How do you feel in your dress?

Often times, someone may need additional fittings to get the fit exactly how the client wants it. Especially with a special occasion dress. They almost always require 2 fittings before it's picked up. 

I do like to ask my clients "how do you feel" in the garment. I rely partially on their answer, and also my experience, so I know it's fitted well. I think it's a fair question, because I'm not the one wearing it.

Recently I had a MOG that needed a lot of adjustments, and came back for a 2nd fitting. She didn't like some things , so I made some more modifications and an appointment to come back. She actually thought she would be taking it home that day. But I did ask her how she felt, after pinning certain areas a 2nd time. She questioned my knowledge about the garment construction and that she shouldn't have to tell me how she feels in it,,,,that I should just know because I'm "the professional" 

I tried explaining how the dress is constructed, and certain things just can not be changed. Our bodies are not symmetrical. She had a nice figure, but this was a dress that you could not hide behind. It showed every curve. It was big when she bought it, so she didn't see how it would look once taken in. She didn't' like that the dress didn't look symmetrical on her body. I do my best to make the client look their best in whatever garment I'm working on.

SIGH...

So - we made another appointment for the following week to pick up her dress, and she left. I proceeded to work on her gown right away, because at this point, I wanted to know that it  was done, and that it would be satisfactory to her. Then I went home. My phone rang during dinner, so I ignored it, and listened to the voicemail afterwards. It was her. She wanted to come pick up her dress, and for me not to do any more work on it. It was too late, I told her. I did everything except for the shoulders. She told me not to do the shoulders, and that she would "settle up with me" the next day.

So she came, tried on the dress, and because the shoulders hadn't been done, she wasn't satisfied. I told her if she had allowed me to finish the shoulders, she would have been happy, and the dress would have been done. So instead, she paid me and left unhappy.

Now, I don't want ANYONE to leave unhappy with my work. 99.999% of the time they leave happy - I often get hugs as appreciation! So please let me know "how you feel in your dress"! 

I appreciate all my clients and stand behind my work. Thank you for entrusting me with your most special garments. 

 

So, are you still sewing?

This is a question I get ALL THE TIME! From family, friends, co-workers, neighbors. Family is the kicker!

I really don’t understand why I am not taken seriously. YES. I am still sewing. In fact, in 2019 I moved my sewing area out of my home and began renting space in an arts center in the middle of my town! in 2021, I was busier than ever with brides that postponed from 2020 as well as current year brides and bridal parties! It was my full time job, working more than 40 hours a week between my appointments and getting the work done! 2022 to date, I have already equaled my 2021 revenue and have had more brides to date as compared to 2021, and it's only August! 

I think sewing in and of itself carries a stigma. Honestly, who does that anymore? And if you do, and make money at it, you would be working for someone else, right? Well, I did work for a tailor, once, after my first child was born, over 30 years ago, and my mom offered to babysit for the day so I could get back to work. I worked for him about 6 months, until he wasn’t busy enough for me to work there anymore. I did learn some industry tips from him though and was grateful for the experience of working for this tailor.

From that point on, I had friends, family and neighbors who “knew I could sew”, ask me to do basic alterations, and I did place an ad in the local newspaper to generate some business. I charged next to nothing, mostly because I liked it and wanted to get referred, and was not in tune with what to charge.

In the years following, I had researched what other shops charge, and have adjusted my prices accordingly, to be competitive. It seemed that I was getting a lot of generous “tips”, so I figured maybe my prices were too low.  Conversely, sometimes when you charge too little, I think people assume your work isn’t that good. Now, I feel I have competitive rates, while still staying lower than most of my competitors.

 

Over 30 years I have been sewing for others – OVER 30 YEARS!

Why do people still ask me if I’m busy?

How busy am I? Well, enter the digital world.

 

I get recommended online ALL THE TIME. Melrose and surrounding towns have “community pages” on Facebook, where people ask “can anyone recommend a seamstress for bridal alterations” or similar questions. My name gets mentioned all the time, by several people on the same post. I keep my Facebook page up to date by posting photos of all the bridal gowns I work on, as well as some of the other alterations I do that I think may be of interest. And my recommendations on Yelp have steered customers my way as well.

