summer/fall 2008 clothing line
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: christian talk radio kgdp
Topic: New items

Wow, I can't believe how time flies. It's already been five months since I have felt the need to update in here. I have been busy sewing my clothing line and focusing on the pieces, fabrics, and embroideries for those.

For women's clothing my line will have the following (among custom fabrics and embroideries not explained below):

1. One piece jumper shorts with front zipper, collar, welt and embroidered pockets.

2. One piece jumper shorts with front pleats, belt and carrieres, front embroidered pockets with fabric piping and buttons.

3. Sailor inspired top with nautical stars on sleeves, ribbon trim, and a center front button w/ removeable bow in two fabrics.

4.  Babydoll style top inspired by the warm summery months. It has puff short sleeves, a triangler inset summery color fabric with buttons and rik-rak trims, and a gathered slinky fabric which starts at the waist line and hits below your hips.

5. Botanical flowering summer dress with a bias cut ruffled neckline and hem. It also has a lovely white flowered belt with embroidered flowers on the middle; it has yellow ribbon carrieres on the sides of the dress, and it ties as a bow in the back.

6. Wide leg trousers with a v yoke at the waist and hips. It will come in custom sizes and fabrics among the options of embroideries for an additional cost.

7. A lovely purse and matching large wallet with contrast fabric for the sides and handle. This will be made with your choice of fabrics and embroideries.

Next, I will be working on a infant/toddler line since I have those ages of children myself.

Take care, God bless, and much love!

 

 

update
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: rock on the radio
Topic: updates
Things have been good. Organization has been slower than planned, yet I am almost done with the sewing room. I have to finish up organizing about 50 more patterns (out of 200). I am doing it like the sewing shops do. Where you look in a book full of design pictures with dates and numbers, then I refer those numbers to a system of organized boxed patterns. This will allow me to create to my full potential. I have also organized all of my useful notebooks from design school, so I will use them for inspiration more often. I have quite a few, but here are some to name a few:
1. textiles 2. history of fashion from the beg' of world records all the way to the 21st century 3. Magazine cutots of my favorite designs including interior put in a notebook according to my fav thing about that pic: silhouette, color, texture, type of clothing, etc.
4. drawing notebook to practice in everyday 5. apparel evaluation notebook 6. Fashion stylist book 7. I'd like to start putting together more of a portfolio.
All of these things will definitely be so crucial into helping me forward my business to my goal and dreams.
I designed a clothing line the other day that I am so excited to start creating and designing for spring/summer 2008. It is going to have an elegant 60s to 70s inspired theme. I love certain styles from those decades in which I will encorporate, yet with a modern twist.
Well, this is it for now. I need to get rid of more stuff and start my mission organization again. lol.

update and organization
Mood:  hungry
Now Playing: klove
Topic: updates

Here is a quick update. I am still completing a few gifts for friends, and then I will be able to recommit to my sewing for etsy again. It is a lot harder to juggle a new fam and job than I had originally thought. It takes a great amount of organization, structure, and boundaries.

So, this week my plan is to reorganize my sewing room. It is pretty darn clean, but not organized in the manner I want it for quick and easy accessability. I plan to make pretty bins and organized bags and boxes to store my fabrics, trims, papers, etc. I have five closet/book shelves to organize in a very pretty accessible manner. Once I have this complete, I will be so much happier in this space and it will be such a great environment for creating.

I am pretty hungry, so I better get some lunch.

Oh yes, I also made my first sell on Etsy. So, I was thrilled about that. I can't wait to make more stuff. I have done a ton of market research, so I know exactly what to make and sell now.

Yippee!

 

Progress on items I will be listing soon:
Mood:  hungry
Now Playing: klove.com
Topic: New items

Beautiful Botanically Romantically dress! It is a favorite of mine. I made three. One for me, one to sell on etsy and one to sell on eBay.

Progress: I have been done with mine for weeks, yet I have more I have to do on the last two. I have to sew on the buttons, have my machine make more button holes, and they will be complete.

Time left: about another 1.5 - 2 hours.

Time altogether: too many hours to count, yet I am writing them down now. I need to for pricing purposes.

 Pillows:

Green Paisley Poem pillow. Complete. Figure out pricing upon hours worked, etc. It may be a gift for Christmas?

Hearts, flowers, and stripes: oh so feminine and friendly. Complete, yet these are for friends for Christmas.

Owl embroidery pillow: half way complete!

I need to sew on the sides, back, make and stuff pillow, and sew on buttons and loop closures!

Time left: 1.5 hours!

Blythe outfit: Hello kitty modern Blythe outfit set which includes the following: Pants, Lined Winter coat, halter dress/top, and an adorable hat!

I will be listing this set on Etsy and Ebay. I am excited about this one, for I think some people will love it as much as I do, for my Blythe.

Duties: I still have to finish the collar on the jacket, make the top and hat, and possibly tights, so it will take a bit longer than the above.

Time left: possibly 2.5-3 hours at min.

So, I plan to have these all listed by the end of the week even if I just list an item a day!

Today, my plan is to finish those dresses, Blythe outfit, and at least one pillow.

I'll figure out what I am closest to finishing today and I will list it.

Next time, I hope to teach you as well as myself more about fashion portfolios and fashion illustration. My books are inspiring!

Take care if anyone is watching.

