Show And Tell

Hello there,

I haven't put as much work into my sewing this week as I usually do and I feel bad about it.
*sigh*
I hope to make that up this weekend.

Last week was very busy though - I finished and delivered 2 new dresses, alterations to 5 skirts and a new skirt. There was also an iro and buba set that was a freebie; I need to make some alterations but it was done in time to be tried on last week.
I'm thankful for all the referrals; keep them coming ...

This weekend's to-finish list:
- Tutu skirt
- Shorts
- Bow-tie
- Black, Brown and Green pants alterations
- Buba alteration

To-start:
- Jumpsuit for PGS Challenge

I got some pictures from my clients who the dresses were for so it's Show and Tell time.

:)

Ms. M's 1st Order

Ms. M's 2nd Order

Ms. M's 3rd Order (1 of the 2 dresses referenced above)

Ms. O's 2nd Order (see the dresses from her 1st order here)

Always Learning ...

Hello there,

Back in SS1 (10th grade equivalent?), we were a handed a sheet of paper that listed occupations and what subjects you should be good at to succeed in them. Based on my teen-self's academic prowess, I had a lot of options (a lot) but I was drawn to engineering. The one thing I like about being an engineer today is the ability to assess a problem and design a solution. For my ZCD work, I usually break down the item to its basic shapes in my head and them build it up from there (unless I'm using a prepared pattern).

Today's post is a bit of a show-and-tell. I have added 4 more items to my 'I-know-how-make-this' list and I wanted to share them with you. If you've browsed the Etsy store (here), you know that besides clothing, I can make accessories. Until now, accessories = bowties, purses and earrings. After today, I can add wristlets, lapel flowers custom bias tape and peplum belts.

These new items were custom orders and I did some research, reviewed tutorials and figured out how to make them. Yay for learning!!!

Lapel Flowers

These are rectangular pleated strips with one zig-zag edge, can you tell?

This one is a folded over rectangular gathered strip. 

Wristlet 

(Zippered Pouch with Wrist Strap)

Had to rip and re-do a couple seams but I got it!

DIY Bias Tape

Peplum Belt

(hi-low style)

Start with a hi-low circle skirt, cut a line down the center, add a long waistband.

 

The Summer of 2015

Hi there,

It's the last day of the year!!!!
I am super grateful to God for bringing me this far. Can you believe it?
And best of all, I am ending this year better than I started it ... how wonderful is that?

In 2015, I had my first vendor/show case opportunities (3 in total) for ZiChiE Designs.
I also had an international order from the ZCD Etsy store (click here).
And a very busy summer. I'm guessing it is the warm weather but I had a lot of wedding orders in July/August/September. In addition to that, I made vests for the men in the LA Voice (my church choir).

To wrap up the year, I thought I'd put pictures from this summer's order in one post.

Enjoy.

ZCD Purses at a Showcase hosted by YAPPies (Young African Philly Professionals)

ZCD Vendor Table at ACANNA Festival

For the Sister of the Bride

Dress and Matching Vest & Bow Tie for A Friend's Wedding

Gold Lace Dress for a Friend of the Bride & Groom

Gold Lace Clutch

Pink and Blue Dress for a Friend of the Bride & Groom

My Birthday Skirt

Dress for Ms. V for our Church Anniversary Dinner

LA Voice

(Made the Vests for the Men and the Maxi Skirt [far left])

Skirts for Mummy and Daughter for a Wedding

Salute To The Veterans

Hi there!!!

Today (11/11/2015) is Veterans' Day in the USA. It's a day to remember the sacrifice of the brave men and women who defend the freedom of their country. In thinking about this today, I dwelt on the reasons why the veterans choose to stand in the line of fire everyday: security, freedom, peace and a hope for a better tomorrow.
That's where the children come in: they are our hope for tomorrow. The veterans do what they can to ensure that the little ones have a chance to make tomorrow even better than today.

That's why the pictures in today's post are of the children's outfits that ZCD has made in recent history.
We're celebrating the sparks of hope that we have for tomorrow.

Dress and Hair Accessory

Matching Skirt and Vest for Siblings

Matching Shirt and Skirts for Siblings

Hi-Low Skirt and Blouse

Baby Dresses 

Skirt

Lacy Goodness Continued

As promised in the August post of Ms. N's blue and pink dress (here), here's more on the gold fabric that she dropped off.

It was the Aso-Ebi fabric for a friend's wedding on 9/12 which is also my dad's birthday :).
She sent me a picture of a gold midi dress and asked for the same thing and I'm so happy she was pleased with what I delivered.

Stay tuned ... I'll show you what I make with the remnant and some red crepe fabric.

Enjoy the pictures and video below.

** Check us out on Instagram @zichie_designs and Facebook: Zichie Designs

Lady in Gold

I got matching silk lining fabric

It's got a slit and the inside seams were covered in bias tape to prevent any itching from the sequins on the lace.

Ready for a fitting

I took it in after the fitting and it no longer fit on my dress form but here's the final dress.

Took a video while she was posing for pictures. :)

I didn't have an Aso-Ebi outfit but I wanted to join in and show my support so I made a fold-over clutch.

Perhaps I will write a tutorial on that ...