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. 

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!

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

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

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!

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)

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.

Brides and Gowns!

This weekend I am volunteering at the Brides Against Breast Cancer Tour of Gowns fundraiser at the Westin hotel in Waltham. Hundreds of designer, couture, new and gently-used gowns available ranging from $99 to $4,000, all styles in sizes 0-30. They have a gown to match any wedding theme or budget!

Tying the Knot

So I've decided to make a leap and advertise in the "The Knot"! It's an online wedding website geared to brides and everything they could possibly need for their special day. My ad goes "live" on December 25th! I thought I'd broaden my advertising base and reach specifically to the bridal market. No doubt I have had success with people seeing my blog, facebook page and my website, but thought I'd try this for a short term, low cost commitment. Wish me luck!

Refashioning a wedding gown





removed lace neckline and lace from top

I was contacted about 4 weeks ago from a bride wanting to use her mom's wedding dress, but wanting to make it her own style. When she brought it to me she also brought her ideas of the look she desires. Here are pictures of the gown before any alterations. She wants to remove the sleeves, the train and all the ornamentation above the bust and have an open back. I will make a new bodice with fabric from the train, using the lace and beading from the original top, and add wide straps that will cross in the back.







original lace neckline



lace from top, to be used on new bodice