My kind of people

I stumbled upon a wonderful company The Sewing Arts Center via Twitter and I had to share! First off I was reading their bio and found out that they have a love of a Husqavarna Viking much like the love I have for my Viking 1100. Which by the way was serviced last week and sews as good as the day I got it 6 years ago.

Where was I, oh yeah, the Sewing Arts Center is a wonderful place to get your sewing supplies, but also a place to learn with the right tools. As a designer, I know that your skills are better with the tools that compliment your sewing style and tools that you are comfortable with and that's why I totally agree with the Sewing Arts Center when they say:

"In all facet of our lives, we find tools that help us express our creative genius, whether that genius be in housing construction, computer programming, or culinary arts, just to name a few! And sewing arts are no exception. In fact, the development that has occurred in every aspect of sewing over the past 15 years is absolutely remarkable! Folks who sew are enjoying sewing technology that our great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers could not even imagine!

We at Sewing Arts Center know there is the right tool for the right sewing project! (Of course you could try to carve a steak with a spoon, but would you?) What you probably don’t know is that before selling ANY product at Sewing Arts Center, from a needle or thread to an embroidery and sewing machine, each product is tested by the staff and select customers for quality and function. When a product passes our internal tests without flaw and is deemed to serve the needs of our sewing community, then and only then do we make arrangements to make the product available to you. We guarantee to you that every product we sell to you will serve in the manner promised."

The next time I am in California, which hopefully will be soon I will have to stop by and check this awesome store out.

The Sewing Arts Center is located at 3330 Pico Blvd • Santa Monica, CA 90405 •
ph: 310-450-4300

Website: http://www.sewingartscenter.com/
Twitter at http://twitter.com/sewingarts

For those lucky people who live in Santa Monica - Happy Sewing!

Congrats to the new Miss USA! Rima Fakih

Photos by the Associated Press from: http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Miss-USA-Pageant/ss/events/en/051610missusa#photoViewer=/100517/482/urn_publicid_ap_org_daccb706e067424488e30fa8668b4637

Just wanted to quickly blog and say congrats to Miss Michigan Rima Fakih and all the other contestants who wore white. I have noticed over the last few years that pageants and celebrities are wearing more white and I say keep doing so. They are inspiring brides all over and keeping the bridal industry going.

Just look at the group photo, you can see different variations of white dresses. If I were a bride I would be glued to these televised pageants, Oscar ceremonies, premieres, etc to see what style would inspire my wedding gown. : )

Awesome wedding video!

Jon and Janet | Lodge in the Desert from W. Ashley Maddox on Vimeo.

My bride Janet, sent me this well produced video from W. Ashley Maddox an awesome Photographer/Cinematographer. I watched a couple of his video and even a movie trailer and I am very impressed. I am so glad that my bride chose so many budding artists to cater to her wedding, I know that some day soon I will be more well-known. Maybe with a few more brides like her that some day can be now for me.

If you are bride wanting to know more about W. Ashley Maddox wedding videos, click here.

My machine

My machine is finally in the shop for a tune up and I miss it already. I am sitting by the desk it was on while I am writing this and for some reasons I am coming up with so many gown ideas for when I get it back. I even paid a rush fee, so I can have it back sooner.

It's been a long time coming for a tune up. I can't remember the last time I serviced it, it might have been since the end of 2008 and I have probably sewed about 60 gowns / projects since then.

My poor Viking Husqvarna gave me two really big clues that it was time. Today, I broke two Schmetz needles sewing felt and it started making a gargling sound. I know how to unscrew the bobbin area to clean and oil it, but I must have done it twice as much as usual in the last few weeks.

I hope to get it before the weekend, but if not I can work on beading a wedding gown I started last year and never finished. I have gown A.D.D when it comes to starting projects, I start a gown and then I dream up a new idea and I start another and so on. But I would trade being creative for anything else in the world. I live for art and creating pretty things.

Inspiration Through Movies

I am turning 30 this year and I know most women wouldn't admit their age, but I guess like my husband says "you have to embrace age." So I am embracing the big 3 zero, by just being honest with people and not hiding it.

I do have to admit I am coping with it better than I thought, but I have found myself watching more movies to keep inspired or it's more that it's a way to keep my mind off it. I just watched a cute Adam Sandler movie Bedtime Stories and I know it's for kids, but it was quite inspiring.

