Custom Goodness

Being a seamstress is pretty fun stuff....I get to be creative and skillful all at the same time. I will admit however, that the daily grind can get a little monotonous. When I start to feel like I'll go crazy if I sew another wallet I try and take the time to do something custom. I have several friends and customers that are waiting for custom goodness. Take my friend Theresa who is waiting for some summer garments. She is a massage therapist and we trade sewn goodness for healing massages. My friend Laurel is waiting for a few belts for her son, Wes, and a scarf made form my own hand-spun yarn. Then there's my contractor who recently built us a deck, I'll be making him a guitar strap this weekend. I've made guitar straps, wallets, bags, and belts for both friends and strangers. For my daughter I make all sorts of skirts and costumes (a bald eagle, a bat, a monkey, captain hook, and fairy wings).

Every custom order is a mixture of pleasure and pain; pain because these projects are usually more stressful and time consuming (It has to be perfect!), and pleasurable because these projects are always unique, challenging and so rewarding for my skill level. Every time I make a custom order I learn something new about what I can accomplish and that is definitely a good feeling.

Today I am finishing a custom dress that I am making for my friend, Kellie. This is by far my most favorite custom order for two reasons; first, I've never made a dress like this before and this gives me an opportunity to learn how to do it. Secondly, Kellie is such a beautiful and special friend, I can't wait to see her in something I made with her in mind. The material came from an old sheet I found at a thrift store, which makes it extra unique and special. The dress is full of victorian style pleating and a very cool corset cinch back. I had enough material left over to make a matching guitar strap for her partner, Alex.