 

click on the picture!

I was contacted in 2021 by someone who follows my Instagram account, asking me to make a christening gown and accessories, from her wedding gown. She SHIPPED her wedding gown to me from New Jersey and paid me my required deposit without blinking an eye. I stayed in contact with the progress, sending pictures and checking in on baby’s measurements. When it was complete, it was packaged carefully and shipped everything back. Baby’s mom was very pleased with all the pieces of the christening ensemble and sent me a video of her opening the box! I’m so happy I could do this for her special little girl.

Are you busy? (still asked of me ALL the time!)

 

Answer: Yes! If I wasn’t busy, I never would have had a need to rent space. I now have my own studio space outside of my home in a building that is an arts center in my town – so I’m exposed to creative people every day! I really love what I do, and it makes people happy. What could be better than that!

Times are changing....

....and like it or not, we all have to change too sometime. It's my time....

What do you think you want to do next? Do you want to increase your business? Make it your full time job? Can you? I could...Will you hire people? Advertise? Move to a larger space outside of your home? All valid questions others have asked me and that I've considered myself over the past 2 years.

Monday March 12, 2018, I found myself at City Hall in Melrose, MA applying for a business certificate. It was time. I've had my home-based business in my town for a very long time (over 20 years!) and my name gets mentioned in several social and online forums as: "Tamara's my go-to", "I highly recommend Tamara", so I wanted to do the right thing by making my business "official".
I went to the bank that same day to open a business bank account. I needed the business certificate for that. You know you're doing well when someone says "you better make an appointment with her before she gets booked up!" and when repeat customers refer their friends, etc...

What do I do? I help people look and feel good in what they are wearing. I specialize in Bridal and formal wear alterations. I am creative. I design and redesign. I am a Seamstress!


When I was going to networking events a few years ago, I'd say "I'm an accountant", but not really embracing that role and not even wanting to delve into what I did at work. I'd often segway into my seamstress title during a conversation. It's my passion. Accounting is what I went to school for, trained many years and put in lots of tax seasons - almost 3 decades! So it has served me well for many years. But as I have grown in life, I realize it's not where my true passion is. Sure, it's where the steady paycheck is, but is that all I want out of life? I like making people feel good in what they're wearing to a special event, or on their wedding day. I like creating a one of a kind christening gown from the mom/grandmother's wedding gown. When a bride gives me a hug and says "it's exactly the way I want it", "it's perfect!", that to me, is pure joy, and I thrive on that! I have had some time to build my sewing "business" from my home and have focused on things I LIKE to do, and am passing up work I would rather not do (like fixing a rip or hemming curtains, replacing a zipper - no more!). I LOVE working on bridal and formal-wear, and absolutely can't get enough of making a christening gown or first communion dress from the mom's wedding gown. That's my passion! I absolutely love the creative process. I noticed in certain work situations, some people hum and tap their pencil when they're focused on their work or reviewing other people's work, and I thought, wow, that person REALLY loves what he/she does. I think staying in the same field I've been in for so long, is not only getting stale to me, but as I am learning, I have to do something in my next job, that I REALLY enjoy. Why be stuck at a job, for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for only a paycheck. Done with that! I was so unhappy at my last job, towards the end of that job I found myself climbing the stairs (51 of them!) in the morning repeating to myself "I hate my job", and knowing that change was evident. Either I would make the change, or I'd be helped along that path. So, my next job search will be a little different from past ones, that's if I actually engage in a search. I want a job where I can be creative, or at least have a lot of moving parts to it.

I have been actively looking for a new "space" for my sewing work for about three years. I started writing this blog more than a year ago. Since then, I now have a local bridal shop referring customers to me, and if you do a Google search for wedding gown alterations in Melrose, I am at the top of the page! So that in itself, has driven the bridal traffic to me. Not only brides, but bridesmaids, Mothers of the Bride and the Groom and Flower girls. Since I now have such a large volume, it makes sense to move it out of the house and lessen the family (and dog) interruptions. It's time. It's MY time!

