about me...

i am the anti-fashion designer. 

if i hadn't been the teachers pet, i would have been my college professor's worst nightmare.

i don't buy designer labels.

not can't just don't.

i blame my mother. 

i inherited her sense of style, timing, and mouth. 

we are always early, esp. when it comes to a sense of fashion. i, like her, cannot be considered trendy. not because we have bad taste, but because we always wear things months if not a year or more ahead of schedule. therefore i have learned to buy what i like and adapt the rest. it wasn't until after college that i found my true since of style.

with a degree in fashion design, 4 years of costume design and stitching experience, and more than 17 years of sewing experience, you would think i own more clothes than forever 21.

you are wrong.

not being a fan of "fast" fashion. i shop rarely and just add tights! 

**definition time- fast fashion means cheap and affordable clothes designed to bring the latest trends from the runways to stores in the fastest possible way.

example- Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, Delias, Old Navy, & Gap

these clothes are made only to make it "through the summer" until the next legging crazy.

i'm a firm believer in basics. black dress. great coat. and one nice pair of jeans.

i don't necessarily follow the "whats hot spring 2013" path. why? because what other designers try to sell on boney ass models aren't ever gonna fit me correctly- esp not at a fast fashion price. 

the all through college i searched for a specific personal style. the problem i found is if i follow trends i have to be uncomfortable. why in gods name do you wanna be uncomfortable all the time.
i know what your thinking. "mom always said 'beauty is pain'". yeah maybe for a fancy night out, but no way am i going grocery shopping in pain... or sweats!
my philosophy on fashion is: it should make you feel good, and you should allow you to be you.
clothes are required by law, but that doesn't mean it cant make a statement!

i have three rules of fashion...
learn them. live them. love them.
 #1 Leggings aren't pants!
 repeat with me. i don't care if you way 47lbs. if i see you wearing them as pants, i will point, laugh and comment to anyone wh'os listening.
#2 Your bow can never be big enough!
if you don't like bows, ok whats your thing. find it and do it big. i never feel better than when a great bow.
#3 Smile! 
if you feel good enough about your outfit to smile, then you are trendy all on your own.
runway models can't smile- someone else picked out their outfit!

until next time. later taters.

 

best way to change is to upcycle....

writing a blog.

for me thats like writing in a diary or new years resolutions.

its something that always seems like a great idea, until you are two weeks in and someone makes you cookies... then off the wagon you fall. 

the problem for me with writing a blog is well, writing a blog. where do you begin. what do you talk about. 

hi my name is angela... um ok whats next. 

after months of crappy, random sales pitch blog posts,

(they're still up, i'm not ashamed. go ahead read them. lol)

i asked for help. and a new friend and excellent blogger answered my call. 

my question: "where do I start? how do I make it interesting?"

and her response: "YOU are fun and interesting!" write about something you are really really interested in.
stunned, i sat and thought for a minute; the first thing to pop into my head was
"NO WAY am I INTERESTING!"
eccentric.maybe. obnoxious. at times. brutally honest. definitely, but i really don't know about interesting.
i am however great at giving an unbiased opinion and turning crappy "goodwill" finds into wearable art.
so that settled it, after this introduction and a brief background on why i'm "interesting", this blog will be a truly UNFASHIONABLE guide to finding you own style, in the back of your closet and ( in my opinion) starting a few trends of your own. 


until next time! Later Tater!

teaching...

i got the job...

knowing that i like to be busy and that i am constantly working on something new will not surprise any of you. so when the opportunity arose for me to add to my ever growing resume, of course i took it. in addition to working freelance designing costumes, alterations, my etsy, craft shows and my semi stable part time job, i will be teaching sewing classes at Joann Fabrics in Mt. Juliet. its close to home, its my community, it's kids... what more can i ask for- right?

Joann's in Providence Shopping Center has classes for all ages and interests. they also do a open house every couple of months for those interested to meet the instructors and see the projects offered
 the next open house will be December 1st from 1-3pm.
here is the link for anyone interested ...
Joann Class Home Page
Kids Studio Classes
class flyer's

for now i am the teen and kids sewing instructor.
the teen classes will feature things like pjs, jackets, purses, and even some home interior projects.
the kids studio classes (8 and up) will teach kids how to make jackets, pillows, blankets, pjs, and book bags.
no matter what age group, these are great projects to teach kids independent sewing both by hand and machine. in each age group there are classes at different levels from beginners to advanced level. and each class is geared to teach a specific skill.
if you cant tell already, i am super excited. i love to sew. and when you love something you want everyone to love it too.
since the class schedule changes every 2 months i will update regularly on the projects and whats coming up.
This could be a great Christmas present, after school project, or even a productive winter break babysitter!!! -mommy and daddy movie date anyone???

for Dec. i will be teaching the following 3 classes...

Headtime Story: Kids Sewing 101. $35- one 3-hr session
pillow case, contrasting fabrics. teaches sewing machine basics, simple construction
Wed, December 19th.  2-5pm

Frosty Friends Fleece Blanket: Kids Sewing 102. $35- one 3-hr session
fleece blanket, hand sewing and embroidery
Thurs, December 20th. 2-5pm

Just My Style Bolero Jacket: Kids Sewing 301. $45 two 2-hr sessions
kids jacket. using pattern, adding trim
Sat, December 29th 10am-12pm
Sat, January 5th 10am-12pm

and remember i will be at Joann Fabrics in Providence December 1st from 1-3pm to show you the December projects!!!
don't those sound fun!! cant wait, hope to see you soon.

Last Chance Santa

since i figure i made a promise in my last blog.

i intend to keep it. not only am i back but i am bringing word of my next craft show.

if you've heard of Christmas village, you will love this. Last Chance Santa in Gallatin, Tn has all the perks of Christmas crafters, minus the pushing and rudeness!

 

i personally am sooooo excited about this show. and its only 9 days away!!!
free to admission, entertainment, food, shopping, door prizes, goodie bags, pictures with Santa....
the list goes on and on!
my favorite part about great, well put together shows like this one, is all the vendors. i will have the pleasure of meeting a ton of new people as well as seeing some of my new friends I met while participating in the Junk n the Trunk show in October.

this event has been sponsored by Sweet Tea & Shopping's Julia Proctor. and though we have not met in person, YET!!, she has done an amazing job thus far. i can not imagine the time, and energy it takes to put on an event of this size. give her a round of applause everyone. of course the only way to thank you is come shop, hint hint everyone!

Last Chance Santa will be held at the Depot Square Event Center in Gallatin, Tn.
on December 7th & 8th.
amoung the 50+ vendors will be
( of course Ella Dee and Stuff)

Cindi Renee Design

 

 

Seams Sew Wright

 

 

Just My Art by Amanda Baugher

 

 

Creative Carmella

 

 

and of course pictures with Santa by Chapman's Photography

 

 

now as these are only a smell few of the vendors, but to see any more you will have to visit

Sweet Tea and Shopping or come see us all at Last Chance Santa!!

 

until then HAPPY CRAFTING! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



learning never ends...

learning never ends...

that sounds pretty accurate.

 i learn everyday. we all do. we learn about each other, ourselves, my husband's preferred way to load the dishwasher... the learning (big and small) is endless.

i have learned a great many things since my last post. i learned that doing business with friends, is awkward. doing craft shows in your small town, while fun, is not always a good use of time- if only you could pays bills with new friends right?! and i also learned that sometimes the best advise comes from the most unlikely people.

for those of you know know we, you know i dream big, sometimes bigger than i should. and you know i am a planner. but the problem with that is i spend 75% of my time planning. the bigger the dream, the more complicated the plan. sounds smart right, the old rule measure twice, cut once. the problem with that is i over complicate the plan to the point that i have no time left for execution.

new goal, call it new years resolution that i am starting early...

