BK Fashion Week(end): REHCY VONNE Showing in NYC!!!

That's right my peeps, I have been invited to show in Brooklyn Fashion Week!!!
Out of hundreds of applicants they picked REHCY VONNE!!
It is an amazing honor and opportunity with worldwide press coverage.
The dates are 29 September-2 October.
REHCY VONNE & REHCY will be shown together on opening night the 29th September.
This is eco friendly/innovative night.

BK Fashion Week(end) does a charitable exchange with designers from Africa, whom will show on the 30th. To top it all off, this year they will be bringing designers from all over the world to show their collections.
Whoo, so exciting! (Blade reference, ha ha!)

I am very excited and grateful and... completely freaking out!!!
So much work to do to!! Especially since I had not planned on having the next collection completed until February of next year! So I'm going to be working my butt off until showtime!

In the next few weeks of posting, I will keep everyone updated on my
55 Days to BK Fashion Week(end)

(photos in this post owned by BK Fashion Weekend)
"Reach up as far as you can, and God will help you reach the rest of the way."
Quote by Greg Hickman

The Newest REHCY VONNE Collection is Available Now!

Shop REHCY VONNE's latest collection at

www.rehcyvonne.weebly.com

Braided Dreams Dress

Fringed Fun Flapper Dress

Wild Nights Dress

Sheer Colors Dress

Much more available at

www.rehcyvonne.weebly.com

"Go for it now.  The future is promised to no one."

Quote by Wayne Dyer

MODEL CASTING PICS! WHOOT, WHOOT!!!

A few pics from the model casting at the Wingate Hotel in Destin, FL.

Photography by Brian Kimbrough. (Thanks, Baby!!!)

The first group of models listening intently to Jeremy. ha ha

Keli Jo strutting her stuff. Go get 'em!!!

Hmm, the only people that look like they are actually down to business here are Giovanni and Okeye!

Amanda is chewing her nails and daydreaming,

Caroline is spaced out and daydreaming,

and

I'm staring at Giovanni's butt and daydreaming!! ha ha haaaaaa 

"Do not wait: the time will never be "just right." Start where you stand and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along."

Quote by Napoleon Hill

**MODEL CASTING!!**

Model Casting for the 

2011 Creative Ambitions Fashion Show

Monday 28th of February 2011

5-7pm

Wingate Hotel Conference Room

117 Palm Street

Destin, Florida

Looking for Female & Male runway models.

All proceeds for the show benefit The Children in Crises Center

REHCY VONNE's 2011 collection will be debut at the Creative Ambitions Night of Fashion

TIP OF THE DAY: BABY GOT BACK

When sketching a new design, try sketching the back of the garment first. Designing this way adds a new & different twist when you feel as if your designs are getting a little monotonous. 

FashionBeans.com

Ramona West

"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."
Quote by Will Rogers

(I do not own the photos in this post)

Creating an Online Store Made Simple

Erater.com

In my quest to setup the online store for REHCY VONNE, I discovered many useful and free tools. PayPal, with its shopping cart, options buttons, and easy payment setup helped tremendously. 

Ecrator.com makes creating an online store quick & simple. Best of all, Ecrater is free!! However when working with this site, there a few slight difficulties. I.E. returning things back to form after changing them, I still can't figure out how to do this.

Etsy.com provides another simple option to setting up your online store. Already having thousands of customers, adds a just a little bit of a jump-start to your store. :-P  Etsy does, however, charge a small fee for using their services. $0.20 per item listed and a 3% of the price of each item sold. 

Shopify.com also seems like a good site, but this one charges monthly & transaction fees. Bonus being that is offers more options than Etsy or Ecrater.

Hope this helps you in setting up your own online store!

Rehcy Vonne's open now!!

"An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail."
Quote by Edwin Land

***Official Opening of the REHCY VONNE Online Store***

Yes, it's true!!

REHCY VONNE's online store is open for business!!

Evening-wear, day-wear, & more!!!

Shop REHCY VONNE

MODEL PREVIEW FOR 2011 SHOW

Some of the wonderful, beautiful, girls that will be modeling for REHCY VONNE 

in the 

2011 Creative Ambitions Night of Fashion

Thanks so much ladies!!!

Marisa

Andrea

Jessica

Laura

HAPPY SAINT VALENTINE'S DAY!!

