Check It Out!

My friend Laura, of Ginger Louise Clothing, recently interviewed me.  She is writing for a great blog, A Boutique Buyers Blog.  Thank you so much Laura!  You can read my interview here.

On a side note, thank you all for the prayers and wishes for Ava, my little money eater!  Nothing yet, but I will keep you updated.

Please note....

I will be unable to answer emails today.  My youngest swallowed money and is being monitored.

Hidee Ho!

Six new pieces from the Fall collection are up on etsy.  I have limited the quantities initially until I can build up some stock.  I want to make sure I don't get too ahead of myself.   I met with the sewing contractor today, and it was very interesting to see how it works.  I will keep you updated.

This will be a quick post, as I am fighting a massive headache, but I had to share the AMAZING and UNBELIEVABLE photos Leah took for me!  Her daughter Bella, is my darling little model, and she did such an incredible job!  It's pure eye candy.  If you live in the Indiana area, and you want some fab photos, check out Leah's site.

That's All She Wrote!

Thirty two.  That is the number of pieces that are in the Fall line.  DONE!  The remainder of the fabrics came in Friday, another 12 bolts.  Finished the last of the samples today.   And if I do say so myself, it is one rockin collection!  I would wear it.

Do you like the new play list?  I was in a rock mood.  I always listen to music when I work, especially when I am designing.  Helps the creative juices.  Secondhand Serenade has to be my favorite group right now.  The whole cd is awesome! 

You know, I have heard a lot of the word knock off lately being used to describe anyone who makes a knot dress or apron skirt.  I personally find it incredibly insulting, and quite ignorant.  I am sure, I will get some hate mail from this post, but it's ok. I will put on my big girl panties and can take it. ;)  Allow me to share with you the process of creating a piece.  It takes hours of time, choosing fabrics, plotting out the design, putting the fabrics together, then stitching it up.  It also takes time to develop the patterns and grade them for size.  So if people want to call that process, knocking something off, ok, then, fine.  Who am I to say, I only have spent 70 hours over the past week finishing up my line.   In fashion, everyone is inspired by someone or something.  

Alrighty then...enough ranting, on to something sweet!  I have to share three beautiful little girls with you.  First up, little Miss Havalah.  This precious five year old is three years past a liver transplant.  And her mom, Kristen, is one of my amazing Trunk Keepers, and an all around great woman!  Please, please, support organ donation!  I can't say that enough.  Think of the gift you are giving, life.  There is nothing more beautiful and sacred.

Next, Lara's gorgeous daughters in their teacup knot.  

Thank you so much Lara and Kristen for sharing the beautiful photos of your little darlings with me!  They all look fabulous!  I don't think I will ever get tired of seeing that teacup dress.

Coffee Please...

I stayed up until 1 am last night working, and my girls got me up at 6:45.  Right now I don't think there is enough coffee in the world to wake me up.  It's the big push right now to finish up the Fall line to send to my photographers.  I got 24, yes, 24 bolts of fabric in yesterday!  Some amazing new prints from Heather Bailey and a few others.  WAIT until you see what I did with them! 

My mother-in-law sews for me, and she came by to pick up something, so I snatched her to sew some samples for me.  I cut, while she sewed.  Music blaring.  Good times.  Memories we will have forever.  I am very thankful to have her working with me.  She goes above and beyond all the time.  Heck, she even let me snap her pic so I could post it on my blog.  What a good sport!

And here she is working away.  She actually helped teach me learn to sew when I started out.  She always says to me now, and all you wanted to do was learn to sew, now look at you.

So far, we have fabulous Trunk Keepers in Wisconsin, Indiana, Kansas, California, and Missouri.  Some of the best woman around!  We still have room for a few more.

Back to work!  One day it will get easier, right, lol.

Sharing...

