***Finished and Done***

Hey Everybody!!

The Creative Ambitions Night of Fashion was a great success! Show went on without any huge mess ups. I have posted a Flickr photo-stream on the side bar. Check it out! More pictures to come soon.

Several people and stores are interested in buying so yay, yay, yay!!! I'll keep you guys updated on everything!

As all fashion shows go, there were a few mistakes. Wardrobe malfunctions, last minute changes, the wrong lights being turned on in the middle of Janie G Couture, and yours truly tripping as I walked up on the stage! lol Of course! The biggest mistake happened when we forgot to thank Avant Garde Salon on stage during the show. So I'm saying my thank yous right now... Thank you Avant Garde Salon for all your work in making the show and making my models look amazing!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

Thanks to Tim Smith for thinking of me in the first place and asking me to be in the show.

Thanks to my friend Steve Burrows for creating the backdrop for the show, and Artesano for displaying art at the reception.

Thanks to all my models for doing such a great job! Especially thanks to one of my best friends and model, Ashley. I love you, girl!

Thanks to Caroline Smith, the Janie G Couture designer, for switching a model with me at the last minute.

Thanks to the North West Florida Ballet for doing such an amazing dance and intro to Rehcy Vonne.

Thanks to my best buddy Cole for all her help, support and understanding throughout this entire event. Love you!

Thanks to Kiesha for her last minute help.

Thanks to my family for all their help and support. Thanks Dad and especially Mom. Thanks to my youngest bro, Javan, for filming the photo-shoot, backstage, and the show itself. Thanks to my sister, Aurora, for being a great assistant. Also thanks to my two cousins, Cassie & Caleb, for assisting at the show and doing hair and make-up at the photo-shoot. And thanks to my Aunt Monique for my lovely card and gift.

Thanks to my Brian for his support throughout all my break downs, stress outs, freak outs, busyness, dragging him to model practices and meetings, and everything else. And thanks for dinner. Thanks Care Bear!

And a very special thanks to Ramal Productions' Jeremy Pinne & Okeye Mitchell all their support and letting me be a designer in the Creative Ambitions Night of Fashion!!! You two are amazing!!!! Thank you, thank you!!!!

I can't believe it's done, I am so relieved, and have finally caught up on sleep!

Love and Thanks to everyone!!

Workin' on Dreams!

Daily Concern: What to do for next year?

**Chaos the Day Before...Of Course**

Two models AWOL and one with a twisted ankle. Of course it has to happen the day before the show. Desperately searching for replacements. I really do not need this stress today! Lord, please find me a Tyra Banks in the next couple hours!!

Other than that, practice went well last night.

Just over 24 hours until we start putting models in hair and make-up!!! Everyone excited?

**6ft Tall feet**

Cutting out a bikini

Running out of thread because I've been serging till my fingers bleed!

Making beads

Today I tried my hand at creating a woven belt, and I have to say it turned out pretty nice. Yay!! Also been working on swimsuits all day and tweaking some of my other garments for the shoot tomorrow.

Also called a few people today to see if they could get a couple models for the fashion show because I am still short a few girls. It's starting to look like I may have to pull one of the garments from the show so that I can have enough girls. Pray that I have enough models, please!

If all goes well, tomorrow is the photoshoot, finally!! I called up two of my cousins to do hair and makeup. Now I know for sure we'll have stylist there this time. Another thing, several of my models do not have black heels for the shoot. What the heck? I thought black heels were a requirement to be a woman! I would let my models borrow some of my 70+ pairs, but their all almost 6ft tall! Just in case you didn't know, 6ft tall feet do not fit in 5'2" feet aka my baby shoes! lol So I had to run over to my friend's house and borrow several pairs. Thank God for friends that love shoes!! Thanks Cole, I'll get them back to you safely.

It really is non-stop work. I need a vacation! But that's not going to happen because I have four clients lined up for me to do projects for them as soon as the show is over. Projects ranging from painting portraits to alterations to creating wedding garments. After the show, I plan on slowing and soon actually stopping with the other projects. That way all my time will be focused on making this clothing line and the accessory line successful.

Daily Concerns:
Will I get any sleep tonight? Will the photoshoot go smoothly? I'm freaking out a little bit here!!

Model, Store Grand Opening, & Sew Sew Sew

(Here is a one of the show garments in progress.)

This past weekend I went to a wedding an found another model, so that brings the count up to 6 out of 11. Whoo Hoo! In other news, lets see...there's been sewing, patterning, and more ummm sewing! Yay!! lol

Last Friday, was the Grand Opening/Re-opening of the store that sells my art and accessories. It is now under new ownership and a new name, Artesano Jewels. I sold some accessories! Whoo hoo!!

As far as the show is going, all three designers are madly working on completing their lines and we are planning to do a model practice and fittings the first week of April. Also we will be shooting look books of our lines sometime in April. I have to figure out what I want to have as the theme, style, look etc. Hmmm, what to do...

Needing Some Nap Time

(Pic: My current designer page on CreativeAmbitionsFashion.com . The site is still under some construction. Looking good so far guys!)

Since my last post several things have gone on...

I met with the current producers. I was a bit worried about how it would go, but everything went smoothly. Everything appears to be together, and they are very excited about the show. :-) Big ideas going on.

Five out of the eleven models needed for my line have been chosen. Yay!! I will post pictures of them later.

