Tag: sewing

  • Two City Fabric Tour + What Do You Look For In A Dress?

    Two City Fabric Tour + What Do You Look For In A Dress?

    A new collection from Fashion Not Fear is in the making. I am currently in the planning stage, so nothing has actually been made yet. As a matter of fact, the only things done is deciding on a color scheme and simple sketches of some ideas.

    Fashion not fear sketch

    With these two pieces in mind, it was time to get some fabric ideas. My love of travel means I would do anything to do a road trip. Austin and Houston would be good placing to source fabric. Sounded like it was time for a fabric road trip!

    Austin was first up. Although, I’ve spent many days and nights in Austin, this would be my first time looking for fabric. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get there from my home. So, it is the perfect distance to do ANYTHING and come back the same day. Honestly, my fiancé and I are good for hitting up happy hour or taking our bikes to ride around downtown.

    Even though this was my first time looking, I knew exactly which store I wanted to go to. I follow this store on IG. They seemed to offer unique options. Let’s go!

    We hit the road early, ate at our favorite poke restaurant and headed out. My Google search and Maps apps both said the store was closed but I prayed it was a mistake.

    It wasn’t.

    After checking out a few more stores; it was time to move around.

    Next up…Houston. As soon as I entered H-town, I found some hot spots.

    Luckily, I was successful in finding fabric, trimmings, and fabric basics so the Houston trip was definitely a success.

    The collection is something I’m already proud of. I am aiming for each piece to have the feminine details that make us feel pretty that we all love.

    Everyone likes something different when it comes to girly, dresses. What are some feminine details you like to see in a dress?? Is it lace, chiffon, floral patterns, shoulders out, a certain fit or front split?? What is it?

    Let’s talk. Let me know in the comments what you look for in a dress??

    Stay Fearless 💋

  • The Makings Of The Dark Romance Dress

    The Makings Of The Dark Romance Dress

    The Dark Romance Dress was released at BLB a couple of weeks back as part of the Fashion Not Fear Collection.  It hit the runway for the first time at the SPIRIT Fashion Show.

    It was the first dress that hit the runway and one of the dresses that I was worried about the most.  Using textiles that are new to me along with a pattern style that is completely different from what I used to; made this was one of the hardest dresses that I have made.

    The fabric is a chiffon type of material that has a textured pattern of burgundy.  It also  has a slight bit of shine to it with layers of ruffles.  It is so girly!

    Here is how it looked layer by layer:

    sewing top part of burgundy dressback part of burgundy dressfirst tier of burgundy dressfull burgundy dress on mannequin

    This dress was a true labor of love but I remember the exact moment I realized this is a HOT ass dress.  That moment is when Dominique Aruede graced the stage.  To say she killed it is an understatement!

    burgundydress.spiritfashionshow19.destinylrdrAPOLLO215

    📸 – @destinyldrburgundeydress.tiereddressdestinylrdrAPOLLO198

    📸 – @destinyldr

    burgundy dress with ruffles

    📸 – @destinyldr

    Thoughts on the Dark Romance Dress?  Let me know in the comments.

    Stay Fearless 💋

    burgundydress.spiritfashionshow19.destinylrdrAPOLLO215

    To shop the Dark Romance Dress

  • The Life & Times OF A Fearless Entrepreneur Vol. 2

    The Life & Times OF A Fearless Entrepreneur Vol. 2

    A daze.  That’s how I would describe the last few weeks.  It’s been a daze.  As I’ve told you before, BLB and FNF is a one woman show.  From blogging to running the online store, pop ups, monthly newsletters, designs, cutting patterns, finding fabric….I do it all.  So, anytime there is more added to my plate….I get overwhelmed.  But in a good way.  There is something about having alot of shit to do that makes me feel like I’m conquering the world.  

    cutting dress patterns

    So, needless to say when I accepted an invite to participate in the 2019 SPIRIT Fashion Show, I knew things were going to get….excitingly overwhelming!  You might’ve noticed that there has been a few gaps in my posting on the blog and social media lately.  The reason partially is because of the new designs I’m working on.  I can sew all day when I have a creative idea that I want to add to the store with little to no issues.  But that isn’t the case when I’m working on something that has a deadline for some reason. 

    orange and black fabric

    It seems like if a deadline is involved in what I am creating, everything can and will go wrong.  In the process of making the new looks for this show, I have experienced so many mishaps.  For instance, two orders of fabric were lost in the mail.  Okay not two…just one.  The other one was stolen off of my porch.  I was completely pissed about that, to say the least.  Since then, I’ve been giving my neighbors the side eye.  One of them took my damn package.  What are they going to do with 10 yards of red scuba knit fabric?  They could’ve even returned it back to my porch after seeing what it was.  I would’ve let it go.  But did that happen?  Nope.   I still haven’t gotten over it.  Can you tell?  

    neon fabric on patterns

    That is just one of the issues that have come up during this creative process for the students of CMU.  Fabric has gotten stuck in my sewing machine like never before.  I removed a pocket from a  dress and it created the BIGGEST hole you have ever seen.  There was no fabric available to remake it so the entire look was ditched. 

    pink cut fabric

    I can go on and on about all of the crap that has happen.  But I wouldn’t change any of it!  Sure, when I am in the middle of it, I want to rip my braids out!   After resolving the situation, I move on and try to forget all about the crying fit I just had over a broken needle.  As crazy as it sounds…it is all worth it.  The morning after I dropped out the 9 looks that will hit the runway, I couldn’t help to reflect on how tough things seemed.  

