22 posts tagged “skirts”
You look absolutely stunning and I am sooooo looking forward to additional views.
I want to thank all of you who have been playing along with the Conga Line. It's been great watching my designs and artwork coming together in a very new way and watching each creation coming to life. I can't thank you enough for the experience and the love that you've shown for my work. I deeply appreciate it and, more so, because it is allowing me to get to know each of you on a much deeper level. Thank you for that - Really. I don't have enough words to tell you how much it means to me.
At this point I thought it would be good to recap the line and catch you all up on where we are right now and where we're going from here.
Margaux was the first to receive her skirt, a prototype of what would further develop into my new line of sustainable fashions, custom designed and hand-painted to order.
Her intital reaction and review of the skirt is what originally led me to launch a marketing test, of sorts. That test being the Skirting the Issue Contest.
Sandy was the winner of the contest and a skirt was sewn and painted to her specifications.
Further encouraged by all of your comments and reactions to the design and its processes, I launched the Conga Line experiment and a kind of product testing.
Kim was the first in the Conga Line to receive her skirt, followed closely by Cate. Denise's skirt was completed and now Elizabeth's is set to be painted, wash tested, and shipped by tomorrow morning.
Jaie and I are still in the process and working out the details of her design.
At this point she's selected her style and fit, accepted Sketch 1 from the initial line sheet and has chosen her colors of blue and black, and I'm awaiting her selection of artwork from my various libraries. Once that is done, I will begin the process of designing her skirt.
My client, Michaela, of Glam Gals by AC Valor, has also joined the conga line. Since Michaela produces her own line of tee shirts and designs, I will be picking up on something that Yod and I had discussed: The idea of people sending their tired tees to me for re-fashioning and design. Of course I will be happy to share the design process with all of you and eagerly invite your comments and critique once that process has begun.
A place in the Conga Line is also being reserved for Peggy. She and I will pick up her place when the time is right for her and I have promised to hold the Conga-Deal in place until she is ready.
Going forward from here, I'd like to let you know that I have decided to launch this line, full scale, as of June 29th, and am busy working on the design for the website. As a kick-off for the launch, Margaux will be placing an ad for me in Portland Picks. Of course, details of this event will follow. Really - I'm still working them out and, with your help, am ironing out some of the wrinkles in the entire process.
Sometime - mid-July - and again with Margaux's expert marketing assistance, I will be placing an ad or feature in Skorch Magazine. The Skorch feature will focus on the Curvalicious Designs. Of course the exact details of the ad, feature or article has yet to be determined. It is still on the drawing board and is no where near ready for presentation.
I don't mind telling you that I'm a bit scared in all of this. Everything, from finding my identity in the marketplace to making sure that I stay true to my initial intentions, is weighing very heavily on me at the moment. I've never been scared of starting anything before so I'm hoping that this is a very good omen.
Speaking of "staying true to my original intentions", I'd like to let you in on some of the finer details that are set in stone.
- All designs created under the Skirting the Issue label will always be sustainable, earth friendly designs. That is to say that they will always be created from recycled tees and worked by hand from my studio here in Bethlehem, PA.
- There will be no out sourcing to any off shore locations for any part of the process - EVER.
- Except in the case of recycling a client's favorite tees, I will always purchase the blank goods from one or more thrift stores that provide support to needy individuals and families. No new goods will ever be created for use in my designs.
- A portion of the profits from all sales from the Skirting the Issue website will be donated to the national chapter of Girls Inc. I have no endorsement from them, at present, and no formal arrangement has been made, but it is my intention to make my donations, at least 10% of the profits, on a quarterly basis.
Yes. I'm scared. I don't think I've ever put so much of myself into anything before and I am really jumping in with both feet. And, with all of this in mind, I'd like to thank all of you who have been participating and/or just following along in this development. Had it not been for all of your encouragement and support, I don't know that I would have the courage to even try to make this idea - this vision work.
Thank you all, my Voxy friends and neighbors.
I just don't know where to begin to tell you how much this means to me.
This comfy roll top skirt [w/fanny wrap] was sewn to spec for Denise from California. It began as 2 vintage tees and was hand-painted as shown. Photos courtesy of A. Neighbor.
When Denise messaged me that her skirt had arrived I was very excited --- almost to the point of being pesty. Because this was my first curv-a-licious design I was a bit nervous about the fit and whether the design would work in practice as it did in the sketch. Denise assured me that it did, in fact, fit her as intended, and was flattering to her curves. I think that is the most wonderful compliment that any designer could hope for -- that the design is not only artfully beautiful but that it fits the body and compliments the figure.
Thanks so much for that, my friend. And for the photos.
You look fabulous, dah-link, and absolutely curv-a-licious
This comfy roll top skirt, designed especially for Jaie, features a fully adjustable length from 21-29". The drawstring will insure a secure fit even as the skirt naturally stretches. While both designs add visual length to balance the torso, sketch 2, as an a-line design, will also have a more slimming effect to the hip line regardless of whether the skirt is rolled or not.
