All About the Shoes!

I love watching and learning about how things are made. I guess I was born to be a maker. I watched a video on Facebook a few days ago about making globes. I was seriously concentrating on that video. I started over three times to make sure that I didn't miss anything. Now, I have absolutely no plans to make a globe, but I loved learning the process. 

I found this video on making shoes. I was absol-freaking-lutely fascinated. After watching, I went around asking random people about how shoes are made. I was so eager to educate them....whether they wanted to know or not. I guess I was also born to be an educator. This video reminded me of that movie about the shoemaker with Adam Sandler. That was a funny movie. You can watch the video below. There are plenty more where that came from and I can't wait to watch, learn and share!

Until Next Time,

Rosalyn W.

My Beautifull Bride Ayisha

 One of my brides was featured on popsugar.com! 

Not only was she beautiful in her dress and veil designed and made with my little big hands, but her wedding looked so fun! 

I'm glad I didn't make her dress skin tight. She would not have been able to dance the way she did. Everytime I look at these pictures, I can't stop smiling!

Check out the feature and pictures below.

http://www.popsugar.com/love/Modern-West-African-Wedding-42350876?stream_view=1#photo-42351036

Additional pictures on my instagram

 https://www.instagram.com/p/BG2semQMvLL/?taken-by=rosalynwomack

Until next time,

~Rosalyn

Atta Girl!

I know have said plenty of times that I was going to do better with blogging.
Well today, I am going to start doing better.
Things I love to talk about are topics that inspire, empower and educate.
Women's issues, social justice, race issues, entrepreneurship, financial independence, mental health, physical health, education, special education, learning disabilities, religion, faith, fashion, sewing, business, pep talks, my boring life and more.

I don't really expect anyone to actually read this blog. This is just my place to vent, clear my mind or talk to myself. If someone else in the universe reads this and finds something to inspire them, that's wonderful.
So today, it may not seem like I accomplished much, but I woke up, questioned my life, I got dressed, I left the house, questioned my life, did some sewing, listened to some podcasts, questioned my life and I blogged.

Atta Girl! Let's try it again tomorrow!
One day at a time. Baby steps.

Oh! My kids are still alive, well and accounted for.
Atta Girl!

~Rosalyn

Accepting Applications

I am currently accepting applications and interviewing for our May/June Passion to Purse Entrepreneurship class. To complete an application or for more info, visit http://ywcagsonc.org/services/passion-to-purse/

~Rosalyn W.

1808

This month I had the honor of being featured in 1808 Greensboro Magazine!

      Threadsheet: A Passion for Fashion

 

                                                Click to read the article!

Big Hair Ball 2016

In my previous post, I shared the sketches that I sent to my client and the chosen one.

Here is a picture of the ball gown at what we thought was the final fitting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Even thought the gown was gorgeous, elegant and exactly like the sketch, we decided to take it up a few notches. Being snowed in for a few days and not having the dress in my possession, I came up with a few different ideas of what to do.

Well, I bustled the dress, added a hoop skirt and added some more gold embroidery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the dress rehearsal, I was able to put it all together and this is what it looked like:

 

Dress description:

Dark red shantung ballgown with metallic gold embroidery inspired by the rich Middle Eastern Lebanese culture of the owners of Pita Delite. Hints of gold embroidered circles to resemble pita bread.

 

It is gorgeous if I do say so myself!

 

I also had to make a mask. I started with a basic one that I painted and added rhinestones, but later I decided I wanted something different. I have been wanting to experiment with free standing lace for a long time. Now was the perfect time. Here is the model on the night of the fashion show/ball with her dress, mask an big hair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The two of us taking pictures before the show.

 

 

 

To my surprise, I won the Chair's Choice Award for Best Design for a Local Designer!

Nawal (my model) and her parents, the owners of the delicious Pita Delite (my sponsor), were such a pleasure to work with. I'm honored to have been asked to participate in the Big Hair Ball again. Family Service of the Piedmont raised a ton of money that night to continue to do the awesome work that they do for the community!

BHB 2016 from Albion Associates on Vimeo.

Until next time, Stay Beautiful!

~Rosalyn W.
www.rosalynwomack.com
1150 Revolution Mill Dr Studio #1

The Chosen One

In my last post, I shared some sketches that I submitted to my client for a ball gown. Here are the sketches again:

 

The client actually loved all of the sketches.

This is the one they chose :

 

 

Ball Gown

I am currently working on a dress for a client. Before knowing exactly what they wanted I came up with a few sketches. I knew they wanted a ball gown. Here are a few of the sketches that I submitted.

