To End This Year ...

Closing this year 2016 with this event Marché des Créateurs (The Makers Market) in l'Usine, Genève. 

I'd like to thank everyone, the organizers and the team at Usine for having us, the public who despite the gloomy grey and cold weather came in to support us, my clients who've appreciated my creations and who've bought my stuffs, I hope you're happy with your purchases.

I wish everyone a very happy holidays and looking forward to the new year 2017 with another creative adventures ... 

Encore une très belle aventure créative pour bien clôturer cette année.

Je voudrais remercier l'équipe et les organisatrices de Marché des Créateurs à l'Usine Genève, merci encore Elisa et Mélanie pour l'accueil, le public qui malgré les grisailles et le froid est venu nous soutenir, mes clients merci pour avoir apprécié mes créations, j'espère que vos achats vous rendront heureux ..

Je voudrais vous souhaiter une très joyeuse fin d'année et bonne fête à tous!

Wati.

Créatrice de Petits Pas.

Lining isn't a scary thing (anymore)

It's been a while I keep thinking of making a proper jacket. Proper here means, a fully lined jackets. Jackets that entirely lined. Yeah, yeah, boring for you who already done this, maybe, but to me it's completely new. Sure, I've done jackets before, they're using facings. But those kind of jackets we could only wear as a light cover-ups in mid-seasons kind of weather, but we live in Europe, and Switzerland particularly, winter too cold for light jackets. We need wool, we need fleece and knits.

So, I made up my mind, I must make my winter creations "properly" according to the season. I must learn to make a fully lined jacket. I must get this knowledge because a jacket that is fully lined will look more neat and professionally made. I decided to bring them on December's Marché de créateurs in Geneva (if I got selected again this year and I really hope so).

I started by making children jackets for girls and I choose colorful fleece fabrics for this. I'm happy with the results. I use cotton fabrics for all of the jackets lining, with different prints and colors because I think cotton is comfortable for kids and the prints make the jackets look fun and unusual. I do it on purpose as I wanted my winter collection this time to look standout and unique. I will also make fun capes again, of course, but as I already brought them last year, I want this year to be a little bit different (and better), so I prepared better too, from choosing fleece, patterns, and just using creativity to make each of my creations unique :)

PP - Winter 2016 Collection

Autumn Winter 16/17

I'm preparing autumn-winter stocks. This time, beside making kids animal theme capes (like I did every year), I added kids fleece jackets too. Just because I always want to do jackets, properly, entirely lined jackets. Because that's the one thing I haven't got the courage to do.

I'm picking the pattern that I got free from a sewing magazines, I thought the model is cute for little girls and the pattern plus the instruction wasn't too complicated to try. So I give it a try. I admit that I need to use my seam-ripper quite often (note to self: never underestimate the easy-looking pattern!) .. but finally I could finish the jacket nicely, and it makes me wanted to make another one .. so I got these RED and ORANGE jackets one fully lined with Batik and the other with Floral cotton fabrics.

I'm quite happy with them, next model would be another jackets (this time without the hoodie) .. but I love hoodie! .. oh well, let see .. maybe just try one without a hoodie :D

Re-stock

Hi I'm back from summer break! well, actually 2 weeks ago .. but I had so many things to handle in such a short time.

A couple of days ago I had a rendez-vous again in artraction office in Charmilles, Genève. It was the boutique manager’s request to see me and asked for new creations as a new stocks for ateapic boutique in Vevey, CH. I received her email while we’re still on vacation in Indonesia, and I just be able to meet her last Tuesday Aug 23rd 2016. I asked for a week timeline before I was ready to see her at her office, I plan to use a week-full to recover from jet-lag, tummy probs and to prepare my creations as well .. it wasn’t much time, but I didn’t have a choice as my boss will be going on 6 months sabatical leave starting this weekend! her last work day before leave is tomorrow! Aug 26th 2016. So, one week was all I had.

The meeting was great. My boss was happy for me that selling my creations was actually working as 6 items were sold during my 3 months probation period. So I felt relieved that I passed my probation time and that also means I could continue to supply my creations at their boutique in Vevey. She gave me the address of the boutique before the end of our meeting and before I was leaving her office.

I thank God for everything, the smooth meeting, the selling of my creations, everything ... yes, I worked hard for it and I did all of these alone, but one should always believe that God plays the biggest part in everything you do, without His blessings none of these would possibly happened.

Holiday is over!

Hello again!

We were just returning from summer vacation last Thursday and I guess I have a lot to share here. While still on a vacation I received an email from the boutique manager asking for more summer stocks for her boutique in Vevey. In fact she told me that 6 pieces of my creations had been sold and she was asking if we could meet up. I replied her email saying that we're still on holiday and I won't be able to meet her before 11 August. She said okay, she'll wait.

