Happy New Year 2018!

Happy New Year 2018!

I know that I rarely update my blogs (this blog especially) not that I don't have any stories to tell, in contrary I have so much to tell that I get lost where to start.

Well, to make story short, I came a long way from my last post. I did some collaborations and exhibitions for my creations and completed some orders too. Right now I'm preparing for another event to showcase my works next month on Feb 6th. Then in Spring I plan to start a sewing club at my place, just for a bunch of friends who wanted to learn to sew for the first time. Then Summer we plan to visit our home country.

Some things also changed. I no longer work with the publisher. My contract will end this spring I think, and I no longer put my creations in Ateapic. The story is a bit long to write and I don't feel like writing it down either.
New year, new resolutions? .. yeah, I guess I have some. I want to teach others and teach my self more in this domain (sewing, couture, creations), because that what makes me a happier and better person. Sewing has changed my life for the better and I don't think I'll quit until I get enough :)

Now, many people discourage or underestimate me trying to reach my dreams. They don't know or refused to understand that most dreams need hard work. Almost nobody can reach a success overnight. It all need time and process, and that's the part that people don't (want) to see or do for themselves. I read this article somewhere,

 “Dreams don’t work unless you do“

What did John C. Maxwell mean when he said, “Dreams don’t work unless you do“? This lesson needs to be learned by every entrepreneur thinking of taking that giant leap to pursue their dreams.

Being an entrepreneur will be hard. There, I said it. All of us who have done it know that. If you are looking to start a business, don’t think it will be easy. If it were easy, everyone would be entrepreneurs and there would be no people to run the day-to-day jobs that keep our world going. It isn’t for everybody, but it is worth it if you don’t quit.
Many people say they’ll start a business and start assuming it will all go according to plan.Then, they quit at the first sign of trouble and complain about how hard it is or blame their failure on the economy or their government or their parents or their past, or just blame them on anyone who has nothing to do with their dreams! 
Most people tend to give up on their dreams. Many will throw away their talents and live their lives from weekend to weekend, dreading everyday in between. Is this the way I want to live? I decided it wasn’t and so have countless others. But, those first few years of pursuing dreams as an entrepreneur are brutal.
Lucky for me, at least for now, I have support from a responsible husband. Because if not, I may not be able to support this family, myself and our 2 kids and how on earth we can live in this overpriced country? ...
But, if I give up, failure is 100% and I can kiss my dreams goodbye. That’s not what we want, is it? so I need to stick with my goals for as long as it takes and who knows what the future holds? nobody knows. I know that my husband will retire one day and we may be return to our homecountry.
By taking this steps right now, I know I will thank myself later for trying, for having guts to take action and reach out what I want, what I've missed in my younger years, what has always been in my dreams ...

Happy New Year!

Custom made graduation dresses

Hi, I'm back 😊

I wanted to share what I've been doing the whole month, I rarely have time to blog .. 

I got orders to make custom made graduation dresses (robes de la promotions) for 4 adolescence who's going to receive their middle school's diplomas end of June.

These are my creations based on their requests. These 14-15 yo girls demands were not so easy to do to be honest .. but I'm glad that all dresses matched their expectations. When clients happy, I'm happier ...

client's graduation dresses

Hand Embroidery

We saw embroidery in trends right now, every piece of clothing even shoes and bags have been decorated with all kinds of embroidery.

No need to rush to the stores to get one! make one instead! 😊 Hand embroidery is an affordable and the easiest way to update (personalized) your old plain wardrobe to the latest trend! 

I wanted to try hand embroidery like what my late mom made when we're growing up. Back then when I was a teenager, I admit, maybe it felt not so cool wearing clothes that mom made. Every cool kids in school had this "cool outfits", you know like those we saw in teens magazines .. I remember Esprit and Benetton were some of the cool outfits that I never could afford to buy (and never had the courage to ask my parents, either) .. it seemed like their answers would be NO 😝

Now I regret I didn't keep those handmade clothing that mom put beautiful embroidery on it. If only I could find the photo album from my days back in junior high, I could show you some of them ...

Mom was a very creative person. Her background was a BA in English Literature from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta. After she was married to my dad, mom moved to the Jakarta because dad found a promising job in Indonesian Central Bank in the capital. Before they had children (about 4 years) mom worked in The British Council, and left after she gave birth to her first child. She decided to stay home to look after her 4 kids (us), but she always find time to do things she loved and inspired her.

So, as a tribute to her, I decided I'll try to do it myself. How to do basic embroidery stitches you could easily find in YouTube, the rest is your imaginations! .. If you could draw just a little .. no need to have an artist skills, you could do it, I guarantee .. embroidery is easier that cross stitch (at least what I see) because we could make anything we want without any pattern to follow .. feel free to try.

As a start and a trial, I used my old plain white shirt. I tried 3 types of stitches: french knot, daisy and satin stitch .. and here's the result .. (I guess it's not too bad for a complete beginner) 😉   

I😉

Another boutique collaboration

I can't tell my self enough: "Wati, Believe in yourself!"

I just signed a new contract with another boutique at the end of March (Friday 30th). So now I have 2 boutiques to supply my couture creations - which I think is awesome. That means I get the chance to continue doing what I love to do (creating) and I could get busier, and closer to what I'd dreamed of.

