If you're looking for good classical all day, then turn to my favorite NPR station, WKSU, the radio station of Kent State University, where you'll hear the behind the scenes stories on all the concertos and stuff from a soothing, manly voice. Perk up at 3pm with Terry Gross, followed by the news at 4pm.
www.wksu.org/listen/
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Gerdy's Dog Bed
At last, Gerdy has her very own, Katie James dog bed. The motivation to getting me to finish it was my two new days of working from home. It was so sad telling her to get down off the couch, then hearing her thud onto the hard floor. :( This bed is a little small for her, but will have to do until I get more fabric to make a bigger one.
Like a good sister, Dinah has promptly claimed it. This will be interesting.
I've been keeping old pillows in the corner of my sewing room. I took one, opened it up to the foam, and stretched into slightly flatter oval. I took a 350 thread count sheet (I ruined its color in the wash...), cut it up and sewed it around the new pillow shape to make it a permanent encasing. Like all Katie James products, the dog bed had to be made of the finest fabric, since Gerdy is used to sitting on my velour couch, velvet bed spread, and David's leather couch. I took some Ann Klein quilted pink cotton that I had a bunch of, and used it as the cover, which is like a duvet and comes off to be thrown in the wash.
Yeah! Hopefully I can get this into production after adding more decorative details and figuring out who to contact to make pillows, and then everyone can have one!
Like a good sister, Dinah has promptly claimed it. This will be interesting.
I've been keeping old pillows in the corner of my sewing room. I took one, opened it up to the foam, and stretched into slightly flatter oval. I took a 350 thread count sheet (I ruined its color in the wash...), cut it up and sewed it around the new pillow shape to make it a permanent encasing. Like all Katie James products, the dog bed had to be made of the finest fabric, since Gerdy is used to sitting on my velour couch, velvet bed spread, and David's leather couch. I took some Ann Klein quilted pink cotton that I had a bunch of, and used it as the cover, which is like a duvet and comes off to be thrown in the wash.
Yeah! Hopefully I can get this into production after adding more decorative details and figuring out who to contact to make pillows, and then everyone can have one!
Oatmeal Pancakes - Dismal Failure
It's sad, really. My dad can make really good, big oatmeal pancakes, and I thought I could just whip together milk, oatmeal, egg, vanilla and some baking powder to have the perfect, hearty, oatmeal pancake. But I was wrong. Oh so, so wrong.
Round 1:
It was supposed to be a pancake, but it was basically a sunny-side-up-oatmeal surprise.
Round 2:
I added flour. Not much difference, excpet that they at least flip as whole pancakes.
My intensions are good. These are dinner (followed by broccoli for the brain as a separate, totally unrelated dish). The pancakes have organic blueberries and bananas in them. And oatmeal! So if anyone knows a recipe...or else I'll have to make some phone calls to my dad the baker...
(you know, after eating them, they're not bad...they're quite ugly, but not bad tasting...and good for me, too.)
Round 1:
It was supposed to be a pancake, but it was basically a sunny-side-up-oatmeal surprise.
Round 2:
I added flour. Not much difference, excpet that they at least flip as whole pancakes.
My intensions are good. These are dinner (followed by broccoli for the brain as a separate, totally unrelated dish). The pancakes have organic blueberries and bananas in them. And oatmeal! So if anyone knows a recipe...or else I'll have to make some phone calls to my dad the baker...
(you know, after eating them, they're not bad...they're quite ugly, but not bad tasting...and good for me, too.)
Mary Poppins
When the winds of change are stirring in your life, as they are in mine, it's time you renewed your inner child-creative self-naive person-whatever, and watch Mary Poppins
to remind your self that you will always drift into situations that need you, jump into sidewalk drawings, and will drift away to the next situation when the time comes.
I think you should own it. I am.
Kindly click for the Permalink.
to remind your self that you will always drift into situations that need you, jump into sidewalk drawings, and will drift away to the next situation when the time comes.I think you should own it
. I am.Kindly click for the Permalink.
