That Patent Leather Pillow is Driving Me Crazy!

Status report.

I still haven't managed to close up that red leather pillow, so I can't really finish the lesson on it. What's the problem? Well I'd like to close it up neat enough to impress my readers, but that doesn't look like it's going to happen. Closing up a leather pillow is hard enough. Really. But to close a patent leather pillow is a lot harder. Patent leather is tacky, so when you run it under a sewing machine, it tends to stick to the plastic and it won't run smoothly. I've always used a bit of talc powder to alleviate that tackiness, but I don't use much for fear of getting it into the working parts of my machines and ruining them. So in the end, it didn't run under the feed dog as smoothly as I'd hoped and the stitch is messy. Usually I'd say screw it, neaten it up as much as I can and sell it. Never once had a customer complain. One look at it and they can pretty much tell why it's like that. Plus, they just don't care about stuff like that. If it's neatened up, hard to see without close analysis, customers tend to say "screw it" too. LOL!  I've been lucky.

[caption id="attachment_774" align="aligncenter" width="502" caption="Industrial sewing machine with post"][/caption]

I really should have gotten the industrial sewing machine with the post. This is the type of machine they use to make leather boots, hats and handbags. Big bulky items. I have 8 different sewing machine, but never enough of them. I'm always buying one more that will handle a new function. I hesitated getting one sent from Canada last year and now I regret it. The one pictured above cost $1200. And sad to say, it wouldn't be the most expensive machine in my collection if I were to buy it. This girl takes the tools of her trade seriously! One look at it and you see why I'm knocking myself around for not getting it. It would easily sew around a bulky pillow and never miss a beat. Tackiness wouldn't be an issue because there wouldn't be any contact with the machine except for right under the feed dog. Add a walking foot and there you go.

 

 

SharonH

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What I'm working on now.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Image via Wikipedia"][/caption]

As always, this time of year is my busiest.  I have orders out the wazoo.  Leather. Clothes. Custom orders. And new designs in the work. Of course I'm always excited about a new design. Somethings don't sell as well as others and after a certain amount of time passes I just discontinue it and move on. Gotta be flexible in this business. Any business.

One of my best sellers is my leggings. I can't make enough of them, fast enough. But do try. I know there are sellers out there that offer custom stuff in a myriad of colors and it's never-ending, but I don't work like that. With me everything has a limit. I eventually like to move on to a new style, or at least, a new color. So I buy my fabrics in bulk, and when some of them run out, I just move on to a new color. I think that's more like what you'd find at a boutique than to offer the same colors over and over.

I also sell a lot of linen item, but most of these are custom listing on Etsy. I love it. Linen is one of my most favorite fabrics to work with and you can do just about anything with it. Linen is so visually intriguing. Right now I'm working on my design for linen skinny jeans. Why not? Everybody has denim jeans. Mine will be linen. Right now I'm working on a pair of aqua and a pair of navy blue jeans. This is going to take some time as jeans are very complicated to make. While I'm creating them, I also have to create the pattern so that I'll be able to make them again later. Just part of the whole design process. So I'll have to take my time and do it right.

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Houston Fashion Week and What I've Learned About the Industry So Far

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="180" caption="Image via Wikipedia"][/caption]

Houston Fashion Week has started and true to form, it's coinciding with Fashion Weeks all over the country and world. Paris, New York and a few others are also beginning their own fashion weeks.  I was invited to take part in the first ever Houston Fashion Week, but I had to decline.

I've taken part in two fashion show. One was quite large, held at the Hilton and came with big name people. I've turned down at least ten fashion shows in the last 4 months. I doubt if I will have time to partake in anymore this year and won't be available until February of next year. I have agreed to consider doing one hosted by Denim Down Jeans at that time. Oh, let me be honest. Probably not.

The Bushes at HFW

The former president and his wonderful wife are present at Houston Fashion Week to attend the launch of their granddaughters' Lauren Bush's new clothing line. With such big names behind her, her success  is a done deal. Lucky girl!

Very nice casual collection. Houston Fashion Week promises to launch one designer's collection. Put them in contact with cut and sew shops and retail stores to sell in. This is every designers dream. It's the reason we do fashion shows. Like actors and actresses, it's like we're taking any job (or fashion show) that we can get in for the exposure. All in hopes that we will be discovered.