There was this one seen in ancient Greece that will inspire the hair to my next photo shoot. Below is the picture, but I would probably make it bigger in the back and have the curls be more smooth.

Isn't it funny how designers and artists take from the simplest of things and roll with the ideas.

RIP GenArt

With happy news, sometimes there is sad news. GenArt has halted it's operations due to the economy. The fashion organization has launched so many young designers, film makers, photographers, events and so on is no more.

I was first introduced to GenArt in 2004 when I tried out for Project Runway Season 1. I was able to meet Tim Gunn (about 3 times after that)and Mary Gehlahr, two people I respect for their dedication for the fashion industry. It saddens me that a organization with GenArt's caliber is closing it's doors, but hopefully the people who have helped it grow will continue mentoring young designers and artists.

(Here is a photo from the Project Runway Season 1 DVD, I was in line waiting to be seen and the GenArt crew helped everyone in line on the process.)

Happy Wedding Wednesday!

3 new people to introduce! Below are a couple people who decided to feature little ole me in their magazine / blogs. It's always so kind to have people support what you do and I wanted to share them with you. You never know, they may feature you too!

She Just Got Married - http://www.shejustgotmarried.com/modules/justs/justforfun.php?justID=339




Southwest Flair Magazine http://www.southwestflair.com/2010/May/featuredazdesigner.htm

Starstruck Events (from the Prescott Wedding Walk show) http://starstruck-events.blogspot.com/2010/05/birds-are-singing-champagne-flutes-are.html



THANK YOU AGAIN!

Pics from my Etsy Bride Wedding

Below are a few pictures of my bride Janet, she was a pleasure to work with and everything she bought for accessories / stationary was from Etsy. I had the pleasure to attend and everything was beautiful, original and handcrafted. (Etsy items she used for her wedding were the hair accessory, her shoe clips, invitations, place cards, and menus). Bridesmaid gowns by Alfred Angelo.

Janet was a great and a great reminder why I choose to work with brides who understand the process and appreciate the work that goes into every one my gowns. Unfortunately, I do turn down some brides down even if they are ready to put a deposit down, if I know that we are not seeing eye to eye or they just treat me like seamstress. I emphasize that I am much more than a seamstress, I design and I sketch out designs that is fitting for my brides. The best clients I ever had gave me a few ideas, but essentially trusted me to design something original and stylish, but something that really fits their personality.

(Like the most interesting man in the world says "he doesn't always drink beer, but when he does he drinks Dos Equis," I say "I don't take on every bride, but when I do they have to be cool." Hehehe

The dress I made for her is a asymmetrical one shoulder pleated bodice with a hand beaded lace applique in the mid bodice and corseted back bodice. The skirt has a chiffon over lay over a matte satin. The appliques and the lace edging on the skirt were hand cut and also hand beaded. The total hours for beading was 180 - 200 hours. I did most of the beading, but whenever my parents came over to stay they volunteered to help so I let them. : )

If my name was spelled with a dollar sign

With the fame of Ke$ha and her popular song "Tik Tok", I was wondering what my name would sound like phonetically if it was spelled with a dollar sign.

I think it would sound the same if I replaced the "z" with the dollar sign, don't you think? So, if I started my new fashion line "Jennyvi Di$on" maybe it would be wildly more popular. I'm just being silly now, but people already mispronounce my name any way, so I won't be changing my name any time soon. Especially, when the dollar sign is the newest addition of our alphabet, I don't want to wear it out just yet. That and it's a new concept and people "mis"pronounce Ke$ha's (Cesh - uh) name all the time.

Ah, the dollar sign not only used to indicate currency, but yet another thing for school teachers to explain to young kids.

Etsy project ideas continued

In the next week or so, while I finish up a couple gowns for my clients I will also be working on listing some new items for my Etsy shop. After the Scorpius Catwalk show opener on Thursday, I got a really good response from the guests and thought "what if the designs on the banners were real garments." I thought it would be a great way to visualize a gown before I actually sew it.

This one below is currently drying and I will be sewing a "ready to wear" out fit on her this week.

(Also, the rest of the photos are other things that will be listed in my store)



Paintings made with real dried flowers, I thought it was wasteful to just throw away cut flowers when they wilt. I dried them for a few days and then started adhering them to the canvas while the paint was still wet.

The paintings below were flowers from the photo shoot I did at the MADCAP Theater. Flowers were provided by Thee Wedding Warehouse / Endearing Floral Design.