Mission: Leather Bag
I was e-emergencied from my dear friend, New York City Mouse (NYCM):
"Help! My boss insists we pick out our own x-mas presents which is probably a great thing but... I want a cute medium-sized leather handbag, just big enough for a hardcover book and a lipstick, in the $100-200 range. Do you know any good brands/online stores/bags? Pleeeese?"
This is a little harder than I thought...as the market is flooded with metalic, studded, western bags. It's on my list of things to design, but in the meantime...(and some of 'em aint leather)
Courtney Guitar Strap Bag from Loop NYC on FredFlare.com
$85
Phone Purse (of course!) on VingageInStyle.com
but it's $325
Emma Gordon London Gwen Bag at MightyFlirt.com:
$70
bells&whistles Burgundy Laurel Shoulder Bag at MightyFlirt.com
$298 (oops, didn't see that price until I committed to including it)
Myna Olive Beverly Clutc at MightyFlirt.com
$86
I just thought this was really cute...
Rebe: Emma Sac at VirginThreads.com
Maybe this one? POSH by Tori: Jumbo Hobo at VirginThreads.com
Bags are tough. I'm not satisfied with this mission. If you seen anything, let me know! In the name of girls-carrying-hardcover-books everywhere, please share your wares.
Want to Permalink? Click it...
"Help! My boss insists we pick out our own x-mas presents which is probably a great thing but... I want a cute medium-sized leather handbag, just big enough for a hardcover book and a lipstick, in the $100-200 range. Do you know any good brands/online stores/bags? Pleeeese?"
This is a little harder than I thought...as the market is flooded with metalic, studded, western bags. It's on my list of things to design, but in the meantime...(and some of 'em aint leather)
Courtney Guitar Strap Bag from Loop NYC on FredFlare.com
$85
Phone Purse (of course!) on VingageInStyle.com
but it's $325
Emma Gordon London Gwen Bag at MightyFlirt.com:
$70
bells&whistles Burgundy Laurel Shoulder Bag at MightyFlirt.com
$298 (oops, didn't see that price until I committed to including it)
Myna Olive Beverly Clutc at MightyFlirt.com
$86
I just thought this was really cute...
Rebe: Emma Sac at VirginThreads.com
Maybe this one? POSH by Tori: Jumbo Hobo at VirginThreads.com
Bags are tough. I'm not satisfied with this mission. If you seen anything, let me know! In the name of girls-carrying-hardcover-books everywhere, please share your wares.
Want to Permalink? Click it...
UncommonGoods.com
Oh wow...So I found a new web-boutique today (UncommonGoods.com) thanks to DailyCandy, and boy is it fun and uncommon! Just when you think you didn't know what you needed...
The OO La La Pill Box and Oui Oui Tampon Case:
Animal Shaped Rubber Bands!
Penguin Lamps (I've been meaning to get one):
Actual tumbling glasses, Facet Rock Tumblers:
For the bebe, the Shangrila Activity Mat (I want one!):
Ok, enough fun for now. Gerdy is pacing b/c I won't let her on David's couch (he finally thought it was odd that she's not aloud on my velour couch, but she can sit comfortably on his leather couch) and Dinah is stalking the shadow of my fingers across the couch as I type this...
The OO La La Pill Box and Oui Oui Tampon Case:
Animal Shaped Rubber Bands!
Penguin Lamps (I've been meaning to get one):
Actual tumbling glasses, Facet Rock Tumblers:
For the bebe, the Shangrila Activity Mat (I want one!):
Ok, enough fun for now. Gerdy is pacing b/c I won't let her on David's couch (he finally thought it was odd that she's not aloud on my velour couch, but she can sit comfortably on his leather couch) and Dinah is stalking the shadow of my fingers across the couch as I type this...
Adventures in iPodding
Well, it was a big adventure for me, anyway. Today I made myself sit down and investigate how to import my Contacts and Calendar from my powerbook to my iPod, and voila! It was so easy! In iTunes 6, I just clicked on the little iPod guy in the lower right side of the iTunes window, and it gave me the options to update the Contacts and Calendar! I still cannot, however, add one or a select group of songs to my iPod without erasing the playlists that are in there currently...so if anyone knows...nor do I know how to copy files like documents in there, and then pull them off...
