STEPPING OUT ON FAITH

I've been working as a Contractor for the past 8 years, since 2010 my job ended at least three times due to contracts ending and there were no other job opportunities with the company.  I found myself unemployed and looking for another 9 to 5 job.  When my job ended on June 30, 2015, I started feeling like I was a slave to the "corporate world", so I decided to STEP OUT ON FAITH and do my sewing full time.  

Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

~HEBREWS 11:1~

When I started this journey I was very nervous, well to be honest I was "scared". I didn't know how things were going to turn out, I wondered if I would be able to pay all of my bills by teaching sewing. I encountered some naysayers along the way.  But my "FRIENDS" kept encouraging me, they told me to pray about it, they told me they had confidence in me and they know everything will workout in the end.  

There were times when I did apply for jobs back in the Corporate World but I never got hired.  After each interview, I would receive a telephone about a sewing opportunity.  I KNEW that was GOD talking to me.  He was telling me to TRUST HIM.  So, that's what I did. TRUST HIM!!!!  I started looking for sewing opportunities.

I contacted several Community Centers in Prince George's County where I was already working as a part-time employee teaching sewing.  Several community centers were in need of a sewing instructor, so they hired me (to my advantage I was already in their system).  I'm also an Adjunct Professor at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM).  I contacted the Administrator at CSM to see if I can teach more classes.  They told me "yes" and added more classes to my schedule.  I also started advertising that I would be teaching sewing in my home  as well....the response was GREAT!  

One day a woman I met on Facebook (Deborah Dee Dee Mays) told me to go to a Boutique that just opened to see if I can make some clothes and sell them in her store.  It took me two days to find the Boutique because of its location. The second day I was determined to find this Boutique and I did. The Boutique had some beautiful clothing and accessories.  I asked the owner if I could place some of my custom made garments in her store.  She said very nicely that her store was not a consignment shop.  I started a conversation with the young lady sitting behind the desk, I told her I just started my sewing business full time and I that I teach sewing. To my surprise, she said she was looking for someone to teach her daughter how to sew and that her daughter was home schooled and she attends the Living Water School & Homeschool Center  http://thelivingwaterschool.blogspot.com/. I gave her my information, I also told her that I tried contacting the Home School Association via the internet but ALL of the telephone numbers were wrong.  She gave me the name and telephone number of the owner of the Living Water School & Homeschool Center and who also was connected to the Home School Association.  I contacted the owner, again to my surprise she was looking for someone to teach sewing at her school.  She was impressed with what I told her about myself and my sewing skills.  We set a date and time to meet so we could further discuss me teaching sewing at her school.  The meeting went well, She told me she was going to discuss this with the parents of her students and members of the Home School Association.  

About a  week later, I received a telephone call letting me know the response was good.  At the beginning of our conversation, we started off with me teaching one day a week for 5 weeks for a few hours, the response was so great, I was asked to teach two days a week AND to teach on a continuous basis.  I was asked to write a contract to be an Independent Contractor.  I'm soo excited to have this opportunity.  

GOD is opening doors for me.  Just think if I had not gone into that Boutique, I would not have been given this opportunity.  I believe things happen for a reason and there was a reason why I was determined to find that Boutique the second day.

One of my girlfriends gave me a T-Shirt for my birthday that says "WON'T HE DO IT".

SUMMER SEWING CLASSES

If you want to learn how to sew or if you already know how to sew and want to improve your sewing, sign up for one of my sewing classes.

Summer 2015 Sewing Classes

Creations By LaToria

(301) 661-8995

www.Creationsbylatoria.com

www.lbcreations@hotmail.com

Pre-registration and payment is required at least 48 hours before start of classes.  You will be notified if a class which you have registered for is canceled.  If you are unable to attend a class session, a 48 hour notice must be given in order to receive a refund. 

Beginning Sewing Level I - Skirt

Entry level class for true beginners, learn sewing machine basics – learn the parts of the sewing machine and how to thread a sewing machine.  This class will be a “hands on” and “learn by doing” experience.  Learning by doing is one of the best methods to learning to sew.  Students will learn how to read a pattern, the pattern layout, cutting patterns and sewing simple garments.  Students will learn how to make darts, insert a zipper and a waistband.

$100.00 plus supplies (5 weeks/2 hour session)

Dates:  Monday,  July 13, 20 & 27  Aug. 3 & 10                 Time: 6:00-8:00pm

Beginning Sewing Level II – Blouse

You will continue to learn how to read a pattern, this class you will learn how to make gathers, insert a sleeve, make a collar (if applicable), stitch around a curve, and make buttonholes.

$100.00 plus supplies (5 weeks/2 hour session)

Dates:  Wednesday, July 15, 22, & 29  Aug. 5 &12    Time:  6:00-8:00pm

Intermediate Sewing Class

Students will work on their own project under the guidance of the instructor.  The students will serve as encouragement to one another as they explore new and more challenging areas of sewing.