 

I can't draw/sketch very well. That is not my gift. I can sketch well enough to give the client the general idea and explain what my vision is along with showing pictures and fabrics.

Stay tuned to find out which (if any) sketches were selected.

 

~Rosalyn W.

Passion to Purse Year One

 

 

Here is a short video highlighting the awesome program that I run for amazing women in Greensboro! One year down, two more to go! It's such a blessing to a part of something like this.

 

 

YWCA Greensboro Passion to Purse Program (Grantee)
We awarded our first multi-year grant – as well as our largest one to date – to YWCA Greensboro to launch their new Passion to Purse program. The Y has had a tremendously successful first year with the program. See and hear for yourselves the progress they’ve made thanks to your support.
Posted by Women to Women of Greensboro on Thursday, October 29, 2015

New Location

Ok... So I moved a few months ago. I actually move in May. I have been serving clients in my new location and loving it. It's a coworking space for artists, entrepreneurs and freelancers. Right next door to me is a fabric designer. How perfect?!
I couldn't decide whether I wanted to be a "store" or a "design studio". I kinda don't want to be a "store". I've been there, done that.. I do love having a creative space to meet with clients, teach some sewing lessons and do some light sewing. My heavy sewing I love to do in my home studio. I am a nocturnal person so that works perfectly for me. I keep trying to be one of those "normal people" that are awake and productive during the day. That ain't me.

I do sell items in my online store. When I feel the itch to have a "store store", I have access to a great room with a beautiful window for pop up shops. I thought of using that space as a store for my entrepreneurship program that I run. For now, we all can use it for pop up shops. I am also thinking of turning it into a makerspace for the public. Hmmmmm....

I see clients by appointment only. To schedule your appointment, hop over to my website www.rosalynwomack.com .


Here are a few pictures of the space. I don't have a sign up yet because I can't decide what I want!

Oustide of the Entrance of 1150 Revolution Mill Dr

 

Walk in the lobby & down the stairs

 

 

I' in here, Studio #1

 

My suite is beside this fabulous picture painted by the owner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of my sewing students during her lesson in my suite!

 

Artist Felix Semper

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule your appointment for a custom garment, alterations or sewing lesson. 

 

 

~Rosalyn Womack

www.rosalynwomack.com

 

1150 Revolution Mill Dr, Studio #1

 

 

To learn more about the Revolution Mills and the $108 million renovations going on, visit http://www.revolutionmillgreensboro.com/

 

 

NYC Dressmakers

http://nycitywoman.com/features/best-dressmakers-new-york-city

Custom Made Clothing

http://recoveringshopaholic.com/custom-made-clothing/

The Cost of Sewing

http://www.sewcanshe.com/blog/2015/7/4/the-cost-of-handmade?rq=how+much+dress

Losing Passion & Mojo

Sometimes turning your passion into a business is not a good idea. That thing you love to do.. That thing that relaxes you and brings you joy... can turn on you. Here is a great example of how it just doesn't work out sometimes and that's ok.

I have to admit. I have lost my sewing mojo numerous times. But, like an addict, I keep going back.
I think my first store, my downtown store broke me. I worked so hard and nonstop. I lived and breathed sewing and work. Once I took a break, I broke. Some days when I try to get back into it, I just can't. I have the sewing room of my dreams, but many days I will walk right through that sewing room without any interest or desire to sew. I would read blogs or see pictures on instagram of things that other people made and would feel like "oh that's so beautiful. They are so awesome. I used to do stuff like that." I can do stuff like that again. There is no excuse. There is no reason. I have everything that I need. All I have to do is do it.

Here are some great tips to get your passion back when you don't seem to love what you used to love, but don't want to give up on it and want to love it again.

~Rosalyn W.

The Business of Business

I love reading blogs. I keep vowing to do better with my own blog. Being that I run a program for women to turn their passions into cash, I read a ton of crafty stuff as well as business blogs/magazines/books/webinars/videos. I do love my job. It helps me with my business and I get to help others with their businesses.

Anyhoo, I was reading the blog of one of my favorite makers/dress designers/ dressmakers  Brooks Ann Camper and she mentioned another blog that I love Colette.  I found some awesome posts on starting a business after reading a post on leading as an introvert.. I am an introvert. Most creative people are. I'll save that for another post.

They are from a few years ago, but the info is great. 

Here are the links to some of the posts.

On my quest to do better with blogging, I will continue to share great info from other blogs and websites.

~Rosalyn W.