Photo Shoot!

I helped out with my first photo shoot today! Keiko modeled her quirky looks for Bust Magazine's June/July issue in a fantastic Fifth Ave. apartment. We also got to prance around outside for a while in the beautiful weather. Well, I pranced, and Keiko did her best. I must say, I am very impressed at all of the movement (jumping, walking up steps, skipping...) Keiko did in her cute, but nonetheless difficult, high-heels. Way to Go! I just know her photos are going to turn out great.

I found today especially helpful because I was able to talk to a professional photographer and an assistant editor about their careers as Keiko posed in front of the camera. The photographer, Karine, and the Bust assistant editor, Lisa, were both so friendly and asked me about my education and future plans. Lisa told me that her favorite part about being an assistant editor is meeting all sorts of fascinating people, learning about them, and writing about them. Because it was such a beautiful day out, Karine and I got to talking about the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. The flavors are amazing. Aren't you craving some lychee ice cream?

I had a fun time helping out today. I didn't mind carrying the suitcase or bags, I liked looking thought the clothes as I tried to fit everything in the suitcase, and I'm lucky enough to work for someone who values my opinion and asks for my input. I felt like I was part of the team, not like the intern following 2 steps behind.

sweater: Beacon's Closet

shirt: Uniqlo

skirt: Daffys

tights: Uniqlo

shoes: Target

Headband: Made it!

Thread and Fabric do not Agree (according to the sewing machine)

It was a tough Friday. I got myself down to the basement sewing machine with all of my supplies (Yes! I had them all this time!). I was able to thread the machine, install the presser foot, needle, and bobbin. I had trouble with the tension, though I didn't believe it when my fashion design friend warned me that the tension on the basement machine was all messed up. Then, the thread would skip numerous stitches at a time, so I tightened it a little. I spent about an hour and a half spinning the tension wheel, and trying every setting. The thread kept breaking, so I would loosen the tension. I am going to blame a faulty sewing machine for my bag still being in pinned pieces.
I couldn't stay in too long. The beautiful day called me out to Soho for a little window shopping at Bloomingdale's and some exploring at Pearl River Mart. I went a little 50's...
Dress: Loehmanns

Shoes: Target

Sew Storm

The Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus came to the city last night. My two friends and I went to see the elephants and ponies walk down 34th after emerging from the Queens Midtown Tunnel. The experience sent chills to our toes and fingers (32 degrees!) and a fun memory with friends.
One of my friends insisted on dressing like a clown. Here we are: The clowns, wearing the bow headbands that I made.

My mom just shipped up my spring dresses, and I had just packed away my winter wears. This weather is not nice. Being from Florida, I love the sun, and it just depresses me to see beautiful daylight sticking its tongue out at me with a surrounding temperature of 40 degrees. What am I supposed to wear?! I dig through the remainder of my winter stash and find this. Unfortunately, I have to burden it with a puffy coat.
I took a short walk to the fabric store and picked up some lovely lining for my tote bag sewing project. I went straight to work from there. What took up the most time was ironing. I can't remember if I mentioned this in a previous post, but I hate ironing.

I'm always afraid to make the first cut. Don't I look scared? Keiko hasn't been here to help me, but fortunately, my roommate, Elizabeth, knows how to sew and helped greatly helped me out.

Five o'clock came out of nowhere, but I was determined to get to the sewing machine today. If I didn't get around to sewing my bag, I certainly was going to play around and learn the settings on some scratch fabric.

Screws. I don't have screws, or the right needle. I bought the presser foot, but no screw to hold it in place, and the sharp needle that used to be there was missing (I only had ballpoints). Why? Just Why? Will I ever get it right? I thought "third time's a charm", but I guess it's really "third time is another trip to the notions store..."

Though at that moment in time I felt disappointment, at the end of the day I was satisfied. I did accomplish a sufficient amount today. I ironed, cut my first pattern by myself, and worked with fusible interfacing.

black headband: Claire's Accessories (2 years ago)

tiger stripe shirt: Forever 21

Black long sleeve shirt: H&M

jeans: Delia's

Boots: Famous Footwear

That was not the first day of Spring...