(I do not claim ownership the photos in this post)

***Inspiration 2011: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee**

The past several months I have been reading Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown.

The book chronicles the history the United States conquering the west and the Native Americans that lived in the region. The stories are told by the chiefs, warriors, & soldiers whom actually fought & lived during this time. Several times tears have been in my eyes while reading there heartfelt accounts of all their experiences-- much of it is quite unbelievable. 

I became truly inspired by the lives of these people, my ancestors, and thus 

the inspiration for the 2011 REHCY VONNE collection emerged...

"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset." 

Quote by Crowfoot, Blackfoot

(I do not clain ownership of the photos in this post)

FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS

Pic from the 2010 show

It's true, I have difficulty staying focused & dedicated to any certain task. Distractions are constantly pulling me away form whatever I'm currently working on. Whether it be in the form of a great new idea popping into my head & the intense desire to start working on it immediately or in the form of pure laziness. lol In the quest to conquer my focus-disability, I came across many great ideas to keep you focused & dedicated to your goals.  All kinds in all forms exist, many very similar to the last, and at first sorting though them was a little overwhelming. So I've taken the liberty of stripping them all down to the basics, grouping similars, & came up with a short to the point list.

Here is the summary/short list of the ideas I found most useful.

1. Fear failure. Make failure a non-option.

2. Get up & move, taking a quick 2-10 minute break every hour. This keeps your focus from waning.

3. Post your focus statement in a noticeable place.

4. Spend 10 minutes doing absolutely nothing each day. Great solutions & ideas come to you during this relaxed time.

5. Use a timer

6. Envision the world you will create; then write down the next 3 steps to get you there & do them!

7. Check in hourly with a motivated friend, & each of you declare your goals for the next hour.

8. Before bed each night, write your next day's goals list

9. Pretend you only have two hours to work per day. What 3-5 things would you do? Do only these 3-5 things all day everyday.

10. If you start to feel distracted, get up & take out the trash, clean out your purse etc.

11. Slay the dragon, eat the frog! Complete your most difficult task first. After that, the rest of the day is a breeze!

12. Reward yourself for staying focused.

13. Keep a photo of your hero/heroine nearby. What's more motivating than seeing Oprah watch you work?!

14. Unplug yourself from all distractions & social networking sights during your working hours. Believe me, it will still be there when you get back.

15. ONE THING AT A TIME

16. Outsource/delegate tasks hat others can do

17. Think of your past life/job and how you don't want to return to it.

18. Break down large tasks into smaller ones

19. Write a not-to-do list

20. Make your working space into an inviting environment

There you go, there's my top 20 tips for staying focused and dedicated.

Hope these help you!!

"The successful man is the average man, focused."
Quote Source Unknown

**TIME MASTER**

Some pics of my pattern process.

See my bag of pattern paper in the corner for the recycle bin?

(Note: the fabric used here is not what the final garment will be made from)

Some sketches & my faithful draping book I got in college & still continue to use.

As my design room doubles as the movie room, you can see some of the dvd collection behind the dress form. See "Psych" at the bottom? One of my most favorite shows ever!!!

For last year's collection, my typical process was taking one garment at a time from pattern to finish, however, this seemed not quite as economical time wise as I wanted. This past year I did some research on getting more accomplished in a day & making the most of your time. Turns out that many people lack the time management skills & daily productivity that they desire. Whew, glad I'm not the only one!! In my search to become a master of productivity, I came across many great articles & tips.

Attempting to implement these time management tips brought a little bit of challenge. Eeeek, are bad habits hard to break & good habits killer to create! :-P Yet, the outcome makes it definitely worth it!

Now after months of all this better time management practice, a slight advance in my own productivity began to emerge.

Thus the decision to take a different approach to the manufacturing of the 2011 collection was made.

This collection I grouped similar activities. i.e.
All pattern work done first
Second all muslins
Currently all sewing
Next all hand sewing & embellishments
Then all accessories
Finally all photo-shoots

This way produces better, faster results, as many steps in each activity become instinct when repeating them over & over again right after each-other. Definitely faster than bouncing around between very different steps in the manufacturing process. It also relieved some of the stress, for things remained more organized.

Remember that this process, even though it works for me, may not work for you. Find your own way & work it in whatever way works best for you!



"I believe cats to be spirits come to earth. A cat, I am sure, could walk on a cloud without coming through."
Quote by Jules Verne
Happy Birthday, Mr. Verne!! Thanks for always keeping me entertained!!

