Brick and Mortar

June 22, 2011 Jennette

it is true.

and it is official.

i am in the process of opening my own studio and shop.

near my home.

and close to my kids' schools.

it's kinda a big deal.

(doing a bit of demolition to an old dressing room)

i now own a business.

(demo half done. almost.)

and i have a j.o.b.

(second dressing room. gone. now putting up wall to make last one into fabric storage)

i am terrified and giddy, all at once.

(starting to move in)

i'm in the eye of a storm: the cleaning, moving, organizing, preparing, website building, logo designing, bank account opening, sign securing, lease signing, etc. i know this is the grinding work of getting to opening day and that it wont continue to be this intense and daunting 24/7.

and i am trying to enjoy a bit of it as i go.

(sooooo much to do!)

after the first whole day of moving and cleaning i sat in a comfy chair, in the almost dark, twilight, quiet shop, by myself, and cracked a cold beer(there was no Sophia on hand, Erin and Natasha!), and sat back and thought:

i think this will be ok.

i think i can handle the emotional roller coaster.

i think i can handle how vulnerable this makes me feel.

i think i can manage to let go a bit, just a bit, of the perfectionism and control-freakness that binds me up.

i think it's alright that, in this moment, i can switch from deep deep gratitude, peaceful serenity and utter enoughness, to big wet salty tears, deep doubt and unworthiness and stone cold fear.

i think all this means i am alive.

and i do believe it's a privilege to get to feel it all. all of it. hard and easy. light and heavy. rough and smooth.

(lots to sort, sift, dust, organize and display)

ohmygawd! I FINALLY have MY OWN studio and shop!!!

you people out there who know me: how long have i been talking about the "eventual shop," my "one day store, my "someday studio"? like.... forever!

it's happening.

a dream is coming true one day at a time in little ol' Duvall, WA.

well, exactly at 15922 Main St!

items are arriving, car load by car load.

i hope you'll come visit and see what's new down here!

it's amazing what you can do with a little rope, some bungee cords and an open sun roof!

i am trying to open by july 2 and i hope to be open

thursday-saturday noon-6 and sunday 12:30-5.

wish me luck friends! and don't be shy about stopping by!

12:41 AM. must. go. to. bed. :)

xoxox

jennette

Ribbon

March 24, 2011 Jennette

i finally put up a dowel/rod in my studio to hang all my favorite ribbon on. those of you who know me well know i have a package wrapping and ribbon addiction!

i hung this right above my sewing machine area so it is easy to access. no more rummaging thru plastic bins in the garage since

i use a lot of ribbon, a lot of the time!

all my ribbon that was not on spools now fits in one smaller container right under my sewing machine desk. yeah! all my ribbon is out of the garage!

looking for something to wrap and ribbon-ify,

xoxoxox

jennette

Altered Clothes - take 1

July 13, 2010 Jennette

thrifted strapless top turned into bag

Hello Y'all! You will have to excuse me for just a moment while I whine, kvetch, and moan about there not being enough time in each day!! Where do they go, these days of mine? Monday, where are you? You were a flash in the pan! I actually miss you Monday. I don't want it to be Tuesday, mostly because it means one day less this week to get "stuff" accomplished. Oh, Tuesday, come on baby, be my day of massive "doing!" Maybe I can stop sleeping and get it "all done." There's an idea. Why hasn't anyone thought of this before?! Ha!

OK. Enough of the complaining. I have actually been trying to train myself lately to focus on the things I accomplish, instead of the things that are still left to do. It's hard for me. Being a first born, Capricorn, perfectionist and all. But I try. Thus, one reason I blog, is to document and convince myself that I do actually get some things accomplished! Look! I have some photos to prove it! Now I just have to believe it; That I do get enough done in one day and that the world will not go to pieces if i don't get one more thing made, one more project sewn, one more meal perfect. Let it go, let it go, let it go....

So I made a few things! I did get "something" done! The above photo is of a pretty little strapless silk top I found thrifting. It looked so sweet but I NEVER do strapless so I just kept looking at it, trying to figure out what it could become. When all else fails, make a bag! Like I really need another, when I have a hundred and one already. I guess I should really consider selling some of these things!

this is what the original top looked like, bottom edge ruffle and all

In the first photo you can see the silk ribbon I used on the inside to make a drawstring type closure. I have it hanging over the outside edge so you can see it, but it usually stays on the inside. Since there was already a ruffle around the bottom edge of the top, I just turned it inside out, tucked in the ruffle, and sewed the bottom of the shirt closed. Then, around the top, where there was a casing with elastic (to hold up the strapless wonder!), I seam ripped two little holes to thread the silk ribbon thru, and then I tidied up the two holes with a few stitches. So now I can cinch the silk ribbon on the inside to close up the top of the bag.

close-up of the circle print detail and random sequins

For a strap, as you will see below, I used some left over materials. I personally like things to look a little deconstructed so I like to use a hodgepodge of materials and textures. I had some left over grey and dark greenish-blue silk and I had an old top that was batiked with lanterns, moons and stars, so I used a combo of these. One side of the strap is all the batik and one side is random lengths of the silks, including the button placket from the dark greenish-blue. May be a little hard to see here....

detail of strap

I love the prettiness, lightness, and effervescence of this frilly little bag. It's not usually my style but for dress up it might be nice. Its not super hardy and durable so I guess it is meant for once in awhile use. What are you making, altering, upcycling, or crafting these days? Do tell!

Make love, do craft, and carry on!

Lovely Ladies

June 20, 2010 Jennette

Yes. A smidge creepy. And perfect.

These came from Kathy at the M&M. I had to have all three. Dealer charge. Thank you very much.

These are French and German "vanity" dolls. Sometimes they are attached to a big wire frame "skirt."

I LOVE this ones flaming pink hair! So unusual.

It's hard to see in these photos, but their eyes are so bright and so are their little red lips!

I adore how they all have a different pose. Want. More. Now.

Not the best photo but this lovely lady hangs in my studio. She is a French Boudoir fashion doll. Her head is made of the same plastery/chalk/porcelain the others are but the rest of her body is blocks of wood linked together with metal loops. Her hands and one foot (missing one) are carved wood. Her costume is amazing old silk and net tulle with jewels and metallic trim. Her eye makeup is so dramatic and daring! Love. Love. Love.

These two bald beauties are my studio mascots, of sorts. I found these in an amazing old antique store near Twin Falls, Idaho, out in the middle of East Ankle Scratch, and they called to me. What's different about these is it doesn't look like any hair was ever attached. Also, their bodies are all cloth and even have some embroidery on them, that I didn't do. I think the bodies were made and added much later. And, the pink bodied ones legs are attached on backwards so her feet face to the back. Love that. Yes, I dress these dolls. Weird. I know. But I love little doll stuff so when I found the silver sequin and velvet collar, the silk pale blue cape, brooch from New Orleans, and depression era green dress, they had to be out, on display. A girls gotta love a doll.

I love me a doll.

I do, I do.