I have some doubts before, because, well, it's outside Swiss, it's in another country, although it only take approximately an hour's drive (not in rush hours), another term & conditions of contract, etc ... and it made me a bit nervous, I want to go for it, but I'm not sure, but I have a feeling that I could collaborate with them as I knew one of the founder, I've met her when we were doing exhibition together in Unicrea on April/May 2013, her stand was just in front of me, she's a textile jewelry maker.

The fighting inside my head whether I'll do it or I don't got me a bit tense and headache .. but finally I decided to go for it.

I feel good. I guess I must loose the fear of being wrong (it haunted me for so many years, I have to be honest). Anyway, what could possibly be wrong in being creative? there are no right or wrong in creativity. Just stop critisized yourself and put a ridiculously high goals you've set yourself in your head. Don't compare your start with someone else's middle. Comparison is a thief of joy!

Working with boutiques will only opening a new horizon, jump into this creative adventure will only enriching my souls, inventing myself ; becoming a new me makes me happier than I've ever imagined.

Ditched your negative feelings, negative thinking and negative comments, spaced out from negative people. Your life will be much better and lighter. Now you can be focused on what to reach next, making plans, create more - as I have to make sure I have enough ready stocks for whatever events or collaborations I might have in the future ... and I want my creation to be better and neater every time, so I can achieve a higher level of skills.

Efforts won't betray you.

The first time I saw the quote, I thought it has a deep meaning. Then I read someone posted about it and I was absolutely agreed.

“Effort won’t betray you”  

is a beautiful quote that embodies everything about doing the work. 
Making the effort, putting in energy in things that matter to you will always bring you good things, and only good things. 

There are no downsides to putting effort into the things you love. Whether it’s your job, your relationship, your family, your projects .. 

When you make the effort, give yourself what you want, and know that, when things don’t go as planned, it won’t be for a lack of trying and you won’t have yourself to blame. You can use your experience and learned lesson next time.

We just came back from Germany. We've visited my sister and her hubby. During the visit she gave me some fabrics, which I took with a pleasure. I turned the fabric into women clothing and here are some of the finished items.

Visiting a family member, although sometimes we resented, maybe because of the distance (both place and relationship), but we made an effort anyway. So it's true I think that making an effort, whether it's for your job, family, or projects will only bring you good things :) 

Have a happy midweek!

Creation for Spring-Summer 2017

Holiday isn't over yet and winter is just getting colder .. but I already started to make spring/summer creations. New year is time for a new start, making new plans or "resolutions" .. although I prefer not to call it as a resolutions, just a plan, something to look forward to, something to get excited for .. we all need this, right?.

Well, sorry to disappoint you, but my resolutions, emm .. my plans .. I prefer to keep the list in my agenda, not in my blogs or social media. I did some reflections during the last month of 2016 and decided to be more quiet in cyberspace .. I just want to keep personal plans, personal. I shared enough, too much maybe, so this year I'll try to be more thoughtful, and pull my self away from negative thoughts and negative affects of social media. Something like a brief "hiatus" and concentrate more on learning new skills and tricks for my creations (both sewing and writing) ..

To open this new year with simplicity and colors, I made this top (blouses). I got the fabric from a friend as a gift, the color wasn't what I usually pick myself, but that's the interesting part! .. it's more challenging, I think. 

As the fabric has dragonflies and butterflies print all over it, I thought it would be fun for children clothing, but it could be something else, too .. so, I keep in mind: simple design (as the print already so busy and colorful) but neat finishing and a well-thought details when using/cutting the restricted (around 2 m long) fabric.

It came out quite satisfying ... 

I managed to use the 2 m long batik dobby fabric into 2 blouses (a matching blouse for mom & daughter). I was very happy to be able to finish the two of them in one day :)

Happy New Year 2017!

Every closing year was the time for us to reflect and begin the new year with plans.

Like a good book, we closed one chapter and open another chapter with enthusiasm and anticipation. With hope and excitement.

We made a usual New Year trip to Paris this year. Last year we stayed put in our home, but this year we've planned to go to Paris again.

I took this opportunity to go fabric purchase and restock. We went to Saint Pierre again just a couple of footsteps from Sacré Coeur, Montmarte. I knew the place so well, and I've missed this place so much.

The Marché Saint Pierre isn't the most glamorous part of Paris, as you could see. If you're not sure where it's situated and If you go there by Métro, just get down in Anvers station, walked up a bit to the direction of Montmarte (or just follow the tourist crowds) until you see bellow Sacré Coeur monument there are fabrics shops.

While in there, just keep vigilant. It's also one of the most hostile place in Paris, Barbes and Clignancourt just a couple of Métro stations away, and for some people it's the place to better be avoided.

But for me, Saint Pierre is the best place to find fabrics and sewing bits with unbeatable prices. This time I managed to find fabrics and sewing notions in 4 shops visits. Tissus Reine, Les Coupons de Saint-Pierre, Marché Saint-Pierre (Dreyfus) and one little "mércerie" (sewing notions) shop.

My girls helped me choosing fabrics. They both said "tu as trouvé ton bonheur ici, mong" (looks like you've found your happiness here, mom). Oh, yes, I did :) 

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!