One Step is Never Just One

Got the Rehcy Vonne photos from the photographer, Yay!!! Thanks Okeye!! So that's one step completed... oh wait... now I have to find a conversion program for the CR2 format that the photos came in!! Then convert the photos, edit the photos, load the photos...hmm, it's always more than just one simple step. I'll get photos up for you guys as soon as I get my butt to work on it!

As for the confirming a salon to do the hair & make-up for the SBDC show, still working on that. Have one interested, but the boss lady is out of town until Tuesday. Let you know how it goes. Keep your fingers crossed, hey, maybe even your toes too! I need all the luck I can get!!! :-P

"I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought jewelry."

Quote by Rita Rudner

**Smooth & Simple is Key**

Hey Hey Peoples!!!

How's everyone doing?!

I had a meeting with the SBDC about the Women in Business Conference and showing Rehcy Vonne there. Jeremy, designer of Avid Ymer and a Creative Ambitions producer, was there also. (I had to utilize his fashion show production knowledge. Thanks Jeremy!) It has been decided, I will be their entertainment for the conference.

I want this show to go on as smoothly and as simply as possible. It will basically be a repeat of the last show just without an actual runway. The models will be walking through tables set up for dinner. However, a few changes will be made to the garment line up, but not many. Hopefully I can get the same girls from the last show to model again, that way there is no training needed.

Thanks again to the Small Business Development Center of West Florida for giving me this opportunity.

Now I have to find a team to do hair and make-up...

Daily Concern: Editing the collection for the SBDC show.

"Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes." quote by Jack Handey

The Life of an Up-&-Coming Designer

Hey Everybody! Hope you are all doing fantastically!!!

The opportunity spoken about in my last post came from the Small Business Development Center of my area. As you know, I have previously worked with them and attended a seminar hosted by the center. The center is hosting a Women in Business conference and would like me to be the designer to show my collection at the event!! This will be a great way to market Rehcy Vonne to local business owners and will also provide an amazing avenue for Creative Ambitions to network with potential sponsors for next year's show. Thank you so much K. for thinking of me!!!

However, as of yet, I have not 100% decided to sign on to do the show. I have a telephone appointment this afternoon to discuss the details. My drawbacks would mostly be in the financial arena, does the SBDC pay for the equipment, will I be expected to rent the platform, will I have to pay the vendor fees etc. Money is tight, tight!! One can not survive on a newborn clothing line alone! That baby takes care, and comfort, and never never stops crying for more!!! lol So the hunt for some supplemental income is on!!!

Daily Concern: I need to start going to bed earlier, and get my sleeping schedule back on track. Too many daylight hours waisted sleeping!

***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?

**11 April Meeting with Models**

The main players left to right...
Jeremy Pinne- One of the Designers and the event coordinator
Yours Truly
Caroline Smith- Head designer of Janie G Couture
Okeye Mitchell- Public Relations Director and show photographer




(Pics of most of the models. A few could not make it to the meeting, so I have yet to meet a couple of my girls.)

The meeting went well, though the location was changed at the last minute to the Wingate Hotel in Destin, FL. We are very grateful to them and my friend Karen, one of the hotel managers, for letting us have the room on such short notice and at such a discounted rate. Thanks so much Wingate!

Tickets were given out at the meeting to us designers. Sooo....
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!!!! Thursday before my meeting with hair & make up at Avant Garde Salon in Destin, we will be going by Artesano, the store that sells some of my art and accessories, and asking if they will sell tickets there. Tickets are also going to go on sale at a few other places, I will announce where asap.

Notes: Was informed at the meeting that my collection will be the finale! Yay!! I am happy, but also a little more nervous now because it adds a bit more pressure. But still very pleased with it! When Okeye is talking to people about me, it's so funny. I'm listening to him and laughing to myself because I sound very impressive. HaHaHaaa Thanks for the props Okeye!

Also need to add one last thank you... Thanks so much to Brian for working as my assistant for the day! lol

Daily Concern: After meeting with my models, I want to change around some of my outfits. Do I have time to do this?
Also stopped by Jo-Ann Fabric Store today; the store did not have the knit fabric I wanted in the right color. Finding the fabric I want is always a problem in this area because there are not many fabric stores here.

