The M.O.V.E., phase 2 and 3

Okay, full disclosure:

I have done a lot of moving in my lifetime and the easiest moves are the ones where everything is neatly packed into boxes, drawers  taped shut and all you have to do is load it into a vehicle – preferably a big enough one to require ONE single trip.

Add to that a sufficient amount of people, snacks and drinks and we’re good to go.

WELL – I was TRYING to be helpful and easy, let’s put it that way.  But none of the drawers were taped shut and a WHOLE lot still had to be boxed and even more had to be unscrewed.

In my defense I have to say that SOFIA stayed open until Saturday and the move was taking place Sunday.  Therefore, I wanted for the store to look halfway decent and not a total mess of boxes and stuff.

Phase 2 included boxing up hangers, small items and office supplies. Yet another friend took the headless mannequins and all my display feet. I had made piles and piles of old catalogs and signs that I tossed out. (many, many trips to the garbage area….)

SOFIA had to leave….

She was sitting in my car for the entire afternoon and I bet, she freaked some people out…  (I should put her in that seat when I want to travel the diamond lane next….)

Then Sunday came along – and it did not rain!

We were seven people in all, and they were all FANTASTIC!  Two guys with electric screwdrivers, one who was the perfect organizer, and incredible worker bees!

Isn’t that amazing?

Yes, a lot of the stuff still had to be boxed up, legs need to be unscrewed from tables, lights taken off the ceiling – but in under 4 hours it was all done!  Not everything fit into the U-haul truck; we had to make two trips.  Not everything fit into the basement either – we couldn’t get one shelf and the slat wall around the corner.

Look at it!  Not a trace of the four years I was in there!

And there it is:  my store in the basement!

Cool. Phase 3 completed.

I slept like a baby that night….

The M.O.V.E., phase 1

Mentally, I was getting ready for this move many days ago.

My dear husband made room in the basement.

(HIS music studio!)

This is where my store will go.

I am hoping to line the tabletops up against the wall, have my ‘office’ furniture in front of them,

the racks in front of those and every little small thing and boxes on top of the

‘office’ furniture.

Let’s see how this will pan out.

I cleaned out the big shelf at the store for S. to borrow it in my absence.

She will use it to organize her room.  While I’m hoping that she loves it, I also hope she will return it when the time comes!

I loved watching this pile of hangers grow.

Each empty hanger meant a piece sold and gone home with a (hopefully happy) customer!

There was a time, when I used every single hanger in the store.

And there are still a few items left….

until tomorrow night!

This is how I work – part 2

Well, in a couple more sessions, the jacket was done!  I do have to transport my projects from the house to the store and back, though, because I only own ONE regular sewing machine.  Most projects require serging the seams – and my super-duper Babylock is at home, the sewing machine at the shop.

This particular fabric had to be serged as the edges frayed immediately after cutting.  So onto the cutting table at home:

We’ve seen this picture before…. Pictured are my most valuable tools:  the cutting mat (huge!), the rotary cutter (especially for lining and jersey), my left-handed sheers (Gingher – superb quality!) and the glass, of course.  Have to have a little pick-me-up while working, right?

Back to the shop for hemming the lining. Back home for attaching the lining to the outer fabric.  And voila – the finished project:

This is how I work

For most of my shop time, I have taken on custom work – just because I like to sew.  Little did I know, how hard I became on myself doing it.

For one thing, I THINK I am a pretty good seamstress.  Most of the time I think so highly of myself that I do not even try on what I make for myself.  Needless to say that this practice has cost me not only a lot of fabric (because it does NOT fit) but has also resulted in countless disappointments.

When I sew for other people, though, I am VERY conscientious.  I want for the item to fit.  I have them come in for -sometimes multiple-fittings.  I want them to like what I have created.

And these are the exact reasons why I so very reluctantly sew for people anymore.  Too time consuming.  Too much of my ego at stake.

That is also the reason why I had this fabric laying around since summer.  Yes, that’s right, since SUMMER.  In addition, it is a beautiful Kente cloth FROM Africa.  It is supposed to be a jacket.  It has to be a very simple jacket, because is isn’t a whole lot of fabric.

I finally got around to cutting it out.

This is how I work.

Morning Walk: Sitting there

For a number of days now,

I am intrigued by this little guy.

(yes, I think he’s a guy!)

Just sitting there.

As if to say, ‘I am just waiting. something will happen soon. I know it.’

Nobody is taking him.

Just like this bag.

People are always touching it.

Smile when they compare it to an animal.

Nobody has been taking it either.

Strange.

