It's here!!!!

We are having a great week! Last night we were a vendor at the Trumbull Preschool's Big Night Out and it was so much fun. It was a night out for Moms and some Dads with great shopping and amazing food. the ladies who organized the event were so great to the vendors - I can't wait till next year! I got to spend the evening at a table next to Julia from Innerglow and she was handing out seaweed. Apparently it has antioxidant qualities and she is so fabulous people were munching away!



Today my crew (DH, DJ and Jessie) worked on prepping the catalogs and they are going to be mailed on Monday! We are so excited and I think you are going to love them. When we were putting on the mailing labels we were calling out the states that the catalogs were going. It is so amazing to me that we now have customers from all over the country from NYC to Oklahoma to Texas. I feel very, very lucky that moms and girls love Jessiegirlclothing and can't wait for the future!
If you are not on our mailing list but want to receive a catalog - follow this link and request one!

Good night Morristown!

We are home! What a nice weekend at Morristown and we loved the armory! We have never done an indoor art fair before and learned alot about display. At Grand Central a kiosk is provided and your display is contained within that space. At this fair we had a lot more room which was nice but we really needed to bring more items to set up our back display. I did my best by hanging some dresses and skirts up on the rafters and trying to position our racks in an interesting configuration. But that gray fabric they use is hideous! I will definitely bring my own fabric to hang nest time. Maybe some Jennifer Paganelli - that would be cool!
The people in New Jersey were so kind - I loved meeting everyone and talking fabric and little girls! My new design did well - so I was really excited! I also brought some 12 month dresses along and sold those - so I may be adding those sizes!
By Sunday night I was ready to go home and my roadies (aka my family) came and helped me load out. I was so proud of my son - he got right in there and took apart racks and loaded up the car. He is ten and it is an age where I am starting to see glimpses of maturity and what he might be like as a young man. It is very bittersweet!
This is my hard working crew! DJ worked hard - I think Jessiegirl thought she was on her lunch break.These are my must haves at an artfair! Extra large Dunkin Donuts coffee - to get thru load in and those first few hours. AI am trying to cut down the amount of diet soda I drink and my friend Julia suggested to drink a bottle of water first and then the soda - so I am trying that.

Jersey Girls!!

So it is the night before the first big show of the season and of course I am trying to get a million things done before collapsing in bed. I think I need to accept that little sleep before a show is the norm and embrace it!
We will be at Craft Morrison tomorrow night through Sunday and I am eager to kick this season off. It is an indoor show at the Morristown Armory so no need to worry about rain or tents blowing away. I am excited to see the response and meet everyone who comes out. The artfairs remind me a little of my theatre days as you prepare for the audience and you get the jitters but then it is so much fun when the curtain rises. Loading in to an artfair can be alot of work and despite my best efforts at making lists I always forget something - but it always works out well in the end.

If you haven't added your name to our list for a catalog on our website - do it now! We are getting them next week and they are fabulous!

We also are participating in the fortytoes giveaway. Amazing stores check it out!

Look how cute it came out...our new trapeze dress!!!

This is the new Jessiegirlclothing design that we have been working on! I love it - Thanks to Kimberlyvphotography for the pics. It is based on the trapeze dresses little girls use to wear in the 1970's. The collar is given a more modern cut and I added two ruffles to the bottom. There is some definite twirliblity in this design as well. I think it is perfect for summer and super flattering! These are the two designs that we have available on the website - but I am working on having some limited edition ones at the craft shows this year - one in linen!
We are beginning to pack up for Craft Morristown next weekend. It is inside the armory in Morristown and I am trying to plan how to organize the booth space. I am relieved that we don't have to worry about the weather or the stability of the tent. So excited to be doing another fair!

Our first catalog just went to printers ...if you would like to receive one visit our website and request one!

We are almost there!

DH and I are working furiously on our new website and getting all our spring designs loaded and we should be ready for launching this weekend! We have some really cute spring designs and I am lucky to be working with some fabulous photographers.
What I love about this online community is the wonderful Moms that I have been lucky enough to work with. Melanie Weyer Photography sent us the picture we are using in our header and some beautiful ones of her daughter Holland. Kimberly and her beautiful daughters are working on something special - can't wait! And we love StellaMarie - they will all be on the website in our new spring designs!

Here are some new pics to enjoy during the wait....

Change is coming...

