For the fun of it

My little girl asked me why do I want to make tottieBEAN clothes.... and the first thing that came to mind was because it's fun.  To take an idea, tweak it, find the pieces to make it, then tweak it some more and then with a little more magic it comes together as the piece you first imagined (hopefully even better), well that is fun!  

There is a lot more to it, of course but in a very simple manner, I like to make tottieBEAN for the fun of it.  The simpler I can keep things the better!

 

Down but not out

Living off adrenaline of good, positive things clicking together is so great.

But when you hit a wall or some negative feedback comes to you ~ man, that is the worst!  

It's hard to remember in the moment but just keep pushing ahead. The clothes are too small, too big, too this, too that - you can't please everyone!  I don't know the right answer to the helpful critics out there but all I know is we're trying.  And while it may not work for everyone, it does work for some!

my dad

This is my Dad who I love so very much!!!!  he's recovering from an operation and I miss him a lot.  No less important, any artistic skill I possess comes directly from him.  He's an amazing painter, photographer, dreamer and inspiration to everyone he meets.  Get well soon Dad! 

if it's spring we must have a show!

Last night i had dinner with Carol and Mark who own the local ice cream parlor, Annie's,  here in town.  they have been kind enough to offer to host a little fashion show for Bridget and I in a few weeks.  Most days I stop by for Carol's homemade soup and it's one of the highlights of my day to see what's new on the menu and admire their artistic menu hung behind the counter like a piece of fine art.  When they heard I was starting a new line of equestrian breeches for kids they immediately offered to help however they could.  April 25th is Arbor Day in Middleburg and the side streets will be closed for people to walk around and enjoy the shops at their leisure.  Bridget and I thought it would be a great opportunity to show our new things in a relaxed and charming environment - not to mention a yummy one!  Carol has agreed to offer special "treats" to our attendees, and furthermore we decided last night we would repeat it in the fall.  We are looking for local kids to be our models - so girls! Step right up if you've want to see what it feels like to be in a fashion show!  I am joining the Middleburg Business Association and will be attending my first meeting at our local organic farm store "Home Farm" to announce the event and encourage everyone to promote the day as a celebration of small town life rarely found in today's world.  Since I have shown my collection in New York I know how it's done: I'm on the lookout for local vendors to reach out to so I can create homegrown "shwag" bags.  There's no reason under the sun that we can't take the best of the wonderful big world out there and filter it through our rich and diverse local businesses and create vibrant experiences that give back to our precious local entrepeneurs.

living where I work

This morning I am aware for the first time in a few months that my town is springing back to life - pun intended!  At the shop yesterday some Argentine polo players dropped in to say they were back from the season in Florida.  The clothing store I work in connects through the back to the Journeymen Saddlers and for years it has been the defacto crossroads for anyone in the equestrian world out here.  The owner, ms. Punkin Lee, can trace many generations back in these parts and is also the current president of the business association.  She told me every year, like geese, the men stop in just to say they are back.  this struck me as so poignant.  How can one quantify the importance of having service businesses that endure year after year so that they function both as personal checkpoints and professional destinations.  I have lived here for 19 years and realize that I too can begin to see evidence of my early clients bringing their children to me.  It is a great gift to pour your energy into something so precious as a small town.  It is not easy in many ways because when things are tough there are fewer places to hide.  I can't say i've never "moved to the other side of the street" to avoid an interaction with someone i could not find an amicable resolution with.  But I work in the field I do precisely because it is the relationships I value and my design work is merely the vehicle i use to explore them.  In the true sense of the world - all explorers end up backtracking now and again.  In a small town, the bread crumbs are easier to spot in a dark night.  I had to laugh as I heard one of the polo players yesterday ask about me in his broken english.  Will she remember me?  She made my es-wife's dress 10 years ago.  Punkin laughed and said "Wendy doesn't distinguish what number wife they are - if she likes you - you're always the bride."

Shop Local

It's not happening - why not? 

