So you want to start a sewing business? That is great! Super exciting and scary too right? 


STRENGTHS: 

• What advantage do you have?
• What do you do well?
• What unique qualities do you have other's don't?
• What do other people recognize you do well?
• Is there something, in particular, you love to sew and you sew it well?

Ok so once you analyze everything in this framework, it gives you an overview of which direction to go, what to work on or what to abandon. This could also give you an advantage over your competitors. No use going into business blindly or trying to wing it. You want to have the best advantage to get into business and stay there. Use your strengths to maximize your opportunities and to help you tackle your weaknesses.

I hope you found this analysis helpful as you think about taking the next steps to starting your sewing business.

Please enjoy the free download for your SWOT and let me know in the comments if this helped you put things into perspective.

I can't believe I had not posted this super easy fabric flower. I find that they are quite versatile. They can be worn several ways, no sew and did I mention super easy. Enjoy the tutorial and let me know if you make these.  And if you do make them, how did you use them?

When I saw Vogue pattern V9253 come out this summer I thought it was all things amazing. To be honest I thought it was so me (cept the plunging neckline) and everything I love. A line style, Kimono Sleeves, Belt. It gave me my life on a platter LOL. So when McCall's Pattern company decided to have a competition for the pattern I was so on it. Ok, truth is I was on it but I was so swamped with work so I kinda waited the last minute.

I had seen so many entries for the dress all gorgeous and I figured I needed to do something different. I am currently into dusters and kimonos and I looked at the pattern and figured this would make a great kimono or even wrap dress. For the fabric, I didn't want to be stuck only wearing this in the summer months and so I thought fall and winter are coming, What would be great for fall. A quick trip to hobby lobby and I stumbled onto this Faux Leather and I fell in love. Kind of made me feel rebellious... tough biker chick ha ha. My vision was long leather duster with some ripped jeans or wrap dress that I could dress up or down. 

The leather was surprisingly soft and I thought I needed to switch needles but my universal needle was fine. These were my modifications to the pattern:

Double pleats on each side of the front skirt - Left out
Zipper on back - Left out, cut as a fold
Center front of skirt - Cut for the wrap or jacket effect
Used Front skirt pattern because I lost the back one. Couldn't find it for the life of me LOL. Yes my sewing room is a mess LOL
I Would add buttons to the front skirt but I like the way it is for now.

And that was that. Do not adjust your screens you are not in the matrix and the Faux Leather looks better in person than it does in pictures. I promise you I didn't use a garbage bag LOL.Oh And this is not summer friendly, I was sweating bullets just taking pictures in this LOL... How does it look? Yay or Nay, How would you style this? Let me know

Oh my, how did I get this old? LOL. Actually, I am extremely grateful to see another year and yes I feel older. I found myself reflecting and panicking feeling I haven't accomplished as much as I thought I should have, but y'all that was the devil talking. If you sit down and take an inventory of the many things good in your life you can absolutely find them and that is what I chose to do. Appreciate how far I have come and be grateful for where God has placed me and hopeful for where he is taking me still.

On to clothing. I wanted to represent my brand (why not). I also knew I wanted something white to celebrate light, purity, new birth and something floral to celebrate blooming, growth and of course beauty. I had made a few of my Mona Dusters and each time I would make one, I would want to keep it. So I decided, let me make one for myself. I found the perfect fabric and gifted myself with the Mona Duster. In going with my theme of white, I quickly made a white tube dress to go under the duster. Guys this duster can pair with anything. I wore shorts through the day and I kept trying it on with the shorts and it worked. But my theme was white and voila. I had a great birthday evening with hubby and as it never fails, the Mona (look) Duster was a head turner. Everyone kept staring at me. That was good right?

When Bupe told me she needed a dress for her baby shower I jumped at the opportunity to make one for her. I have never done one and love the dresses I see momma's to be wear for their showers and maternity shoots. There is just something beautiful, radiant and awe inspiring about a momma to be. I wanted Bupe to feel and look Beautiful.

After figuring out what color and style she wanted I got to work. The truth is Bupe is very easy going and her only must haves was lace. She loves lace just like me, so I found the perfect lace fabric from fabric.com, some chiffon and originally a techno scuba which I switched up for a poly spandex crepe fabric from Joann's. My original pattern thought was Mimi G's 8045 which had ruching on the side and figured it would be perfect for ease on the belly area. Scratched that and ended up using Butterick 6438  for the top (modified and McCall's M6886 for the bottom. I also wanted to give her options of cold shoulders but it seems no one was a fan of those LOL. Another added option was a detachable skirt overlay for her shoot but she decided to wear it for her shower too. Overall I thought this turned out amazing and Bupe looked beautiful and radiant wouldn't you say?

If you know me you know that I struggle with fear, public speaking, insecurity and being an introvert. You also know that I can do many things but prefer to do them for my close knit circle. My journey this year 2017 has been to push out of my comfort zone and share the talents I have been given because really your gifts are meant to be shared.

In my journey to do this, I had the opportunity to serve and pour into some beautiful young ladies this weekend. A fish out of water, and totally out of my comfort zone I made the decision to be a part of this amazing vision by Danielle Latoya Williams and Nikki Woods who created and founded the Queen Bee Inc initiative.  One of the goals of this initiative is to be a positive influence to our young girls when the media seems to have a stronger pull on them. Exposing these young ladies to alternatives, more positive situations.

To be honest, I didn't think I could offer much but then I remembered I am where I am because someone planted a seed in me, I was fortunate enough to have alot of exposure and so what better way to pay it forward than to teach what I know. Sewing✂️✂️✂️.

The Plan

The plan of the camp involved helping the young ladies create vision boards teaching them to have a vision for their lives. An etiquette session, a much-needed session in today's world where manners seem optional. Christ-centered living, career selection and goals, health, and wellness, Fine dining, Mansion tour, financial literacy, Saving and personal care. Where did I come in? I figured sewing was a great skill to have when you had an emergency (clothes rip) or if you wanted to make a living out of it (prom dresses) and also to plant the seed that with many things we pay others but if we learned the skill, they could be paid doing what they love. The plan was to teach the basics of a sewing machine and how to use it, make a tote bag and decorate it with glitter.

Actual Day

I had to analyze time and space factors and realized there was not enough time and not enough room and so plan B was to teach hand sewing, do 80% of the work and let the ladies finish off the totes and that was that. We had a great time learning the running stitch and the back stitch and the ladies completed their totes and had somewhere to put all the goodies they received from the camp.



Lessons Learned

I would be remiss if I did not experience something and learn from it to give a better experience next time, so these were some lessons I learned.

• You can never do enough planning so plan for success
• Simplicity wins so plan a simple project
• Don't underestimate the power of your story. This one hit me hard because I realized I was so scared and shy that all I did was introduce myself. I didn't tell the ladies of my journey and why I chose sewing and so I wonder if they really got the why behind it all.
• Stay calm and breath
• Accept help when it is offered
• Ask for Help
• Help where you can
• Be patient 
• Have fun
• Enjoy the process
• Remember it not about you