Update: July 8, 2019 - I have FOUND my space! And it's right down the street! A "studio". It's a good size room on the 3rd floor of a Victorian home, RIGHT DOWNTOWN, and walking distance from my house! They are only leasing to artists, and welcomed me right away! I am so excited to finally have my own space to work in. There are opening and closing hours, so I won't be tempted to stay up until midnight anymore working on a prom dress!!! (thank goodness!) I have no doubt that this move will increase my productivity as well as visibility in my community, and I'm absolutely thrilled about embarking on this new journey in my business expansion!

"Do what you love, and never work a day in your life"....Mark Twain - words to live by

What would you consider reasonable to pay for your alterations?

Good question!
You need to have something altered, whether it's a pair of jeans that need to be hemmed, or a formal gown that needs a little bit here, a little bit there, or "just a hem".


Service - I provide a service, and it is specialized for each client. Much like a hairdresser, nail salon, spa services. I ask you, how much do you pay for those services? Were you satisfied? What did you do if you were dis-satisfied?


Time - A service provider, provides a service, but also his/her time. Now, for the hairdresser, nail salon and masseuse, the time is generally an hour or less. But for what I do - taking garments apart and putting them back together with the same seams/hems as they had when they came through my door, sometimes reinforced even better because I think they need it - wouldn't you think that would take more than an hour? In most cases, especially in the case of formal dresses - it can take several hours, it does.


Quality - As I mentioned above, in many cases, mass produced garments may not be very well sewn/reinforced. So when I am doing the alterations, I take extra care to reinforce places that may need it. And sometimes I get a dress that looks like it was stored in a bag or the floor of a closet, wrinkled all over. I do not give it back looking like that. I steam it, so it is beautiful and ready to wear when it is picked up!


Cost - Before my business started to grow, I was charging very little and people (most of the time) would "tip" me - $10-20 more sometimes! I thought that was great! Until I thought, well, maybe I should look around and see what other people are charging for the same service. I thought, maybe I'm not getting a lot of business because I charge so little, and people may not think I do quality work.


Growth - So then, when I drew up my website I decided to include a general price list that was competitive. With the addition of my website, my business had more visibility, and people were able to see my prices before contacting me. I encourage people to meet with me to discuss what exactly they need. The price on my list is a guideline and is variable, based on each customer's needs.


Availability - I work from my home and am available when other Seamstresses/Tailors are not (nights and weekends) which gives me my own niche in this field. I have also been told by  many, that they like coming to my house, rather than a storefront tailor, where people can look in and see them getting fitted!


Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed! (this is the big one!) - I pride myself in my work and want to make sure my customer gets what they pay for. I always like to see it tried on after the final fitting to make sure it's just right. But some customers are so busy they don't have the time to try it on when they pick up the garment. In those cases I tell them to let me know how it fit, and if it needs anything else, to bring it back and I'll make sure it's to their satisfaction - at no additional cost.




So - what is my service worth to you?
Price list

My contribution to the Patriots LI Superbowl Win - You're Welcome!

Ok, I'm not bragging or anything, but I DO think I contributed to the Patriots come-from-behind win this Superbowl LI...here's how it played out....

I was watching the uneventful, sometimes even painful to watch (for Patriots fans), first half with my other half, in the living room. I even watched Lady Gaga's unbelievable performance from in there.

Then, I thought, {sigh} I'VE GOT WORK TO DO....

So, for the second half, I retreated to my happy place, my sewing area, where I have 5 wedding gowns (2 for March weddings) that needed my attention. I turned on the TV to the Superbowl, at this point for background noise, and prepared my work.


I looked at what needed to be done, analyzed it, then GOT TO WORK

I think I was channeling this train of thought to the Patriots - GET TO WORK


So, that's it....a soon as I sat down at my machine, the crowds started going crazy, and I looked over at the TV for the replay...over and over...I continued to work, listen and watch, as I knew my contribution to their success was primarily important and I couldn't give up on them! 
Way to go Patriots!!!!!


