I'm Not Just the President, I am a Client!

I was so happy when I woke up with a morning chill. I said to myself, "yay! I can wear one of my sweatshirt jackets this morning!" You don't know how much I have been longing for fall. I love fall fashion, especially jackets. Not to mention that I have been living with my crazy, frizzy, unruly hair in a headband and bun almost ALL summer. It's been so hot and humid in New York this year that I couldn't even wear it curly for fear that I would pass out.

Anyway, this is one of my first Frida sweatshirt jackets that I made for myself. I love it so much, it's so warm and cozy and such a conversation piece. My friends really liked it and it's what got me on the road to making more and selling them in my shop.

(don't you love my big forehead? Tyra Banks has nothing on me! LOL!)

I will definitely try to whip out some more this fall but with a little twist. Stay tuned. Love ya!

Romper Love

Okay, here's my second romper and I really love it. I used McCalls 6083 pattern and was quite pleased with the results. This is actually a reconstruction. Last year I saw these hideous knitted dresses on sale for $1!!!! So I bought like seven of them knowing that I would use the fabric to make something else (I wish I would have taken pics of them before I ripped them up). Anyway, this romper is made from the skirt portions of 4 of the dresses. It is a very thin burgundy knit but it works okay. I wore it today to take my little one to the sitter and do some romping in the super market. Here I am romping in my front yard! I will definitely make another one. I have a black polka dot knit that will transition nicely into the fall. The only change I would make is to make it longer and to ruch the shoulders a bit more.

What do you think?

First Attempt at Romper

I have been sewing a lot for myself this summer as I realized that my wardrobe needed a pick me up and I am bursting at the seams (pun intended) with fabric so I needed to do some serious fabric stash busting. I have made two rompers, a top, and two dresses. I will definitely show pics soon!

Here you have my first attempt at making a romper (sorry for the blurry pics, I think I need a new camera!). I chose a black knit with leafy detail that I got for $1.00 a yard at Savathon on Fordham Road. When I first embarked on this journey I thought, "how hard can this be? It's just a top and pants attached at the waist with elastic, I don't need a pattern." So I went on my merry way and cut it out without a pattern. Well, it is not what I envisioned it to be. The top turned out too fitted and the waist is lower than what I wanted, it looks like a dropped waist. That said, it is passable and I have worn it twice already.

I since have made another one that I really like, from a pattern. Hey, sometimes a girl needs a little help. I will show pics soon, hopefully better ones.

I was featured in Princess Dominique's wonderful fashion blog!

I am so excited to announce that I was featured in Princess Dominique's fashion blog. This is a well established style and beauty blog hosted by Princess Dominique, a dynamic, amazing multifaceted woman who has been blogging since 2004. Born and raised in the Bronx and a former student of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Miss Princess Dominique is better known for her weekly shoe giveaway and looks forward to launching her shoe line in 2012.

Please take a look around her blog (after you read my piece first, of course, LOL). She has some amazing features on other very talented designers as well as loads of fashion/beauty advice and witty social observations. I am so honored to be in such company. Thank you Princess Dominique!!!

Nelesc Designs and LEAD Uganda!

I am so happy to announce that Nelesc Designs will be partnering with LEAD Uganda!! LEAD Uganda is an educational leadership initiative for abandoned children affected by AIDS, war and poverty. It was founded in 2004 by Stephen Shames, a New York based photojournalist on assignment in Uganda in 2000. "While photographing AIDS orphans, children affected by war,
and street kids in Africa, Asia, and Latin America — Steve ran into children who desperately wanted to go to school but couldn’t because they lacked school fees. In Uganda, children often got sent home from school because they don’t have a pen or paper. Steve realized a small amount of money could transform a child’s life." (http://www.leaduganda.org)./ Thus LEAD Uganda was born.

I have been looking for ways to use Nelesc Designs as a vehicle that would help others in need. Early this year, a choir made up of Ugandan orphans came to my church to sing. Unfortunately, I was not in church that day but my husband told me all about it and through his zeal and heartfelt description, I was really touched. Although Nelesc Designs, is a small, part time business, that experience caused me to ponder ways that I could give back. As I mention in my website, the image of Angela Davis which I screen print on some of my items, is based on the 1969 photograph taken by Stephen Shames. When I found out that he was the Founder and Executive Director of LEAD Uganda, I thought, "this is it! It felt so natural, not to mention, the right thing to do, to contact Steve in hopes that we could create a partnership between our two ventures. Stephen Shames is a world renowned photographer, who creates award winning photo essays on social issues for foundations, advocacy organizations, the media, and museums. He has published various books, and his images can be found in the permanent collections of many museums and art institutions. He is also the nicest guy to talk to on the phone. After exchanging e-mails and phone conversations, we decided to come together. So.....starting in May of this year, I will be donating a percentage of my Angela Davis item sales to LEAD Uganda. Please know that you will be supporting this wonderful, worthy organization by buying Angela Davis at Nelesc Designs.

To know more about LEAD Uganda, click here. To know more about Stephen Shames, go to http://www.stephenshames.com/.

Nelesc Designs 2nd Year Anniversary = FREE SHIPPING!

I was looking at my journal the other day (yes, I keep a journal, nerdy, I know). On September 17, 2005 I wrote "today I have been thinking a lot about starting a fashion business..." September 19, 2005 read, "I am now ambivalent about the whole fashion/sewing business. I wonder if it's really worth it, if people would really buy my stuff, if I'm good enough..." On September 22nd I wrote, "I am feeling more and more comfortable with this duo, art and fashion. I think I want to design t-shirts with inspirational people on them..." It is so strange to read this back and forth. I totally remember feeling scared and nervous about launching Nelesc Designs. I had about 5 tops I had sewed myself and then stenciled revolutionary/famous people on them. Among them were Frida Kahlo, Angela Davis, Pedro Albizu Campos and Diana Ross. I had them around the house a long time until Sunday, May 25th, 2008. It was then, that I decided to just list them on Etsy already before I changed my mind. I then took the boys to my friend Sheila's house. I was so happy to just do it. I remember telling Sheila that I just opened a shop on Etsy.com and we went to the computer to check it out. Right after, I told my big sister and, bless her heart, she was my very first customer. So, go ahead, write your dreams down, even your fears about them. It's so cool to read these journal entries again. I am so glad God gave me the courage to dare take that first step. It's actually the dreams of the people on my shirts that inspired me and the encouragement of my friends and family that keeps me motivated. Thank you all so much!

So....as you guessed, today is Nelesc Designs second anniversary and to honor that, I would like to offer FREE SHIPPING on all of my items starting today until June 25th. You don't have to buy anything to help me celebrate. Just leave me a comment and tell me what you think. I always love feedback! Thank's again.

I Love Ruffles!

That's right. I love ruffles, always have. I am so glad they are so in right now. From J Crew to Anthropologie, there are so many textured tops to choose from. Here are a couple of ruffly things I've been working on myself.

My Mother's day dress. I used a ruffled top of mine that I love and attached it to a skirt via an elastic waistband. I know it's hard to see the ruffles, I'll post better pics of my process soon.

Reconstructed t-shirt. I used Tea Rose Home's tutorial for this. You can find it here. (I'll post more pics of this transformation).

Ruffle detail I added to a dress I made (more pics to come).

I've been trying to find ways to add more texture to my clothing line. I know that eventually I will go a new direction but I am still not ready to stop printing my cultural icons. "How can I marry ruffles and other texture with printmaking without it looking too busy?", I thought. This is what I came up with. I love it! So much that I decided to keep this Nina Simone. Not to worry though, I made two more, which I will list tomorrow. I'll continue making them if people like them. Let me know what you think.