Titania....

So, I recently posted this note on Craigslist and I've been getting a crazy amount of responses, so thank you for that, people who've written in.
I'm trying to expand the brand so that it doesn't remain in 'hobby' status any longer. I need people to work with me on this. If that includes you, then by all means contact me!
I'm an established indie designer with press (Washington Post, NEET, Washington City Paper, Bust Magazine), store contacts, tv appearances, etc. under my belt who would like to expand my existing dressmaking business to include more custom orders, including building the custom wedding dress segment of the business.
I am looking for people who are creative, determined, skilled in sewing, patternmaking, PR,even marketing, and who are most of all patient and realistic about the time it takes to build a label. Recent graduates and/or students welcome! You need to be able to think outside of the box - This is a business that could easily get investors but it needs to be streamlined, and that is what I'm too busy to figure out on my own.
It's okay if you already have a full-time job - so do I, but I need people who have vision and want to be part of a business that will grow and grow. If you are serious and can devote time and energy, please contact me. We'll share the profits as they come in.

It's crazy how many responses I've gotten so far, people are sending me their resumes and everything. I'm not sure if the listing makes it clear that I need partners more than employees? Hmm.

In other news, the MP wedding dress continues apace (hence the title of this post for all you fellow Shakespeare nerds) - it's nearly done and is really looking like it'll be awesome! We had our last fitting on Wednesday and my my bride is all smiles despite the raw edges and pins and general messiness. When people request custom clothing, I don't think they realize how much work goes into it, and I try really hard to make the whole process easy and fun and safe- I go fabric shopping with you, I bring sketches and lookbooks and costume books and magazines, we watch tv and pick out shoes and even underwear (though I won't say who I had to do that for, but it has definitely happened!).
The end result is usually something pretty darn good, though:
A lot of the ladies that I've met here in SF are about to get hitched (seriously, this is the coupliest city EVER), and it's really fun to watch them getting excited about it. I really, really hope I get to experience that one day too, day, but in the meantime I'm glad that I get to share in the process.

Trash into Treasure, literally (Part 1)

So every year hundreds of crafty, fashiony San Franciscans congregate in Civic Center for a great cause: St. Vincent De Paul's Discarded to Divine auction and fashion show.
What's that, you ask?
Well, anyone with a creative bent is invited to come try their hand at turning the cast-offs from St. Vincent's clothing donation bins into beautiful, recycled fashion which is then auctioned off, with the proceeds going to help St. Vinny's fund their homeless outreach programs.
Awesome, right? It's so awesome that I sent poor Anne into the sketchiest part of Civic Center at 7 am to pick and choose clothing for me to remake, and she gamely returned with some serious trash that had huge potential.
After creating your garment, accessory, etc., St. Vinny's asks that you photograph it and include any sketches, production shots, process shots, etc. to illustrate your genius and fabulosity for the judging committee. The winners in each category are those peeps who put major effort into creating something awesome and gorgeous. This competition is such a big deal that companies like Jessica McClintock are invited to create a special auction piece, and FIDM holds semester-long classes devoted entirely to the creation of D2D entries. The contest is sponsored by mega-companies like Gensler, the Gap, Levis, and Macys and culminates in a tent show, silent auction, and cocktail party for an intimate gathering of about 500.
Oh, and the best part? First they hang everyone's entries at the De Young. I had a piece of art hang in the De Young, and I didn't even have to sneak it in! When am I ever going to be able to say that again, huh?

So I'm posting these humungo pictures of my entry on Flickr from start to finish so you can see that I tried. If I had known how much work some people put into their entries though (the people's choice winner made a corset out of a leather suitcase, because she is rad like that)I would have really pulled out all the stops. Next year, it's on. Friendly competition my butt.

Anyway, I will post more about this event (plus my pics of the fashion show) but you should really check out the website here: http://www.svdp-sf.org/DISCARDED/index.html

Kiss me Once, Kiss me Twice

It's been a long, long time since I updated this bad boy, huh?
Sorry about that.
Today I'm super-happy because I finally got pictures of the wedding dress that I made last year and the bride looks so happy and pretty and awesome that I have to share at least one of them:
I'm also, of course, beyond ECSTATIC about CA legalizing gay marriage yesterday. Well, at least provisionally anyway, but it's legal for now, so let's celebrate! Any soon to be brides out there, contact me and let's chat! :)

I've been up to all sorts of things lately, and now that the Craft Congress is over (Whew! That was amazing. I will have to make another post about it), I have to focus on getting ready for Capsule next week (yipes!) and finish up the orders from the custom dress party I held last week.
Wait, you didn't know?
Yes, ladies (or whoever), if you live in the SF Bay area, you too can have Ms. Mignonette come to your house and design gorgeous pieces just for you. If you're interested, just email me!