Other designs

Very interesting design

I love those pants!!!

Ahhhh Haute Cotour!

The problem that I have with fashion shows is that there aren't usually any industry people in attendance. HFW will have some if the Bush's are involved, but if not for a former president and his first lady being in attendance, I seriously doubt there would have been much exposure. So you could say HFW really lucked out in have Lauren Bush's participation. Fashion shows are extremely expensive, with little or no return. I would participate in more of them if shop owners and design houses took part, but they only go to the Paris, Milan and New York shows. They go where everyone wants to be seen. They go there to be seen, not to buy anything. And those women that attend local fashion shows... same thing. They go there to be seen, not to buy anything. I have received not one single sale from a fashion show and many other designers I've spoken to haven't either. Sure, there's some exposure, but it's to the wrong people. (Not including the Bushes and all that come with that set.)

This is how it works. An organization will decide to host a fashion show, sell tickets, and make money. They will invite designers to take part. Fashion designers will take part in hopes of exposure and discovery. They are expected to pay for everything, get their own models, hair stylist and makeup artist. Oh, and lets not forget, provided their designs. It cost each designer $500 to take part in Houston Fashion Week, so you can imagine the additional cost that can be incurred during an entire week of fashion functions. And all of this was to take place during our busiest time of the year. For me, this is the time to pull my business out of the red and a whole lot of retailers are gearing up for the holiday season. This was the reason why I didn't take part in Houston Fashion Week. Another reason is that most designers will be featuring haute couture gowns and formal wear. I just had to be honest. That's not what I design. I would have felt obligated to come up with more formal wear to suit the occasion and I just didn't have time.  Sadly many of the designers that participate in any fashion show will walk away a few thousand dollars broker and nothing to show for it.

Here's another industry secret. Most fashion models work for free. (Obviously, not the Naomi Campbells and Christi Brinkley's of the industry.) Yep, they are exploited. Photographers, hoping to make a name for themselves will ask a model to work "tfp" (time of print = free). He takes the pictures, she gets some copies for her portfolio and the photographer may be able to sell some of the pictures to magazines and such. Or maybe not. Both the model and the photographer will ask designers, people like me, to borrow clothes to take those pictures in. What does the designer get? Once again tfp, so we'd get some of the pictures. Maybe. Hair stylist. Makeup artist. Same crap! Everyone is asked to work for free to gain exposure and hopefully be discovered. Sad, isn't it? I am invited to do a fashion show at least once a week. I am asked to loan out my clothes every couple of weeks. Photographers are the nastiest because they really think their doing me a favor. It didn't take long being in this business to find out how things really work. I now tell photographers and models alike that my designs are for sale, give them a link to my shop and tell them to have at it with their Visa card in hand. Oh, and lets not forget these online magazines and fashion shops that will feature your designs for a small fee. Or the fashion reviewers with Facebook and blog followers that will review your stuff if you send them some free items. Never to be heard from again.

Yes folks, this is the ugly truth behind the fashion industry. I am not talking about the big names. Small fries. People like me, trying to make it in the industry. We are surrounded by people who will use us and give us nothing in return while they manage to make a few dollars for themselves. Hence, I turn down most fashion shows, I find my models on the street and I take my own damn pictures. Everyone wants something for nothing. Don't you? I certainly do.

SharonH

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Recent leather project

A customer recently ask me to redo a leather chair for her. She wanted it in the same LV leather that she had me make pillows for her.  It was one of those chairs where she sent me the leather off of it and I had to recreate the pieces that go back on the metal frame. I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to without the frame with me for trial and error fitting. Here is the finished project, sent back to her, and placed on the frame.

Black Leather Chair using LV leather

Here are the leather pillows that I created for her.

Red & Black Leather Pillows

I used to work with leather more often but have since moved to clothing design so I don't do nearly as much.  Lately I've been making a few leather fashion accessories for my clothing shop. Right now I'm working on a hair on tiger print double wrap belt. I'm not using this project for a leather sewing leather because I'm using quite a few advance techniques. Instead of using lambskin, I'm using a thick cowhide. I'm also adding studs and that requires a leather punch to make the holes. Plus I'm using the leather punch to make the belt holes and adding a buckle. So not a beginner project. Actually it could very well be a beginner's project, but it would be questionable as to whether a regular home sewing machine would be powerful enough to sew through the cowhide.  It would have to be able to sew through heavy cowhide and vinyl because I added a that to the back of it.  The maker would also have to have a leather punch kit and a stud /grommet punch. As soon as I finish the project, I'll take a picture and place it on here.