The producers, one of them being a photographer, did a photo-shoot of me. They wanted all the designers to have one done so that they could put designer profiles on the show's website, www.creativeambitionsfashion.com (still undergoing some construction). The shoot was only mildly embarrassing and nerve racking. lol The photographer, Okeye, was great, and my pictures turned out good. So I am happy, however, I would prefer that I not have to do another shoot anytime soon. Mostly because my arms never know what to do, annoying skinny things! :-P I think next time I'll just try to emulate Schwarzenegger in Mr. Universe. :-P

A preview party with Vie Magazine has been discussed. The party will "preview" a few looks from each of the three designers' lines. This will be for the benefit of the companies advertising with Vie Magazine and sponsors of the show. I have not yet decided on which garments will be shown at the party. Vie magazine's website is www.viezine.com .

Decisions... I believe that I have finally settled on the show line up for my garments. We'll see how long this decision lasts!

Next week I hope to do a few fittings so I can start deciding which models will wear what. Right now, I'm thinking the taller girls, 5'9" & up, will wear the longer dresses because I would like these dresses to be worn with flats. Pants and shorter dresses will be shown with heels and worn by the shorter models, 5'6"- 5-8". This set up will create more of a uniform flow on the catwalk.

I am currently decided on what hair and make up looks that will create the feel I want. I'm thinking defined eyes with a very natural, glowing look to the rest of the face. Hair will most likely be pulled away from the face into loose ponytails and buns.

Music still needs to be decided on, and I have yet to figure out what direction I'd like to go with. I want something strong but still soft. Any ideas?

Also working on a new website.

Other than that, I have given up anything resembling a social life and have spent everyday working on garments for the show and commissioned work for other clients. No more sleepy for Anna Maria...

Lack of Models

The second day of casting did not go very well. A smaller amount of people auditioned than we expected. Now another casting is being held in Pensacola, Florida in two weeks. Hopefully, we will have enough. I am worried that there will be a shortage. If a shortage occurs, then the show will not be able to go on. So naturally I am a little stressed and frustrated right now. Looks like I'm going to have to recruit random people on the street. Can this area provide us with enough models? I truly do not know.

Model Casting & Grandma in Stilettos

Yesterday we had the first day of the model casting for the fashion show for the American Cancer Society. Only a very small amount of people auditioned, and now I'm a little worried that we will not have enough models for the show. Looks like we're going to have to scrounge up more some how...GRANDMA!!!! :-P Tomorrow will be a better day, right?

In business news... I am registering to take a Starting a Business seminar at the Small Business Development Center at the University of West Florida. My contact with the center recommended the seminar to me. It cost $35.00, and I'm broke so it better be worth it!! lol

Other than that, I have been working on some garments and accessories for the show. (Will post pictures soon)

Lots of work, and lack of sleep!!! An assistant/intern definitely is needed, and I will be taking on one soon.

Tips for the day:
Girls, when you show up for a model casting, make sure you bring a pair of heels with you and stand up straight, please.

Meetings & Construction

Hey Hey!!

Been a few days since I last posted so it's about time to update everyone on what's been going on...

This past week I met with Jessica, the person who will be helping provide models for the fashion show, for the first time. She runs her own model promotion company. However, I did forget to get the name of the company. I will have to do that and let everyone know. The meeting was for me to give her a good description of the size and look I would like my models to be.

The rest of the week has been spent working on garments for the show. For a few days, I had to work through a headache, but all is well now!! No excuses!! lol I'll post some pictures of some of my progress.

Workin' on Dreams!

Intro to Anna Maria and 365 Days to Runway

Hey Hey Everybody!!!

Just writing to introduce myself a little. My name is Anna Maria, and my degree is in Apparel Design and Textiles. I've in the fashion industry for a few years, with experience in New York City on an urban line and also have experience with a specialty line in Paris, France. For the past two years, I've been working miscellaneous jobs and surviving as a starving artist. (HaHa) Technically I've been avoiding working a "real" job ;-) because I enjoy the freedom of making my own schedule. I love it!!!

In the world today, television shows, magazines, and web-zines make the fashion industry out to be entirely beautiful and glamorous. Don't get me wrong, there are glamorous aspects in the industry i.e. celebrities, travel, art, but these are only a very small percentage of the whole. A beautiful clothing line doesn't just pop out of sketch over night. Blood, sweat, months of work, and many, many hands goes into creating each garment. Everyday I meet people that have no idea what the fashion industry truly is. Friends come up to me saying, "Hey, I saw this leather jacket on a movie, could you make one like it for me by this weekend?" which just happens to be only three days away. They do not realize how much work and time goes into creating a custom garment. Yes, yes, I know some of you are thinking about a certain runway show right now, and yes, I know they create their garments in just a couple days. However, you also notice that often the garments are left uncompleted, and I bet that if you turn those dresses inside out the finishing is most likely not up to par.

Since college I've been wanting to start my own clothing or accessory line, but haven't been able to keep myself focused on this goal. A local gallery and boutique does sell some of my art and my accessory "line." Quotations are placed around line due to the fact that the actual line is a very small amount of items that have yet to have the name made official. I am out to change this...

The blog will consist of my day to day journey of creating a fashion line from start to runway in 365 days. Every detail will be included from the more mundane aspects consisting of such things as fictitious names, legal, trademarks, and financing, as well as, the more creative parts that I personally consider more fun i.e. inspiration, sketching, finding models, and photo shoots. You will get the dirty and gritty along with the shiny and sparkley. My freak outs and my fashion highs. I hope you enjoy the ride, or at the very least, learn a little something.

Remember, 365 Days to Runway...

Working on Making Dreams Reality,

Anna Maria