Keeping on Track

So, I've begun my new job waiting tables, which will only be three nights a week.  I have been through training and my brain hurts from trying to keep all the wines straight and from trying to get all the Italian words right.  We had a soft opening last night, but I left early as it wasn't too busy, which pleased my in-laws (babysitters).   Apparently Lucy was being difficult in not wanting to wear pants and then decided to try out her new washable markers on her little brother's face.  I have a picture, but as it shows her half naked, I don't think I will post it.  But it does show her skill in face painting.

I finally finished the red jersey shirt.  I'm pretty happy with it - jersey is a tricky fabric and I think the next time I work with it, I will be even better as I'm learning new tricks to it.

The blue. grey, black, and white shirt is a polyester blend chiffon, which was also tricky.  But I am getting good at it, especially with the roller hem foot.  This is a shirt that I made previous to beginning this blog.

Today I ordered a set of 8 French Curve rulers from Amazon.  These will allow me to draft my own patterns better.  

I'm having trouble getting motivated today.  There are laundry baskets with clean clothes to fold, but as Finn is napping now, I hate to use up my "free" time doing chores.  

I know.  I will measure Lucy's windows and plan her curtains - right after a cup of coffee!

Go Big or Go Home

The their design challenge of Project Runway, Season 9 put the designers in teams of two and asked them to take $300 and create a design for stilt walkers.  The idea was to play around with proportion.  Now my initial thought was to get all crazy and SyFy with this challenge, but as I sketched, the model wasn't looking fantastical at all, but rather she was looking freakish.  Then I imagined that I was creating an ensemble for Lady Gaga, but then again, it wasn't "easy on the eye."  I thought that I could create, as Tyra Banks says, an "ugly pretty," but all I was getting was ugly.  I did come up with an idea that was very structural and abstract, but I scratched going in that direction what with only being given one day to make the dress.

So, my idea stayed with "pretty pretty" as I thought of three things I love in a dress: chiffon, lace, and a deep, rich color.  I went with this beautiful dark navy/black sheer chiffon (with a beige cotton underneath to give it an almost nude effect). The top has long sleeved chiffon with a plunging neckline, draped chiffon front.  The waist is cinched with a black Alecon lace trim.  The skirt of the dress would be the long, billowy chiffon.  I want the end result to be feminine, sexy, and glamorous.

First Project completed.

This is my white super soft jersey pants - they are like sweat pants, but with more class.  The green and white seersucker top I made from a vintage 80's pattern which I changed the neck line a bit, but it is super comfy, yet fashionable too.  I wore this outfit to a wine tasting/training tonight, my second day at the new job, and a girl that I just met, asked me to make her a set.  I think that a yellow stripe top would suit her nicely.  And these pants are going to be her new favorite, I'm sure.  They are stylish enough to wear out yet comfortable enough to sleep in.  Tomorrow I will finish the red cotton poly blend jersey tank.

Project Runway Application Question(s) #1:

Are you a fashion designer? Yes  No (circle one)
Umm, Yes. I mean, YES! Yes, I am.  After all, I sketch designs for dresses, then I figure out how to make them.


If yes, how many years have you been a fashion designer?
One year. (approximately) I've been sewing for three years, but doing my own designs for almost a year.


Do you design for your own label full time?  If you are designing for your own label, how long have you been in business?
Yes - Mousebee Couture.  I opened an Etsy store in March of 2010.


Do you design for: Men Woman Both (circle one)
Neither - right now I design for girls ages 0-12, but I would like to design for women.  And I promised Ben that I would make him something, too.  He specifically asked for shorts, which is pretty boring, but whatever.  And I have done a couple of boy's things - which I need to do more of on account of me knowing lots of little boys, including my own.  Ok, so this was a pretty long answer to a question that just required me to make a circle.


If both, which gender do you prefer to design for? If you design for only one gender, why?  What are the specific challenges or rewards of designing for each gender?
I would prefer to design for women because it is more fun and less limiting.  I do not think that my tailoring skills are up to making menswear right now, but creating clothes for men is definitely a future goal of mine.  
Being a woman, there is the immediate reward of being able to wear the clothes I design.  The challenge of women's clothes is learning all the techniques for of the fabrics and designs, but more importantly, coming up with something that is new.  I love vintage looks, but combining vintage with modern has been done.  And you don't want to design something so crazy just for the sake of being "new" that it completely unwearable.  Also, I like clothes that are comfortable.  It will be a challenge to not sacrifice style for comfort.  (Honestly, I think in the far future, people will be wearing a sort of sari/toga garment because comfort will reign in the intellectually superior futuristic society.  Although I hope there will still be a fragment of intellectually superior Fashionistas who will be rocking stylish sari/togas.)


