would be homework!

I feel like I have finally found my "thing".

Something I love to do everyday. I dream about sewing these outfits. Crazy huh?
I'm working on getting noticed by potential customers.

 Etsy has many areas to get great help. Forums for questions and groups to join for support and education.

I have been reading a bit of unhappiness with the new seller rules. Etsy now allows sellers to have other people make their products. I don't think it will take long for sellers who are actually manufacturers to show up. I have seen them already. It isn't too hard to find them.

However, I see Etsy as a simple avenue for selling to my customers and giving them a place to find me.

I realize I need to be proactive in attracting customers.
Opening a store, adding products and waiting for the sales to roll in just isn't going to happen.
 It takes work!
Sending submissions to magazines is pretty scary. But it is necessary to market myself. No one else is going to do it for me.

I learn new things everyday in both my sewing and marketing. But for now, I'm enjoying the process.

Until next time....

Sometimes Simple is Best

I have been doing so much sewing lately and each outfit ends up being pretty elaborate. I promised myself today I would do something simple. What do you think!

Ok it started out simple enough. But then the little top said it wanted something different for the back. So I ended up with this. How cute is this!!

I took a white t-shirt a friend had given me and cut two inch strips and ruffled them. I cut another strip the length of the dress and sewed the ruffles on. I haven't done this before and thought it turned out pretty sweet.
It's on my Etsy store now...

Upcycled Baby Doll Top Size Small

Enjoy your weekend!!

Inspiration to Lose Weight!

I made this little frock the other day and it seems to be a favorite view on my Etsy site. I even took it apart a few times before I felt it was just right. I so wish I could fit it it myself. It is made with a Tommy Bahama silk button up the front shirt and a women's green cotton plaid. The top is a brown khaki cotton with some pretty vintage lace sewn down. I used another vintage lace and some silk ribbon for around the middle.

Hopefully it won't last long.

Custom Work

I was so excited to get my second order from my Etsy store. A stranger this time. I feel like I might actually make it. Still tons of work to do to get noticed!!! But my customer also wanted another dress. She gave me free reign. (I hate free reign). I of course stressed big time. What if she didn't like what I made? These dresses look easy. Just sew a bunch of scraps together. No such luck. There is at least 8 hours of hard work in each of these two. That doesn't count my date with the seam ripper..... twice. The blue one I actually tore down twice before I was happy.

Here is the second one I made.

I made a sweet little flower from the collar of one of the blouses used in the skirt. I thought it turned out pretty well.

She liked the blue one. So the pink one is now available for sale!!!

Back to the basement :)

One Hundred Items Goal

I have an Etsy store I'm trying to make a go at. Every indication is that people like what I make, but no actual buyers yet. Not sure what I'm doing wrong as yet. But the grapevine says volume is what I need. So I have been a very busy bee in my little basement sewing room. I have even decided to add some little girls outfits to the mix. I think I have finally found my calling. I love mixing and matching thrift-store finds to make something new. I tried to put together a tutorial but none of my outfits ever turns out the way I first plan. The fabric starts to talk to me and it dictates what it wants to become. So here are some of my latest projects. Maybe someday if I can stay on tract I'll put a tutorial together.

This was made from a very comfy old hoodie my mom gave me. I cut off the bottom and cut up some t-shirts I found. Oh to find more pretty periwinkle purple t-shirts.. my favorite color! They are hard to find.

I loved making this dress. I used some wonderful heirloom linens my Grandmother gave me that I knew I would never use. Here is a picture of the back.

I think it would make a sweet summer country wedding dress... don't you?

Here is a little girls top I made from the bottom of the hoodie.

I can just see this with some cute leggings and girls cowboy boots!
Too bad I don't have any granddaughters..... yet!

A friend of mine took this picture of her daughter wearing my black velvet creation. Spooky and elegant at the same time. I get lots of lookie loos for this on my Etsy site. It really needs to go home with someone!

Anyway, I have been having the time of my life making all these crazy creations. I can only hope that someday they make me the living I'm wanting so bad.

Bunny

Steampunk Sexy Librarian Dress

Ok, so that is quite a title. But I was thinking it would fit that category on my Etsy site. Anyway, my newest creation or re-creation.

I had the BEST time making this dress. I thought about it for quite a few days. I was originally going to do the cutout a little differently but it just wouldn't do what I wanted. So I sewed strips of old sheer curtains and my most favorite table cloth. My dogs when they were puppies had torn a hole in it and I have kept it trying to decide how to fix it. I used strips of it in the center. It looks so much better in real time. My camera phone does not do it justice. It is a size 8. I just have to sew down the lace on the shoulders and then off to my Etsy site it goes. I just wish I could make a living doing this. I could do it all day. Way too much fun!

Enjoy!