I feel like my iPod, which is about 2 years old with 20Gs, is going to be like my first macintosh laptop, where that thing still runs today, fifteen years later. Amazing. Hopefully I didn't just jinx it, because the fact that I have all of my contacts and my calendar in my iPod and not in some absorbing palm pilot is just so wonderful...
I feel like my iPod, which is about 2 years old with 20Gs, is going to be like my first macintosh laptop, where that thing still runs today, fifteen years later. Amazing. Hopefully I didn't just jinx it, because the fact that I have all of my contacts and my calendar in my iPod and not in some absorbing palm pilot is just so wonderful...
Lemon Meringue Costume Done!
Voila!
...a meringue skirt made with raw silk, organza and stiff wedding tulle...with the petticoat basically on the outside (keep in mind, i do not know how to sew a skirt...i just sketch 'em...so this is a real improve...also, i know it's hard to see the picture, but that's the best i can do this late at night...hopefully i'll get a better one on halloween...)
the skirt:
green raw silk on top and underneath, covered with a yellow organza, poofed out with a stiff tulle underneath...oh, and held together like a corsette with orange tulle as the tie...
worn with this katie james bustier:
based on this Lemon Meringue sketch:
based on this Lemon Meringue inspiration:
ok, so mine doesn't have any sleeves...
...a meringue skirt made with raw silk, organza and stiff wedding tulle...with the petticoat basically on the outside (keep in mind, i do not know how to sew a skirt...i just sketch 'em...so this is a real improve...also, i know it's hard to see the picture, but that's the best i can do this late at night...hopefully i'll get a better one on halloween...)
the skirt:
green raw silk on top and underneath, covered with a yellow organza, poofed out with a stiff tulle underneath...oh, and held together like a corsette with orange tulle as the tie...
worn with this katie james bustier:
based on this Lemon Meringue sketch:
based on this Lemon Meringue inspiration:
ok, so mine doesn't have any sleeves...
Endorphins Are Good
I mean they really are. Part of the writer's block for the Katie James Business Plan is a result of my stopping of the jogging, which means less endorphins running around my little brain. My running shoes are maybe 2 years old and are taking their toll on my poor, young knee, so until I buy another pair, it's slow circulation of the brain for me - until I started pumping iron in the morning (well, not really pumping iron, just doing sit ups and lifting some 10pounder free weights to get those Jennifer Anniston arms). Speaking of which, you all should be working out at work in your offices! See the FashionMista 10Minute Office Work Out called Drop and Give Me 20! We all should start doing it again! It really kick-starts the brain by getting the blood flowing!
It's very interesting, but that long ago post featuring Formerly Kelly From Work, is getting hits and is having the images featured in it Googled. That means that people are Googling the image of Kelly doing a push up and dips. Isn't that odd? And I have no idea where they are coming from...
To answer a comment from Formerly Kelly From Work regarding my new suplement habit, it's going ok. I forgot to take them yesterday and need to take a dose now. The only noticeable difference is that they all get sort of lodged in the bottom of my throat, as I take 10 2x daily. David is worried about my liver, but I assured him that since these were whole food supplements, they shouldn't affect that. Plus, one of them is a liver whole food supplement, so it can't be that bad, right?
Oh, and I do not have the chapped lips happening, like I did last winter, thanks to plenty of water and Fresh's Orlando Lip Shine Palette.
Can we say that I have a new obsession with Fresh (see how I love their foundation), and that I want to become Fresh?
It's very interesting, but that long ago post featuring Formerly Kelly From Work, is getting hits and is having the images featured in it Googled. That means that people are Googling the image of Kelly doing a push up and dips. Isn't that odd? And I have no idea where they are coming from...
