Journal Modiste - Designer of the Week!

It is finally here! My interview on Journal Modiste is now live! If you have a second, click on over to Journal Modiste and read my interview. You can even leave a comment at the end (as long as it is nice). LOL.

A special thanks to Amy who runs JM for selecting me as the Designer of the Week. It truly is a honor.

On another note, I can't believe how fast spring and summer is approaching! I'm frantically trying to get my Fall 2008 line out. Believe it or not, even though it is only April I am LATE getting my line sheets out to boutiques compared to other designers. But, I'm just going to do what I can and see what happens. I'm praying there are a few boutiques left that haven't blown their budget for the fall. If they have, then I will just produce a limited edition line that will be available on my website. That is the beauty of growing my business slowly. I don't have a huge business loan or $40,000 in production costs to be worrying about. My manufacturer has been amazing about allowing me to produce small runs on my designs. This gives me the flexibility to grow at my own comfort.

But with all the rush of producing a line MONTHS in advance of the selling season, it makes me wonder when do "moms" want to buy their kids clothes? Do you wait until June to buy a summer dress. Or are you the mom who buys summer dresses starting in February? I would love to hear from you whether you are a mom, boutique owner or anyone in between. How far in advance to you plan your purchases?

I'm feeling a little Sentimental..........

As most of you know, I'm a member of an amazing design group called Bijou & Co. This week we are celebrating our one year anniversary!!! Our launch, Sentiments, started today with a rather impressive guest list. Each of us invited an outside designer that inspired us. Which really means, a designer that we tend to stalk because we love what they do! LOL. O-kay, not as creepy as it sounds. But we all have our favorite designers!

So, our challenge was to design something that made us Sentimental. My first dress was based on this sweet polka dot dress I had as a little girl. I loved this dress! I felt like a million bucks when I wore it. It was just a white knit fabric with polka dots. If I remember correctly, my mom bought it for me for a wedding we were going to. As a little girl, new dresses were few and far between. Hand-me-downs were the norm. But this dress came from a little boutique in our small town. I will never forget buying that dress.

So I came up with a design that will hopefully make some little girl feel just as special. The auction started today, but make sure to check back throughout the week as I list the matching little sister set, hair accessories and my first set that arrived from the manufacturer!! Let me tell you, it is pure heaven to open a box FULL of dresses that I did not spend hours making. LOL. They are gorgeous. Every stitch is perfect. And they are ready to ship! :) Stay tuned for photos...............


Click HERE to view my current ebay listing:

Dreaming in Color

I often have customers ask me how I come up with my designs. They are usually surprised at my answer, or look at me a little crazy. LOL. I would say 80% of my designs come from my dreams. I will have a detailed dream about a design and wake up and sketch as fast as I can. I'm always afraid that I'm going to forget some detail. Now, I'm not the best artist in the world so my sketches are definitely rough, but they make sense to me. And as long as I can make them come to life in my design world, that is really all that matters.

But I also think that many of my dreams come from some kind of inspiration I saw the day before. I love looking through fashion magazines, vintage designs, fashion color forecasts, etc. I will see something that catches my eye and then instantly think of a children's design that could play off that silhouette, color, style, etc. Many designers give themselves a creative block by forcing themselves to come up with a design no one has ever seen before. The reality is, it is very rare that something you come up with is truly 100% original. It may have the same lines or feel as something from the 1800's, or the 1980's :) My point is, designers shouldn't stress themselves out coming up with a new look over and over. Find a silhouette that you love and play off of it. Change the neckline, sleeve, hemline or the details. And before you know it, you will have something that is uniquely yours!

Here is a sneak peek from one of my recent dreams. Yes, I'm using all these colors. How will it turn out? What will it look like? Stay tuned! You will see it revealed on April 15th as part of Bijou & Co.'s birthday launch, Sentiments.

Until then, sweet dreams!

I've been tagged!

My friend J from Jaybird Designs just tagged me! Thanks for thinking of me J and putting me on the spot! Hmmmmm, this could be interesting (or maybe really boring). LOL.

Here are the rules:
1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.


So, here ya go! Seven random things about me:
1. My favorite snack right now is Korean Seaweed (Nori) It has to be the salted kind or I won't eat it. My 2 youngest kids are hooked on it too. You should see the looks we get at the park when we are eating sheets of seaweed like chips!

2. My DH and I are both from Michigan but now live in Las Vegas. I don't think you could pick 2 places that are further apart in lifestyles!

3. I'm a classically trained dancer. But, I have learned to never say "I use to be a dancer" here in Vegas. You get some really interesting looks and a few moms at playgroup who offer up their old "stage" name. Ummm, enough said. LOL.

4. I put myself through college by competing in the Miss America program. Loved the scholarship money! Didn't love the "sticky buns" that you sprayed on before the swimsuit competition. Yes, that is actually true not a pageant myth. And yes, I have seen girls accidentally glue themselves to a toilet after using it and forgetting they just sprayed glue on their tushes :)

5. In my previous life I had a career in corporate public relations. I wore a suit, nylons and high heels every day. I had a secretary that answered my phone and my purse matched my briefcase. Now, I'm lucky to have a shirt on that doesn't have some remnant of my children's breakfast. But I wouldn't change it for the world. O-kay, I might trade it for a few hours at the spa, but what work at home mother wouldn't?!