I am been on overload lately.  GenMarie is expanding rapidly, and with that, comes a whole new business plan.  If you would have told me 2 1/2 years ago when I started my company, this is where it would be in such a short time, I would have said no way!  I started my company then because of my infatuation with fabric, and children's clothing.  Now it has become so much more.  I lay in bed every night exhausted, yet I can't go to sleep, because my mind is spinning thinking about everything there is to do, or new design ideas.  I am very close to securing a sewing contractor.  This is good, very good.  That means more time to develop new ideas, spend chatting with my amazing customers, and play with my girls.  This is what I want.  I will do my best to keep all of you in the loop, as the new plans unfold.  I am very excited and nervous all at the same time.  But getting the great feedback from all my customers is what makes it all worth it.  I love every minute of this process.  I am getting a manufacturing education on the go right now.  But enough boring business stuff.

I have to share this beautiful photo of two of my beautiful little clients.  This is Kaya ad her big sister Hailey.  They are the exact same ages as my girls!  Their mom, Diane, and I, have become close through our email chats.  One day I promise Diane, I will get out there to see you!

Although you can't really see, Hailey is wearing my Fishy set from last summer.  I still love this set!  I love how you can see the love the girls have for each other.

OK, soooo....GenMarie will be celebrating it's official 2nd Anniversary next month!  WOW!  I don't know where 2 years went.  First, I have to thank all of you, my amazing and wonderful customers.  Without you, there would be no GenMarie.  I am so fortunate to have gotten to know so many wonderful woman over the past 2 years and their families.  I feel as if I could travel the country, and have a place to stay in almost every state.  I love that I chat with my customers, and we share our lives, and although, for some, understanding the bond we have over the internet is hard, it is there and strong, none the less.  Despite the fact that GenMarie is growing, one thing will NEVER change, the time I spend chatting with you all.  This is very important to me.  I love our chats, and getting pictures of your sweeties!

With this in mind, I am doing a giveaway to celebrate 2 years in style, and all of my lovely customers.  Post a comment here, and you will be entered to win one of 3 pieces from my new collection, Autumn Sky.  Names will be chosen at random through a random number generator on August 1st!  So get posting!  See it pays to read my rambling thoughts, lol.  I thank you all from the bottom of my heart...

 

Seven Years Ago Today...

I stood up on the alter of the church I grew up going to, and married the most amazing man ever.  It was an absolutely beautiful day, the weather was perfect, and I had waited for this day for what seemed like a lifetime.  I never could have dreamed where our life would go, that we would be blessed with two beautiful little girls who make every day special.  That the man I fell in love with at 18, would turn out to be such a caring and warm father, and the husband most girls dream of having.  

Happy Anniversary Babe.  I will love you forever and always...

Whoa, Two Posts in One Day!

And it isn't even 10:30 yet!

In the effort to expand GenMarie, we will be adding trunk shows to our usual place of business, etsy.  Soooo, I have a business opportunity for you.  We are looking for fabulous woman who love our clothes to be trunk keepers.  If you are interested in becoming a GenMarie trunk keeper, shoot me an email to find out all the lovely perks!  It has been my dream for a long time to offer this opportunity to woman like myself, stay at home moms, looking to make some money while they devote their days to their children.  Contact me at genmarie@verizon.net to hear the scoop!

Behind The Scenes...

Last night, one of my oldest BFF's came over to help me cut out orders.  Jenn is a sewer herself, as well as, a recovery room nurse.  I still can't believe she is a nurse, and gives IV's and what not!  This is the girl I met in 7th grade, whose hair rivaled the height of the Empire State Building!  As we were working, and blasting music, I thought, ooh, this is blog worthy!  So I ran up and grabbed my camera.  I thought it would be fun to show you part of the process that occurs after an order is placed.  

Yup, her hair has come back down to a normal climate now...  And in case you are curious as to why she has tape on her neck, she recently was attacked by a man with a scalpel, and when she woke up, she had tape on her neck.  NO, JUST KIDDING, she had thyroid surgery last week, and is doing fine, and we have been coming up with interesting stories about her surgery dressing, lol.

Notice the coffee and cupcakes...needs lots of caffeine and sugar.