To answer a comment from Formerly Kelly From Work regarding my new suplement habit, it's going ok. I forgot to take them yesterday and need to take a dose now. The only noticeable difference is that they all get sort of lodged in the bottom of my throat, as I take 10 2x daily. David is worried about my liver, but I assured him that since these were whole food supplements, they shouldn't affect that. Plus, one of them is a liver whole food supplement, so it can't be that bad, right?
Oh, and I do not have the chapped lips happening, like I did last winter, thanks to plenty of water and Fresh's Orlando Lip Shine Palette.
Can we say that I have a new obsession with Fresh (see how I love their foundation), and that I want to become Fresh?
The Perfect Skin (for now)
We entertain this procrastination of the Business Plan for Katie James to bring you my current recipe for glowing, healthy skin (not healthy looking skin, but the actual healthy skin). It all started the night I said bye bye to the bank account on that terrible, horrible, no-good Friday a couple weeks ago, and splurged on a brush and blush and foundation...I had the other products, but wasn't motivated to use them until I had something to actually wash off besides street dirt...
I'm loving the Freshface (liquid) Foundation. I lightly dab it on with a piece of Charmin or a pad thing from the drug store. It's very light and lovely. Truly feels like I'm not wearing it.
And for blush, to get that Sienna Miller look, I got "tropic of necter" and the fat, round brush #01 to brush it on largely, no thick strokes of color for me.
and
How do I maintain it? Yes, I have a system that is working so well right now, as long as I keep it up...
Here's the drill (it's kind of fun):
I start with dabbing the face with Clinique Take the Day Off, again with the Charmin b/c I ran out of cotton balls, which is a weird combination of oil and water, it looks like, because it's separated. Cool looking.
Followed by a quick scrub with the regular Oil of Olay bar soap
And if I'm in the mood, or having a slow night, I'll dab on the Fresh clay umbria treatment bar. Looooove it, as it leaves my face just clean and fresh! Not squeaky clean, just fresh clean. I let it dry and splash it off with coolish water. Yum.
(ps: did you know that Fresh is still independently owned? true)
Finishing with Oil of Olay Active Hydrating Cream.
The Oil of Olay cream makes me smell soo good and clean, that kissing David goodnight is even more of a delight! So, that's my happy face remedy these days. Enjoy!
I'm loving the Freshface (liquid) Foundation. I lightly dab it on with a piece of Charmin or a pad thing from the drug store. It's very light and lovely. Truly feels like I'm not wearing it.
And for blush, to get that Sienna Miller look, I got "tropic of necter" and the fat, round brush #01 to brush it on largely, no thick strokes of color for me.
and
How do I maintain it? Yes, I have a system that is working so well right now, as long as I keep it up...
Here's the drill (it's kind of fun):
I start with dabbing the face with Clinique Take the Day Off
, again with the Charmin b/c I ran out of cotton balls, which is a weird combination of oil and water, it looks like, because it's separated. Cool looking.Followed by a quick scrub with the regular Oil of Olay bar soap
And if I'm in the mood, or having a slow night, I'll dab on the Fresh clay umbria treatment bar. Looooove it, as it leaves my face just clean and fresh! Not squeaky clean, just fresh clean. I let it dry and splash it off with coolish water. Yum.
(ps: did you know that Fresh is still independently owned? true)
Finishing with Oil of Olay Active Hydrating Cream
.The Oil of Olay cream makes me smell soo good and clean, that kissing David goodnight is even more of a delight! So, that's my happy face remedy these days. Enjoy!
Gross
Supplements. I'm taking them. My mom steered me to see her alternative medicine doctor who took (measured), cut actually, pieces of my hair, analyzed it, and determined that I have chronic stress and am low on many essential, um, things. I'd be begrudging about this, but I'm obsessed with what food does to me and people, especially sugar, so I'm a willing and curious participant. As a result of my dramatic new situation, I'm taking double doses of everything as directed for three months, and the liver stuff smells kind of like chalky brownies, so I just imagine while swallowing it. Shiver me timber!
You the Mistas...