This new chapter of our collaboration wasn't that easy, The manager gave 3 months probation period for my creations (just like an employee in any other company), if they could sell them to their customers then I'm saved, otherwise my contract ended. That's why I felt so relieved knowing half of my creations that the manager hand picked for the boutique were sold.

☺otherwise my contract ended. And this is in Switzerland .. where the standard of quality is high and I can't predict if their client would appreciate my creations .. That's why I'm so relieved .. half of 12 pieces that the manager hand picked for the boutique were sold.

I received the good news while I'm in the mall with my 2 girls after my sewing class. Oh, I forgot to tell that I took one week made to measure kebaya class while vacationing in Jakarta as I wanted to make the most of my holiday there.

I'm so happy with the news, it means I could continue to put my creations in the boutique.

Maybe I'm just lucky. Many people can sew. Many people have more sewing, designing, pattern-making skills than I do. But what I believe is that each one of us has different journey, different stories.

When I started to learn how to sew a while ago, to me it's some kind of a "healing" process. We all have wounds from past life experiences and turbulences, and me no exception. Sewing soothes my wounds.

Starting Petits Pas - handmade creation only 3 yrs ago from zero (and with minimum experience) has brought my life a lot better and happier personally. It taught me to be patience that success is a slow-ripening fruit of your hard work and struggle. That learning is a lifetime process to be a better you.

And to know that you have life partner and friends who support you and knowing exactly how it is trying to live out of your passion, is a cherry on the cake, it makes this life sweeter.

new summer creation in progress

Holiday Outfits

Hey hey hey ..

We come to the end of school year and the most awaited long summer holiday has finally arrive. Have you planned where to go this summer? well, we had. We're heading to the exotic tropical islands called home :) and I have almost finished sewing some of my holiday wardrobe. This Jumpsuit is one of them. The paisley print on a navy blue fabric look subtle, although I love prints, I tend to avoid a bold and big prints as it will make me look awfully bigger and it looks cheap (well, okay it depends on the prints, though) .. anyway, I love the result of the fabric and the pattern I've chosen. The jumpsuit looks exactly what I've imagined.

I still have to do some orders for clients, not much just one light jacket and one girl's dress, I guess they can wait as I will bring the orders when we're on holiday .. so I still have about a month to do them. I haven't bought the fabric yet, I waited for the summer sale in the fabric shop while I have the time to do so ... and the summer sale has started this week! I hope I have the time to go fabric purchase this weekend :)

And before I forgot and before I'm away, I'd like to wish all of you a Happy Summer Break! remember works can wait ;)

La robe de demoiselles d'honneur

Our close neighbor is getting married in August this year. They are preparing for the big day. This included looking for the perfect dress for the bridesmaid. There will be 2 dresses for her daughters (age 10 and 14). The 10 yo girl had already found her dress, a white with marine blue bows and trimmings. The 14 yo teenage girl had tried many dresses, had gone from boutique to boutique and online websites too, but she didn't find anything to her liking. So her mom asked me if I could come up with something that she probably likes.

I quickly thought about my last white cotton-silk fabric with black embroidery that I had purchased quite many (but only had the rest about 2 m long). The fabric was my favorite delights, I already made them into so many creations before. So I proposed a sketch of the dress and showed them the fabric and they were happy with it. 

Carry on, I made an appointment for the girl to come and tried on some of my dresses, just to know roughly her size, and moved on to make the dress.

Today the dress is ready and I already handed it to my client. Hopefully the dress will make her happy and make her mom at ease, so she could continue with other important wedding preparations :)

This is my first time sewing for a formal event like a wedding. I made many party dresses, but I never made for any special occasion like this.

bridesmaid dress

Tired but happy.

Ever since I made those two kebayas that my client ordered, I have a non-stop orders. I am grateful for all of these things. That all of my efforts and hard work started to show its outcome. That my Petits Pas is actually working.

I also got a new contract with the boutique too (they put my creations in one of their 4 boutiques in Swiss Romande, mine will be in Vevey) following our meeting on April.

I think with the summer vacation's getting closer, I can't wait any to start planning our trip and start packing! .. I need a vacation soon!! :)

New Contract

Yesterday, April 22nd I got an appointment with the boutique manager in her office. As the boutique in Genève was closed, and they've moved to Lausanne, Vevey and Yverdon, the meeting took place in the company office (Démarche - Artraction) in Charmilles area.

I've never been there before, and I drove all the way from Nyon to Genève in the morning. It only took about 30 minutes through the motorway, exit in Vernier. I parked our car in the mall nearby (Planete Charmilles) and walked to the office (about 5 minutes walk) not far.

Sophie took me to the meeting room and explained how things work now. She gave me a 3 months probation period (for my creations in the boutique) and we'll see how it goes. I came to bring her mostly the spring-summer creations like floral batik dresses, sundress, tshirt, shorts for kids and she took 12 creations. She said she'll put them in a boutique in Vevey. She'll let me know when it's ready. The commission is 70-30 now, before it was 80-20 .. so the company will take 30% from each sold creations. I think it's fair enough.

