Sunday, February 8, 2015

Balancing Motherhood and Creative Entrepreneurship: The Camera Does Not Lie

As I was looking through some old pictures of my T-shirt designs, I came across these which showed the kids in the background, running around.

Mientras miraba algunas fotos viejas de mis diseños de camiseta, me encontré con estas que muestran a los niños en el fondo, corriendo. 



I remember when I started my business, Nelesc Designs, I had an almost 6 year old and a 14 month old. Because natural light is always best, I aimed to take pictures of my designs outdoors. However, in my neck of the woods,  the sun cooperated best around 3:30 PM when my oldest arrived from school. I either had to wait for a day when my husband would be home at that time or just wing it and try to take pictures while my oldest ran around the yard, hoping the camera would not catch him. Ah! but the camera doesn't lie and it catches what is there. This is me balancing motherhood and creative entrepreneurship. 


Recuerdo que cuando empecé mi negocio , Nelesc Designs,  tenía un niño de casi seis años y otro de 14 meses de edad. Debido a que la luz natural siempre es mejor, mi objetivo era tomar fotos para mi sitio web, al aire libre. Sin embargo , en mi vecindario, el sol solamente cooperaba alrededor de las 3:30 de la tarde, precisamente cuando mi hijo mayor llegaba de la escuela. Tenía dos opciones; esperar tomar fotos cuando mi esposo estuviera disponoble para estar con los niños, o simplemente improvisar y tomarlas mientras mis hijos corrían por el patio, deseando que la cámara no los captara. ¡Ah ! pero la cámara no miente y capta lo que hay. Aquí me tiene, equilibrando la maternidad y el emprendimiento creativo.




Early on in the business, I used to leave this part out, the part about my being a mother, especially the fact that I was a mother of special needs children. I wasn't ashamed, I just needed the separation. Nowadays, as I look at these pictures, they are so telling of my progress as a "mompreneur" and the progress my kids have made over the years, particularly, my oldest (I'll call him M). For instance, here, he's giving great eye contact! This was difficult for M in his early years.   


Al principio del negocio, solía dejar esta parte fuera, la parte de ser madre, sobre todo el hecho de que yo era una madre de niños con necesidades especiales . Yo no estaba avergonzada, simplemente necesitaba la separación . Hoy en día, estas fotos, cuentan tanto de mi progreso como  emprendedora al igual del progreso que han hecho mis hijos, especialmente mi hijo mayor ( lo llamaré M ). Por ejemplo, aquí, él está mirando con intento a mis ojos! Esto fue difícil para M cuando era mas pequeño.



As M grew older, he became interested in photography and would take the pictures of my creations while Dan ran around. I liked that he was involved in the business somehow  and this especially came in handy during school breaks when I had no one to watch them. 

It also helped me gage how good Dan followed directions while outdoors in a safe, gated environment. He did okay but I still had to make sure he would not eat dirt or climb over the fence! But, even in the craziness, it felt good to let my kids in on this aspect of my life, this journey of creative entrepreneurship that was initially all mine. It felt more 
authentic.


A medida que crecia M, empezó a interesarse por la fotografía y, eventualmente, tomaría las fotos de mis creaciones, mientras que Dan corrió alrededor. Me gustó que se vio envuelto en el negocio de alguna manera y esto especialmente fue muy útil durante las vacaciones escolares, cuando no tenía a nadie que me velara los hijos.

También me ayudó evaluar si Dan, en realidad, podria seguir instruciones mientras estaba afuera. El patio era un sitio encerrado y seguro. Lo hizo bien, pero todavía tenía que asegurarme de que no iba a comer tierra o pasar por encima de la cerca! Pero, entremedio de toda esta locura, me sentí bien dejando entrar a mis hijos en este aspecto de mi vida, esta trayectoria del empresarial creativo que inicialmente fue todo mío . Me sentía más auténtica.






My oldest is no longer running around in the background and now intentionally photobombs my shots. I don't get angry though, I actually celebrate it. Like me, he tends to be  uncomfortable in the spotlight. However, lately, he's been feeling his power, finding his voice, getting more assertive, and figuring it all out. I also am finding my voice and am becoming more comfortable with my roles in life; artesana,  special needs mom, entrepreneur, Latina, Christian, etc. I enjoy these worlds intertwining and sometimes colliding. This is us, and the camera does not lie.   


