New Job!

So it looks like I'm just barely making it to post something in June. But there's good reason for my lack of posts. I was recently hired part time at a bridal salon and that mixed with everything else has kept me pretty busy (although the past week I've put a few things together- I'll post soon). So this is just informative- no pictures :/ (but please keep reading)

I had done some alterations for a prom dress and gotten a call from my client the day of prom. My first thought was "Shoot, something is wrong with the dress and I have no time to fix it." But I was wrong, and very happy to be wrong. She had called to inform me that a friend of hers owned a bridal shop and they were looking for a seamstress to help with the overload of bridal alterations, due to some of their seamstresses being unable to work. How could I pass that up? So I had an interview, the owner willingly took me on, and I started the next week.

It's been a great experience so far, especially the feeling of having a couple extra grandmas. The ladies are Italian with the heavy accents and all. They switch back and forth between English and Italian all the time. I'm going to have to look into learning so I can make sure they aren't talking about me :) One of the first days I worked, I was actually fed by one of them, because my salad was the reason "I'm too skinny" (imagine that in an Italian accent).

The way I figure, even if this is just for this summer, I am getting great experience, an idea of how the bridal business works, and I've got some great stories. It has almost felt like an apprenticeship, or internship, where I've had women with 40+ combined years of experience in that shop to teach me what they know. I am so grateful for this opportunity and it doesn't hurt to get to look at beautiful gowns all day (I am getting lots of ideas too)

~JV

Notebook Pot Holders

At the end of the past few months I think to myself "I'm so glad this month is over. Next month will be much more relaxing." Let me tell you how wrong that is. It would be nice to have a little break, but I'm living the life of a freelance designer; there's always something to work on. I'm not complaining though, because I am so grateful for the opportunities coming my way.

I've just finished with a few major projects I've been working on, so now it's time to move on. Today's post is about some potholders I've made, and now will be my next project to continue working on. If you remember, I had made some a while back for myself (Check it out here). Those were a test run for the ones I made for a client/friend. Miranda of Inner Circle Photography (http://innercirclephotography.com/) asked me to make "Notebook Potholders" for her clients (how cool is she?!?). I happily obliged and set to work for two clients.

The front is a bleached cotton fabric with rows of blue and pink stitching to imitate the lines of a notebook. The names are hand embroidered (for anyone familiar with my handwriting it's pretty obvious). The back fabric is where you can get creative with your fabric choice. We went with fabric that matches her colors on the website. It also has a thermal-fabric layer to help keep your hands from getting hot.

Lana + John: Striped Fabric
Front View

Lana + John: Striped Fabric
Back View

JoJo + Matt Paisley Fabric
Front View

JoJo + Matt Paisley Fabric
Back View

Front View of Both Styles

Back View of Both Styles

I love these! Miranda has given me more names so I'm excited to shop around and see what other fabrics we can use. They are such a unique gift and it shows just how much Miranda cares for her clients (and how creative she is). 

If you want some potholders you may just have to get your picture taken :)

~JV

Purple Paisley Scarf

Today's post is about another scarf. I meant to post about it this weekend. That's because it was a gift for my grandma for Mother's Day. I've made scarves for so many other people that she told my mom she wanted one for herself. Of course I had to make one and it was the perfect opportunity to give it to her for Mother's Day.

My grandma's favorite color is purple and I found the perfect fabric in a paisley silk. I used a purple posh lining for the other side.

Full View- Posh Lining and Purple Paisley

Scarf wrapped twice around the neck

I gave my grandma the scarf early (on one of the hottest days we've had so far, ha) and I must say she loved it. It was an unexpected surprise, which I love.

~JV

Pink Polka-Dot Scarf

 Today's scarf is one I made for my sister for her birthday, which was right before my mom's birthday. I really should have posted this one before the last scarf I did. But no harm no foul right?

My sister loves the color pink so I thought this pink polka-dot fabric was perfect for her. It has so many colors that she can work with (and even said so when I gave it to her). The solid pink fabric is a satin lining.



Full View of Scarf- Pink Lining and Pink Polka Dot



Scarf wrapped twice around neck.



She is a fashionista so I can't wait to see what she'll pair this with :)

~JV

Blue Swirl Scarf

I just love making scarves so much I had to make a few more before it got too warm out. I made a scarf for my mom a little while back. It's a black and white floral scarf (Check it out here )

 Well she loved it so much that she wanted another one. Since her birthday was last month I decided to make her one as a gift.

She loves blue so of course I had to go with that. I chose a blue satin lining and multi-toned blue swirled sheer print. I love the blue as well and was tempted to keep it all to myself, but I love my mom too much to be greedy :) 

Full View- Blue Satin & Blue Swirl

Scarf Wrapped Around Neck Twice 

I really do enjoy making these scarves. It doesn't hurt that they are quick and don't take too much fabric. Look for the next couple posts, they'll be scarves too :)

~JV

Facebook Page

A friend suggested I create a page on facebook for people who are interested in my work. That way anyone who isn't a personal facebook friend and/or doesn't know about my blog can follow the page. So I've done just that.

Check it out if you haven't already https://www.facebook.com/sewingpassion

Please Like it so I can have a million followers :) I'll be updating that with any new blogs, news, or exciting events! And you can contact me through that if you'd like any custom work done.

Music Letters

Every two months new classes come out for the sewing courses. Sometimes the classes repeat themselves and that's the case for the Teen Sewing 101 class. The pattern was letter pillows and it was for January through April. I had the final class with this project last weekend.

Any samples I make for the class where I buy the supplies I obviously get to keep. Most of the time they are clothes that I'll alter and wear at some point so I don't mind. For this project, I couldn't really figure out a word that I could make that would look appropriate for my apartment. So I asked my sister if one of our younger cousins might want their name or something. That's when my 20 year old sister said "Make them for me!!!" How could I refuse? :) So she wanted me to make the pillows spell out MUSIC. She loves to sing and it's a theme she had in her room.

They are individual letters (although you could hand stitch them together if you wanted) and about a foot tall. Every letter was included in the package so the sky's the limit when it comes to the words someone wants made.

All of the letters in order

 Here are the individual shots of each letter.



I asked my sister for a picture of the letters so I could blog them, and she took one right after I had gotten my pictures, so I wanted to include her picture too



I had to hang on to them for four months so now she was finally able to take them home and set them up in her room. Wonder where she'll put them?

~JV