Doing a collaboration with a boutique is not the only thing that matters to me. Being able to create things and continue learning to upgrade my skills and my creations to be more polished that's what really matter to me. Being able to get paid for what you love and enjoy doing, that's the main reasons. I also take client's orders and looking forward to put my animal themed capes inside the creator's boutique in my area. I think with only two hands that I got, it's enough to fill my days and my pocket :) 

My First Kebaya

I have a client from Luzern, CH, she asked me to make kebaya for her. She got these gorgeous fabrics (I think it's a silk shantung embroidery - not an ordinary satin, I thought it was satin but it's more like silk shantung). I told her that I've never made any kebaya before, but I'll try .. she said okay. One thing I had in my mind: ask someone who've already done kebaya! and BANG! I got few names, one of them was a friend I knew briefly in Singapore who's now also take people's sewing orders at home. I was lucky she accepted to help.

Actually, she said: "you know how to make dresses, so basically it's the same" .. alright, but I was still puzzled and overwhelmed by the fabric and embroidery positions. I asked her once again, and she said: "open your fabric so I can see clearly" -- then, I took pictures of the fabrics and by a short text messages and pictures discussion, I thought okay, now I got it.  

I started by making sketches, showed them to my clients. She approved, and I could carry on to the next step: pattern making, cutting and assembling.

I didn't forget to take pictures for each steps I've done and completed. So my client (and my teacher) knew the status of the project :)

At 90% completed I showed my client the result of her kebayas and she was delighted. I guess mission accomplished. The rest is finishing (zipper for the orange one, and buttons for the green) then I could wrap them up to be sent back to Luzern.

client's orders - April 2016.

The show

Rheinfelden is a bit far from where we live. It's about 2-3 hours drive down the motorway. As it was still in the late winter time, where the snow was still pouring in some parts of Swiss, the road was a bit slippery, we had to drive carefully. So we arrived there around noon, a bit late from the initial plan at 11 am. 

The models came in, and I started to fit which creations to which model ..
I heard every time Johan shouted "mbak, ini modelnya" or "miss, the model is here", I asked their age (if they're kids model) and asked the size (if they're adult) .. but, one time I've made a mistake and asked the age to a woman (she's petite, so I just spontaneously asked her age) .. haha .. and she said "35" oh! sorry .. I mean your size? .. "I'm small or extra small", she said :)

But thankfully the make up artists were all working professionally and all make up were done before 2 pm .. so, when the MC said the show could started after a dance performance from a little dancer, we were ready.

But, still .. the panic began, the models didn't know who's going to walk first, how they should walk, etc .. although some of them (kids and teens models) were already rehearsed behind the stage and some models even already done a fashion show before ..

I tried to keep calm, took a deep breath and said "okay, how do you want to walk? one by one, or two by two? then you're going to improvise on stage as you can" ... so, that's what they did .. I was so relieved they're all doing well .. and relieved when it's over :D

Now, I only have these as a souvenir ....
Here are some of the photos and video from the show, hope you could enjoy! :)

 

Seize every opportunity

I got a chance to do a fashion show again. This time in other part of Switzerland. We live in Nyon region (a french speaking part in Swiss) 15 minutes from Geneva, and the event will be in Rheinfelden, canton of Argau in German speaking part of Swiss.

It's about 2-3 hours drive from home. I will be doing the show with another designer (if I may call our self, a designer, or well .. a "creators", "makers" whatever suits us better), he's a Basel based designer and he already did many shows than I.

Now I'm 2 weeks before the D day which is on Saturday March 05, 2016 and still doing finishing, organize things etc as this will be my first fashion show that I (we -- me and friends) organize, from looking for models, music, stage runway etc. It's kinda exciting actually ... I'm loving it.

Here's what I think: "Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occassions and make them great. Weak people wait for opportunities ; while strong people make them". So I just think I better make my own opportunities, each time it come knocking on my door.

Okay, until then ..

wish me luck!

I'm going to take some good night sleep first ... bonne nuit! :)

One of the creation I made for the event.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016!

This year marked a new adventure again for me. The creators boutique that I've been working in collaboration with, has moved from Geneva to Lausanne. The manager said she will contact me again around mid-January. That means, I have to be ready with new creations before mid-January too.

 

So I went to Lausanne Flon area to check the new space, and found it very quickly, we just parked the car underground and when we went up I saw it immediately. Looked like someone guided me ...

 

I'm just excited. I wanted to show my manager, my new creations, I hope to impress her and I'll try my best to bring the best I could and not to disappoint her. This also a chance for me to showcase my works in other Swiss canton another part of the country. I heard Lausanne is more "hype" and modern than Geneva ...

 

Oh, well .. just wish me luck!

Happy New Year.

Let's hope for the best 365 days ahead!