Happenings at Bonnet: ElizaBeth Rohloff Designs now at Bonnet!
Wonderful and reachable! See the webpage at www.elizabethrohloff.com
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Oh the Bag!
here's the bag I mentioned a few posts ago.
Simple tote for those "things." Where have I seen something like it?
Somewhere in the world of inspiration someone must have done this before.
Simple tote for those "things." Where have I seen something like it?
Somewhere in the world of inspiration someone must have done this before.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Sometimes it all falls into place...
Blogging is tough. I think who wants to read this anyway ? In mean,maybe I' m not really ready to expose myself that much. But for over 2 years I have been turning my artistic talents into a business. I am doing this on a wing and a prayer. I often wonder if it is working. At times it is discouraging, but I continue to forge ahead, sometimes rather unconventionally. I make my own rules, but follow guidelines of building strong relationships with my vendors and being persistent. I design hats and handbags and teach; sometimes my own lessons and sometimes filling in for teachers while they are gone from the classroom. I am trying to fabricate enough money making adventures to keep afloat financially.
There is a lot of trail and error. Mind you I have specific goals each time, but... Lately the universe has been providing me with enough incentive to keep going. I truly mean being flexible and open to what could happen. Much of my time is spent following up with potential contacts around concepts I hope might work.
Examples are as follows: I have spent several weeks discussing price and time with a woman wanting sewing classes for her daughter
and her 3 friends. For months I have been trying to get in touch with another business woman with a concept I have for her summer camp. We have basically played email tag and she has seemingly evaded me. Yet I persist.
At a shop I sell to I discovered the owner still had 6 pieces from one style that had sold out at another shop.
I offered to credit him if I could buy back those hats, thus ensuring he would order from me at a later date. And providing immediate delivery to the other shop with hats they want to sell
Unconventional, yes but viable.
Round and round trying to stay flexible, open, persistent, and meet the needs of my business.
And then the most amazing day happens.
The phone rings and on the other line is the confirmation for 4 students to take sewing classes! My first 4 students will be coming to learn in less than 1 month. Success-that plan worked.
Now to show handbag designs to a bank president for an auction we are participating in. She is there and thankfully chooses the design I like best; that makes it easier for me to construct.
Next to pick up product from one shop and drop it off at another shop across town. This business has been a bit flaky and frustrates me , but I continue to work with them because they have PR clout with some big magazines. I need that presence as I build my image. The man working that day is the someone new...again. I decide to engage in a conversation to see what he's all about. As we are talking, in walks the business woman I have been playing email tag with, the one I thought was evading me! She immediately address me with, "Are you the person that wants to help with my camp? I need a director!
We must talk." So we do.
As I leave the shop I am walking on air. I am in love with being an entrepreneur ! I have restored faith and commitment. My talent, hard work, trail and error is beginning to pay off. In one day, I secured 4 new students to teach, created a business concept trading out product, designed a handbag some one liked, the first time, and stated a dialogue about a 5 month project providing me paid work. The universe has room for me. I remind myself to stay flexible as though I am living my life on the bias.
Oh yea!
There is a lot of trail and error. Mind you I have specific goals each time, but... Lately the universe has been providing me with enough incentive to keep going. I truly mean being flexible and open to what could happen. Much of my time is spent following up with potential contacts around concepts I hope might work.
Examples are as follows: I have spent several weeks discussing price and time with a woman wanting sewing classes for her daughter
and her 3 friends. For months I have been trying to get in touch with another business woman with a concept I have for her summer camp. We have basically played email tag and she has seemingly evaded me. Yet I persist.
At a shop I sell to I discovered the owner still had 6 pieces from one style that had sold out at another shop.
I offered to credit him if I could buy back those hats, thus ensuring he would order from me at a later date. And providing immediate delivery to the other shop with hats they want to sell
Unconventional, yes but viable.
Round and round trying to stay flexible, open, persistent, and meet the needs of my business.
And then the most amazing day happens.
The phone rings and on the other line is the confirmation for 4 students to take sewing classes! My first 4 students will be coming to learn in less than 1 month. Success-that plan worked.
Now to show handbag designs to a bank president for an auction we are participating in. She is there and thankfully chooses the design I like best; that makes it easier for me to construct.
Next to pick up product from one shop and drop it off at another shop across town. This business has been a bit flaky and frustrates me , but I continue to work with them because they have PR clout with some big magazines. I need that presence as I build my image. The man working that day is the someone new...again. I decide to engage in a conversation to see what he's all about. As we are talking, in walks the business woman I have been playing email tag with, the one I thought was evading me! She immediately address me with, "Are you the person that wants to help with my camp? I need a director!
We must talk." So we do.
As I leave the shop I am walking on air. I am in love with being an entrepreneur ! I have restored faith and commitment. My talent, hard work, trail and error is beginning to pay off. In one day, I secured 4 new students to teach, created a business concept trading out product, designed a handbag some one liked, the first time, and stated a dialogue about a 5 month project providing me paid work. The universe has room for me. I remind myself to stay flexible as though I am living my life on the bias.
Oh yea!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Branches
For inspiration I prefer my friends that are varied in their activities and entertaining to me, laughing, conversing truthfully and nature.
Today I sit outside on my porch in 51˚ weather. It's January and I'm looking at the very branch pictured here--under snow a month ago- now facing a subtle sun!
Relaxing with nature.
I also prefer a good walk around the esplanade for clearing my head.
One evening, hanging over the river city, is a series of pinkish gray clouds; puffy, swirly, low on the horizon.