I looked outside my window on Friday, and the only feeling that came over me was disappointment. Sigh. I cannot believe that it was snowing! It's the first day of Spring for crying out loud. It's not like I didn't have plans. My friend and I were planning to go to the park and write in our journals. Ever since starting this blog, I've been writing less and less in my journal, and I have so much to catch up on!

We cancelled our plans, but I had some work to do anyway. I laundered the new fabric that I had bought, and put it out to dry. I was busy packing for my weekend trip to Boston, and brought some bows to sew on the bus ride. Needless to say, I got them all done. I'd rather sew bows than read up for my classes...Besides, reading makes me carsick...too bad.

I think after figuring out the sewing machine, my first project will be constructing a bag using the dark green fabric that I had purchased. I'm also doing a small spray paint project on a green t-shirt. I wanted to spray paint a drum set on it, but the stencil I made was too small and complicated. I think I may spray paint a bunch of drumstick shapes all over the front. My only concern is that it will look too crafty and kindergarten-ish.

Coat: H&M
Shirt: Charlotte Russe
scarf:Gift from my cousin
Necklace: Gift from my mom
Skirt: Thrifted
Tights: Dillard's
Boots: Nine West

Bootless

I love running errands. Sounds crazy, right? I don't know why, but I love rushing around picking things up, selecting items, and visiting new places. Since Keiko is down in sunny Florida (I am so jealous!), I decided to take an exciting walk in the garment district to find some items for my independent sewing projects. Usually, I wear my boots for the trek to Brooklyn, but the short walk to 38th Street permitted me to wear heels.

Firstly, I stopped at the fabric store and looked around for some knits. Here's what I picked up!
I'm going to make a bag with the green one, shirts with the heathers, and shirts and skirts with the printed ones.

Next, I stopped at the button shop. I had purchased a very lightweight black jacket with a peter pan collar from Beacon's closet, and it was missing two buttons. I figured I could replace the old ugly buttons with some nice salmon-colored ones with gold around the edges.

With my new fabric and buttons, I made my way to the button shop to find some matching thread. I think I could get the hang of this area. Everything is here! I guess it's not called "the garment district" for nothing!

After that I made my way to school to check out the sewing labs. Whoa, I didn't know we had a bunch of rooms loaded with sewing machines and sergers for students to use. I guess being a business student automatically excludes me from this sort of information...

Now that I had everything, I was determined to get down to the basement and figure out that sewing machine. Thoroughly surprised, I was able to thread the machine and the bobbin easily. Just as I was about to test some fabric for tension adjustments, I realized that there was no presser foot! Sigh. What a disappointment. After all of that. I had forgotten to buy a presser foot! Well, it's a good thing the garment district is only 7 blocks away...I guess I'll go hand sew some more headband bows...

shirt: H &M

skirt: Daffy's

Tights: Christmas gift from Mom

Shoes: Nine West

100% silk Scarf: Birthday gift from Mom

Excited to be Back

I was so excited today as I rang the buzzer to Keiko's place. It's been a while since I stopped in to work, and I'm glad that Keiko is feeling much better. Right away, she showed me a few basic things on Photoshop, so I hope to expand my skills in that area. I don't have Photoshop on my computer, so I have to play around on the school computers during the week.

Cardigan: Madewell
Black Shirt: Target
Scarf: H&M
jeans: Delia's
Boots: Aerosoles
Bag: Nine West

I also found a shirt to reconstruct for practice! I am making it for my friend Lindsay. Here is the before reconstruction picture, and here is my friend Lindsay! It's an XL shirt on an XS girl.
I was so surprised at how simple the process was, though the skill involved still needs some developing. I had trouble with those darn sleeves again, but they were more challenging this time because I was working with wovens instead of knits. For this XL men's button-down, we took up the sleeves and made them 3/4s and took in the sides, so that Lindsay can add her own belt.

Making things for other people makes me feel so happy for some reason. It's just that there is so much care, thought, and time put into creating something that makes it so meaningful. That is why Keiko makes one-of-a-kind pieces at her sewing machine. It is an extension of the hands that say, "I made this for you because you are special to me."

Here is what I made of the big baggy shirt. Keiko helped me A LOT along the way, and Lindsay did an awesome job with accessories.








Headband: Urban Outfitters
Belt: Brooklyn's Artists and Fleas
Boots: Hell's Kitchen Flea Market
Shrit: Thrifted and Reconstructed







We headed out to Beacon's Closet today, and Lindsay and I were so excited that she picked up two more shirts for me to work on! Can't wait!





Here is a bow that I made for my roommate, Elizabeth.

Thrift

I'm giving one more work day for Keiko to recover. That doesn't mean I didn't have work to do. It just means I couldn't go visit. What's the first thing I always have to do for my internship? Oh yeah, look cute. I am still trying to live with my dull winter wardrobe, since all of my brighter weather clothes at at home in Florida.

Here I am!

Anyway, I decided to go thrift shopping to see if I could find anything that Keiko could help me reconstruct. This was way harder than it looked! I think it is because there weren't any big house dresses or vintage-type things there. It was all very up-to-date. I bought a few pieces that fit and didn't need altering.

I think I just need a little help when it comes to deciding what makes a good reconstruction piece. I really want to find a men's button down shirt so I can fix it up and make my friend look totally adorable! I have a couple projects being planned...


One thing about being a business student and working is that it is difficult to find time to do these types of projects. I've been meaning to go down to the basement sewing machine and learn how to use it. Needless to say, I have yet to set aside time to do that. The terrible thing is that I am not a procrastinator in any way. I go do the things that I want to do, and I get them done. However, I have been able to do a few hand sewing projects, like making some minor repairs to the red jacket I am wearing. I mean, I couldn't possibly go out in public with a button missing!



Tights: Uniqlo
Boots: Famous Footwear
Dress: Strawberry
Scarf: Brooklyn Flea
Bag: Nine West
Coat: Dillard's

Sick Day/Play Day

What do you do on a sick day if you are not sick? Make headband bows of course! I couldn't go into work today because Keiko was sick. So, I made a few headband bows before heading downtown to Wild Ginger for lunch. My friend and I absolutely love that place. It is so calm and peaceful, and we could sit there all day and sip tea.

For my internship class, I have an assignment to wrote a paper about a professional and his or her working style and experience. Since I couldn't go to my internship today, would any of you like to volunteer to be interviewed for my paper? Leave me a message if you are interested! Make sure to let me know the industry in which you work. Thanks for helping me get an A in my class!

Coat: H&M

Scarf: Madewell 1937

Dress: Jessie May

Tights: Uniqlo

Boots: Aerosoles

Bag: Nine West

Feel Better Keiko!

Jump Around

It was a busy day today with Keiko! I spent the past weekend making some headbands, but I took them today to fix them on the sewing machine. You see, I had made lots of little errors with the headbands because I was watching a movie..."Philadelphia Story" is simply great because of Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart. When they get thrown together into one movie, I simply don't know what to do with myself. Honestly, I don't. Maybe I do. Yeah. I make sewing mistakes. That's what I do.

Anyway, those headbands proved easy fixing. No trouble there. However, there was plenty of trouble with the sleeves. Keiko had me sew a sleeve on a dress, and let me tell you, it was not pretty. It looked just fine on the wrong side, but the right side had seams sticking out and a little hole at the base where I missed the fabric. Try as I might, I just couldn't fix it. Keiko came to the rescue and took care of it for me. The battle is not over yet. Sleeves will be conquered, eventually.

I also helped to package orders. One thing about owning a small business is getting to take care of each and every customer. Before each order was placed in its box, it was carefully wrapped in tissue paper and tied with a bow. Around Valentine's Day, Keiko put a valentine and a little candy inside each package. That is something special!

I even modeled clothes today for the Postlapsaria website! Wow, I did a little bit of everything today, didn't I? I think it is pretty fun to run out in short sleeves in 20 degree weather to get a picture taken.

Even after all of that, I still had time to work on my own projects. I'm just working on a few bows to send my sister down in Florida. I heard it was cold down there the past few days. I don't care. If it is warmer than 30 degrees, that's where I want to be. I lived in Florida all my life, so if there's one thing I hate, its cold weather. brrr...