Holiday Fair mayhem

Nearly forgot!

If you're in the San Francisco area and want to get your paws on some amazing Mignonette bargains for the holidays, I will be making appearances at the following events:

Even More Bazaar
Saturday, December 1 and Sunday, December 2
2 pm - 11 pm (Art show opening in the evening, with DJ's & bar)

Indie Mart

Sunday, December 9, 12-5 PM, 12 Galaxies Bar on Mission by 22nd Street

Indie Wrap Up at the Craft Gym

5-11 pm

1452 Bush St (between Van Ness & Polk) in San Francisco

IPride
3rd Annual Sparkl* Holiday Family Craft Celebration

Saturday, December 15, 2007, 11AM - 4PM
2436 Sacramento Street, Berkeley, CA

Jewelry from local artisans * Art from around the world * Prizes * Homemade holiday treats * Creative wearables * Raffle * Face painting * Kids crafts projects * Refreshments * Silent bidding on handcrafted children's books with multiracial themes.

California, here I come

Well, okay, we've actually been here for almost two months, waaaaay too swamped to get anything posted on here, and with barely enough time to breathe. In fact, since I started at Mervyns in September, I haven't had time to do much of anything, not even unpack, so whenever I get wicked stressed out I take a look at this pic, which is currently my screen saver at work. It is my friend Ann's kitty Lester sitting on her boyfriend's head. I don't know why this picture is so funny but there's something about it that just cheers me up every time I see it, so I hope you will also get a kick out of it!

Yay! A little bloggy love on a Friday afternoon

Hooray!

Today is my girlfriend's 30th birthday,and the countdown begins for the big move - just one more week and we're out! I'm super-frazzled, so I was quite pleased to open my inbox just now and find the following kind words about La Mode D'Indie from Lola of the Lola Collection. Rockin'!
Check it out or just look here:

My friend Kristin Eno of Pixie Petals and Halflight at etsy has turned me on to a great blog. Run by Kpoene of Miss Mignonette on etsy, La Mode D'indie is a wealth of information not only about Kpoene's wonderful work and design, but of other fine designers as well. I love her style of writing, fun and entertaining...you really get the sense that you are sitting down and chatting with her.

If you are on the lookout for a new favorite jewelry designer, some fresh stationary, or a one of a kind piece to complete your Saturday night date outfit, I strongly suggest checking out this blog.

Cheers!

Lola

Pretty Pretty - Witty Workshop

It is an unfortunate fact that with the advent of email and texting people have lost the ability to write a simple, heartfelt note. Gone are the days when calligraphy was a common skill and every woman worth her weight in white gloves and suede pumps kept monogrammed notepaper as a matter of course.

Alas, these days you're lucky if you get a thank-you note after a job interview, so what's an old-fashioned gal to do when she wants to say something heartfelt without the aid of a keyboard?

As often happens in those situations where life feels increasingly hasty, shallow, and filled with honking horns, a gentle arbiter of taste and style has come to the rescue: Witty Workshop!



Montreal's Valerie Parizeault has created Witty Workshop, a line of beautifully illustrated notecards, stationery, drawings, prints, and even sticker sets that feature the kind of idyllic scenes - tea parties, carousel rides, and introspective moments- that make me long for an endless vacation in the Jardin du Luxembourg, or at least a sunny Saturday at the Cloisters.

A connoisseur of all things indie, Valerie draws on nature, children, and unabashed whimsy to create her pieces, transmits it all to the canvas of her Mac, and then shares it with us.

She has the unique ability to capture private moments and infuse them with a quiet sense of magic, or to capture truly magical moments and make them outstanding. An artist and graphic designer by trade, Valerie will work with you to create custom images - personalied stationery anyone? What about your own logo?
As for her line of preprinted cards, even if your idea of a perfect childhood doesn't involve wearing white pinafores and giant hairbows, you'll be inspired to send one of Witty Workshop's glamorous ladies or soothing, gorgeous collages (check out "I Was Meant To Love You") to remind your friends, lovers, and others that the best way to reach out and touch someone is to simply say "Thinking of You". Check out the world of Witty Workshop on Etsy and you'll soon learn to appreciate the pleasures of the written word.