Schedule This!

Deciding to leave the accounting profession after 36 years, was easy! 

Face it, doing something you went to school for, while moonlighting with what you love, makes the transition so much easier. I have done both for so long, but Covid made me examine what was important to me.

For me, making my own hours, finally finding a studio space outside my home, and designating time for myself, was a no brainer. Plus, doing what I love, makes me happy! I get hugs instead of scowls telling someone how much they owe the IRS! 

Scheduling - this is still evolving

I finally have my booking calendar the way I like it. I have some daytime appointments and some evenings. But not every day. No weekends until Sunday night. People book online - most of them. And this works! It's when people call, text or email me to schedule, that throws me off. I am very accommodating for students, nurses and others with odd schedules. So, I schedule "outside" of my normal appointment times. I'll go in on a Saturday morning - but no later than 9AM. I like to have my weekends like everyone else, and I stick to it, unless it's a rainy day and I've got lots to do, then I don't mind going in. 

I find I also have to schedule MY time. This is the tricky part!  I TRY to set aside time for yoga, going home for lunch, visiting my parents and kids, food shopping, riding my bike and other activities I might want to do during the week. Yes, I schedule lunch! Sometimes I have to cancel my scheduled activities if I'm too busy, but I prefer to stick to my schedule if at all possible. 

I also found that I needed to take a break in my busiest time of year! This year I took 4 days off and I went away - on a plane, to do absolutely nothing, with some very good friends. No plans, no worries, just time to chill. Yes, I still had a lot to do when I left, but I'm glad I took the break - I needed it - to clear my head. And believe it or not, I didn't stress over what I had to get done when I got back! I felt relaxed and recharged! 

Custom/Redesign

I am now in my 2nd year full time with my business - and it is growing! I'm even getting more custom work, which I'm trying to navigate. How many custom things can I juggle during my busiest time of year? While I didn't go to school for sewing/design, after 25+ years, of doing creative work, I am still evolving and learning as I go. It's an exciting time for me! 

Focus - I can't do everything!

I used to take everything, all the time, because I wasn't so busy, and it was my side hustle. But I have decided that I found my niche. I'm a bridal seamstress. That's what I love to do, so that's what I've become good at! I'll work on anything bridal - wedding gown, bridesmaid, mothers of bride and groom, and flower girl dresses. I've decided what I'm good at and am sticking to that! 

Certain things I am now saying NO to. For example, I don't alter jackets, of any kind. The only menswear I'll take, are pants hems. I don't replace zippers and I don't replace linings. I also don't make curtains or do any upholstery anymore. Those are specialized items as well, and while I did enjoy making home fashions, these are things that I don't do enough of to be good at them, so I have people that I recommend for those, and I'm happy about that. I'd rather pass something up, than do a terrible job for someone. And, in my busiest time of year - March through October - I won't take anything that's not bridal related. Famous last words....(I DO give preference to existing clients, if I have the time)

I never thought I'd end up here, but here I am!

I have found that the key to being happy, is doing what you love to do. For so many years I just did what I was taught and told to do, while I was doing what I loved on the side. I'm so happy I made the transition.  I believe I am healthier and happier because of it!

Thanks for reading :)

You can't make a living!

 Recently I was speaking with a family friend. He called to ask me if I found a bracelet at my house, where he had been for a cookout. It was important to him because his brother made it. He went on to say that although he likes to make these, he still has a job, because he can't make a living doing that. Then he said to me, "I'm sure you know about that with your sewing". I corrected him saying that my sewing IS my full time job now, and he was really surprised about that!

Why is it that people can't believe that this is a real business for me? What surprises me the most, is people who aren't my customers, like friends and some family members, still don't get it! I am busy enough to be renting a space outside my home. People will call or text me and ask "are you busy?" 

I'm at my studio during the week, usually every day either for appointments or to do my work. I'm there some nights as well. Definitely at least 40 hours a week, and more during my busiest times (prom, spring and fall weddings). I try not to work Friday night through Sunday nights. Sometimes I'll go in for a Saturday morning "pick up" if that's the best time for my customer. Sunday nights I'll take appointments, and get work done for the upcoming week. However, this year I decided to not take appointments on Sundays for the month of August, through Labor Day. I like to have the flexibility to go away in the summer just like anyone else!!! 

How do I run my business? 

I have carved out a niche in the tailoring business. I take appointments at night, as well as during the day. My working brides love this! Most people who do alterations, only take daytime and weekday appointments, meaning brides have to take time off of work. I've done this for years, and people love that I have evening times during the week as well as on Sundays.

Online booking has worked for me for well over 10 years now. I set the days/times I'll take appointments, and sometimes when I'm real busy, I will block off times so people can't make appointments!!!  It's pretty cool actually. I also set up reminders - text and email - so people are reminded of their upcoming appointment! My customers love this feature. 