Ok, fellow Mistas. David has pointed out (the productive result of my meltdown) that I need deadlines for this Business Plan. So I've started it, and am at the beginning, where I need to describe my customer - my market. It was yesterday while sorting through email that I realized I should ask you all what you like about katie james (if anything), as you are the market! But you can also help differentiate what makes a katie james checkbook cover or jewelry pouch different from others you might buy. Granted, I should know this, and I kind of do, but I'm also bias ;) It's always good to check in with the peeps anyway, as I plan new products, to see what you really need and crave...
So, if you wouldn't mind, and even if you're a newcomer or have never spoken up before (and if you are a newcomer, know that katie james is the line of accessories and collectible pieces of clothing from me), pray tell what it is you fancy about katie james...
I don't have many official products yet, but those I do have include the jewelry pouch, checkbook cover, soon-to-be chow chow dog treat pouch (but there will a few more little details to come), katelette, and I think that's it.
visit the website by clicking here.
thanks!
So, if you wouldn't mind, and even if you're a newcomer or have never spoken up before (and if you are a newcomer, know that katie james is the line of accessories and collectible pieces of clothing from me), pray tell what it is you fancy about katie james...
I don't have many official products yet, but those I do have include the jewelry pouch, checkbook cover, soon-to-be chow chow dog treat pouch (but there will a few more little details to come), katelette, and I think that's it.
visit the website by clicking here.
thanks!
Pinball, Engagements and Kabooms
Who knew David was such a pinball wizard? We know he's an ex-wrestler/football fanatic, but did we know that when put in front of a pinball machine, he would click the little ball away with all of his might? And did we know that he would score so well on the Lord of the Rings pinball machine in Williamsburg's Levee (a bar), that he would save millions of souls, get told by the machine to "Play in local tournaments!", and get a credit to play another round? I sure didn't. Some little punk pinball players wanted to play after David was done with the game, and begrudgingly told us about the credit that was waiting patiently for him on the machine. hehe. Here's a picture of me playing (before he kicked my ass) at Kelly From Work Kelly's engagement party, where she looked dynamite in her new brown hair and teacher argyle cleavage bearing dress, with some little rounded teacher shoes to match. There was a unanimous decision that Gladys (click here and scroll down to meet Gladys) needs to discuss Kelly's engagement ring on the blog and Adam's refusal to have groom's men (yes, they are going to have singleton bridesmaids proudly carrying the weight of the whole wedding party!)
Kelly with Friend showing off her ring:
Then, for a confession of the day: I've just had a kaboom, as I've been in Excel for too long. David thinks I should be out selling selling selling katie james, and I think I should be setting up systems, making budgets, making invoices, making spec sheets, making a spreadsheet that keeps track of sales and tax and product costs. He sees me go into stores, make the sale, and he wants to see more of it. I do too, but as in previous posts, I'm experiencing the potential trouble to deliver, based on my low capital to produce a large order when the stores pay after the order arrives on their counters, low orders from me for the manufacturer, etc. So, in this discussion, I had a melt-down, otherwise known as a Katie Kaboom, as I want to be playing outside with Gerdy, and am trying to do all of this stuff so that I can have that freedom and do this full time one day instead of on the weekend, when I just lost it. Could have been from the complete almost lack of food yesterday (always forget to make time to eat on Saturdays) coupled with an unexpected dose of caffeine in my 2pump half caff vanilla latte, to this morning's overpriced pancakes (David's treat...but it was fun to sit outside for a New York brunch). But not to fear. I'm feeling much better, have started the Business Plan, and am now going to rejuvenate in a burger at a dive bar. :)
Kelly with Friend showing off her ring:
Then, for a confession of the day: I've just had a kaboom, as I've been in Excel for too long. David thinks I should be out selling selling selling katie james, and I think I should be setting up systems, making budgets, making invoices, making spec sheets, making a spreadsheet that keeps track of sales and tax and product costs. He sees me go into stores, make the sale, and he wants to see more of it. I do too, but as in previous posts, I'm experiencing the potential trouble to deliver, based on my low capital to produce a large order when the stores pay after the order arrives on their counters, low orders from me for the manufacturer, etc. So, in this discussion, I had a melt-down, otherwise known as a Katie Kaboom, as I want to be playing outside with Gerdy, and am trying to do all of this stuff so that I can have that freedom and do this full time one day instead of on the weekend, when I just lost it. Could have been from the complete almost lack of food yesterday (always forget to make time to eat on Saturdays) coupled with an unexpected dose of caffeine in my 2pump half caff vanilla latte, to this morning's overpriced pancakes (David's treat...but it was fun to sit outside for a New York brunch). But not to fear. I'm feeling much better, have started the Business Plan, and am now going to rejuvenate in a burger at a dive bar. :)
Lemon Meringue - The Challenge!