Even at 35% off.

Hangers

I know this is a somewhat odd topic – but in all these years of having the shop, I was always intrigued by HOW people hang garments.  And also HOW determined they are about doing it.

When I designed my clothing racks, I had a specific body height in mind – I wanted an average size woman to be able to see the clothing items at a comfortable eye level.  I also did not want her arm to strain when shuffling through the hangers.  Furthermore, I thought that MOST women are probably right-handed and will want to use the right arm to move the hangers, which lead to hanging the clothes front-side facing you.  Now, most hangers are bowed, especially the wooden ones.  So, when standing in front of one of my racks, the hangers face right, the bowed side back, the garment’s open side facing the person.  Extend your right arm, and you can move the hangers back and forth and look at the clothing’s front.

Too complicated?  I don’t think so.  It makes sense.  And while I admit that I have put some REAL thought into this, I have also hanged my clothing at home this way all the time.

Just as I am determined that this a sensible way of doing it, I have had so many customers who ALWAYS turn the hanger around.  They even move the hook.  They hang the clothing backwards.  I have come to the conclusion that this MUST be a subconscious action; just like I have always done it the other way, they do it their way.

I have always noticed.  I have always changed them back to MY WAY.  And I just had to say something about it.

African inspired skirt

Now that I am finally caught up with my alterations and Christmas is securely BEHIND us, I find time to tend to the tailoring requests that have been put on the back burner.  Since the SUMMER.  Yeah, I admit, it has been a while….

My customer brought in this fabric that she had gotten from one of her journeys:

D. has traveled the world many times over and returned with a lot fabrics that she loved.  Over the past couple of years, I have made everything out of those fabrics from curtains, table cloths, napkins – and skirts.

This particular fabric seems like a heavier rayon and flows beautifully.  For this skirt, I pleated the top, which gathers the pattern in an interesting way.  The pleats then spring open to the full width of the fabric.  I inserted a zipper and left it unlined.

I think it turned out good.

A new year – a new C.H.A.N.G.E.

I embrace adventures.  I embrace new challenges.  I can’t wait to move things around.

So when I was pondering my goals for this year, I looked at what I had to work with.  Four years of SOFIA, learning the ropes of a retail business from scratch.  Buying and paying for inventory.  Merchandising the store, fine-tuning what my customers might like – and, unfortunately, still missing the mark sometimes.  Bookkeeping, taxes, payroll.  Marketing the store, advertising services, setting up sale events, networking.  Photographing outfits, maintaining a website, emailing and keeping up with a blog.  Wheew – did I know what I was getting myself into?

No.

But I love it.  My store is my sanctuary.  I can count on its calming effects even during the most busy times.

Couple that with a more than strange economy and nobody would blame you for bailing out.  But I still love it.  And my store continues to do well – DESPITE the odds.  I was even able to grow the business, hire an employee.

So what’s up with the adventures and the new challenges?

I AM TAKING SOME TIME OFF.

I AM SO EXCITED!

BTW:  Poster idea by Emily of Songbird Design.  Check out her website. She is AWESOME!

Letting go of 2009 with a sigh…

… and ringing in 2010 with a bang!

When composing this post earlier today, in my thoughts, I had the perfect words to mint.  But then, of course, I did not write any of it down and so the ‘perfect’ post escaped me.

So will this year; it will escape in a few hours.

This is how this year ended here in Portland:

Under a thick blanket.  Which of course, once again, caused havoc in this town because NOBODY was prepared for this.  I love those small, benign catastrophes.

I am closing out a wondrous, remarkable year, both personally and business-wise.   I was able to go through so many great experiences and am looking forward to the next chapters of this book.
SOFIA was holding up her own, thanks to the loyal patrons of my little shop.  I bow down to every one of you who chose my store over the big boxes.  Thank you for the many good conversations we had, for the opportunity to get to know so many of you better!

Wishing you a happy, prosperous,  healthy 2010, and

PEACE!

Winding down…

It’s been totally socked in here this morning in Portland, Oregon.  And cold.  brrr.

However, this is the perfect feel for me  JUST before Christmas.  Somber. Quiet.

The world has been covered with a soft blanket.

People are still out, shopping for Christmas gifts.

Business has been very good, the sock wall has taken a BIG hit.  I kept consolidating the remaining socks and tights and it still looks good up there!

A lot more people used cash this season.  A sign that we are a little more conscientious about  our finances.  I am entirely grateful for my loyal customers – once again – you make my day!  Thanks!  Merry Christmas!  Happy Holidays!  Enjoy your loved ones near and far!