6.My designs are currently being produced by a manufacturer in LA and I couldn't be more excited!

7. O-kay, I ran out. I'm really not that interesting. LOL. Hmmmmm, how about they fact that I swore I would never had kids and I ended up having 3 kids in 4 years. That just goes to show you, never say never! :)


Now, who to tag........hmmmmm, I know everyone is running in fear but here is my list, some are friends and a few are blogs that don't actually know me but I really enjoy reading :)


Wendy
Helen
Heather
Heather
Megan
The Mommy Designer
Boutique Buyers Blog

A big week ahead!

I have so many exciting things happening next week! First, I am being featured on Journal Modiste as their designer of the week. I can't even tell you how excited I am! Since I began making custom boutique clothing, I have been reading the interviews of so many designers on JM. I can't believe I get to join the ranks with so many amazing designers. What an honor! So make sure you click over to Journal Modiste to read my interview starting April 2nd.

Next, I'm listing a romantic and sweet little set as part of Bijou & Co. launch called The Hamptons. The designs are inspired by a trip to The Hamptons. I've been saving this gorgeous italian lace for the perfect design and I think I finally did just that. I purchased this vintage italian lace from a couture designer I met. She had traveled Europe studying couture design techniques and picked up some FABULOUS fabric along the way. Last year she decided to move and offered to let me go through her fabric collection so she could clear it out (at a very discounted price). When I saw this lace, I couldn't believe my eyes. I've never seen or felt lace like this in person. The little girl that gets to wear this set will feel like she is on the runways in Milan or Paris. Here is a little sneak peek!




You will be able to see the entire listing for this set starting April 1 by searching BijouCo on ebay. Or click HERE to see the entire listing.

And last, but definitely not least is that I should be receiving my first shipment from the manufacturer next week! What an experience this has been and I know I'm just getting started. More to come this week on the details of working with a pattern maker and sewing contractor. It is such and interesting, educational, fun and scarey process! LOL.

Ginger Blossom

Only one day left until this auction ends! The price is still well below my retail pricing, so if you are thinking about buying this dress, you might want to get it now for a GREAT deal!

Click here

Creative Kids!

I love it when the children who will be wearing a Molly O custom design are involved in the design process!

I was asked recently to make a dress for a birthday party. Typically this means discussing designs, silhouettes, fabrics and colors with the mom. Not this time! The birthday girl herself had very strong opinions about what she wanted to wear for her party. So after looking through design samples she decided on a dress. Then it was time for color! We knew were going to use dupioni silk, so I pulled out over 140 color swatches. It was so much fun to watch her choose different colors and put combinations together. The end result was fabulous! She choose this gorgeous orange silk that has fuchsia threads that run through it. Then she found the perfect fuchsia to use for the trim. When the sunlight hits this dress, the orange silk turns pink. It is just stunning.

Who knows maybe in a few years she can intern for me!

Take a peak at this beautiful one-of-a-kind custom designed dress!

Testing Out Leafletter.com

So I thought I was going to get fancy and create this great little widget from www.leafletter.com You will see my first attempt in the post below. Hmmmmm, not sure if I did it right, but it was fun. You can mouse over the photos and click to enlarge them. They tons of templates to choose from and you can even add in music and video images. You should definitely check it out!


If the images are peaking your interest at all, then check out my newest listing on ebay. I designed this adorable custom boutique outfit with the new Ginger Blossom fabric by Sandi Henderson. Bijou & Co, the ebay design group I am a proud member of, is launching designs based on these fabrics during the entire month of March! There are so many cute designs.




Take a peak at my listing by clicking here.

Design Your Own Custom Outfit!

I have to admit, that this auction was created because I was down with that horrible flu for an entire week! And that was after taking care of 3 sick kids. So after a trip to the urgent care for some IV fluids, I became coherent again and realized there was no way I was going to have time to photograph my new designs for the current Bijou & Co. launch. What is a working mom to do? Let the customers have a little fun, that is what I say!

So, I've decided to list an auction where my customers get to design their own one-of-a-kind custom boutique outfit. The designs are based around the gorgeous new fabric by Sandi Henderson called Ginger Blossom. I will work with the winning bidder to create an adorable spring/summer set using this beautiful fabric. It's almost as much fun as being on Project Runway. O-kay, I'm going a little far, but it will be "fierce" (that is a Project Runway reference for those of you that don't watch). LOL.

Click here to view the auction and don't forget to search BJAC on ebay for all the wonderful designers in Bijou & Co. Our Ginger Blossom launch will be running the entire month of March. Check back for new designs every week!

Designing for Fall/Winter 2008-2009

Does it seem a little strange that we aren't even out of winter and set here I am sketching designs for next fall and winter?! But I'm learning quickly that you have to be way ahead of the game. While I am frantically trying to get Spring and Summer produced right now, I'm also trying to get all my designs together for next year. I can't let you in on any secrets yet, but I'm loving what I have come up with so far.

Is there something you would LOVE to see for my 2009 line? Send me your suggestions! I love to hear from customers. Post a comment or email me at molly@mollyodesigns.com

In the mean time, here is a little peak and some fabric that was sent off to production today. It will be a limited edition run for a few select boutiques, but I think it will be so sweet for pictures at the beach, a summer picnic or even the fourth of July!