What is/are your areas of expertise? Check all that apply:
___Women's ready to wear
___Women's evening wear
___Women's avant-garde
___Menswear
___Accessories
___Other (please specify below: swimwear, lingerie, activewear, etc.)
Other: Girl's wear, ages 0-12  BUT - ask me again later as I intend to branch out.


Please list any place your clothes are available for sale (including internet):
www.etsy.com/shop/mousebeecouture


What were your gross sales for your biggest year?
$1229.35


Do you make a living as a designer or is this a hobby?  If you do not currently make your living as a designer, how do you currently make your living?
Not yet.  This is a hobby for now as I am a stay at home mom/part time waitress.


Well, number one was a pretty long "question," but it does give you some insight to the urgency of my need to get learning and sewing and creating.  I have a long way to go, but I'm excited.  This is going to be a fun "makeover" of myself.  I'm not going to feel sorry for myself that I didn't focus my degree on design when I was younger; I don't want to think that it is too late for me.  This is something that I love and I am not afraid to work hard and challenge myself.  And this will keep my creative self alive as the monotony of dishes, laundry, diaper changing, etc. and the potential for the demoralizing after effects of waiting tables may try to get me down. 


Que: Baby waking from nap.  Great time to wrap this up for today.  I have finished my pants and will try to finish the top today.  Stay tuned!

Making a List...

Currently I have been experiencing a creative explosion, but it has been hard to focus on one project at a time, seeing it through to completion.  I am working on making some separates for me (a pair of white jersey cotton pants, a jersey cotton blend red tank top, a mid length black poly blend straight skirt with lining), a baby blanket for my husband's cousin's baby girl, and curtains for Lucy's room, which Ben painted for her over the weekend.  The separates I am making for myself come from commercial patterns, but I do want to make my own soon, which I will do once I procure all the necessary tools.  I have made my own girl's dress patterns, but they are less detailed.  According to the beginning chapter of my book, there are some rulers that I'll need.

Meanwhile, I started my new job yesterday as my current one does not pay well.  In fact, all I get now is room and board.  And as I have loved being a full time stay at home mom, it will be nice to get out (and the money will be nice, too).  I will be serving tables part time at a new restaurant opening here in town which stars an amazingly talented young chef who's expertise is in authentic Italian cuisine.  The restaurant hasn't opened yet, and this week we are just training.  But once I've made some money here, I will get my needed tools to start my pattern making lessons.

But, back to my current projects, I will finish the pants, then the top, then the skirt, then the curtains, and lastly, the blanket (after all, the baby isn't due until October).  So, there, I've made my checklist and I am committed to it.  I will post my pictures of the done projects for you to see, too.

For fun, here are some examples of some of my flower girl designs creations:

Challenge #2 - The Pet Store

Episode Number 2 brought us the unconventional challenge, this season being that the designers were given $300 to spend in a pet store to buy materials for a garment.  Really? Oh yes.  So, I thought of three materials, which I was surprised were not not used by the other designers: furry mice, fish nets, garbage bags (you know, the little ones that you are supposed to take with you when you walk your dog in case he or she drops a number 2).Below is my design.  And before I wrap up this entry, I think it important to note that I bought a Learn How To Knit booklet which I will start to look at tomorrow.

Come As You Are

The first episode of Project Runway Season 9 gave the compete=ing designers the challenge to create something form using the pajamas they were wearing and the white sheets on their beds.  They could use dyes to change colors and trimmings.  The designs were all over the place and I did like the winning design.  The bottom designs were ones the were poorly constructed - jersey is unforgiving.  I am especially intrigued by one designer who has just learned how to sew and has only been sewing for four months.  She is brave and it will be interesting to see how far she goes. Anyway, here is my idea:

The focus would be on the skirt.  It would be whimsical, structured, artistic, and fun to wear.  I may make this one.