I've dared myself to make this year's costume - Lemon Meringue. I could have bought this strawberry shortcake costume, but no, I am overcome with the urge to sew!
One problem: I'm no seamstress, and I've never made a skirt, so this will be very interesting. I can sew my way through a jewelry pouch, and let someone else construct it perfectly. I can design an outfit and pay a seamstress to make the beautiful bustier pictured below, but sewing a skirt - a skirt with a tulle ruffle underneath - will be a real challenge.
The materials: (from Mood, New York's best fabric store on 38th and 8th)
The sketch:
PS: Since this post, I've completed it. Click here to see a dark picture of it (it was late, and I didn't want any closeups... :)
One problem: I'm no seamstress, and I've never made a skirt, so this will be very interesting. I can sew my way through a jewelry pouch, and let someone else construct it perfectly. I can design an outfit and pay a seamstress to make the beautiful bustier pictured below, but sewing a skirt - a skirt with a tulle ruffle underneath - will be a real challenge.
The materials: (from Mood, New York's best fabric store on 38th and 8th)
The sketch:
PS: Since this post, I've completed it. Click here to see a dark picture of it (it was late, and I didn't want any closeups... :)
Working from Home: Day 1
It has been decided, that in the name of the quality of our lives, we can have a few work from home days! My first day was today, as I have lots of design/tweaking work to do on the new site for work (day job), which means that my laptop, with all of the right software, lovely screen and warm titanium keyboard, is my main computer and can follow me anywhere. So it let's me be at home, during this continuous NY rain, keeping an ear out for my crazy neighbor and her dog.
Enough about that. Look what the rain is doing to us:
That's Gerdy and Dinah on the couch, laying on a sweet cotton print that will soon become Gerdy's dog bed so that she can get down from that couch. It's colder in the apartment than it is outside. Why? Because it's leaking in here. It's kind of like living in a leaky bathtub.
That's right. The sky is falling, for real, just like it did last year, which landed half my wardrobe at the drycleaners (bill fitted by landlord), and half of my bedroom in the living room while they 'painted' the walls that never quite dried, which led me to call the Housing Department and get reamed out by my landlord, but put the fear of Katie into him, which did land me an OK deal on my current apartment, speaking of which, here is a early rainy evening view of the upper west side from my kitchen. Doesn't it make you never want to go outside?
Enough about that. Look what the rain is doing to us:
That's Gerdy and Dinah on the couch, laying on a sweet cotton print that will soon become Gerdy's dog bed so that she can get down from that couch. It's colder in the apartment than it is outside. Why? Because it's leaking in here. It's kind of like living in a leaky bathtub.
That's right. The sky is falling, for real, just like it did last year, which landed half my wardrobe at the drycleaners (bill fitted by landlord), and half of my bedroom in the living room while they 'painted' the walls that never quite dried, which led me to call the Housing Department and get reamed out by my landlord, but put the fear of Katie into him, which did land me an OK deal on my current apartment, speaking of which, here is a early rainy evening view of the upper west side from my kitchen. Doesn't it make you never want to go outside?
Amazon Stuff Saturday: iPod Speakers
Ok, so it's not Saturday, but I just thought about this weekly concept, and I wanted to try it out today. I'm going to post about products I love, and link you to them on Amazon, because after all, what if I hit something you really have been wanting for a long time, and you buy it, relieved at last to have finally knocked it off of your To-Do list, and I get a little commission from Amazon to help my cash flow for guiding you to a good product? So that's what I'm going to do. Amazon Stuff Saturday.