You know the rest of the story - and You're Welcome!

***2017***

HAPPY NEW YEAR

It's been a while since I've been on here! Chalk it up to being REALLY BUSY in 2016!

As we begin a new year, let's all reflect back and see how we can improve. What can we change, what will we keep the same, and what do we need to compromise on to make our lives better!

For me, I need to focus on organization and procrastination. Both need to be improved upon. 

I was so incredibly busy in 2016 that I procrastinated. I didn't know where to start! There-in lied the organization. I looked at the rack of dresses I had to work on, (at one point I had 10 wedding dresses!),made sure each item was properly labeled with a name and date needed, then, and only then, I was able to put my procrastination aside and get to work!

Organization = Piece of Mind (for me)

What will I keep the same?
My workspace. I can't change where I do my work, but it does need to be better organized.

What will I change?

I have decided there are some things that I will not do, especially if it's not something I do a lot (I can't be an expert at all alterations!). Men's suits and zipper replacements are at the top of this list!
I have to be true to myself and focus on what I do best!

What will I compromise on?

My appointment times. Because I work out of my home, AND was extremely busy in 2016, this did have an affect on my family. People coming and going at all different times. So I will take my family time into consideration when scheduling appointments!

Wishing you all peace, love and happiness in the New Year!

When to buy your formal dress? Better yet...when to schedule your alterations!

You're a bride, bride's attendant, prom-goer, or going to a another formal event. When is the right time to buy your dress? Good question. No right answers!  However, if you find yourself in need of alterations there are some guidelines (for me, anyway!) If you're a bride, then 6-8 weeks minimum is what I prefer. If you are IN a wedding, the bride will likely go with you to select the bridal party attire, then it's up to the shop to get it to you in a reasonable amount of time. If you are going to prom, any young girl wants to buy her dress as soon as possible, likely, months before prom, to limit the chance of someone else scooping up "her" dress, leaving the dress shop to tell you, "Sorry, we can't sell you That dress, someone else is wearing it to Your prom!"


Stressful for some, not so much for others. Now, you have your gown, what next? Accessories, shoes, appointments made for hair and nails...last on the list...always....always....always....alterations!!!


Now, for bridal, I like to have at least 6-8 weeks, and for prom/formal gowns, at least 2-3 weeks. Hurray for Brides!!! Most brides are really good at organizing what has to be done, so most of my bridal alterations come in at least 6 weeks ahead of time. I can get it done within a tighter time frame, but I never know what I'm going to get, so I like to leave myself some breathing room!
But others, realizing the event you are attending is coming up quickly, you try on your dress so see how it looks just weeks before the event, not thinking that it may fit differently than when you purchased it!


So that dress that fit you to a T when you purchased it months ago, now is too snug or swimming on you. And unless you are 5'10" or taller or wearing platform shoes, it's way too long. So, you call around, with 2 weeks or less, until prom or the wedding, trying to find someone to "fit you in"....the phone (my phone) starts ringing non stop! Yes, of course I'll take you!  But at some point (with only one week to prom, and in one case recently - 3 weeks before a wedding, for wedding gown alterations!) I have had to start saying no...It honestly kills me! I love to help girls look their best on the big day, no matter what the occasion, but please think ahead and schedule that appointment for your fitting, far enough in advance! I do pride myself in pulling through in tight situations, but do like to have more time.


I've had a RECORD season! January to May 2016 - 6 Brides!!!, 19 bridesmaids, 3 Mother of bride/groom, 2 semi dresses, and 16 prom dresses!

So.....I've been burning the midnight oil for the past month to get all these gowns done...knowing that by June, I'll be slowing down and sleeping a little more :) ....until the calls for September weddings start rolling in!

(photos to follow)

Small business, big world

 

…let’s face it.  In today’s world, many small businesses may find it difficult to break into the greater universe. However, in my experience, the right exposure and key words in marketing your “brand” make all the difference!