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One Hell of a Week - Update

First off I want to let everyone know that we had a death in the family. My aunt, whom I was very closed to passed away after a long battle to stay alive. She'd been in the hospital for weeks. She fought so hard. We would go visit her and her fist would be clenched. She didn't want to die, but she was called home anyway. And I miss her so much. Okay enough of that... I'll start crying again.

Club activities have kept me busy. And designing, of course. Yesterday I finally created my first leather belt project, but I'm not too pleased with it. I was going to embellish it later with silver studs. I can't find my studs.

Teal Tassel Belt

I took detailed pictures of how to do the belt. I love the color and I love the tassel. I also like how I made it long enough to wrap around twice.  Very simple to make.  What I don't like are the pictures. I didn't have any jeans to put on Amanda, so the color of the clothes on her above, don't do the teal color any justice. Anyway the belt is fun and easy to do. Can be done on a regular sewing machine. When I compile it all together into a lesson, I will offer a giveaway to the first person who comments on my blog, enough d-rings to do this project.

I am working on another belt, but it would definitely be considered an advanced project. It's with hair on cowhide leather and many of the home sewing machines couldn't handle it. A heavy duty could handle some cowhide, if it's not too thick and if you use a leather sewing needle. Unfortunately, for this project, I'm using hair on cowhide leather (That stuff is always thick, has to be to hold the hair in), backed by vinyl. I'm adding a plastic tortoise shell buckle and I'm using special leather punches to create the holes. So I can't teach this one. I rarely ever work with lambskin so I don't have much of it on hand. I prefer cowhide because it is thick and you don't have to use a stabilizer to stiffen it.

SharonH

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Model Shoot at Surfside

[caption id="attachment_498" align="alignleft" width="730" caption="South Beach Mini Tank Dress - Vertigo"][/caption]

Yesterday was a really busy day. Got up early, gathered up the model, makeup artist and a friend of mine who is a modeling coach and fashion show coordinator, and off we went to Surfside Beach. Surfside is a coastal community about 65 miles from Houston. Usually I take the pictures myself but Jesus (friend & modeling expert extraordinaire) agreed to take them. I no longer deal with photographers because they take forever to get the pictures back to you after they take them. So I bought myself a fancy schmancy camera with all the bells and whistles and I've been learning to take great photos on my own. Now that was one very wise decision.

The model, Jennifer Cook, is one that I've used before. She's the sweetest girl I've ever had the pleasure of working with, and that's what made me decide to use her again. She's not a professional full time model, so she doesn't come with any of the inherent problems that come with working with one. LOL! (I won't go into it.) Her sister Cathy Cook served as makeup artist. Me. I was the designer on site.

[caption id="attachment_496" align="alignleft" width="685" caption="Cape Cod Batwing Top"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_508" align="alignleft" width="685" caption="Tiered Mocha Chiffon Skirt"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_499" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Cape Cod Batwing Top - Evergreen"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_500" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Grecian Box Tie Dress - Avocado"][/caption]

Like I said the pictures came out awesome and I would have to give all of the credit to Jesus Lewis for pulling the best out of Jennifer and turning the entire photo shoot into a memorable occasion. I consider him a great friend. He has a lot of personal experience as a model and even more experience as a modeling coach.

To see some of the new listing I've managed to post, just click on the picture. I'm still working on getting the rest of them posted, but it might be a couple of days before I finish.

SharonH

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Fine-Threadz vs SharonH - My marketing plan

What I've been up to. Mostly I've been filling my orders. Have to stay on top of those. I have new designs coming. I mentioned those earlier in the week when I posted pictures of the new fabrics. I really haven't had time to work on my website and that goes live any day now. I noticed that the programmers have added the shopping cart. Once I get the website done, I'll give details on how I did it and the great company that I used to get me started.

