One of the best parts of my job is creating things that are original. Having a client come in and say that they want me to make something because they can't find what they are looking for is both exciting and scary...very, very scary.
Even after I have been sewing for this long I still have that little voice in the back of my mind that says, "Will I be able to pull this off?"
The very first part of any project like this is listening. I write down notes, take measurements, find pictures in magazines, pull out patterns I may already own. I do everything I can to make sure that the picture I have in my head matches the idea that the client has.
Often, I can see to the end of a project in my mind. That can be very frustrating for the client. It is the worst for a non-artistic ones, and the sketches and pictures help.
Then, we go fabric and materials shopping. There is an amazing fabric store here in Springfield MO called FM. They have rooms full of huge blots of amazing, flowing fabrics that brush against your legs and shoulders as you walk. You can touch the fabrics and lay them over and against one another. I talk to the client about how fabrics work together. How they will wear. How they will feel. Usually, the right material jumps out and grabs you. Most of the time it is the one thing you just keep going back to!
Then, I get to start the design process.
What I love most about this is getting to see the ideas pulling together. You get a clear look at how the materials are going to work and if you need to make changes in your ideas.
Fittings and trying on jewelry and shoes helps the client not only feel like part of the process, but also helps you find problems early and gives you a chance to fix them.
The best part of the clothes I make are the people that wear them! I love seeing my clients excited and feeling amazing in the things we have created!
Special thanks to Tori Hull. She and I have made many beautiful things together, but her friendship is priceless!