SIMPLIFY.

through simplification and time management i hope to make my life and business more successful.

i have learned so much this year.

i started a business. i joined the creative world of craft fairs. i found my (current) purpose.

and since i have only truly been at this for about 6 months, i figure i did pretty well. that being said there will be some definite changes coming, after all changes follow learning

 

things in our house has changed pretty drastically recently. i'm sure some of you saw mentions of it but not what really happened. during the first of November i designed Belmont University Opera Department's fall show.it was a big one, defiantly the biggest i have ever taken part in. for those of you don't know, when you design a show anything that isn't rented comes out of your pocket. now of course you get reimbursed for it, but sometimes that can be weeks after the show closes. the night before my show opens i get word that my hubs is receiving a lay off. the news hit me like a ton of bricks. i knew it was coming, that's the nature of his profession. but this was the first one. and since i am freelance and only work part time somewhere stable- words like unemployment and mortgage are not a good combo. but after just a few short weeks, the hubs received the call that he's back to work. Thank Heavens!

money is tight and having him home has been weird, but now we know what to expect. learning experiences right. its now time to make a change in our life plan and get in moving. so next time this happens we wont feel so much panic and stress. maybe we will use it to take a vacation!

part of this new plan involves me changing some of my work goals.

 

  as for my business and simplification ... i am no longer splitting my brand ( talk about over complicated). no double more double etsy. all Ella Dee and Stuff shopping can be done here: Etsy, Facebook, and in person at local crafting events. **if i can figure out how, i will be putting a calender up so everyone can find me!

 

well this is my thoughts for now. i'm sure i will be back soon!

 



 

 

falling leaves = opera season

ladies and gentlemen...

if you will draw your attention to the center of the stage...

and look very closely. closer.

can you see it. 

no of course you cant I haven't dreamed it up yet!!

for those of you who know me well. you know I have been working as a costume designer off and on since I was in undergrad. I LOVE IT!!!- in small doses of course. 

even theatre can be too structured for me some days. but it has taught me things I could never have imagined.

paitence,  unbridled creativity, organization, and self worth

these are things you can only learn through experience. no family members, friends, or even education can teach you. 

that being said, I have received obnoxious amounts of encouragement, you all know who you are. which makes the stressful anxiety and excitment that comes with show season bearable.

whats more fun than working with people you like, on a project that warms your sole, and provides you an outlet for creativity. 

nothing. nothing is better. well maybe giving birth or saving someones life; but hey I haven't tried those yet, so... Costuming an opera it is.

for some of you FALL means back to school. sharpened pencils. honey crisp apples. boots and sweaters. but for others, my little theatre family- its crunch time!

I can almost smell the opening and closing of stage curtains. I hear the whisper of vocal warmups. and yes, everyone hears the tapping of my cowboy boots as I run stairs. 

these sounds and smells only mean one thing to me...

Opera Season.

Opera Season is a time of frenzy, esp. on Belmont University's Campus. you can't see it, and you wont smell it- but its there. all theatre costume departments will agree with me on that. 

my good friends at the Belmont Opera department have invited me back as there Guest Costume Designer again this fall. having designed their last 2 shows, the anticipation is building. and as always I am blown away by the trust that Dr. Kristi Whitten gives to me to build her vision. and to be honest I enjoy the hell out of somehow being able to read her mind and translate her thoughts. ***knock on wood I can do it again this year. 

this fall I begin the task of costuming Dialogues of the Carmelites. Nuns people, its about nuns. and I am honored. I feel sometimes designing a show that already has a specific look is the most challenging. Catholics be kind. 

