Good evening, and welcome to "Sundays in the Sewing Room". This is a new segment on The Downtown Boutique, where we will be focusing on sewing businesses. We will be featuring makers of clothing, baby items, plushies, and more.
Today, we are featuring Debbie, of
Debbie, please tell us about yourself, your family life (with 6 children!), and your business.Well, where to start. I guess I'll start with what inspires me to do what I do. I used to have a corporate job prior to children and it was after the birth of my son that I decided to stay home and find a way to be home with my children. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would have 6 children! They are Bryce who is almost 17 yr, Brandon is 13y, Brock is 10y, Bridget is 9y, Bryan is 5y and Broderick is 2y.
When I'm out with all the kids the standard questions are: Are they all yours? Are you Catholic? Were you trying for a girl? Are you having any more? My kids are almost always with me and when they aren't and I go some where where people know me, I always get asked "Where are the kids?". My most common answer is "I'm not sure, I lost them again!" We are a very close family and spend a lot of time together. My oldest play soccer so I'm always going from one soccer game to the other.
Tell us about your sewing experience.
I have been sewing since I took a sewing class in Junior High and I've been hooked ever since. I really started to sew when my oldest needed a Halloween costume in Kindergarten. I made him a Cow costume and also one for his little brother. Once Bridget was born, I really started to sew consistently and even taught myself to smock. I love classic clothing and the boys always had matching outfits for the holidays and of course Bridget always had a special dress. I did sew for neighbors and did an occasional craft show, but never really thought of doing it as a business.
Tell us about your experience on Ebay and on Etsy.com.
Our family went through a bit of a difficult time and I would pray for answers. When I ended up in West Virginia, I said, "Well, I'm not sure this is the answer I've been looking for, but I'll go with it". As it turned out I met a woman who invested in my business and it took off from there. I started selling little chenille coats on ebay and then discovered the world of custom boutique on ebay. I have been selling there for 6 years. I have found that the ebay market is different from the Etsy market and I love selling on both sites. Ebay allows me to really be out there with designs while Etsy allows me to think outside the box. I would love to offer more classic lines and will occasionally make a set that is true to my style which is classic. 
Tell us about what you do when you're not sewing.
When I'm not sewing, I like to bake. I wish I had time to learn how to decorate cakes. I've always wanted to and have tried, but I'm not good at it at all. I'm too impatient when it comes to cake decorating. I also have taken up exercising. I have really started to enjoy running on my treadmill and have recently worked up to a 3 mile run and then 2 additional miles. I wish I had more time to exercise, but there are only so many hours in the day.
Tell us about your dreams, your inspirations, and your typical day.
We recently moved and I took over the living room for my sewing studio and also put my treadmill in there, so I can't ignore it! I did put my formal furniture in there as well, so it looks a little strange, but it is a nice space. I have shelves with my fabric so that I'm constantly inspired. I also have my cutting table right behind my sewing, so that is really convenient. Behind me is also my ironing board. I wish I had room to move my embroidery machine closer, but it is across the room. It works fine as I don't embroider that much, but I like to have specific machines. I have all Baby Lock equipment and just love my machines. I have thought about upgrading to industrial machines, but I like "pretty" machines, so not sure if that would work. Weird I know!
I would love for my other business venture to really take off and I'm working on making it a success. It is www.Cherrytreeavenue.com and it is a combined effort of many great designers that I met through selling on ebay. We are currently working on our Spring 09 Season and it is going to be one heck of a season! We have picked some fabulous fabrics and are really working to give our customers the ability to design their own clothing. People can order though our website or a trunk show. I would love to have our trunk shows really grown over the next year.
Monday morning update: Love these skirts you see above? Well, Debbie is going to be giving one away on her blog! So be sure to head over there and enter. You can earn extra entries, but you'll have to check out her blog to see how!Tell us what you would like to be when you "grow up", or what you dreamed you'd be.
I would have to say that I never ever thought I would actually sew and make money doing it. I'm reluctant to call myself a Designer and someday I'll be comfortable with that title. I look at some of the things I've created and think "wow, I did that". I can't say that there is any other job that I've ever like to have. I love being a mother most of all and I enjoy being home with my children.
Tell us something about yourself that you wouldn't normally divulge.
The one thing I don't often let people know about me is that while I appear very self confident, I am actually pretty shy. As I've gotten older (over 40 now), that shyness is going away. I've actually spoke in front of a group at school, not once, but twice in the past month! That was not an easy task.
Tell us about how you juggle family life and your business.
As for juggling my home and business, I couldn't do it without the support of my children. My kids are the best. The oldest help with the little ones when I need to sew and even help with the housework. My kids are my pride and joy!
I work very hard to balance it all and have found that my housework really suffers. I don't clean nearly as often as I should. The laundry is always done, but not always put away and sometimes we're searching for lost belts before we head to school, but we do seem to always find what we need.
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Thanks Debbie, for letting us in on such a wonderful glimpse of your life. Debbie has graciously offered one of her signature "Bridget" dresses, for a giveaway!
And guess what? She will custom make it for you, in the size you need, and in the colors and patterns that she has for you to choose from, from her fabric stash.
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment about your favorite item from Debbie's Etsy shop: Bridget and Co.
PLEASE make sure your comment includes an email address, or that your Blogger account has an email address. If there is no way to get ahold of you, your comment will be deleted. I hate to have to do this, but it's only fair!
To earn two extra entries, please do both of these things, and let me know about it in a separate comment:
1. Add us to your blogroll, or add our button to your blog.
2. In a post of at least 50 words, please creatively blog about this new segment and the wonderful giveaway from Bridget and Co.
Deadline to enter is Saturday, September 13th at Midnight PST.
This giveaway is open worldwide.
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Please don't forget to scroll down and enter to win your choice of necklace from Lula Boutique. Deadline to enter for the necklace is Thursday, Sept. 11.
Have a wonderful week!
Angie