    Looking at the postal receipt, I came to the realization how much I’d grown as a designer.  I mean, last year, was my first time putting my handmade designs on the runway.  It wasn’t all me though.  My mother and Aunt helped me to sew alot.  But not this year!  Every, single design was made by yours truly.  You will however, see the models wearing something on their face that was created by my mother.  I gave her a vision and let her do her thang.  They turned out amazing.  Can’t wait for you all to see.  

    sewing lace gloves

    Soooooo, make plans for the evening of April 6th to sit back and enjoy what is sure to be an amazing event!  Want to see what I’ve been working on??  You can go to spiritfashionshow.com/tickets for the show details and tickets if you will be in Pittsburgh.  If not, you can livestream the show.  Stay tuned because I will drop the link here and my social media platforms.  Also, look out for a signature cocktail recipe that you can enjoy at home while watching the show.  

    Thanks for reading.  I gotta get back to it.  My fearless journey continues!  Let me know if you will be watching the show in the comments…

    Stay Fearless   💋

  • Soooo, here is what’s been going on for the last week + Pop Up Announcement

    Soooo, here is what’s been going on for the last week + Pop Up Announcement

    Happy Monday!  Firstly, apologies to you!  There is a new post here on every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week like clockwork.  However, there weren’t any posts last week.  Its been a whole week since there has been a post on FNF.  I know how it can be when you get used to something and then things just…change.  Sorry for that.  Allow me to explain…

    A couple of weeks ago, the announcement was made that Fashion Not Fear will be in the upcoming SPIRIT Fashion Show that is held at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh on April 6th.  Since that announcement dropped, things have gotten REAL!  

    sewing a bodice

    My lineup consists of 9 models that range in a sizes from Xs to XXL.  Each style has to be imagined, sketched, pattern made and/or found, fabric sourced and cut, sewn, re-sewn (in some cases).  Its alot for one person.  But no complaints from me…because I LOVE this shit!  

    Anyway, the before mentioned steps have to be done 9 times for this show.  Well, actually 8 times.  There will be a two piece set that was previously dropped that you will see in the show.  It just went with the theme so well that it was hard to leave it out.  

    cutting fabric

    Needless to say, I have been working non-stop for the past few weeks.  I’m surprised that I found the time to write this.  I just thought y’all needed to know the tea.  

    In addition to all of this, Blue Labels Boutique will be popping up this weekend.  Saturday, you can come shop at the Night Lights Event in San Antonio.  You can check out their website for ticket information.  Hope to see you there!

    nightlinepaperlanternpics

    Now, that you are fully informed, I’m headed back to the sewing machine.  Almost at the finish line!  Any guesses on which skirt set will be in the show??  Let me know in the comments…

    Stay Fearless 💋

  • Creating My Passion Almost Caused Me To Lose My Eye

    Creating My Passion Almost Caused Me To Lose My Eye

    I’ve shared so much of my journey in creating the Fashion Not Fear Collection.  From picking the fabrics, to enlisting the help of my mom and Aunt…you name it.  But I must admit that something terrified me during this process and I think it might be time to share it.
    It had been a long day of sewing.  On this particular day, the sewing machine was not trying to work with me.  It was like we had gotten into an argument of something.  I started the day with 5 needles for the sewing machine that were tucked away in a drawer.  A few hours into the day, the machine stalled and the fabric was somehow stuck in the machine.  I cut and pulled until it was finally released.  I scrap that dress, cut out the pattern to another one, pin its’ seam and put it through the sewing machine.  Almost immediately, the damn needle broke.  I go into my sewing needle stash and replace it.  Started back sewing and it happened again!  Like a dummy, I kept doing the same thing.  Replacing the needle, starting the machine again and watching the needle break almost instantly.  What the hell??!  But something happened on the last needle, I did the same routine but this time the needle didn’t break off and fall into the machine like it did the other 4 times.  Nope, this time that needle broke off and flew towards my eye!
    It was like it happened in slow motion.  I remember closing my eye and putting my hand up to it.  “What’s wrong?”  my fiancé runs over to ask.  “I think something hit my eye” I reply.  I move my hand and he finds the pointy end of the sewing needle laying on the my eyelashes.  When he shows me his findings…I almost fainted.
     “What if that went into my eyeball?”
    “What if I lost my eye or became blind in it??”
    I was seriously freaking out!  I run over to the mirror to find my eye super, red and watery.  I couldn’t help but to stare at it.  Thank God for my eyelashes.  My real lashes.  (With mascara, of course.)  But seriously, who knows what would’ve happened?
    Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to end work for the night.  I had to continue on.  Yet another trip to the store for more needles.  A girl has deadlines to meet.  Before starting back up, I decided to do some troubleshooting to find out why the hell does this keep happening?  Apparently, it wasn’t threaded properly.  Why didn’t I look this up after the first time that shit happened??  Lesson learned.
    Needless to say, the rest of the night was spent pushing the foot pedal and blocking my face.  It was a interesting night.   The release date is only 8 days away.  And would’ve all been worth it.
    Thoughts?!  Has something like that ever happened to you??  Let me know in the comments…
    Stay Fearless 💋