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!! :)