Mi hijo mayor ya no está corriendo en segundo plano y  ahora intencionadamente se mete en mis fotos!  Yo no me enojo, al contrario, lo celebro . Como yo, a él no le gusta ser el centro de atención. Sin embargo, últimamente, esta conociendo su poder, encontrando su voz, es cada vez más asertivo, y esta tratando de entenderlo todo . Yo también he encontrado mi voz y estoy más cómoda con los papeles que desempeño en la vida; artesana, madre de niños con autismo, emprendedora, latina, cristiana, etc. Disfruto de estos mundos que se entrelazan y en ocasiones chocan. Aquí nos tienen, y la cámara no miente.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

How to Refashion a Purse, Part 2

Hello! First off, Happy New Year! Sorry I'm so late. 

I decided to use this snow day to introduce you to my latest sweatshirt refashion! You might recognize the purse from my last post about this summer top. This time I decided to use the same yoke pattern to make a winter top. 




I used the textured side of the purse this time. 

I used it for the yoke (top part of bodice). You can see the pattern that I made in the same previous post. I also repositioned the crew neckline, making it lower so I wouldn't have to do any binding on it, I just used the ribbing that came with the sweatshirt. 


I also used the purse for the pockets and arm bands. (I apologize for the clutter in the background, I'm working on it).


I really LOVE the way it came out. It's a nice casual top with a little edge. Maybe a little too much edge, it might look a little sci-fi, but I don't mind. My life is a little sci-fi! lol. 

I live in sweatshirts during the winter but need them to be somewhat stylish which is what this little piece offers. 

As always,  feedback is always welcome and I respond to every comment. Have a great snow day! Stay safe. 

Saturday, December 27, 2014

How to Refashion a Purse, Part 1


Lovelies! I am so sorry for being MIA from the blog. Besides the day to day of family life, I am also teaching craft entrepreneurship classes, working in a museum, and focusing on my online shop leaving me little time to blog. However, I will pop in from time to time and share a sewing/refashion projects and/or a post about special needs momhood. This blog is important to me and I continue to want to share my creative and family life with you. 

It just so happens that my sister flew in from the South to be with the family for Christmas prompting me to share the behind the scenes process of a top I made during the summer, when she was also here. It all started with this faux leather purse: 

Front and back of purse. It broke but I definitely wanted to do something with it. 
For the yoke (top part of top) I decided to use the back part of the purse, the part without any pleats. I didn't want the texture of the pleats to compete with the printed fabric I was going to sew it on to. I placed the yoke pattern, which I made from newspaper, onto the purse back and cut around the shape.  And yes, that is a can opener you see holding the pattern piece. I am unconventional that way, lol. 






This is how it came out! It's a simple a-line top, I bound the edges with biased tape. I really love it. It's turning out to be my favorite piece which I wear ALL the time! 


I wore it here when my sister came to visit during the summer, 




here with a sweater during the fall,

 here, wearing it with a jacket while taking a church bathroom selfie.


and here, actually yesterday, at a Christmas gathering at my Pastor's house with amazing friends. So yes, I have worn this every season except for Spring!

So start rummaging through your old purses and start adding some cute yoke details to boring tops or just make one from scratch. 



I am now left with the front piece and handle of the purse. I already repurposed the handle, can't wait to share it with you. I will then have to think about what I can do with the pleated front part. Any ideas? 

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

No hay dicha completa: The Christmas Show that Was!

No hay dicha completa. That's what my mom always said. It means that bliss is never complete. There is no such thing as everything lining up so you are completely happy. 

Last year around this time I wrote about the Christmas show that wasn't. You can read it here. In a nut shell, I wrote about how excited I was to have snagged a front seat in the middle of the auditorium which would surely position me to have a great view of my Dan performing. Well, what had happened was that Dan refused to get on stage and I was devastated. I got a clear, beautiful picture of Dan's class performing, sans Dan. This year I got a horrible seat and a blurry picture of a moment that was, for me, sheer bliss.  


