Grateful for the support

Sometimes as a designer I wonder if I am really getting through or if all my efforts to be more well-known are just not being seen or heard. I do all I can to get my name and designs out there, I think it's started to pay off. But the fact is that even when I'm famous (I was told to never say "if") that at least I am still creating and if people happen to notice my designs or take the time to tell me that all is not lost. I know I will be where I want to be both fame and fortune soon enough, but for now I find comfort in knowing that people have taken the time to include me in their blogs, tell me in person that they like my gowns and even just take the time to glance at my facebook or twitter. It will all add up to something one day soon, at least my work is out there and maybe one day be viewed by someone who can take me to super stardom. Now, where are those celebrities who need a gown made? Come on over and I will make you something gorgeous. : )

Below are the people who have taken the time to blog / mention me - THANK YOU!


The Backup Plan: Life (and love) is what happens when you’re busy making other plans - A blog by Lisa Steadman inspired by the movie The Back Up Plan with Jennifer Lopez
http://lisasteadman.com/2010/03/24/the-backup-plan-part-1/

My fellow crafts person and friend Meghan McFarlane
http://involvingthesenses.blogspot.com/2010/03/living-dream.html

10 great ways to get rid of your stuff by Melissa Chapman
http://www.cozi.com/live-simply/article/2010/03/10-ways-to-get-rid-of-your-stuff.html

I'm #50 on how Entrepreneurs celebrate their success -
http://www.toiletpaperentrepreneur.com/blog/celebrate-entrepreneurial-success

To all my brides

Me and model Stephanie Mannon

Can I say that I have enjoyed working with all my past brides! All of them had different personalities and taste, but like each gown I make all of them were unique and original. Working with brides is perfect market research for me as well, I get to see the newest trends and see exactly what brides are buying. It's definitely a win, win situation.

Working with brides also helps me develop new lines and as much as I love to get into crazy avant garde gowns, the business runs on consumers and what the consumers would actually wear. The clothes I end up selling has to be practical enough for the consumer, original for me to make it and of course always has to express a sense of style.

The good thing is I will always make the more avant garde stuff for my runway shows, so stay tuned to the Fall 2010, I have two lines inspired by "birth" and "art."

If you know what I am talking about, feel special because I've only told a handful of people about the lines I am working on.

When you don't have 30 years to reinvent yourself

(new logo)


(old logo)

In an article I read in BusinessWeek, Vera Wang says "you don't have 30 years to reinvent yourself." I started thinking about this today for some reason and really feel that if I'm going to make it in this oh so risky business of fashion that I really have work hard to create an image for myself and my company.

I don't want to wake up some day and realize that I pigeon holed myself strictly into bridal or strictly into one area of design. I love and appreciate all aspects of design, but how does one create an image that expresses creativity, that is mainstream marketable, caters to a wide demographic and most of all shows quality?

I suppose I will have to start doing a lot of research and perhaps really start hitting the pavement to get more work outside of Arizona. Maybe when wedding season is over I can really mull it over and really pin point the image I want the Jennyvi Dizon line to exude.

I have already started thinking seriously about losing the "Couture" in my company and just go with "Jennyvi Dizon" or just "Jennyvi." Sometimes couture is over used and the clothing it's connected to is far from couture. Do I want to be lumped in the "couture" category or does "Jennyvi" seem like it can be much more than that?

Just doing my beading today

(Sketch for my Pink Ribbon line)

My Etsy project is slow going, because here in Arizona it's wedding season. But I'm sure when I have more time, I can get more things made / listed on Etsy. For now I'm enjoying my revival in fashion and I am actually excited about beading. I have come to enjoy it and enjoy many things about my career in general.

I love sometimes when I wake up excited to create something new and the feeling of knowing that the things I make are what invigorate my senses and bring me the most joy.

Sometimes I see some business owners stop doing the things that founded their business and what use to be their passion life is just now considered an income. If that ever happens to me, I might as well just stop being a fashion designer full-time and go back to working as an accounting manager crunching numbers till it makes me go insane.

To me, I have no life unless I have fashion. I am loveless without design. I am unhappy without creation. I have nothing if I don't have passion and I am dead if I'm not a fashion designer.

Lets make my project worth it for you!

Decided yesterday after reading an article on Mashable.com that I need more twitter followers! And because I am completely neurotic about numbers in general (I worked in accounting for 10 years)that I will give up inventory from my Etsy Shop to do it!

So, when I get to 5,000 twitter followers I am giving away an evening gown from my Etsy shop at random to anyone who is following me or who hearts my Etsy shop.

When I get to 10,000 followers I am giving away a wedding gown / custom wedding gown.

So spread the word! Follow me at http://www.twitter.com/jennyvi

**If I happen to give away the dress to someone who doesn't want it, the person I select has 30 days to claim the prize (or just to tell me if they want it or not) and then it's up for grabs again.

"Little Women" Patterned Retro Dress - Listing 8 / 365

My newest creation is done! In the middle of 2 wedding gowns this week, I finally put the finishing touches to this dress. The great thing it's not bridal or evening and so hopefully it will sell as a sun dress. It's cotton and so it would be perfect for summer, especially in Arizona it will keep you cooler than other fabrics that tend to stick to your skin when you sweat.

If you think someone might be interested in my shop pass this link along. : )

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=42503387





These are French seams, it's my favorite seam to do because there is no frayed edges any where. In the next week or so stay tuned and I will post how to do them. As you can see it looks so much better than the normal 5/8" seam allowance.





BTW - Happy 311 Day, I love their music, I saw them live in concert about 6 times, Phx x 2, Tucson x 3, Portland once. Woot, Woot!

Oscar Night Gowns - OMG Sandra!