Today's feature is on the JBL On Stage Speakers for iPod. My stereo isn't hooked up yet because I haven't called BoyFriendForHire.com to come and help me. Which means that for my Comfort Food Soul Party in November, I will have no soulful music! And why bother with a 6 CD changer that only works when it wants, and most of my songs are locked up in my iPod anyway? Let's not forget all those Saturday's I've spent cleaning the house plugged in - to my iPod - because I have no speakers to blast my very old school of Bonnie Raitt (first album)? So I'm getting the JBL On Stage Speakers for iPod:
because I've heard it in the homes of two of my friends, and they really are loud and good! An Amazon testimonial, though, tells us to get a new one, as there was something screwy with the last batch. So if you get it, just click to buy a new one.
Today's feature is on the JBL On Stage Speakers for iPod
. My stereo isn't hooked up yet because I haven't called BoyFriendForHire.com to come and help me. Which means that for my Comfort Food Soul Party in November, I will have no soulful music! And why bother with a 6 CD changer that only works when it wants, and most of my songs are locked up in my iPod anyway? Let's not forget all those Saturday's I've spent cleaning the house plugged in - to my iPod - because I have no speakers to blast my very old school of Bonnie Raitt (first album)? So I'm getting the JBL On Stage Speakers for iPod:because I've heard it in the homes of two of my friends, and they really are loud and good! An Amazon testimonial, though, tells us to get a new one, as there was something screwy with the last batch. So if you get it, just click to buy a new one.
Production
As I listen to my crazy (schizto) neighbor 'train' her dog outside of my apartment door, where she alternates between screaming "NO!" and "Mi Amore!", I try not to get stressed over production of my products. To sooth the soul, I'm boiling noodles for my hot tuna pasta (canned tuna, pasta, mayo, parmesan - gross to many, very yummy to me) and glass of milk. Being a small designer with no formal training in fashion design, and no industry job to fall back on (and I still don't want one because it might suck all of my energy delegated to designing and luxery/ignorance of making up my own rules), I am learning the very hard way about squeezing in small orders to the manufacturer.
I'm at the Production chapter now of the book (Fashion Designer Survival Guide), and am ready to hit the brutal reality of quantity, as I just went through that with minimums and fabric. This was my great fear - the bubble bursting fear, that this book would make me think that developing a line of accessories and one day clothing would be impossible. But I guess it's like any medicine, and I just have to take it, digest it, and finish it with some Pillsbury cookie dough.
PS: here are some new colors of the jewelry pouch. order now to before i place my last order of the year! ;) kidding.
I'm at the Production chapter now of the book (Fashion Designer Survival Guide), and am ready to hit the brutal reality of quantity, as I just went through that with minimums and fabric. This was my great fear - the bubble bursting fear, that this book would make me think that developing a line of accessories and one day clothing would be impossible. But I guess it's like any medicine, and I just have to take it, digest it, and finish it with some Pillsbury cookie dough.
PS: here are some new colors of the jewelry pouch. order now to before i place my last order of the year! ;) kidding.
Cash Flow
It's a cold, misty Sunday, perfect for reading. I just finished the chapter on cash flow in the Fashion Designer Survival Guide. I cannot tell you (all you entrepreneurial fashion designers) how helpful this book is. I am so glad that I've put a couple of make-shift years into my little lable (katie james) because it's enabled me to have a better understanding about what the book is advising.
For example, I'm only in 4 stores. Two of those stores came within the last two months. One in September and one in October. I have already discovered that it's not as easy as I thought to get their orders to them. I mean, I psych myself up to cold-call a store, and then they say "Yes, we'd love to have your product!" and then my fantasy ends there. My fantasy becomes a cold sweat when my supplier factory guy says "One month" to my order request, when I need it in two weeks. Ack! News to me, but normal in this business. And tricky because my quantities are so small, I could easily throw the rest of my savings into making inventory, only to not sell it. I've gone from working with a bridal seamstress, to make my dresses and tops, to working with a SoHo seamstress when I started making accessories, and now to a little shop guy (not really sure what his shop is called other than a shop because it's not a huge factory).