Meeting & Practices with Models

Sunday, the designers and the producers of the fashion show will meet with all the models at once for the first time. We will be dividing up models amongst us. So I finally I will get to pick the rest of my girls. Yay!

I have emailed and posted to my FaceBook page some modeling tip videos I found on YouTube for my models to watch, practice, and learn from. Several of the girls are inexperienced so these videos should greatly help them.

Model fittings will commence next week, and the following Sunday I plan to be doing the photo shoot for my collection's lookbook. I have not yet decided on each of the models I will use for this. One is decided and another girl I would really like to use lives to far away :-) to do the shoot, however, she will be modeling in the show. So far, I have decided that I will only use two or three girls, and I have also decided on the theme and style for the book. Now in the next few days I need to speak with the photographer about what I am thinking of doing. I also need to contact hair and makeup.

Other news, still working to finish up my garments for the fashion show. Absolutely can not wait until I am through with them and I can move on to accessories!

Here are links to the videos I found on YouTube that I would like my models to practice...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPpMea5Lod8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AauUshLt0s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOLoXOaLAaw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Webr5nAac

*Trying to be a Super Hero*

(Artwork by ComfortLove on Deviantart.com)

So when I started this blog, I was doing it as an informative step by step on starting a clothing/accessories line. Then the Creative Ambitions Night of Fashion was thrown at me, and I am attempting to seize the opportunity...

First I had planned on starting an accessory line and later a clothing line, but with the show, I am starting both a clothing line and an accessory line at once. My main focus right now is still on creating and making my accessory line successful. However, a lot has changed because of the show. The order of steps I had originally planned have been thrown all out of whack, but I guess that is how the industry, and life for that matter, goes. It has been a huge amount of work, I mean, I knew it was going to be, but DANG!! It has taken over every aspect of my life; I did expect it to do this, but I did believe that I would at least have time to breathe. HaHaHaaaaaa, I was wrong!

The Creative Ambitions show is in 35 days, and I wish I had at least 75 days! I still have so much to do!!! AAAAHHHHH!!!

Here is an updated plan on what I hope to accomplish in time for the show...

April 10- All garments completed, excluding a few zippers and closures

April 13- All zippers/closures completed

April 15- Logo designed, Business cards designed

April 16- Business cards ordered, Fictitious name filed online,Begin show accessories

April 19- Necessary legal documents applied for/ filed,

April 20- Etsy store completely ready to open

April 21- Website active, Facebook page active

April 28- Show jewelry/accessories completed excluding handbags

May 1- Etsy store open with very limited stock

May 4- Show handbags completed

May 3-6- Build stock for Etsy store, Last minute show details

May 7- CEATIVE AMBITIONS FASHION SHOW aka lose my mind & have a nervous breakdown

No personal calls or outings until after May 7!!! lol...seriously

(I do not claim ownership of the photo in this post)

First Vlog, New Producers, & Meetings

On with New Producers

Hey Everyone!

All attempts at convincing the original producer to continue with the show have failed. With that said, I will now entertain an overused cliche...THE SHOW MUST GO ON!!!

I have spoken once with the new producer in charge. He seems to have his stuff together, so I'm happy about that. However, with all the chaos going on, my work has suffered, and I am now about a week behind. Hopefully God will help me catch up!!

Also, with the new producer, the main benefactor has been changed to the Boys & Girls Club, with a smaller donation going to the American Cancer Society. I'm wondering how this will change our audience and sponsors. Different people will be interested in supporting the Boys & Girls Club, than were wanting to support the American Cancer Society. I don't know...

Working Hard on Dreams!

Trust & Disaster

Last time I posted, I informed you that I would be meeting with the show's producer about some issues I was having with how the show is being run. In talking to him I informed him that I believed he should take more control over how certain aspects were being handled, and that all final decisions should go through him since this all has been his vision. Things seemed to go well, I believed him to be in agreement, and I walked away believing he was going to step up and take control again. Boy was I wrong...

Turns out that the problems run deeper than I knew. People are not getting along, and certain people are suffering from a serious power craving. The head producer emailed me the day after the meeting and stated that he was resigning from the show. Yes, resigning!! Don't ask me how the original producer and vision-air can resign because I have no idea how! Yes, it is crazy. Apparently there are some major trust issues going on in the show's production. The show is supposed to be continuing on with another producer in charge. However, I spoke to one of the producers, and they stated they would not be doing the show without the original producer. I also am most likely not going to do the show without him. The person who has been put in charge has been the one causing difficulties, and I will not have my image and name tarnished because of their power issues.

