Sewing room update

I'm sitting at my computer wondering if I will ever get used to the customer journey detail that Mailchimp has added. 

I feel a little stressed about my ignorance around getting it set up.

Out of the corner of my eye I can see my cutting table and little table overflowing with fabric and dolls. 

I think this is the real source of my unease.

I'll be tidying up as soon as I finish this blog post.

So why is the Customer Journey item so difficult you might ask? (Well, I guess if you don't do computers much you don't care.)

The visual on the screen is like a black box. I can't see which email is which and having to scroll down to see the whole thing means I lose count of where each email is supposed to be.

I just went back and worked out how to label the rectangles with the emails!

The sequence has gone out all skewiff for the first few subscribers. It is quite a steep learning curve for me but who doesn't like a challenge. I will prevail!

At least all the information is saved in the Newsletter Patterns and Tutorials folder so any subscriber can get it from there.

I still have a bit of tweaking to do with the new Basic A-line Skirt folder inside the main folder. 

I have to accept that everything is at least 80% functional. I have come a long way with my mindset and my confidence and I feel sure that I am not as stressed or worried as I would have been about something similar a few years ago.

The newsletter folder seems to be working well. It's not perfect but it gets my work out there. 

This is what it looks like.

Subscribers get the link to access the folder and download any of the files.

I apologise to the few who got the 50% working email sequence. It should be all fixed now.

I'm just about to put all my fabrics in the cupboard and get onto some more sewing.

Happy Doll Dressmaking,

Val

P.S.

Much better.

It's a bit tricky to keep it tidy. I am waiting on book shelves to go along that whole wall. The bookshelf that is there will go in another room.

Bring out your creative passion with doll dressmaking

Doll dressmaking is my passion.

3 important core values for me are: 

• being Artistic; 
• being Creative, and 
• being Passionate about what I do

I am happiest when I am creating. I love going to work each day!

Each day there are 3 things that will get my heart pumping:

1. Yoga
2. Walking
3. Doll dressmaking

To get my creative juices flowing I like to walk and think. Watching the sunrise is so inspiring.

I am planning a Summer doll clothes capsule and I have some garment images that I collected from a fashion you tube channel that I follow. She puts links to the items in the online shops so I just take some screen shots.

The first item I want to make is a simple strappy dress.

When I start designing I begin by drawing up the pattern pieces that I need. I usually use existing patterns to create new ones so it doesn't take a long time to get a design ready for sewing.

I am using the 18"dress bodice to draw up the front pieces for my strappy dress.

Not every design works out and sometimes I will stop after I have sewn the first sample. I like this one and will try to make a skirt with the flat front and elastic back similar to the dress. I have another pattern ready to sew up so I will continue with that one.

I tend to use less expensive fabrics for the first samples because I need to check for the look and the fit with the first sample.

This dress was meant to be a floaty summer shift but it turned out too wide under the arms and the skirt didn't float at all. I was hoping to get away from putting proper flaring in. That requires cutting the pattern from hem to neck in several places. My final decision for this dress will be fitted to the waist and an a-line skirt section. I may work on the flared design at a later date. But it's back to the drawing board for now.

Now that the design is well underway I start to look at setting up the instructions. This is the slowest part of creating the pattern and probably the most tiring because you need to spend several hours in front of the computer along with sewing the garment.

It is very satisfying to end up with something that looks fabulous on the doll and fits perfectly and goes together easily.

I am very happy with the final version. Now it is just a matter of finishing the instructions and publishing. You can find this one in the Newsletter pattern folder at no.13.

Look out for this simple dress that I have used as an example for this blog post. It will be in the Newsletter free pattern folder. You can join my mailing list to get monthly updates and access to a folder of free patterns for 18" dolls.

Yes I want access!

Happy Doll Dressmaking,

Val