Note to Jaie:
We need to discuss your art and color choices. I will also be happy to help with suggestions for your wardrobe as well as shoes. Please message me or give me a call. Thanks, in advance, Chica!
Keep the Faith
This comfy, roll top skirt was designed to spec for Denise [aka: Rouma http://rouma.vox.com]. The fabric of the original tee was discharged and distressed and the blank sewn. T-shirt skirts stretch, quite a lot, so the hidden drawstring will allow Denise to adjust the fit so it will remain secure without need for a cinch belt. The roll top wrap has been added and now the skirt is complete.
Next it's down for wash testing. Not one has failed me yet, so I do not forsee any issues what so ever and I am 100% positive that shipping will actually occur between now and tomorrow morning at 8:30 AM EDST
This comfy, roll top skirt is being designed to spec for Denise [aka: Rouma http://rouma.vox.com]. The fabric of the original tee has been discharged and distressed and the blank sewn. T-shirt skirts stretch, quite a lot, so the hidden drawstring will allow Denise to adjust the fit so it will remain secure without need for a cinch belt.
The roll top wrap is in place and now the skirt is in the process of being painted. The detail shows it wet and drying on the board before more of the cityscape is added. At this point, I am sure that shipping will actually occur tomorrow. 8:30 AM EDST
This comfy, roll top skirt is being designed to spec for Denise [aka: Rouma http://rouma.vox.com]. The fabric of the original tee has been discharged and distressed and the blank sewn. T-shirt skirts stretch, quite a lot, so the hidden drawstring will allow Denise to adjust the fit so it will remain secure without need for a cinch belt. The roll top wrap has been added and now the skirt is ready to be painted. Still - If my luck holds out I will be shipping this to her by Friday.
Keep The Faith - In progress
This comfy, roll top skirt is being designed to spec for Denise [aka: Rouma http://rouma.vox.com]. The fabric of the original tee has been discharged and distressed and the blank sewn. T-shirt skirts stretch - quite a lot - so the hidden drawstring will allow Denise to adjust the fit so it will remain secure without need for a cinch belt. A roll top wrap will be added before the skirt is painted. If my luck holds out I will be shipping this to her by Friday.
As a matter of note: This skirt measures 22" in length and will fall just below the knee. Since Denise is a curv-a-licious little penguin, the overall design will add height and balance to her torso. As always, her measurements are being held in the strictest of confidence.
Sandy's skirt from last month's Skirting the Issue Contest is on its way. I dropped it off at the Post Office early this afternoon and expect it to arrive in Australia in 5-6 business days. Interestingly enough, it costs $30.00 less to ship with USPS than it did with FedEx and neither could "guarantee" delivery but the USPS offers insurance up to $61.28 and neither FedEx nor UPS would offer any insurance whatsoever. Boggles the mind - Indeed, it does. What's even more mysterious is the time frame: 5-6 business days regardless of the carrier. Go figure...
So, with Sandy's skirt well on the way, I'd like to let everyone know where we are in the Conga line that we started forming yesterday and find out who in the line wants coffee on their skirt. It's so much better if I get all of the fabric into the drink now so I can stain as needed. Afterall, the longer it steeps the stronger the brew. ;)
Cate's got dibs on the first skirt. I've messaged her and am waiting to get final confirmation on her measurements, etc. Then I'll be able to work up sketches and so on.
Kim has second dibs.
Rouma is next in line.
And she is followed by DissolveGirl.
Jaie is following close behind.
Time Frame
Each skirt takes me 7 - 10 days to complete. It may be a bit less depending on my work load but I'll keep you posted as always.
Thanks to everyone who has followed along and made such wonderful comments about Sandy's Prize from the first Skirting the Issue Contest. I really appeciate it and find it encouraging me to persue and further develop this line of custom created, sustainable fashions.
As luck would have it, I already have one more coffee-stained tee and I would like to offer you, any of my friends, first dibs on a design.
I wouldn't feel right if I had to pick one of you so you have to decide by comments [like whoever calls dibs first].
Particulars
If you already sent me your specs and stuff for the contest - no worries - I have all of that. If not, you need to send me your specs [waist, hip, and preferred length] if you get dibs.
I'd also like to give you a choice. Choose an unpainted skirt, sewn from this coffee stained tee and any others as might needed. Choose your style and I will sew it to your specs for half price: $25.00 USD.
If you'd like a hand-painted skirt - No worries. Choose your style. Choose your art [within reason, please] and your skirt will be sewn and painted to suit your color choices. Cost: Half-price would be $62.50 so let's say... $50.00 USD
I'm throwing shipping into the pot too. But, if you're over seas, we'll have to split it. You choose the carrier [UPS or FedEx].
We'll start the design process with sketches, just like before, and will begin the process once payment is received. My PayPal addy, for whoever gets dibs, is studio_524@yahoo.com
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