I am highly upset and disappointed right now. I believe the original producer should continue with the show. It was his dream, and he was very passionate about it, and it would be such a waste if he quit because of someone with a power hungry diva complex.

I'm going to try to talk him into continuing being the show's producer. He deserves this, and he's put to much work in it to watch it turn into a mockery of his original vision.

I'll keep everyone updated.

Wish us the best in taking back the show!!

Another Work In Progress

Here's a peek at a garment I'm working on for the fashion show. It's been work, work, work, keeping up with my accessory line, clients, and working on garments for the show. I don't think I even know what sleep is anymore!

Also to remind you, today I will be attending the Starting a Business Seminar with my area's Small Business Development Center. It will be held at the University of West Florida Fort Walton campus. I'll inform everyone on how it goes.

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!

Some Inspiration for ACS Fashion Show

Here are some looks that have helped inspire this collection. I'm thinking Victorian-rock vampire meets Greek goddess, sheers contrasted with tough leathers/pleathers. The basis of the collection will be a combination of the first two pictures, looks from Charlotte Ronson Spring 2010 and Ann Demeulemeester Spring 2010). The other photos will inspire certain features, for example the feel of the coats. We will see how close I stick to this concept! lol

(Photos: Look 1: Charlotte Ronson Spring 2010, Look 2: Ann Demeulemeester Spring 2010, Look 3: Carlos Miele Spring 2010, Look 4: Burberry Prorsum Spring 2010, Look 5: Aquascutum Spring 2010
All photos in this post copyright: Style.com)

First Sketches

Hey Hey!
Here's the first idea sketches for the fashion show. These are rough drafts; I may post more detailed sketches for each garment as I go along.

Questions & comments welcome! Let me hear it!!!

Workin' on Dreams!!!!!!!!

Busy-Ness

Hey Hey People!!!

Several things have been going on these last few days. Time to fill you all in...

The SBA returned my call, and I now have an appointment for a phone interview on Tuesday 19 January 2010. Hopefully that goes well.

A new manager took over Stella, the boutique in Fort Walton Beach Florida that carries some of my accessories and paintings. The new manager told one of my close friends that she really likes my work and wants me to call her about putting in some more product. BLAH!! Phone calls!!! lol This is a blessing and a curse all wrapped up into one. The blessing comes from more product in store equals more sold. The curse part being that more product equals a lot more work!! Also, the manager stated that she's thinking of going with a particular theme in the store. Uh-oh, I don't know how that will be.

Next, the government sent me a prospective jury summons for a case scheduled to begin soon. Now I am all for serving my duty as an United States citizen, but the case is expected to last three months!! Yes, three months, Monday-Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm!!! The case would continue through the date of the fashion show. Now how am I supposed to create a collection for the benefit of the American Cancer Society, start my own apparel/accessory company, keep up my freelance work, and work a stable job while I'm spending nine hours everyday at the dang courthouse which is located over an hour drive both ways!!! Keeping my fingers crossed that this case settles out of court.

Lastly, I've done some sketches for the show. These are very quick sketches just to get my ideas down. I may or may not go back & add more details. For the collection I'm thinking layered sheers contrasted with black leathers & pleathers. I'll load the sketches for everyone to see.

Fashion Show

Hey Hey,

First off today, the SBA called me today, but I missed the call. Wow, they contacted me a lot quicker than I expected! I returned the call, and left a message on the woman's answering machine that contacted me. Hopefully, I'll be able to speak with someone tomorrow.

Now for some exciting news... I will be showing a clothing collection along with my accessories in a fashion show for the benefit of the American Cancer Society on 7 May 2010!! A friend of mine, Tim, is putting on this show in honor of his late mother. This is going to be a whole lot of work!! Exciting though!!

Tim and I met today to go over some paperwork and deadlines for the show. I signed a contract stating that in the event that I do not meet the deadlines/requirements I would not be allowed to participate. Better get on it!! lol This will be the first show I've done since college. Have to say I'm a bit nervous!! :-P

I'll keep you guys up to date on the goings on in preparation for the show.

Exciting, exciting!!!