Starting a Clothing Line - **Tip of the Day** - Utilize Your Assets

(Check this skirt out at my store on Etsy.com)

Many would be successful entrepreneurs, I believe, make the very big and costly mistake of trying to do everything yourself. Well, at least ones that have the perfectionist syndrome (ME!). 

DO NOT DO THIS!

At this very moment people in your same entrepreneurial position are striving to be successful, working to make their dreams come true, or simply just having fun developing a hobby. Now here's something you may not know... these people can help you make your business/dream/ambition a success. USE THEIR TALENTS!!! You may say this sounds too "out for yourself," but it's not. Here's why...

YOU HELP THEM BY LETTING THEM HELP YOU!!

Yea, it's true.

You know a less experienced photographer...USE THEM! 

You don't have to have the hottest photographer in the beginning, or ever for that matter. There are plenty of lesser known photographers trying to gain experience. Many of them are amazingly talented, and looking to add to there portfolio. The best thing about this is, they will usually do a shoot FOR FREE or at least very cheap.

Same advice goes for the beauty-school student wanting more experience...

LET THEM STYLE HAIR FOR A SHOOT!! They would truly love and appreciate the opportunity.

This same idea applies to make-up artists, models, web-designers, and many more!

UTILIZE YOUR ASSETS!!

(I think this post was made to remind myself! ha ha)

The Official REHCY VONNE 2011 Collection Release Date- APRIL 9th!!

REHCY VONNE's 2011 Collection will launch

Saturday the 9th of April 2011

at the 2011 Creative Ambitions Night of Fashion!!!

Grand Boulevard, San Destin, Florida!!!

You got that? April 9th!!!

Be there!!!

This year's proceeds benefit the 

CHILDREN IN CRISES CENTER in Fort Walton Beach, FL!

REHCY VONNE's Fashion Show 2010

Here are some pics from the REHCY VONNE fashion show last May.

Comment and question to let me know what you think.

Hope you like!!!

Starting Your Own Clothing Line: **Tip of the Day**



What is an essential key to creating a clothing collection?... Fabric, obviously. ha haa! One problem when you are starting out is that many times you can not afford to buy the 1000s of yards up front that are required to last through an entire season of orders. Then you think, oh, I'll just buy what I need right now and come back for more as I need it. Hmmm, nope, because the fabric store can unexpectedly discontinue that fabric, out of freaking nowhere!!! Nevertheless, the chance must be taken. Get what you can afford, and hope more will still be available when you need it.

That will be my Starting Your Own Clothing Line: Tip of the Day  :-P  

(Knowledge gained from a trip to Jo-Ann Fabrics this afternoon.)

Behind the Scenes: Fashion Accessories Shoot

(One of the final pics. Definitely nothing professional, however, it serves the purpose needed, and that's good enough for me!!!)

My hats for the day were photographer & marketing specialist. Took up a lot more of the day than I expected. Whew, my eyes were burning from staring at the computer for so long!

Some behind the scenes pics of my set-up for photographing some REHCY accessories.

Nothing too exciting, but hey, it takes the boring to make the fabulous!!

White poster-board used as the backdrop

Bags of buttons for styling the shots

Canon Video Camera borrowed from my Brother, Javan

Super-Sellers & Marketing Tips

Rehcy Cuff Bracelet in Gold & Navy

Sold here at my Etsy.com store

A successful person makes their own way by working hard at something they love, learning from their mistakes, as well as, the mistakes of others, and by looking at how other successful people/companies succeeded.

Throughout the past week I have been reading up on marketing and promotional tips to make your online store a success. I've also examined the selling practices of Etsy.com's big time sellers. Until this week, I had nearly zero comprehension of the magnitude of success that can be gained by having an Etsy store with a decent marketing strategy. Wow, crazy!

These super-sellers have truly inspired me!

The one tip consistently given throughout my research...

HAVE AMAZING PICTURES!!

Other tips included:

Use Facebook, blogs, and other networking sites to promote your products

Find your niche

Offer special promotions or giveaways

Now time for me to get on it, and market, market, market!!

For further reading, try these informative articles:

Start the New Year With a Marketing Calendar

How to Get PR for Your Business

Daily Concern: Marketing, obviously!

"To change one's life:
Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly.
No exceptions."

Quote by William James