We are getting so close to showing everyone our spring and summer goodies!!!! Love this pic of Kimberly's daughter Claudia. I had this dress made at the end of our run at Grand Central and it sold out we so decided to produce it for spring and I am so glad - the colors are perfect and it just makes me smile! We have more great summer patterned pinafore dresses and fun twirl skirts coming to the website in a couple weeks. I have also designed a new dress I am so excited about...it is going off Kimberly to be photographed tomorrow but here is a little taste...


So cute and girls are going to love it for the summer! I want to name it - but haven't figured one out- will have to work on it.
I am getting ready for some great art fairs this summer - and working on dresses, skirts,cute shirred tops, aprons etc.
can't wait!

My favorite college professor Tim Ward, was an old hippie with a long gray beard and Birkenstocks. At 19, I was struggling with whether or not I wanted to be in college or begin my theater career. Tim called me into his office and told me that education is like putting money into a bank account. That I should never stop learning and education is never wasted.

Last night I took my first college course in a long time - at the Parsons School of Design in NYC. It was scary, intimidating and wonderful. The class is filled with hip, young international students and a very elegant professor who worked as a fashion designer for years in NYC. In her very chic french accent she asked us to create a design using only triangles - not as easy as you think! I kept wanting to peek at what others in the room were doing - but then I felt like that would make it even more difficult if I got stuck on someones idea. Eventually I came up with image which I thought represented a spirit breaking free and the professor saw it as a xmas tree with snow - lol! I think when I was younger that would have really bothered me - but with age and experience I have become much less self conscious and judgmental of myself.

Next week we will be studying different silhouettes and sketching ideas that would work with them. I am very excited, but need to go out and get a sketchpad and soft pencils - apparently my pen and lined paper does not cut it. It is exciting and a bit unnerving to be a student again. Tim Ward would be proud!

Is it spring yet!

We are dreaming of spring here at Jessiegirlclothing! In CT we are facing our fourth snow day of the year and looking at another one on Friday. Today was more ice then snow so kids were forced to stay inside and conditions look pretty bleak outside. It definitely not a snowday where you grab your sled and play outside all day with your friends and come in for hot chocolate.
There is absolutely no color outside - the trees are bare, snow covers the ground and the sky is gray. It is on days like this that I totally buy into the theory that the amount of sunlight you are exposed to can impact you mood. So...I will pop some extra vitamin D and get out my spring fabrics. My favorite for a day like this is SisBoom! These are the first photos from our spring line - - thanks so much Kimberlyvphotography for the photo! This dress is all SisBoom and it just screams joy!
I am so excited about spring - we are revamping our website to be more user friendly and we have some adorable new designs debuting!

Bora, Bora...

We have a new member of the family! We have adopted a scruffy and sweet Maltese from the local animal shelter and she is quickly becoming one of the clan. Our children have been clamoring for a dog over the past year and we have put it off due to various reasons. But finally the stars have aligned and we feel that we are ready to expand our family.
Bora was the first dog we saw at the shelter and it was love at first sight. Bora is an old scruffy Maltese that we think may be going blind, though she is not bumping into anything yet. The SPCA had her spayed and said they would address her dental work before we took her home. Well the dental work turned into extracting most of Bora's teeth...so now she is toothless. That makes feeding her a little challenging but someone suggested baby food so we may try that. Despite it all we are so excited to have her here.
Having a dog was so important to DJ and he is turning ten this month. I can see instantly how much he loves the dog and how important it is for him to have one. He slept last night on the floor of his room with his head next to Bora's crate...so sweet. We try to provide so many material things and educational opportunities for our kids when in the end the simple act of caring for another living being is teaching him one of the most important lessons in life - to think outside himself!

Jessiegirlclothing sighting at PBK

We are so excited for Bri - one of our models from last spring. Her mom from lizbrownphotographyspot.com let us know that Bri won PotteryBarnKids December Kid of the Month contest!
I was so excited to see her in the Jessiegirclothing dress she modeled for us last season!
Yay Bri!

Check out the link on http://www.facebook.com/potterybarnkids?v=app_125026127508055

We are loving the snow....

Winter has definitely hit New England and we are loving it! The kids have started sledding and boarding down the neighborhood hill and building snow forts with their friends...not to mention the snowball fights. We were hit with the blizzard the day after Christmas and another 8" this week. There is nothing more beautiful then seeing the tree branches covered in snow lining our snow covered street. It feels almost too perfect...like a movie set. More snow this week?
Bring it on!

It's keeping me up at night...