Above are sheets of slate and pink clouds that ascend straight past the skyline. I want to capture that color, that image, but I have no camera. Memory will have to do.
I see in my mind a fitted sheath dress of silk gabardine emerge from those clouds and the pinkish gray puffs and swirls become multiple inches of ruffles touching the knees and lightly gracing the thighs. The color is amazingly soft, yet with strength found in rain clouds.
Nature is an endless source of inspiration.
That branch is just a branch; an image. But, I love that Japanese maple branch so much I created a tote bag around it.
That's inspiring.
Today I sit outside on my porch in 51˚ weather. It's January and I'm looking at the very branch pictured here--under snow a month ago- now facing a subtle sun!
Relaxing with nature.
I also prefer a good walk around the esplanade for clearing my head.
One evening, hanging over the river city, is a series of pinkish gray clouds; puffy, swirly, low on the horizon.
Above are sheets of slate and pink clouds that ascend straight past the skyline. I want to capture that color, that image, but I have no camera. Memory will have to do.
I see in my mind a fitted sheath dress of silk gabardine emerge from those clouds and the pinkish gray puffs and swirls become multiple inches of ruffles touching the knees and lightly gracing the thighs. The color is amazingly soft, yet with strength found in rain clouds.
Nature is an endless source of inspiration.
That branch is just a branch; an image. But, I love that Japanese maple branch so much I created a tote bag around it.
That's inspiring.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Body Confidence
I sit down to devour a bowl of homemade soup and stare at tear sheets from fashion magazines covering my table; my inspiration to get ideas flowing. I've used tear sheets for years.
Browsing fashion magazines as a teenager, I remember thinking I would not eat for a month just to become as thin as a some model... that lasted until dinnertime.
One spread claiming to name clothing genres jumps out at me, Body Con. Body Con refers to body conscious clothing: styles of slick knits, shapely bustier dresses and tight fitting anything. Clothes to wear when you're fully toned and in your best form or maybe never.
But wouldn't it be nice if body con referred to Body Confidence? Couldn't every person use a heavy dose of confidence? Fashion magazines and the media certainly don't provide that for women or men. But true body confidence is something we can grow into and is so much sexier that any piece of clothing.
In fact, true confidence of the body really allows one to put on almost anything (I said, almost) and look spectacular because the confidence, assurance, strength, and sexiness from within exude from under the clothing. Why in our race to shop and clothe our bodies do many of us forget to carry confidence along with that credit card?
Embracing and loving your body is overshadowed by society's message to achieve what one doesn't have: thin thighs, long fingers, full lips or what is fashionable at the moment.
As a designer, I create fashion to instill beauty and confidence in my clients. The essence of my design work to create elegance,beauty and build confidence for my clients by finding the best fitting accessory or garment.
Each and every person can achieve that confidence with the right mindset.
I have learned to objectify those pretty pictures and use them as inspiration for my work, not as an unattainable place of dreams. Clothing one loves, that flatters the figure, that highlights the best qualities of oneself ~now that's my definition of body con!
Browsing fashion magazines as a teenager, I remember thinking I would not eat for a month just to become as thin as a some model... that lasted until dinnertime.
One spread claiming to name clothing genres jumps out at me, Body Con. Body Con refers to body conscious clothing: styles of slick knits, shapely bustier dresses and tight fitting anything. Clothes to wear when you're fully toned and in your best form or maybe never.
But wouldn't it be nice if body con referred to Body Confidence? Couldn't every person use a heavy dose of confidence? Fashion magazines and the media certainly don't provide that for women or men. But true body confidence is something we can grow into and is so much sexier that any piece of clothing.
In fact, true confidence of the body really allows one to put on almost anything (I said, almost) and look spectacular because the confidence, assurance, strength, and sexiness from within exude from under the clothing. Why in our race to shop and clothe our bodies do many of us forget to carry confidence along with that credit card?
Embracing and loving your body is overshadowed by society's message to achieve what one doesn't have: thin thighs, long fingers, full lips or what is fashionable at the moment.
As a designer, I create fashion to instill beauty and confidence in my clients. The essence of my design work to create elegance,beauty and build confidence for my clients by finding the best fitting accessory or garment.
Each and every person can achieve that confidence with the right mindset.
I have learned to objectify those pretty pictures and use them as inspiration for my work, not as an unattainable place of dreams. Clothing one loves, that flatters the figure, that highlights the best qualities of oneself ~now that's my definition of body con!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
What is Bias?
Welcome to my blog, living life on the bias. The reference to bias is less about prejudices and more about my work as a designer of fashion; I use my fabrics cut on the bias or diagonal for greater flexibility and drape. And metaphorically speaking , bias as a grainline in fabric, reminds me to be flexible and flow with situations in life with people and my art.
If you are familiar with bias cut garments you are aware how forgiving the can be on the body. That can be a godsend for a last minute invitation from a friend for dinner at a favorite jazz club. Rifling through you closet for something that still fits after five pounds gained from a full holiday of eating delights. Ahhh.. the bias silk dress. Yes, perfect!
Whether it's dresses or life situations we will be talking fashion here and one's relationship to clothing.
If you are familiar with bias cut garments you are aware how forgiving the can be on the body. That can be a godsend for a last minute invitation from a friend for dinner at a favorite jazz club. Rifling through you closet for something that still fits after five pounds gained from a full holiday of eating delights. Ahhh.. the bias silk dress. Yes, perfect!
Whether it's dresses or life situations we will be talking fashion here and one's relationship to clothing.
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