at the factory

I spend a LOT of time at the factory. Fortunately it's only 15 minutes from my house as well as 15 minutes from my office (one big triangle) . I love being there. Everyone is always busy and it feels like so much is getting done. In this photo Daniel is working at the cutting table. Some of my fabric is ready to be cut for Spring 2011 samples.

Every day the ladies cook lunch. I loved this noodle soup so much I had to take a photograph of it. The head seamstress just whipped it up for the everyone. Delicious. I think she could open a noodle soup restaurant.

Here Judy and Whitney (from Ibex) are reviewing specs for one of her orders while I happily eat my noodle soup. It takes a lot of work to get the clothes made. There are so many details to pay attention to.

The factory sews for about 10 different companies. They have a lot to keep up with. Being around a lot helps things move along smoothly and I can constantly check in on how everything is coming together.

I just love seeing things being made. Doesn't everyone? I'll make a video soon to show how some of the machinery works. Lots to share.

Gory Details

My mom and my brother called over the weekend with a "great idea!"

"Why don't you blog about what it's like to start a business?? The gory details!! Everyone will want to read about all the trials and tribulations that you and your team go through. It's so fascinating and funny," they say.

Hmmm, I say, not wanting to shoot their idea down immediately. But I just can't. No one wants to hear about it. Or should I say, for the sake of the brand, I can't. Maybe in hindsight it will be funny, but not as it's happening.

But after today, here's a tidbit- I went to the eye doctor today, because I really can't thread a needle. He dialated my eyes, forewarning that I will get to experience what my eyesight will be when I am 60. Ugh. He came back in the room and it felt like the fog hadn't cleared! I could hardly see a thing.

I managed to drive myself to work (bad idea) and thankfully I got there without hurting anyone. I ran through our office boutique ducking for cover from the shoppers with my protective eyewear on that doctor's assistant gave me. (I laughed at the thought of wearing them until I stepped outside, desperate for anything that would help me)

Then realized that the pattern I wanted to complete was MISSING. No idea where I had left it. I vaguely remember that last week it was in a bag in my car, as I was yelling at the kids not to step on it. The rest was a blank. Totally frustrated (I am on a serious deadline for Spring 2011 samples), I had one of my meltdowns.

They aren't pretty. I feel hopelessly pathetic. Plus for this one I was half blind. Then noticed one of my precious Spring 11 samples was MISSING. ugh. Now I was on the verge of tears. Laura, my business partner- level headed and perfect, tried talking me through all of my activity involving the missing pattern and missing dress. It was hopeless. No memory.

In the nick of time Curtis came to the rescue and found everything in his car. (I completely forgot that we swapped cars for a day last week- a totally different long story) Thankfully he drove them right down, knowing intimately the state I was in. xox curtis.

Now- end of the day- my youngest came running in, thrilled to make a contribution toward the dress business since he earned some money at his lemonade stand. I guess that's 25 cents less that we'll need to borrow! (meeting with my investor in 20 minutes) So my point is, I'll try to spare you the gory details. But my mom and my brother were right that there is plenty of material to write about.