I am working with lots of my "oldy" students and several "fresh meat". (for those of you who need an Angela dictionary. Oldy = people I have worked with before, not old people. and FreshMeat = new people) I am super excited because some of these students I have worked with since the beginning of their college career. (TEAR) and some will graduate on me this spring. (cough) Susan.

thank you for the opportunity and lets kick some Carmelite butt.

and now photo time. 

most of these have been stolen from Facebook but will be given all needed credits.
these are only a few of the shows I have been apart of:

Below: All photos by Rick Malkin

Nashville Shakespeare Fesitval

Loves Labors Lost 2010

aria durso & teresa driver

 eric pasto-crosby & joseph robinson

 elizabeth lanier, mariah parris, shannon mcminn hoppe, & nettie craft

 I was dresser and stitcher on this show. Made the (above) turquoise costume.

 photos by Rick Malkin

Nashville Shakespeare Festival

Shakespeare's Case 2010

 I was the dresser and stitcher on this show.

Photos by Rick Malkin

Nashville Shakespeare Festival

Romeo & Juliet 2011

 matthew raich & emily

shannon mcminn hoppe, emily, & martha wilkerson

caleb pritchett

I was assistant designer, dresser, and stitcher. Sorry for the people not labeled. I thought better to leave off names than to butcher the spelling.

Belmont Opera 

Bartered Bride 2011

Designer, Sticher, Whatever.

photos by students parents

photos by Rick Malkin

Nashville Shakespeare Festival

Julius Caesar 2011

 Most talented cast I've ever worked with. 

I was assistant designer, dresser, and stitcher.

and yes thats eddie george.

now you've seen some of what I've done and been apart of...

it only get better from here.

stay inspired my friends

AppleFest and Stuff...

ok party people...

clearly I didn't make my goal last week, so that means this week there will be twice as many posts- I promise to try to consolidate.

so let's get down to business, shall we...

first things first.

I have already announced our contest winner on facebook, but I thought it was time to let ya'll in on it too.  as you know I did a drawing at The Strawberry Patch Barn Sale and the winner happened to be none other than Junk n' the Trunk, owner Gina Gann. having met Gina only briefly at the Barn Sale, I learned that she has 2 sons and she was fairly certain they would not want one of my dolls, however she entered the drawing with hopes that she would win for herself. 

when I called to inform her she won, her excitement level was through the roof. when she calmed down, I was excited to find out that she lives and works in Gallatin where she owns a store called Junk n' the Trunk located on the square. Junk n' the Trunk, a store full of unique salvaged and restyled finds- including retro furniture, custom pieces, and unique gifts, as well as offering custom interior design and home staging. And soon, cross your fingers, they will be home to a few of my FrankenDolls!

Junk n' the Trunk is also a big part in the Occasions/5 Chefs & HomeTown MarketPlace in October, in which, yours truely will have a booth!! See Gina's Store and Facebook (link above) for tickets and more info.

but more on that later...

now on to AppleFest.

now if you follow me on Facebook : Ella Dee and Stuff, you probably already know I attended AppleFest in Lafayette, Tn last weekend. I was so happy to be apart of that welcoming little community for a day. The wonderful ladies at White House NursingHome did such a great job putting on this festival for their town. The day included local vendors, a live band, a provided lunch of beans and corn bread (it's a southern thing), and lots of Apples! I was fortunate enough to run into a dear friend of mine as well as several of my Strawberry Patch attendees. Thanks again ladies for all your hard work.

and now on to the pictures!

 **notice the awesome pink awning my hubbs found me!

New sign since the other one died in the storm at The Strawberry Patch.

 

I have decided that the red can-can must accompany me to all shows. Its like a bright red beacon to my booth! Plus everyone loves a good grandma story. (Thanks MeMe for never throwing anything away.)

  

Cabinet O' Monsters!

Bloody Man!!!

Little Mascots for my Creepy Side!

Everyone thought they were a couple!!!!

Thanks to the Hubbs for helping me out, instead of watching the game!

We kinda look like a UT family.

Candid Camera- Courtesy of the hubbs, hiding behind the trailer.

Thanks Trav.

Well that was last week, thanks again everyone.

Stay tuned for next week.

Until then, have fun, 

and stay creepy my friends!