***LEVEL II SEWING OR EXPERIENCE IN GARMENT CONSTRUCTION IS REQUIRED***

$100.00 plus supplies (5 weeks/2 hour session)

Tuesday, July 14, 21 & 28 Aug. 4 & 11            Time:  6:00-8:00pm

PERFECT FIT CLASS

Space is limited for this class due to the attention needed by the instructor.  You will learn how to make a muslin (test garment), make alterations to the muslin to get the fit you want and use the muslin as your pattern to make your garment.  Times and dates vary, please call to check availability of class.
$130.00 - This class is 2 1/2 hours
Date & Time:  Open

COMPLETED UFO

I spent part of today completing a UFO (Unfinished Object), I don't have a many, just a few, LOL!!!  I used McCalls Pattern 6115.  I made two dresses from this pattern last year, every time I wear them I get lots of compliments.

I used fabric from my stash.  The suggested fabric is lightweight cotton and cotton blends, but I was experimenting, I used a "knit".  Of course it was too big, so I cut it down about 2 inches on each side seam to get the fit I wanted. There was about a 4 inch cream band of fabric at the bottom that matches the strap, I removed it because it made the dress longer than what I prefer.   I love wearing dresses during the summer.  There are more to come.

Me wearing the UFO

JUMPSUIT TURNED INTO HIGH WAIST PALAZZO PANTS

A friend asked me to make her birthday outfit, she was having a big party and wanted to make a statement when she walked in the room.  Well, she wanted a jumpsuit with a strapless top.  I started off using

Butterick 5797 for the top

and MCcall's 6760 for the bottom

When I started constructing the birthday outfit, we found that she was not going to be able to get into it, so we decided to make it two pieces.  I transformed the bottom of the jumpsuit in a pair of high-waist palazzo pants.  She loved it.

COSTUME PATTERN TURNED INTO A MINISTER'S ROBE

I love being creative, I was asked by a Minister to make her a Robe to preach in.  We met one day when we both were at a physical therapy center.  I taught my physical therapist how to sew and he mentioned to her that I was his sewing instructor.  After he introduced us, she proceeded to tell me how she had a jacket and skirt made to preach in but when she went to pick it up it was three times too big for her.  I made an appointment for her to be measured and to discuss what kind of robe she wanted.  She told me wanted a Chinese collar, double breasted and she "thought" she wanted a zipper in the back.  Once my creative mind started working, I made a few changes and she liked the changes.  I could not find a pattern robe so I had to think outside of the box.  I decided to look under costumes, and BAM!!!! there it was, the EXACT ROBE she wanted, Simplicity 2333

Robe in progress: she wanted a Chinese collar with purple and gold fabric for the collar and around the bottom of the sleeves

She wanted the buttons at a slant

Back  and side views

Here she is in her robe on the Pulpit.

PROM DRESS #2

Good Evening Fellow Sewers, here is a picture of Prom Dress #2.  I received a call from this young lady's mother who told me that I made one of her daughter's prom dress two years ago and she still had my phone number stored in her phone.  She told me she wanted me to make another one of her daughter's prom dresses.  As I stated before all of my prom girls come to me with a sketch or a picture.  This young lady had a picture she wanted me to duplicate.

Here's the picture of the dress she wanted duplicated.

This dress was perfect for using Vogue Pattern 2931.  I've made this dress about three times and it never failed me.

This is the FINAL version of the prom dress.  She looked absolutely beautiful.  For the layer look, I measured the width of the train in the front from the indentation to the bottom and it measured at 26 inches.  I divided that in half which came to 13 inches, I added 5/8 inch for the seam allowance at the top.  I serged the top layer all the way around, I measured from the top bottom of the bodice to the indentation and that's where I pinned all around the dress for the placement of the top layer.

 

Proud Mother and prom girl.

Proud Father and daughter. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to help her get ready for her prom.  When I received a telephone call the next day from a very excited father, I was very pleased.  He said "Ms. Bolling, my daughter was beautiful.  He kept sighing in the phone.  He said you did a fantastic job.  I have one more daughter that will be graduating in two years and you will be making her prom dress too."  It's nothing like a happy, repeat client.

PROM DRESS #1

Good Evening Sewers, it's been a long time since I've blogged but not a long time from sewing.  I've had knee surgery and now I found out that I have a pinched nerve in my neck which is causing pain in my right arm and right hand.  Of course I'm right handed, it's very painful at times.  The doctors told me to take some time off from sewing, but I couldn't do that since I've already taken the deposits for two prom dresses.  I worked through the pain and it was very challenging at times, but I GOT IT DONE!!!!

This young lady was referred to me by a fellow sewer.  I like and appreciate referrals.  When this young came to me to make her prom dress, she had a sketch like ALL of my prom girls.  I'm very particular about what kind of prom dresses I make.  I DO NOT like to make prom dresses that reveal a lot of skin because that's my name that's attached to the dress.  So when this young lady showed me her sketch, I tried to find a diplomatic way to tell her I thought the dress was revealing and showing too much.  She wanted a deep V-shape in the front and cut-outs on the side and the back.  During the muslin fitting, I was able to talk her out of the deep V-shape in the front by telling her I thought the dress was classy WITHOUT the deep V-shape in the front of the dress.  Her mother agreed.

Here is her sketch:

 


I used Butterick Pattern 5182 View A (the one in the middle)

This is the final version from her sketch and View A

 

If you're wondering how made the dress from the pattern I used, I omitted the shear part of the dress. I first did a muslin, we made the adjustments on the muslin by taking in the side seams to give her the fit she wanted and I drew the cut-outs on the muslin. Instead of having a bodice and a bottom, I marked on the muslin to keep it as  one piece.  Her mother bought a string of crystals to outline the cutouts.