It all started with creating my very own Facebook page for increasing my visibility – I was able to “invite my friends” to “like” my page. Wow! In a matter of days I had close to 50 likes. Now I’m at 225. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashions-by-Tamara/229784013701474?ref=hl

 Ok, so then I wanted to create a more professional version of my services, so I created a website, for free. I just got my domain 2 years ago!  http://fashionsbytamara.com/

 Not stopping there, I began to blog about my business, giving it a person spin.  I actually really like my blog…hope you do too. http://fashionsbytamara.blogspot.com/

 Now, many years ago, probably when it began to be the “thing”, I created a Twitter account. I signed up in 2009 and my first “tweet” was an entry about the Jimmy Fund walk I was about to do. Thinking, that all my then followers (maybe 5 at the time) would re-tweet my post and I’d raise a ton of money! That didn’t happen. I didn’t really use it much until recently when I really learned how to use it for my business. It’s still not my favorite form of social media for my business, but I am gaining followers, so who knows where it will take me! https://twitter.com/tamarakenney

Oh yes, then there’s Instagram (yes I have one for my business as well as personal), Alignable – where you can connect with local businesses, and local advertising (which I don’t get ANY business from, but I like to support schools and organizations in my town). I even put myself on YELP, and have been found that way too!

 So with all this going on, and making sure I use the right “tags” on my blog and twitter accounts, and from a recommendation of another small business owner in my town, I make sure I keep my Facebook business page current with at least one post a week, and pictures of my work as well.  I am told, and it’s true because I’ve googled myself, that when certain specific words are typed in a search, my Facebook page comes up as the #1 search at the top of the page!

 Try it! (buzz words: Alterations, Bridal, Melrose, Seamstress)

The infamous purple dress

Jennifer was going to be the maid of honor for her sister's wedding in October 2014. A very special day indeed. And for this day she chose a dress that was a shade of purple, with a lace overlay. Let me back up a few steps....she had taken the dress to be altered at the shop where it was purchased. They had butchered the hem and didn't complete any of the other alterations they said they would do! She left the shop distressed and unhappy, with a dress that was a total disaster. They searched around for someone to "fix" the hemline and complete the rest of the alterations, and found me through an online search. They came to me in hopes that I could repair the damage that had been done, and salvage this beautiful dress. I did!

Jennifer was so happy with the work that I had done, that she asked if I would be able to alter the dress again, after her weight loss surgery, to be worn at another wedding in June 2015. Sure, I'd love to!!! I asked her to wait until about a month before the wedding. Fast forward to April 2015. She emails me - subject line "the infamous purple dress" -  I had been waiting for her email, and so happy to have finally gotten it!.

She arrives for her first fitting, excited and noticeably (50 pounds!!!) lighter from when I saw her last! She looks fantastic! She tried the dress on, I'm already pinning the waist in 4 inches at least! Take the length up too, she asks...Her next fitting, I'm taking in the waist some more! I am so proud of this girl and her determination. Finally she comes to pick it up just days before the wedding and it looks amazing on her! She's gonna rock this party dress!

Here she is, before and after!

Emergency alterations!!!

Well, this has been one busy couple of weeks with quick turn-arounds! Let's see. I was contacted on April 8th to do a hem on a prom dress.  But wait, the prom is the 10th, which really means she needs it on the 9th. One day. Sure - no problem! Next, contact was on the 12th, a Sunday, for a prom on the 16th, to be picked up on the 15th - so I had a few days for that one! (phew!). Then there was a zipper replacement. Customer came to  my house at 8AM on the 20th and was leaving for NYC for a destination wedding, on a train at 3:20 that day - picked up at noon! Next in line, that same day, comes someone who had already had her dress altered for a wedding, but hadn't tried it on until getting home. Realizing that she had lost weight since trying the dress on just 2 weeks before, it was now too big, and needed to be taken in. She needed the dress by the 23rd. Done! Lastly, on the 23rd another dress for a wedding was just a bit tight, so I needed to add gussets to make it fit better. Trip to the fabric store on my lunch break to find a color that matched; no easy task but I got it done. That one was needed for the 24th! One thing all these wonderful ladies had in common, is that they were so grateful that I was able to do the work in such a short period of time, and all were extremely happy with the results!