Here is a sneak peek at what I've been working on this week. I am creating my patterns for the spring line! It literally can keep me up at night. the cut of dress can make all the difference - if it is cut too wide it can look very boxy - almost like a potato sack. At the same time girls need to be comfortable in the dress. I am lucky enough to have a live-in fashion critic(my daughter Jessie) to let me know what works and doesn't work.
I am hoping to have at least one new style of dress that is a bit more structured and fitted - but still be able to incorporate my love of mixing color and patterns. And of course it will have plenty of twirl!

We made it!!!

These are pictures of the gates that were used to secure the booths at Grand Central. They became very symbolic in our time there. At the end of a long day you would see them being rolled down the hall and it was our sign that the day was almost over. In the morning customers would wait outside the gates for the Holiday Fair to open - so they could come in and shop. They have closed for the last time this year...

Christmas eve was our last night at the Grand Central Fair! After sleeping for about 12 hours last night we went and cleaned out our booth this morning - just hours before the impending blizzard!

While this experience has been a tremendous amount of work - I can't wait to go back! I was so lucky to have immediate feedback from customers from all over the world and see the reaction of little girls as they turned the corner and saw our booth! I also feel so lucky to have spent this time with my Mom. She really came and supported me in this dream and it couldn't have happened without her. Thanks to everyone who said hello and even offered coffee. I think she is eager to return to her quiet life - but loved meeting all the customers! This is Murphy he will be returning to Texas as well - we will miss him!

I am now gearing up for spring! My head is spinning with ideas and I am sending out applications to art shows all over the east coast...might even make an appearance in Texas! Here is one of the spring designs that almost sold out at Grand Central -

Guess what I got for xmas? A new camera!!! This means better pics for the blog - yay! Here is a pic of Jessiegirl, I took this morning....

What an experience this holiday season has been. Thank you again to everyone who visited the booth. We are so appreciative of the support and positive feedback - and it is thrilling to think of all the Jessiegirlclothing packages that went out to fabulous girls everywhere!

We made it! We are at Grand Central!

Oh my goodness - we are finally here! We set up our booth - which looks freakin gorgeous - Thanks so much Mom! That is her in the pic! If you visit our booth at Grand Central this season you will see her - she is visiting from TX and is cold!! But loves the winter fashions - and is a fabulous salesperson!
We love NYC the people have been wonderful and the response has been so great!
We are meeting people from all over the US and the world - we have the coolest customers. We are sending out a ton of size 2 and 3 dresses so we will be bringing more in after the weekend and our hats and scarves are flying out the door. The best moments are when we see little girls try on the dresses and love them...and sometimes come back for more! It has been a great week - can't wait to see what December in NYC brings...

One week away...

We will be loading into Grand Central Terminal this time next week...boy are we busy! My mom is in from Texas and we are creating a warehouse in the basement. we have taped out the space on the floor and realized how small seven by nine feet really is. Thankfully my family has been in retail for years and know how to maximize space.
I have been very lucky to have people around me that balance me well. My DH is a number junkie and has taken over the finances, taxes, accounts and spreadsheets of every kind. My mother is an interior designer who understands how to set up a space. I have been fortunate to work with some talented photographers - especially Kimberlyvphotograpy.com. She was the first photographer I worked with and she just has such a beautiful creative vision. I also was lucky enough to find Nely who helps with the sewing and is amazing - I just feel very, very blessed!
This week my emotions range from excitement to terror to a strange calm - and then I start my next to-do list and move forward.

Just showing of some pics...

Gorgeous pics by Jennifer of fortytoesphotography - she is always so creative!

Two weeks from today the Grand Central Holiday Fair begins! I have really poured my heart and soul into this event - it really represents my creative vision - clothing for girls who love life and want to conquer the world! I am very excited and nervous - part of me wants it to start now so I can see how we do and another part of me would like another month to create more. I am hoping that this event is not only a success but leads to even more opportunities...

Our finished basement is no longer a playroom it has become a warehouse for our growing inventory. Fortunately my kids are happy to have their toys in their bedrooms and don't seem to be at all upset - they are great kids - I am really blessed.

I have started to think about things like fireproofing. I have to admit when I started this venture I never realized how many details there are that have nothing to do with designing or sewing - it can be overwhelming. Apparently you have to fireproof everything that is not metal - this includes the wicker baskets, mannequins and wooden heads used in my display. We are taking it all to a company in Brooklyn next week where they will "treat" it and present us with a certificate.

The next two week will be intense as we finish our design plans for the booth and organize, tag, iron and prepare all the inventory...wish me luck!

Packages are arriving!!!