I've decided to specialize in everything bridal, and making custom christening gowns. Sure, I get the occasional basic alterations, but it's few and far between. My rack is full of gown bags!

Christening Gown

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvFD3aHuqq8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA=

I have a business certificate from the city, and am a chamber member.

I take all forms of payment including Venmo! 

So, that's my business - come see me sometime in my studio!!! I'd love to show you around the creative space I call my home!

 

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

A Unique Christening gown

August 31, 2017
I received a message on my Facebook page regarding making a Christening gown!!!

Let me back up a little...
It's been a very busy bridal season for me, but was beginning to wind down. So I began to think of what I'd like to do when I am not so busy with bridal alterations....and the first thing that came to mind was "wow, I hope someone contacts me to make another christening gown!"
(I've made 5 so far, all from wedding gowns)

I don't even think it was a week, that I received that email on Facebook!

Here is the story behind this unique gown I was asked to make

I was asked if I could make a christening gown combining 3 generations of wedding gown/attire. WOW! Of course I said YES! So, the baby's mom said her mom, was shipping her Her wedding gown as well as her Grandmother's gown (are you following me?!) When she received them, we set up an appointment to meet, look at the fabrics I had to work with, and discuss the options.

September 7, 2017
The fabrics were brought over:

The (great) grandmother's gown from 1947, was a dark champagne, mid-weight satin, unlined, with an interesting wide corded hem. The wide cording was also on the top of the gown and the sleeves, as you can see in this photo. It hadn't been preserved, so the fabric had some areas of discoloration and deterioration in spots, but otherwise, a gorgeous piece of fabric to work with. Because the wide cording was so prominent on the gown, we decided to use that at the hemline, and allow it to be seen, beneath the lace.

The grandmother's gown from 1976, was a white Organdy fabric with tons of french lace on the top, sleeves and hem. There was beading on the top, but the beads had turned grey over time and were attached with glue (possibly what changed the color), so were not usable. The lining was a stiff fabric, comparable to sail cloth. She also brought the cathedral length veil to me, that had even more french lace, a little narrower than what was on the gown, on all the edges and the headpiece!

Baby's  mom had a lace jacket/topper she wore over her dress. It had lace sleeves and a wide band waist with a long sash.

Also specially requested included would be a bonnet and booties! And she wanted a BIG bow!!!!

After looking over all the materials I had to work with, and the condition of the fabrics, we decided to use the satin as the under-layer of the skirt and the sheer organdy on top, to give the top fabric an antique look. I was unsure about what to use on the bodice yet, so I just got started on the skirt and worked my way up!We were both super excited to get started on this!!!!

We had talked about incorporating all three (3) fabrics on the bodice. So I got to work. I used the satin underneath - just as with the skirt, Mommy's lace over that and I even used her sleeves, for the baby's sleeves, and some french lace appliques from the veil on top of that! The waistband and bow were made from Mommy's waistband, and the bow had french lace detail. I used a heavyweight interfacing to stiffen the bow - the only purchase I had to make. All other materials came directly from the gowns!













I received an email regarding Christening dates: Normally, I like to have 2 months to make an outfit like this, it's just so special and I like to put lots of details into it. I was given a few dates to choose from, so I chose the farthest one out! October 29, 2017 - not quite 2 months but I could work with it

The first week or so is just planning for me. A lot of thinking, laying out all the dresses in my work

space, looking at the details on each, and maybe even some sketching, before I begin cutting any fabric. Once it's cut, there's no going back, and I only have a limited amount of fabric to work with, so I have to be extra careful!

October 23, 2017
Gown is ready to go home!

Here is a link to my work in process photos and the end result :Heirloom Christening Gown
                                               I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

Since the wide cording was so prominent in the satin gown, I imitated the hem here, and let it show beneath the lace

Don't keep your wedding gown in a box!

You love your wedding gown. Whether it took hours, months, or the better part of a year to pick it out, you LOVE it. So when the big day is over, what now? The more popular thing to do is to have it professionally cleaned and preserved. This means it is tightly wrapped and put in a box, and wrapped again for a nice tight seal. That's what I did, and indeed, many brides do today.

Today, I was brought such a gown, in a neatly, and air tight sealed box. And what a beautiful gown it is. Satin underneath with lace overlay over the entire gown.

The request is one that is gaining popularity - to make a Christening outfit out of the once worn gown. Yes it was sealed, yes the baby is a girl, so I asked, as I had done before, "are you sure? what if when she is all grown up, she may want to wear your gown?" to which I was answered "yes, I'm sure!" Her only request was to make it gender neutral, not too frilly, because she wants it to be a family heirloom to be enjoyed by all.

So, I am happy to say, I am welcoming this request to make a gown, bonnet and jacket for this sweet baby girl to wear in just 3 weeks! "Use my creativity" she said....undoubtedly I will..