All this time, my marketing plan included branding my company name. Not me the person. Sure there is a real SharonH behind the scenes. Everyone was saying take pictures, put your face and name out there, let everyone see who you are. Yada. Yada. Yada. Do you readers have any idea who Louis Vuitton is? Would you know Calvin Klein if you passed him on the street? How about the owners of Dolce & Gabbana? Probably not! I mentioned these three companies because they have successfully branded their NAME. The most prominent facial branding I can recall is Aunt Jermima and Col. Sanders. Nothing wrong with that type of branding, just not the league I want to be in. When you think about Louis Vuitton, you think of the overlapping initials all over those gorgeous overpriced handbags. When you think of Calvin Klein, you think of his signature on a pair of undies. And when you think of Dolce & Gabbana.... well who know what you think of, they have so many great products.

[caption id="attachment_417" align="alignleft" width="124" caption="Louis Vuitton"][/caption]

On some selling sites they constantly plaster their chosen artist on their front pages and ask them a bunch of questions about their artistic process and "how did you suddenly get into stringing those beads together like that?" LOL! See this is a person. This is an artist. Sure, we're all artist. But if you want to maintain success, you had better become a business person too. And you had better come up with a marketing plan for how you want to sell your ART. Art as a business seems to be a dirty word in some of these places. And god forbid you try to promote you "business". Fine-Threadz is a business who happens to have SharonH as the artist on board.

[caption id="attachment_418" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Calvin Klein"][/caption]

I just started my business Fine-Threadz, which is a subsidiary of Fine-Thangz, that has been in existence for 7 years. (I just love saying that word... subsidiary.)  That's when I started designing leather goods. Pillows, laptop bags and ottomans. Home interior goods. Only once I got to other selling venues did I feel duty bound to add SharonH to the mix. I was told buyers wanted to know me. SharonH. It was only later that I began to question that from a business standpoint. After all I would count myself as a business woman too. So that's part of the reason I created this blog. If a customer really would rather know SharonH instead of Fine-Threadz, here I am!

[caption id="attachment_419" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Dolce & Gabbana"][/caption]

After 25 years of working in marketing, travel, and oil & gas, it's just the way I think. I don't mind revealing SharonH as the backbone of Fine-Threadz, but I'm not changing my marketing plan to put SharonH before Fine-Threadz. Not gonna happen. Why? I did a Google search on Fine-Threadz! And my company name dominates the first 3 pages. Yes. I have done something right. I have branded my company name. Now it's time to build an association with that name. That mean "When you think of Fine-Threadz, you think of.....!" What? Coming up with the "what" is next. When a customer thinks of Fine-Threadz, I'd like them to think about my product, the quality of my designs and the unique comfortable clothing that I offer. I don't want them to think about some lone woman here in Houston, Texas slaving away over orders! For the personal stuff, they can come here to my blog and listen to me bitch about how much work I've got to do, my design process, and whether or not I've got a frigging hangnail. When a customer visits Fine-Threadz, I want them to see nothing but my professionalism.

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New Coming In / Old Going Out

I'm not really sure what is the design process for other designers,  but for me, I'm often inspired by the fabric itself.  Sometimes I buy a particular fabric simply because I love it. I have a whole pile of that stuff upstairs in my studio. It's just sitting there waiting for me to figure out what I want to do with it. For me, that could take weeks, months, or even years.  Then one day, voile!!!! Here it is! The perfect fabric for a new design that I see in my head and that's as far as it's gotten. Sometimes I actually set a piece of fabric beside me, waiting for inspiration to hit.

Today I got in the knits for some of my fall collection. Well it's more of a winter collection.

[caption id="attachment_373" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Charcoal Jersey Knit"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_374" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Black Jersey Knit"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_375" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Espresso Knit"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_376" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Mustard Knit"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_377" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Dark Olive Knit"][/caption]

These are some of the new colors I'll be working with. And yes, I already know what I'm going to do with these fabrics! Some of the Spring and Summers designs are on clearance in my shop to make room for the new fall designs. Everything listed to go for $12. Very limited as far as what's left. Here's the link if you'd like to check it out before it's all gone.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/finethreadz?section_id=7139673

Feel free to let me know what you think of the new colors.

SharonH

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All Leggings on Sale Now! $21 each

I said I was going to have to start working on my orders and so I am. I put my Fine-Threadz leggings on sale and they are my bestselling designs.  I decided to go ahead and shamelessly plug them while they are on sale. I reserve the right to do that constantly! LOL! So here's a picture of my leggings.....

