Even More Photos of the New Downtown Joey Boys’ Clothing Line

 

Carrie did an awesome job of capturing “the look” of Downtown Joey.  Model, Ryan, played the part just perfect!

Came across this in a window while strolling the streets of Manhattan’s Garment District…

The entire dress is made completely out of ribbons!  How clever!

Back to work I go…I need to finish line sheets, orders forms, posters, web site, etc.  Thankfully some of my wonderful friends are pitching in to help me prepare for the upcoming ENK Children’s Club trade show!

 

And even more SNEAK PEEKS of Downtown Joey

Does my buddy Carrie take an awesome photo or what?!

So I guess now I can show you the flat sketches:

Lots more snap shirts, knit shirts, pants and board shorts to come…stay tuned!

With friendship,

Lisa

 

Downtown Joey Boys’ Clothing Line SNEAK PEEK and Living Donor Kidney Donor Update

Carrie of EMA Photography surprised me tonight with a sneak peek of the pictures she took of my new boys’ clothing line…so I just had to share it!  No, this is not Joey.  But boy, he’s perfect!  Too stinkin’ cute!  More photos to come…stay tuned!

Good news…both Marielle and my sister from North Carolina have done their blood tests…so now we are just waiting to see if they match.  Everyone, keep your fingers crossed!

Been busy working on my costing sheets so I can establish my wholesale prices…not fun.  I have a meeting with another possible sewing contractor on Friday morning.  I think this is “the one”…LOL!

With friendship,

Lisa

 

It is all Surreal while Preparing to Launch a Children’s Clothing Line

Friends and strangers have come out in droves.  Every since I appeared on CNBC’s Donny Deutsch’s The Big Idea show, wonderful things have been happening for me both professionally and personally.

Dozen of complete strangers how come forward to be tested to see if they could be a kidney donor to Marielle and save her life.  I am humbled and also reminded the world is a good place.

Our blogging community is something else.  Eileen, Patty, Daria, Lady M™ and many other friends in the sewing community have posted on their blogs.  Thanks girls!  And to think, we almost got a kidney from Patty.

Got my booth assignment for ENK Children’s Club.  Downtown Joey will make it’s Debut at Booth #7902.  At first I got nervous when I learned my booth was in the 7,000 range.  But to my absolute amazement…it’s right at the first entrance, second booth!!!

And that’s only the first section.  There are 4 or 5 other sections after that!!!  OMG…I think I’m going to faint!  This is AWESOME!  I’ll surely get a lot of traffic as I’m right near the main door!  I am BEYOND EXCITED!!!

Ran into Manhattan yesterday morning to pick-up my salesman’s samples which will be used at the trade show.  They can out terrific.  It’s amazing to see my designs come to fruition…two years in the making!

This morning we’re off to the children’s hospital in Philadelphia.  They are going to FINALLY begin mixing my sister’s and Marielle’s blood and also will do some tissue matching.  Not sure how soon we’ll get the results back.  I surely hope they match!!!  Ok everyone…keep your fingers crossed!

After that, we’re stopping at Carrie’s (aka emersonsmom) to drop off the samples for photos!  Yeah Carrie!  She once again came to my rescue…I know she will do Downtown Joey just right.  She’s got a gift with that camera of hers.  I don’t know what I’d do without her.  Yes, her skills ROCK, but she is truly a friend through thick and thin…my inner circle.  I am blessed!

With friendship,

Lisa

Sew…My Clothing Line and Success Emergency on CNBC Donny Deutsch’s THE BIG IDEA

Click HERE for Video of ME on The Big Idea

Success Emergency…The Big Idea

EDIT:  Because of the Wall Street fallout, I believe my show has been pushed back to TOMORROW NIGHT 10PM.  Will confirm as soon as I know for sure.

Today’s the day!  At 10am this morning, CNBC will be coming to pick me up for my TV taping of Donny Deutsch’s THE BIG IDEA!  We did a full day of filming at my home on Sunday, but now do the actual taping with Donny for tonight’s show.  Donny, along with Power Council Chip & Pepper Jeans (a multi-million dollar lifestyle denim brand sold in 42 countries!) and Brian Scudamore of 1-800-GOT-JUNK fame will help advise me on obstacles I face launching my Downtown Joey boys’ clothing line.

So be sure to tune in tonight (and record it!!!) – 10pm here in NYC on CNBC Time Warner Cable channel 15.  Check your local listings.  Hopefully, someone will YouTube it for me so my friends can see it worldwide!  Thanks to Daria of Boutique Cafe for the shout out!