Prom & Graduation 2015!

Springtime, girls looking lovely in their fancy gowns, handsome boys sporting tuxedos,....it's that time of year! It's so exciting to see "kids" you once knew as very small children, grow into such wonderful young adults! And to celebrate this part of their life, comes prom and graduation with parties, dances, and all kinds of celebrations and reasons to get dressed up. For these occasions, and other special times, let me help you and your party-goer look your best ! 

Click here for more information!

The only thing that should matter is LOVE!

                                          All brides should be treated equally

I never thought I'd get married!

That's what Diana said when she came to me for her bridal alterations. When she walked through my door, stunning lace gown in hand, with a separate satin underlining, she said "I never thought I'd get married." This she said a few times during  her fitting. Now, in front of me was this very pretty woman, long curly hair, great personality, telling me that she never thought she'd get married.

Of course the curiosity got to me and I asked  "So what happened?", knowing it could be a very personal question, but feeling that by saying that over and over, that there was something she wanted to share with me. She said "I met the most amazing person". So the excited bride-to-be then talked about how she was overwhelmed with all the planning - finding a dress, mailing invitations, etc,etc,etc...They were getting married only months after meeting.

Feeling her excitement and some anxiety, I assured her that her dress would be ready in plenty of time, and that I would help her with a special embellishment she wanted. I also said to her "just imagine all those brides that plan their wedding 2 years in advance and stress that entire time. Look at you! You are getting it done in a much shorter time!" She smiled, agreed and at the end of her fitting, was more relaxed, knowing her dress was in good hands.

Local Businesses Connect!

It's all who you know. It's all who you're connected to. This is true in many ways. Business travels by word of mouth more than any advertising campaign! So, if you have a business in the Melrose or Greater Boston area, read on...

Networking in the Community

Wow, the social media network has really taken off! The latest  (in my networking anyway!) is Alignable. This is an avenue where local businesses can connect, set up advertising campaigns, post a promotion, share ideas. You can connect with EVERYONE on Alignable, or hand pick who you want to be connected to. I do a little of both. I have connected with others in my profession - or at least those that will compliment mine - and have also accepted invitations from others outside the scope.

So if you are wondering what is this "Alignable" media and how can it work for you - click on the link below and connect with me. Set up your profile if you haven't yet, and see how it can help your business in the local community.

Accept my invitation to connect on Alignable!

New Summer Dress!

Elaine had a favorite summer dress (the grey one) and wanted another just like it. So I patterned the dress and bought swatches for her to choose from. Here is the result! She is very happy with her new summer dress! 

Happy 4th of July!

Hope you are all enjoying the Nation's holiday!

Remember, now is a great time to go through your wardrobe and consider redesigning some of those articles you just can't part with but may be a "tad" out of style! Look at your Fall wardrobe and see what needs to be taken in/let out, hemmed, zipper fixed, etc...

2nd time around!

Cute as a button! Great use of big sister's communion dress. A few sizes too big, but with shortening of the straps and taking in at the sides, this dress has a new life and can be worn again!

Time to dance!

Most studios have their dance costumes in, and many will need alterations, embellishments, or repair. On these dresses, I was asked to add the pink satin fabric to the sleeves and the hem, as well as fit them to each girl - whatever your need, be sure to keep me in mind!

All aboard!

Interested Wedding Planners, Florists, Caterers, Bridal Shops, Recent Engagements, Mothers of the Bride, Brides, Alterations, Custom Home Decor, Retailers, Function Halls, Office Decor

Let me be your point of contact for all your Bridal, Alteration and Custom Home/Office decor needs!

Antique Christening Gown

Gown from 1908 - is being worn for the 7th time and needed some TLC and adjustments at the wrist. Click on the photo to see work in progress photos!