No matter what town we live in, the need to shop local is important. And yet, people are going to the malls or online. Our main streets will be empty soon.  We are seeing more and more little shops and boutiques closing their doors. It's sad but it's more than that. It's a problem that we are all not in this together as a community.

Part of why we live in this little town is the great community. Yet even I don't feel supported sometimes with what I'm trying to accomplish with tottieBEAN. I don't think it's ill-will but folks not understanding how hard it is to make a simple swimsuit or shirt or anything for that matter. We are the Big Gulp generation - we want it big, cold and fast and don't care about how we get it but just want it now.  That takes out all the enjoyment, in my opinion.

Wendy Pepper Equestrian is timely and it's locally appropriate and I just hope that this town and the surrounding areas that are horsey all come and support her by purchasing a pair of these great breeches.  

We all talk too much via email these days and you can tell that by looking at your average teen who is texting their friends all day long. We need to slow the texting a bit and learn to appreciate all that our towns have to offer because if we aren't careful the charm will be gone.

it's about fit

customer just came in to do a breeches re-order and the one's I made before were too loose.  AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!  Too tight!  Too loose!  Too long!  Too short!  Too neon!  Too drab! ;-)

WHERE'S SPRING!!!????

BRIDGET!  it's cold out there.  did I see actual flakes?  No call back about returning my fabric yet.  I am trying to think about how to prioritize all my fittings at this point.  I have to work here at the shop until 1 tomorrow.  I want to make up the breeches for the site - choose two colors and make them in size 6-8-10.  (thank you for dropping the 6's)  I have a new client coming thursday morning.  I have 2 fittings Friday morning, and one Friday evening.  I have a flower girl dress due and a tottie bean/wendy pepper fashion show on April 25.  I have just been reminded that i agreed to give a pair of breeches to the Oatlands Auction on April 24th.  

Leap of Faith

This is all new territory for me. I am a fish out of water and just trying things out. What I'm learning is everyone is feeling the same thing and just doing the best they can to get their products out there but to also make it through this tricky economic time we are finding ourselves in.

I don't have a lack of ideas for things I want to make or sell. But what you don't realize til you are deep into the thick of this process is the costs!  For example, you think it won't cost a lot to just make a shirt. But then you make the pattern, the sample, order the fabric, sew a true sample and then you find you don't like the fabric afterall but you have rolls of it (which you had to buy bc you can't just get a small amount).  So you go back to square one. Again.

But when someone unexpectedly truly likes your product, it's just the best! When they have that genuine smile on their face because they like what you designed or they like the concept then you get renewed energy to keep going.

We have kept our first samples of swimsuits we made because they just make us laugh!  They were so wrong it was hysterical. At the time we wanted to cry but I'm glad we kept them because it shows us how far we have come and reminds us of the little bumps in our road.  

This is one big leap of faith but I have to do it because I have always wanted to create something.  If I don't go for it then I'll regret it later.  I'd rather jump and fail then never to try.  

well Bridget I'll be the first to share my thoughts!! hahahahahaha.  you're a rockstar co-pilot in the frightening whiplash inducing world of 21st century fashion manufacturing and distribution.  Thanks for paving the way for us to embark on this blog.  See you tomorrow with those size 6 breeches!  Take care to exercise caution with the masses storming the shop...not!  (Thank you ECONOMY)  ;-)

Giddy Up

Wendy and I are always talking with each other and sharing our funny stories with ourselves that we figured it would be more entertaining (and helpful for some) to put these in a blog.  It's the beginning of April and I am feeling a little momentum in the air. I hope it's not just the spring fever hitting everywhere but truly some positive energy.

We are both excited about our clothing lines and we know as you learn more about us and the way we got to where we are you'll appreciate these moments right along with us!  

Here's an image of wendy's super cool riding breeches paired with our tB zip pullovers.  We love teaming tottieBEAN with Wendy Pepper Equestrian!  Together it is more fun, it's not as scary but it's also just that much easier with a buddy we can trust.  We hope you enjoy reading about our adventures as we have our ups and downs, highs and lows on this fun path!  Please share with us your thoughts!