My daughter has been hospital since the day before.  She needed a procedure and luckily, it was successful.  The doctors released her from the hospital at 11pm last night…whew!  But I will say, they all asked to be mentioned on the show…LOL!

Well, I had better get moving…only 3 1/2 hours till my 15 minutes of fame…and I have NO IDEA what I’m going to wear.  The producers said no white or black shirts…ummm, that would be my whole wardrobe!

Wish me luck!

Sew…You Really Want to be a Designer Entrepreneur? Really?

Samples in the City

On Monday, I drove up to Manhattan to see a clothing sample maker who was recommended by a friend.  Armed with yards of fabric, my patterns, sewing specs and tons of notions, I braved the traffic–OMG!  The traffic gets worse every year.  It’s like a huge parking lot.  A drive that should have taken about 20 minutes took more than an hour and a half!

And Heaven forbid you get behind a New Jersey driver, it all over.  (Sorry NJ friends…but it’s true.)  It takes you at least 5 minutes to drive one short city block.

My sample maker couldn’t make my downtown hats until I found some Visor Board for the bills of the hats…you know, the visor stuff.  Also, I was waiting on one of the prints for the western shirt.  So, I’ll have to make another trip up to the sample maker in the city to give her both the visor material and the print.  Completed samples are “supposed to” be finished by September 19th…right.  ENK Show is October 5th.

After getting sample prices (which were pricey), I got quotes for production sewing pricing from her based on 300 pieces each…umm, sorry, but there is no way I can pay $25 just for sewing while my competitors are wholesaling their shirts for a mere $24 to $28!  Yes, I expect my sewing costs to be a bit higher than my competitors, because there’s detailed cutting…but that’s way out of line.  I have a MAJOR problem.

See, without having a clear production sewing price, everything comes to a HALT.  Everything.  Without competitive sewing production costs, I can’t:

- finish my line sheets

- make my order forms

- do my mailings to buyers

- make follow-up calls and appointment with buyers

- complete my wholesale area of the web site

and so on.  Now if I had a month or two longer and a daughter who didn’t need a kidney transplant (doctors’ appointments, hospitalizations, home care, etc.), I could physically trek into the city and visit at least a dozen sewing factories on my list of over 100 places on my list of sewing contractors in NYC.  I can’t go to China or New Jersey.  I’m certified “Made in NYC™!”

My Success Emergency

So what did I do?  I wrote an email to Donny Deutsch and The Big Idea Show and told them of my dilemma (aka Success Emergency).  The next morning, I got an email from the producer!  I’m thrilled to announce they are coming to film at my home tomorrow!!!  I sure hope Donny and friends have some advice on my situation.

You Should Be in Pictures

I was able to make Earnshaw’s Friday ad submission deadline.  I secured a 1/2 page island ad for the next three months.  I don’t have photos of new line yet, so photos from previous designs had to suffice.  Mary of Confessions of a Craft Addict came to my rescue designing and submitting the ad on my behalf!  I can’t thank her enough–perhaps I can…like with a big box of fabric…LOL!  I can’t wait to see the actual ad in print!

My skyline backdrops were delivered the other day.  I also remembered to order my Ocean Blue photo paper backdrop from B & H Photo.  Hopefully that will arrive this coming week.

GO DIVA

 

I have a dear friend I met on e-Bay a few years ago.  Lynn (aka 47cats) always knows when I’m struggling.  She surprised me with GO DIVA chocolate truffles…it doesn’t get better than this.  Thank you my sweet buddy!

And speaking of e-Bay friends, Eileen of Whimsy Portraits surprised me with the most awesome photo book of the NYC BBQ!!!  OMG…I can’t wait to show everyone–it needs a post all it’s own!  Thank you Eileen—it’s so unique and I will always treasure it!

My Sunshine on a Rainy Day

(photo by EMA Photography)

On Tuesday, the Sunshine Girl and I made a clinic visit in Philly with the kidney transplant doctors.  Luckily, it went smooth this time.  However, by Wednesday, Marielle was doubled over in pain.  Her blood pressure remains stable (with 4 different blood pressure medicines), but she is not doing well…all complications of kidney failure.  My sister from North Carolina is working with our hospital to get her living donor evaluation done.  Please keep your fingers crossed that she is a match for my daughter, because we are running out of time.

On another note, I fell like such a terrible blogger friend  I just can’t keep up with replies to all the comments left on my blog.  I promise you I read each and every single comment and appreciate them.  Hopefully when things slow down a bit, I can get back to being active in the blog community.  Thanks for understanding.