The light on the horizon

It's been a while...

So, this COVID-19 thing has done a number on us all, as people, parents, healthcare workers, restaurant owners, and small businesses. ALL businesses, even essential ones, as cutbacks in employees and social distancing rules are in place having a limited number of people in the stores to keep people healthy.

On February 21, 2020, I received an email about contributing to a new blog that one of the writers in my building thought would be a nice way to show others what the artists at Follow Your Art Community Studios, do. Brilliant! But I cordially declined, for the moment, being the beginning of prom and wedding season, and knowing that I was going to be getting really busy, with little or no time to write, much less think of what to write!

BOOM!

Stay at home - less than one month later

All at once, I could no longer have appointments and meet with my happy brides and excited prom girls. I was confused as to what to do, how to handle it. I was panic striken at one point, not about my business, but about the health of the country and its people.

Anyhow, I did find some extra time on my hands, enough, to write my blog contribution. So, here it is. There is a light at the end of this extra long tunnel...it's dim now, but it will get brighter the closer we get. 

Read here: Diary of the Seamstress in Studio 5

Stay safe!

~Tamara

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)

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!