Friday was a big day - it began with the arrival of boxes from a wonderful woman's collective in Thailand who are hand knitting gorgeous sweaters for our booth at Grand Central Terminal! I think they are a perfect compliment to Jessiegirlclothing skirts and ruffles in texture and color.


We are also including these stylish sweater dresses with coconut shell buttons - perfection! Are Kimberly's daughters not adorable -even the horse is charmed!


Our next delivery came not by our wonderful mailman or UPS truck but huge semi-trailer truck, down a ramp, on a dolly - we received our first pallet! My load in crew was at the ready...



...with the help of my DJ's skateboard (thanks Aunt Barbara!) we were able to move it inside - and these are the gift bags we are going to wrap those special items up in!

We are getting closer - as the larger pieces are in place skirt/dress production, deliveries, work schedules - there are other issues to focus on booth design/lighting/photos.
This last six months has been challenging but exciting and I am learning so much about myself! Alot of my presumptions about my life are being challenged and I can't wait to see where this takes us!

It is already October 12th?

I am a bit of a procrastinator and my big event at Grand Central is the first time I have really made a concerted effort to break that habit...and it's a good thing too! I have found that time is moving so quickly and I go from feeling all is completely under control to considering the possiblity of not sleeping for six weeks.
I met with the merchandise coordinator for the fair this week to discuss booth design and merchandising. The meeting was great - the standards are high and my ideas are on the right track. I am very excited about the booth but it is equal to opening up a store - there are so many details to think about and tasks to complete. I am so lucky to be having help from my fabulous, interior designer mother who is coming from TX to design and run my booth.

Walking thru Grand Central I couldn't help but get caught up in the excitement and energy of the station. As a teenager living in CT I watched my Dad commute into the city. Grand Central was for rushing thru, grabbing a paper and getting to your train - not a place to hang out. It has changed dramatically in the last ten years! There are beautiful shops, markets and restaurants. Tourists come in just to take photos and have coffee. Vanderbilt Hall where the Holiday Fair will take place has been redone with marble floors and chandeliers - gorgeous! I have included some very blurry photos from my visit last week just to give you an idea! So excited! November 15 is not that far away....

Six weeks and counting...

My life is consumed with the Holiday Fair at Grand Central Terminal. I am thinking fabrics, logos, booth etc... about 90% of the time. I am excited to be returning to NYC where my love for sewing began.

I learned to sew at the New York Shakespeare Festival working in the costume shop when I first arrived in NYC. I was only 20 years old and had worked for two years at a dinner theater in CT as the wardrobe girl and was ready to make the move to NYC with my friend Nina. After one week working in the Macy's purse department at Herald Square, I got a call from Milo - the headmaster of the NYSF costume shop which made costumes for the Public Theater, Shakespeare in Central Park and Broadway Shows. Milo was very old school, well respected and a bit feared in the costume world of New York Theatre. He always looked meticulous and ran a very tight ship and expected excellence from all who worked there. Milo was known to have grand tantrums and arguments when things did not meet his standards. He could also be very generous to those who worked for him and gave me many great opportunities.
The memory of Milo standing at the cutting table inspecting each garment as it left the shop stays with me today. I was very fortunate to learn and work with top costume designers and watch as costumes went from sketches to muslin mock ups to the stage. I learned that all the details are important from color shades to the cut, to the finishing of a garment. Creating beautiful clothes is a process and there are no shortcuts if it is to be well made. As I work to prepare for this show at Grand Central - it is this training that pushes me forward.

I think about it all the time -

Planning, Working and Inspiration!

I am 6-8 weeks away from load-in at the Grand Central Holiday Fair in NYC and obsess about it nonstop! I am past the planning stage of creating concepts, pieces and ideas. Currently I am in production or as I like to call it the gathering stage (of as DH likes to call it the going broke stage). Our home is slowly becoming a warehouse for all the beautiful items we are bringing with us to the fair. Every night I get to play with my fabric and put combinations together for skirts and dresses. I am adding a fall/winter touch with darker, deeper colors and some play with fabrics. Alot of the skirts and dresses include the same fabric so they can coordinate but not be too matchy-matchy!
I am almost finished with the production of my skirts and will be moving on to dresses in about a week. I started with skirts because they were my first inspiration. They embody the idea that Jessiegirlclothing can be worn dressed up for a party or dressed down for the playground. Clothing for the way real little girls live!
I was so excited last week when we were at the playground and a little girl came running over to the slide and she was wearing one of my Freida skirts! That is pure joy!