The other part that was helpful and affirmative to read was how most emerging designers do freelance work to supplement their start-up businesses. Especially with taxes, I wondered how this happened, but apparently it can be counted as cash flow into the company, which I've been doing, purely on survival instinct. And the day job. You just can't quit it until you're breaking even and then some, which I knew already very well. Plus, day jobs can give you loads of experience in other areas like managing a budget, managing a website, like I do, and working with people, that can reflect well when applying for credit with a bank or potential investor. But also about the cash flow, I seem to be encountering a normal problem with not having the money to produce an order because the money is typically paid after or upon delivery, and that's already after I've poured all of my resources into making the sample. So that's an interesting predicament that requires creative thinking and deposits by the store, or something about 'factors' which I didn't really understand because David came and sat next to me so that I could hear all of the songs in his catalogue, captured on a mini tape recorder that has him sounding like a 12 year old because the tape goes too fast. I of course got distracted thinking about a potential Christmas present involving a digitized mini recorder for him, but then was dragged back into reality by my glaring cash flow issue.
Ok, onto the chapter on Product Development, but first, I must drop off an order to the Liberty House and visit Baby Roxy. Oh, and on Football Saturday, I made the prettiest watch band. Yeah! But sad for the Buckeys. :( David says that the season is over...
Check out the Books:
The Fashion Designers Survival Guide:
Patants, Trademarks and Copyright for Dummies:
. I cannot tell you (all you entrepreneurial fashion designers) how helpful this book is. I am so glad that I've put a couple of make-shift years into my little lable (katie james) because it's enabled me to have a better understanding about what the book is advising.For example, I'm only in 4 stores. Two of those stores came within the last two months. One in September and one in October. I have already discovered that it's not as easy as I thought to get their orders to them. I mean, I psych myself up to cold-call a store, and then they say "Yes, we'd love to have your product!" and then my fantasy ends there. My fantasy becomes a cold sweat when my supplier factory guy says "One month" to my order request, when I need it in two weeks. Ack! News to me, but normal in this business. And tricky because my quantities are so small, I could easily throw the rest of my savings into making inventory, only to not sell it. I've gone from working with a bridal seamstress, to make my dresses and tops, to working with a SoHo seamstress when I started making accessories, and now to a little shop guy (not really sure what his shop is called other than a shop because it's not a huge factory).
The other part that was helpful and affirmative to read was how most emerging designers do freelance work to supplement their start-up businesses. Especially with taxes, I wondered how this happened, but apparently it can be counted as cash flow into the company, which I've been doing, purely on survival instinct. And the day job. You just can't quit it until you're breaking even and then some, which I knew already very well. Plus, day jobs can give you loads of experience in other areas like managing a budget, managing a website, like I do, and working with people, that can reflect well when applying for credit with a bank or potential investor. But also about the cash flow, I seem to be encountering a normal problem with not having the money to produce an order because the money is typically paid after or upon delivery, and that's already after I've poured all of my resources into making the sample. So that's an interesting predicament that requires creative thinking and deposits by the store, or something about 'factors' which I didn't really understand because David came and sat next to me so that I could hear all of the songs in his catalogue, captured on a mini tape recorder that has him sounding like a 12 year old because the tape goes too fast. I of course got distracted thinking about a potential Christmas present involving a digitized mini recorder for him, but then was dragged back into reality by my glaring cash flow issue.
Ok, onto the chapter on Product Development, but first, I must drop off an order to the Liberty House and visit Baby Roxy. Oh, and on Football Saturday, I made the prettiest watch band. Yeah! But sad for the Buckeys. :( David says that the season is over...
Check out the Books:
The Fashion Designers Survival Guide:
Patants, Trademarks and Copyright for Dummies:
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