If you are not NEW here then you know that I'm a designer. I went to school for it, and got my Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design and Marketing. You would also know that this has not been an easy journey. Balancing family, health and more has always been a lot in the midst of that, but it seems that in the last few months, I've found myself back at a dream through an old passion.
Recently I joined a church home and one Sunday I saw a very exuberant dancer. I danced from my seat and she called me up. The connection was instant! We exchanged numbers and began the dance ministry at our new church. I had no dance garments at the time, and she loaned a dance garment to me. She didn't know though that I had a plan. I didn't want to KEEP the dress and actually I gave that dress to my daughter who is about to begin her dance journey.
Shortly after, I began making overlays. My first few overlays were just an experiment. I just wanted to see if the concept and function was what I thought it would be. Since I was limited with fabric I decided that I'd use what I had and that was primarily cotton I bought rather cheaply from Walmart. The overlays were just a test for my patterns to see if they actually work, and I intended on creating something different right away after seeing if my design idea could come together.
Here are some photos of how that experiment went.
I don't think anyone was prepared for me to be so serious about this, and create the designs I did later on. Something unlocked in me after making these overlays and I overcame the fear of trying to make the designs I come up with. I was fine with trial and error. I felt the confidence and curiosity I used to when I was pursuing my college degree except this time I had a purpose to go ahead and do what I was doing. If not for an entire dance ministry, then for myself at least. I'm realizing that my curiosity is what drives me to get results. The fact that I'm a nerd 🤓 in real life, who researches everything is helpful so trial and error wasn't done without many YouTube tutorials and watching things online.
After we moved into our new home, my husband bought my sewing armoire and craft table. I made it my business to be as creative as possible. Understand that I've already made all my patterns for Liturgical Dancewear and some of them are from 2020. I made a collection for my senior project called "Healing in Color" and I KNEW that learning how to handle knits was a journey that I needed to take in order to complete this collection.
This was the front cover of my collection presentation.
Anyway, the idea of "being in debt" to a friend with a loaner dress bugged me so badly that I began taking whatever money I was given and making my own designs using these old patterns. I made whatever adjustments I needed to for my Palazzo pants but the leotard was so hard. Understand that in 2020 I had a baby, and then in the following 2 years I had another so my patterns were in need of serious change. I didn't know what the problem was with my leotard though and why there was this gape in the back of my leotards where it wouldn't lay on my back properly! I got so desperate I prayed God send me an angel that would tell me what to do and give me direction (cause you can do that). Well, one day I took my daughter to the doctor and the angel came through the Lyft driver! 🙌🏾 She said she had a friend who had a design business and the trick was to take it in by at least an inch on the knits. So when I got home I took out my pattern, and I cut an inch or 3/4" off the sides. After that, my leotards laid well in the back and I was so happy!!! 😩🙌🏾 I was so excited that I did a TikTok of me showing the various leotard and Palazzo pants sets I made at the time.
I also began dancing immediately in my garments at a women's conference we held in April. There was a video reel of me even clapping during praise and worship during a warfare song. 🤦🏾♀️🫣 I was literally trying to RUN from the camera lady Liturgical Dance style🤣, but wherever I turned or twirled away, she was there 😩🤣. God Bless the film crews in churches we know you are just doing your job, but SHEESH! 🙄🤣 I have to give Bernise her props though, she totally nailed it okay! 😩🤣 The reels she made for the Women's Refresh conference are amazing. As you can see this is the one where I'm clapping in the beginning and she did some beautiful film edits.
I'm still exploring various fabrics and designs to create for my dance wardrobe. It's up to 4 leotard and Palazzo Pants sets, with at least 6 overlays, and I've made some of the most beautiful combinations with these on Sundays while I dance for praise and worship.
Before you think I'm bragging about my work, I'm actually not. I'm more so amazed because sometimes I spend a lot of time sketching out designs. I usually feel sad and hurt because I can't make what I envision all the time. This was one of the times I did make what I envisioned. Before I forget, let me add that a friend of mine actually helped me finance some of my projects. I let her know that I was selling some of my handcrafted jewelry one Sunday because my goal was to make what I saw in my head. She then handed me $100 and I went right away to buy my materials for my garments. I miss my friend! I haven't seen her in church lately. I think she went out of town to help her mom. We usually link up after church and just chit-chat. She's more on the introvert side and I didn't say her name outright because I didn't ask her for permission🤷🏾♀️.
I recently posted on my TikTok about the projects I made because I don't take the time to really breathe about how much I've actually created. I kind of move from project-to-project without actually appreciating my work. And because I was in such a hurry to use the things I made, that I didn't pay attention at all to how much time I dedicated to that work. I'm learning to take it all in and have gratitude. This keeps me from losing confidence, and it helps me make a note of my accomplishments without discrediting myself, or being overly critical of my work.
I don't know if I said this but I bought a sewing machine back in 2020 and I named her Power. I did that because after losing a sewing machine and serger when my things got towed in our old car; I was angry enough to use some of my money to purchase a new sewing machine. My Stepdad bought me an overlock machine as well to replace it and I was able to use that to my benefit in these projects. This journey has been a long one with tons of hardships and unfortunate events.
In addition to this a lady I know had 3 sewing machines which she gave away to me last year. ❤️ Sometimes God will allow people to bless you although they say some really horrid things to you. I don't want to get into too many details about that, but let's just say I called her after she had an EMERGENCY surgery and she didn't care about the fact that I told her I cared about her and called to ask if she was okay. In fact she took that opportunity to demean me about something else off topic.
All I realized from that experience is that if God is obligating someone to bless me, then who am I to refuse Him? Some people are seasonal in your life and that's that. I can't control their opinion of me or God's favor for me. I think it's a lot that he would even allow my enemies to be a blessing to me. 🤷🏾♀️ Saying that is really hard to digest because we come across some very rotten people in our lifetimes but God reigns on the just and the unjust. Also the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just. So I'm Just collecting what God laid up for me! 🙌🏾
Power has been having a few troubles so those sewing machines I have as a spare have come in handy. ❤️ I've still been able to be productive and hopeful while I try to get Power fixed. Glory is in full action and I need to see if she needs any cleaning.
Here are some pictures of my work.
These are only a few of my designs, and I have plenty others that I've worn during service.
This one was one of my more simple designs and Lady Jackie gave me compliments on them after service that Sunday. I had actually made that overlay in 2020 but without the presence of my serger I lost confidence and actually just tossed it aside. After that I just never picked it up even after having my serger. When I began making my leotards and Palazzo pants, I pulled it out of the fabric bin I had stored everything in and I serged the ends as well as installed the elastic. After I completed the black base set I coupled it with the camouflage overlay and then BOOM.
I also made an actual camouflage, gold, and black dress. It isn't something I favored the most because I made a pattern mistake. Only I know of this pattern mistake and I can see it, so I haven't worn it in a while.
I'm trying to see how I would market my products in a way where I can sell them on my website. My concern right now is supply and demand, and I'm hoping that coming into this will provide a way for me.
Tell me whether you think my designs should be on my online website. 🤔 I DO want to sell them but I want to feel confident knowing that I can meet supply and demand. 🤷🏾♀️ What do you think? Leave a comment, and tell me your thoughts.
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