Yes, those are some of your dresses being cut!

and sometimes you get a little assistant...no, she didn't cut out your dress.  Well if you get a crooked dress, that was one of Emma's. :)

Have a great day!

Another GenMarie Sweetie & The Giveaway....

Introducing Miss Violet, another of my sweet models.  I just love her, and want to eat her up!  Her mom, Kiri, is an amazing photographer and a truly wonderful person.  I feel really blessed to have so many talented and beautiful people working with me.  I found some of the most stunning images in my email this morning.  I had to share a few with you.

This may be my favorite!  Love the baby carriage.

You can find all the pieces Violet is modeling in my etsy shop.  Violet has the cutest brother Oliver (I just love his name).  Maybe GenMarie will have to expand to boys....

AND....the moment you have been waiting for, the winner of the 4th of July giveaway.  First, I must share with you, April of Allforthekidds, on ebay and etsy, contacted me this weekend.  She read on my blog about what I was doing, and was so touched by the stories, she is donating two sets!  April's work is amazing!  Her applique will knock your socks off.  I have known April for quite some time now, and recently got to meet her at Vida's Market.  She is an amazingly talented momma to five!  Yes five!  I don't know how she does it!  So I won't make you wait any longer....

EVERYONE WHO POSTED A STORY OR NOMINATED A LITTLE GIRL IS RECEIVING EITHER A PRETTY DRESS FROM ME OR A FABULOUS SET FROM APRIL!!!!!  Yeah!  

Thank you so much April for being so generous!  I never could have chosen one person.  I will be contacting everyone today with the good news.  April and I are thrilled to pieces to do this for such lovely little ladies!  I will be sure to share pics of the little beauties!

What I Did on Summer Vacation...

Ok, not really, but what we did last week while my husband was off from work.  

I took Emma to see the Kit Kitteridge movie.  It was soooo good!  Great story line, very good lesson for kids to learn.  It was set in the depression, and showed what people had to do to survive.  Definitely go see it!

Then we drove up to Ridgefield, CT, to check out the area.  Love it!  So beautiful and quaint.  Now that we narrowed down the area, we just need to sell our home, and find a new one.  

Then we went to the beach.  I love the beach.  So relaxing.  Chris doesn't care for it, but we all had a great time.  The girls love it.  Here are some pics.

We dug out a hole near the water for the girls to play in.  The waves were rough to go in.

Ava contemplating the surf.

And the man who doesn't like the beach, looks like he is having fun to me...

Tomorrow, I announce the winner of my 4th of July giveaway!  I have a big surprise in store!!!!

Fabulous Fall....

I listed three new pieces today from my Fall line. 

Tang Peasant Dress

Vintage Lace Apron Peasant Dress

Garden Party Knot

More to come this week!  See it all here.  Have a great weekend!

Etsy feature!

One of my amazing customers pointed out to me that I am featured in the Etsy Storque Articles!  See it here.

A sweet new addition...

This is Maddie, one of my newest models.  Isn't she a doll?!  I just want to eat her up!  Her mom, Melissa, is a fabulous photographer from Texas.  She will be working with me photographing my Fall line.  You can check out Melissa's work here, and the sweet dress Maddie is wearing here.

A 4th of July Giveaway....

In the spirit of celebrating life, I am giving away one special knot dress to one lucky girl.  I recently met a friend whose daughter had been through quite a bit, and thankfully is doing well right now.  She is three years post a liver transplant, and still faces a life of medication and possible complications.  There are so many children who are sick with life threatening illnesses.  I look at my girls and am grateful every day for their health.  It brakes my heart to think about all the children out there who have cancer, heart disease and other life threatening diseases.  Children are far too innocent, and should never have to go through something like that.  Their biggest worry in life should be what flavor ice cream to eat.  

I believe in giving back, and hope.  If I can make one child smile, even for a brief moment, because of my work, then I am overwhelmed with joy.  If you know a child who is going through a tough time because of a terrible illness, who would love a special dress, post a comment here, and share their story.  I will announce the winner here on July 15th.

 

From my sweat peas to yours, have a happy and safe 4th of July!