I offer them in 9 different colors. To visit sales go here...

http://www.etsy.com/shop/finethreadz?section_id=7139673#

Sale ends on Sept 19th!

SharonH

Handbag Project is Complete

Well it is complete in that I've figured out how I want it designed. I still have the black, mustard and red to do. Here's a picture of the white bag.

Here's a picture with the my signature lining and specialty strap visible.

I stayed true to my design philosophy and kept it clean. It's actually a perfect circle. The straps are doubled, stitched and braided. I used premium black hardware for the closure and the d-rings. And of course, my signature sateen cotton fabric was used for the lining. That's done in black script over white fabric. What you don't see is that the two inside pockets are done with my other signature fabric that's colored black with white script. When I get a chance I really need to get a picture of that.

I'll be working on the other bags next week. In the meantime, if you'd like to see larger pictures and the listing on Etsy for it, go here,

http://www.etsy.com/listing/56037857/fine-threadz-lunar-3-leather-handbag

Now it's time for me to work on orders.

SharonH

Short Mention of History and How It Influences My Designs

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Image by jungmoon via Flickr"][/caption]

One of my favorite things is anime. I love it. Actually I love many thing Japanese. I even plan to visit Japan in February if another travel spot doesn't pop up in its place.  Anyway, from anime came my love of historical Japanese fashion. I have to admit the hakamas have been a huge influence on one of my designs.

What are hakamas, you ask? We've all seen them. Although Japanese hakamas go way back in their history, around  the Edo period (1603-1867 AD), the hakamas are still used today in Kendo competitions. But you have probably seen them many times on depictions of Japanese samurai. Whether it was anime, film, or pictures,  hakamas are best known as the super wide leg pants usually worn by samurai warriors.

I am, by no means, an expert on historical Japanese fashions. I wouldn't call myself an expert on anything. ( Well that's not completely true. I am an expert candlemaker (chandelier), although it is a craft I don't do as much today.  I'm also pretty good with the anime, having been watching it for many years before it became so popular here in the US. But I don't classify myself as an expert because I feel there's so much left to learn.  Not so with the candle making. ) But when it comes to fashions, like everyone, I know what I like. There is something so sexy about seeing a  man in hakamas.  Most people don't know this, but hakamas are completely open on the sides. What you see is a long kimono shirt that sticks down in them past the opening. This allows for the flexible and ease of movement that kendo competitors and samurai need to fight.

I designed my own version of the wide leg pant and made it in linen because that's one of my most favorite fabrics to work with. These are my

Samurai Linen Wide Leg Pants

As you can see I made the legs superwide and it has a gorgeous tie cut on the bias. These can be worn anywhere and they really make a statement. Linen makes the breathable and comfortable. I offer them in seven colors. To see my listing...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/51175077/samurai-linen-wide-leg-pants-chocolate

See! I did throw in some history. And I've also managed to introduce you to one of my designs. Today is a good day.

SharonH

Handbag Leather

Okay so here is a picture as promised. I'm still not finished with the first bag. I'm doing the white one first. I'll do the other three in the next couple of weeks.  Since I have a modeling shoot coming up, I wanted to be sure to have at least one bag completed.

This grain is commonly referred to as the LV grain because it became popular due to Louis Vuitton using it for their Epi collection. I think the mustard has been discontinued, but still available in black, red and white. Needless to say I'm glad to have gotten my hands on some. I don't have much and when it's gone, it's gone.

There are leather tanneries in the US that offer this same grain, just not in LV colors. With these tanneries it's called Sulky, Paris or Mojito. I may well buy more in other colors, because I am in no way trying to make my own version of the Louis Vuitton bag. They are in a class by themselves. I own a Louis Vuitton and it's my most prized bag. That and the Gucci... and the Coaches... and the Cole Haan. Okay so I like a lot of different designer bags. And I own quite a few of them.  So no, I am using this leather to make my own designer bag. It will have my very signature fabric. But I do so love this grain and I would love to get more one day.

Let me know what you think! Hopefully I'll be finished with the white bag tomorrow and I'll be sure to give a shout out when I have it listed on my website or Etsy. Stay tuned!

SharonH