=)

update
Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: Klove.com
Topic: updates

Well, things here are good. Here are some updates on some important topics to myself:

Etsy update:

I have 25 items up on etsy. Most of the items were recently created. Such as the scarves, essential versatile wraps, and Blythe outfits. A few of the Hello Kitty clothing items I created quite a few months ago, but I didn't sell them else where, so I am trying to sell them on etsy now.

I have not sold anything on etsy as of today which is a little discouraging since I have been on there since August. Although I have read a lot in the forums, so I am understanding why nothing is selling.

The two main reasons they aren't selling:

1) Depending on the category you list under, within ten minutes of listing, your item may end up on 5th listing page. Usually, people only search the first two to three pages since there can be thousands of pages under one category. 

2) within a week, your item is so buried in the listings, it rarely will get any new views if at all anymore. So, this means you have to try to renew it for an additional amount each time it gets buried unless it sells.

Here are some ways I can get more exposure:

1) You must list often in order for you to be seen! I think it is good to make stuff in categories that are more unique and don't have so many people listing in them, so you don't get so buried in the listings. I think this is how I have gotten more views. I only do this if my item pertains to that unique category, or else it's like spamming.

2) Promoting outside of Etsy is a must for small business people who are just staring out or are new to etsy as I.

Flickr: I promote on flickr most of all in the unique groups that pertain to my items. In one week, I've had a handful of people add me as a contact when they like what they see in my item pictures.

Myspace, I will promote on more as I grow and actually get a sale. Flickr is much easier to promote for now.

Brick and motor shops: I'd love to promote to those eventually!

Indie shops: and online stores: I want to get some of my items in those shops for more exposure.

Personal Goals:

1)I want to draw every morning for one hour before I do anything else! I am re-reading an excellent Fashion Illustration book from a class I took. I want to become a better fashion illustrator.

    I want to update my blog everyday to teach others some helpful tips on how to draw fashion illustrations.

2) I want to complete at least an item a day and list it online in at least one store.

3) I want to start my own portfolio showcasing my best skills for the purpose of selling myself for more job opportunities in the fashion fields of design.

I am also reading a good fashion portfolio book from a college class I took, so I can teach myself and some of my readers on here how to create a professional portfolio.

In my next update:

I should have pictures of my studio where the magic happens. My room is very organized. I am just finishing up some curtains for the windows, and then I will take pictures.

I am excited for Christmas and some of the gifts I am making friends.

I hope everyone has a good Christmas!

Best wishes,

Christina

Getting blog and technorati talking to one another

Technorati Profile

 I have created my blog to inspire other crafty people to create what their heart desires!  I'd also love to inspire the customers who make it possible for me to be able to live out a dream of creating and sharing.
I create richly & uniquely embellished women's attire! I have been selling my clothing online since 2000. I have an AA degree in fashion design and merchandising!
My favorite aspect of the design field are fabrics and shapes.  I love creating the most beautiful silhouette form while using amazing fabrics.

I moved!
Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: listening to my baby love suck the water out of cantalope:)
Topic: updates

Hey there! Here I will post a quick update. Last month I moved, so I have been busy unpacking and organizing. I am so excited to say that I now have an entire room dedicated to sewing and my office. We moved from a one bedroom loft, so now I actually have the room to make my magic happen. I have organized every inch of my new office, so I will definitely have to take pictures to post and show you where my magic of design happens. I've been making draperies for seven rooms in my new place as well, so I'll post those for inspiration too.

I've been researching the internet for other good websites to promote and sell my clothing. I found etsy.com It's pronounced like Betsy, yet without the B obviously. It's so much better than eBay for selling my type of items. The reason being is that the site itself was designed for selling handmade & some vintage items only, so as a buyer you know you are supporting indie designers. The other reason I love it is because the cost is only one quarter of what you would pay to list and get it sold on eBay. Another reason why I love etsy.com is because each seller is created equally. We all get 5 images for free and each listing is only 20 cents for a listing as long as four months. Additionally, all seller names must be one word without any spaces or characters besides the alphabet and numbers. So, I will definitely be listing items on etsy.com under the seller name Christinascaparisons very soon.

Dresses!
Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: radio
Topic: New items

This summer season is all about dresses! They are a must have staple in your wardrobe. Dresses of every style imaginable from ultra short, mini, knee and maxi lengths.
There is a fashion transition happening at the moment with romance in dress. Romantic looks have soft layers, floral looks, softer colors, bows, delicacy and lace!
I will have three new dresses that represent these elegant styles in my store next week. So, please take a look at that time.
Thanks for your customer support!
Take care

July 9, 2007:

Update: please read my comment I left under this blog by clicking view comments.

 

Questions
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: radio
Topic: Your Questions
If you have any questions, please post them here. I will get back to you asap.
Or, please email me at webmaster@christinas-caparisons.com

leave feedback
Mood:  energetic
Now Playing: hgtv
Topic: Customer feedback
Hey there! This blog entry is meant for my customers. If you have recently purchased clothing from my website, I'd love to have your feedback.

You can leave a comment among posting pictures of you in my creations! I truly would appreciate it and I know my new customers will as well.

I'll even do a deal with my first 100 repeat customers! If you leave me feedback and or pictures of you wearing my creations, I will give you free shipping on your next order! Thanks so much for your time.

Best regards, Christina