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 -