Picture taken from Yahoo OMG/ Getty Images - http://oscars.movies.yahoo.com/photos/120-2010-red-carpet-fashion-report-card?nc#OmgPhoid=2

This is a perfect example of how an Oscar Award winner can mean many things, for Sandra Bullock her best actress win is also a win for that gorgeous gown. For me the look is sexy without being obvious and the beading is perfectly done and not overwhelming.

I can also see this gown translate into a wedding gown and I already have so many ideas. I love when celebrities wear their best, because that means many women are inspired to wear prettier gowns, especially on their big day.

I have worked with several clients who have come to me with pictures of celebrities asking me to incorporate at least one or two themes from the celebrity look into their wedding gown.

To all the famous ladies, I say please continue to inspire us : ).

How to sew an invisible zipper

As I am sewing a cute little dress for my Etsy project, I thought I would share my love of matching seams especially with zippers. There is nothing more satisfying knowing my seams are aligned.

I had already sewn the other side of the zipper with a zipper foot, so the picture below is taking the front bodice (zipper already sewn to it) and matching the back bodice to where the other side of the zipper needs to be sewn.

Pins are great, they are like tiny little helper hands and so once I have placed the front bodice on top of the back bodice I pin in place the zipper (which is closed and attached to the front bodice) to the back bodice.



Once I have pinned, I can open up the zipper, careful not to unpin the one pin I put in. Now I can pin the rest of the zipper in place and once the rest of the pins are in, I can adjust the original pin so it's not upside down when we sew.



I like to have the needle down when I sew, so the fabric doesn't move when you stop. My machine has a feature where it is automatically down at all times without turning the hand wheel to do so.

Notice the pins when they are horizontal to the zipper makes it easier to open up the coil and so you can make sure you are sewing the zipper close to the coil but not on it. If you sew the coil part of the zipper, it will not close. A good rule of thumb is to sew away from the coil at least a 1/16" and not more than an 1/8" of an inch.



And oooh look the seams match!



Now we have sewn the zipper, but what about the rest of the seam.



Close the zipper and find the stitches where at the end of the zipper. Gently move the zipper (to the right), just enough so it will not be sewn and pin.

Move the needle to the other side of the zipper foot and sew on top of the last stitches (back stitch always not more than 3 back stitches). This is where you want to make sure the zipper is out of the way but careful moving it too much to the right will cause a pucker on the other side.



And voila, the zipper and the seam are finished and all it needs is a little pressing.



(Dress will be finished and posted soon)

There's plenty of time, right?

I officially have to start making stuff so I can reach my goal of 365 listings before next March, but don't worry I have plenty of ideas and I'm hopeful. Well, at least I'm telling myself that. No, I really am.

I just have been busy with about 3 custom wedding wedding gowns, all that have to be beaded and since it is just me, I have to stay up to get things done. No worries, I will be back on track with my goals come Monday.

I know I am making time for this project, because I love competing with myself and in a way I just want something to really accomplish since I'm not this big super star designer just yet. It's almost my "beacon of light" to help me stay focused and to feel like I am making a difference in my career.

I only hope that my career is moving forward and someone out there sees my potential. Or I win the lottery and all my problems will be solved and I can really invest in my fashion future. I guess the odds of that happening are zilch, since it has been years since I have even bought one of those scratchers tickets.

Only time will tell, I just hope the phrase I always say "one day" will turn into "omg, it's finally here."

Sequined Organza Shawl with Scalloped Edge (Listing #7)

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41857733

The awesome part about this listing is that when I was draping the blue silk on my dress form to hide my design lines (when draping patterns on the form), I thought of a new design as I was doing it. Perhaps, it was also because I was watching an inspiring documentary on Frank Lloyd Wright and that he was working until the day he died.

I only hope that I will do the same, I cannot imagine a life without creating or sketching something on a daily basis. If I stop that means there must be something wrong with me.

Inventory Shock

Now that I listed my first 6 items for sale, I decided to look into my inventory to see what else I can list and realized that most of my inventory is not for sale. Not for sale for many reasons, the main two reasons being that some of them have sentimental value and the other is that I have inventory that I consider "easy runway."

I suppose I have to sew / craft more to make my goal, which I knew was going to happen, but I thought I had a lot more in stock that would buy me some time. Maybe, I can look at my gowns and see which ones I can part with and which ones will continue to take up space on the 4 racks of clothes I have in the corner of my master bedroom.

I think it's funny that I don't often think that I am a materialistic person, but when it comes to the things I've made I sure am protective over them. Maybe it's the Virgo in me or maybe I am a lot more sentimental than I thought.

So, I guess I will have to think long and hard before I list anything and so it may have to wait till tomorrow. Maybe I can make a quick hair accessory or one of my "fashionable aprons." Stay tuned, I can whip something up.

Listings 3 -6, only 359 more to go

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41775570

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41776530

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41776802

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41776292

Photos by Nikolai De Vera

My Etsy Project

(sketch is one of my doodles, inspired by the Spanish culture)

A few weeks ago I met with my bride, which I call my "Etsy" bride because she absolutely loves hand made items. She suggested that I should really get on Etsy, because she was sure there are other brides like herself on there.

So, last night I posted my first two items for sale and I have decided to list or at least try to list 365 listings in a years time. I know it seems really ambitious, but I just watched the movie "Julie and Julia" and so I think if Julie was able to cook all of Julia Child's recipe's then I can list 365 items that I have made before March 1st, 2011.

To tell you the truth it sounds a little intimidating and the potential of selling all of them seems like a dream, but hopefully I can keep it up and watch my business grow even more : ). Especially, in the near future I will be taking pictures of my projects and describing the inspiration / the how to aspects of each Etsy project.

Below is my new Etsy shop, if you have any tips I sure would welcome them as I am a newbie.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/jennyvi