A week ago,  I was so excited to be attending Dan's Winter Holiday Extravaganza with hubby. He rarely gets a day off and it just so happened that he was free the day of the show. It was a no brainer, we'd go together and have a great time!  We laughed and joked in the car on our way there and, although it was close to curtain time, we weren't worried. We managed to get there 10 minutes before it started, enough, in my mind, to still get decent seats. Hubby dropped me off so I could secure them while he parked. 

Well, it looked like a zoo when I got  there. As I was entering, the parent coordinator told me "it's crazy in there, it has never been this packed." My heart sank, "I'm going to end up all the way in the back and not be able to see Dan!" I thought to myself. Well it actually wasn't too far from the truth. Although I got two seats in the middle of the auditorium, they were pretty far back. It could have been worse but I wanted to be in the front! I felt a tantrum coming on.  

When Jon finally arrived, I signaled to him where I was but it was a tight squeeze and he preferred to stand in the back. So there I was sitting in the back, by myself. I couldn't even see Dan in his usual seating area. Then I began to wonder, is he even going to perform? 

Two days ago, I sent a message to the teacher in the communication book wondering whether he needed special clothes for the performance. She never responded. His teacher and I have been having some communication issues. A future post might read "the communication book that wasn't." Prior to this year, Daniel had the same teacher for two years in a row. I liked her, I was used to her, we communicated well. We had a system. This year it's different. I am not used to the way his current teacher communicates; through sheets, and class project announcements. She's allergic to the communication book. We had an uncomfortable teacher conference about it and ironed some things out but I wondered, did she not respond to my request because he was not even performing? 

Then it started. Thoughts began to run through my head and my mind became a dangerous neighborhood. I didn't have hubby next to me to calm me down, he's usually my sounding board, the voice of reason when it comes to my kids, because, when it comes to my boys, mama bear gets crazy. There I said it, as a feminist, I hate to admit that but it's true. Anyway, I texted him to try to have him get a hold of myself but the reception was poor and the texts kept coming back "message not deliverable." I guess we were having communication problems of our own. Then I went there in my mind, "It was on", I thought. I am not very confrontational but I told myself"if Dan doesn't perform, I am going to let that teacher have it!"  I might even go to someone above her and complain. She was going to hear what I had to say, she was gonna pay!" I felt like Richie Cunningham, all I had to do is add the word "bucko!" If you're too young for this reference, google it


Then it happened, the cutest little guy stepped on stage dressed in a Santa suit. He pranced and swayed back and forth his para keeping up with his rhythm. He truly was jolly and brought plenty of cheer, at least to my heart.  I managed to take one blurry, distant photo but decided to just watch, my  eyes fixed on him, holding the memory in my head. All was resolved and all were absolved. My Dan looked happy and that was all that mattered to me. 

After the show, I wanted to try to say hello to Dan, I wanted to congratulate him, for him to know I was there.  But it didn't seem like it would happen. We were blocked from all sides as people filed out and I thought that if I didn't get to see him it would have been okay. I had already had my miracle moment and I was content. I turned to hubby and told him "Dan is so far ahead, I don't think we will be able to catch up." Then I heard a voice say, "don't worry, I'll tell them to hold the line so you can say hi." It was his teacher, his current teacher. I heard her loud and clear, no miscommunication at all. I told her she didn't have to, that I didn't even know how he would react, that he might think I was going to take him home and I had to go to work and I didn't want him to cry...."What's wrong with me!" I thought, "the woman clearly wants to do something nice for you, just let her!"  She assured me it would be fine and that she would deal with the melt down if there was one. Her stock immediately rose in my eyes. We caught up, we hugged Dan really tight, told him how proud we where of him and how much we loved him. I was on cloud nine. Hubby and I walked back to the car holding hands, happy.   

So here I am, left with this blurry photo of a child, in the midst of many, dressed as Santa. It really could be any kid. If I told you it was a reindeer dressed as Santa, there was no way to disprove it. But I know it was Dan, he was on stage and was happy, I had a great communicative moment with his teacher, and I shared it all with the love of my life, even though he was all the way in the back. No hay dicha completa but at the end of that day, somehow, I did feel complete.  

Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas!