Happy Tuesday everyone! Hopefully, your past week and weekend were absolutely lovely and you've been enjoying this wonderful weather spring has afforded us. Here at Ruby Charles we've been hard at work as usual. We're starting our production and getting geared up to start designing our next season! However, before we get ahead of ourselves we're almost ready to open up our online shop, and we have to enjoy a little of the weather ourselves. It just wouldn't be fair if we didn't, right? So here's the Ruby Charles list of spring things we'll be doing to get our little bit of sunshine and temperate breeze.
Fair Weather Fancies: What Will Ruby Be Doing?
1. Eyes To The Skies: Go Fly A Kite!
There's nothing like running through an open field, flying your favorite red kite.
2. Let's Do Lunch: Picnic Time!
All you need is a warm breeze, good company, a big sheet, and some tasty treats!
Sometimes it's nice to just stroll through the park, and clear your mind.
So, if you're having some trouble figuring out what to do with your beautiful day, please feel free to borrow some ideas from us. While you're deciding what you'll do, you can hum along to this.
Spring Song: L'amour ne dure pas toujours by Feist
Happy Easter everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday and are spending time with your family and friends. The Ruby Charles team is definitely taking it easy this weekend, but we wanted to give you some updates. We are currently working on the administrative elements of producing a collection: line sheets, assigning style numbers, order forms, production plan, etc. It's a lot of work and definitely helps to ground you a little bit after having a great photo shoot. You work so hard towards that, and it feels like you should be finished, but it's actually only the beginning. Recently, we've also established a Facebook page, you'll find more pictures from events, Ruby Charles news, contests (the contests are pending), and promotions.
In other news, spring is officially here, and actually has been since the 20th of March. I am extremely excited about it and am currently being soaked by April showers that will bring all of those pretty blossoms to life in the next few weeks. I can't wait until we've produced some of the Ruby Charles looks, they're so perfect for spring. In the mean time here are a few bits and pieces that I love right now, and think would be perfect accessories with a Ruby Charles S/S 2012 look.
A lovely yellow clutch from Clare Vivier that would look amazing with our light colors.
Incredible color blocked heels from Sam Edelman . They look chic and comfortable!
The Everett sunglasses from the always stylish Warby Parker .
So, we will definitely have the look book up this week, and an online shop for you to purchase your very own Ruby Charles. Until then enjoy this fresh spring weather, and hum along to a little Johnny Nash.
Today's Song: I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash
So The Swoon happened this past Saturday, and I definitely think it was a success. Also, thanks to everyone who came out to see us. We had a great time showing the collection, and seeing the crowd's reaction (it was good!). And we met a lot of very cool and local Dallas businesses as well as potential clients. We can't wait until the next event!
So, on Sunday I had my first photo shoot for Ruby Charles! It was absolutely incredible and I felt like the luckiest girl alive. My great friend Heather Hawkins of Heather Hawkins Photographycame by and took some incredible behind the scenes photos. Take a look!
First Look: Ruby Charles Blue Label
Our accessories table.
The rack.
We stayed up all night getting the shot list in order and organizing the looks. I'm very grateful to my friends Fadzi Tawonezvi and Dorenda Johnson for helping me!
Fadzi, Dorenda, Toya, and I discussing the shoot while the girls were getting hair and make-up.
Hair artist Dee Dee Black working her magic on model Brianna Holt.
Model, Andrea Estrada, and natural hair artist, Elena Washington, having a laugh.
The amazing make-up artist Krystal King, CEO of Charm Make-up. She made my girls glow!
Me and the wizard, Marion Marshall. She was the coordinator on the shoot. I'm very lucky to have had a professional event planner and coordinator to organize everything.
Model, Andrea Estrada. She's incredible, and is actually a calligrapher.
Me and model, Khayshea. Also, very talented and gorgeous.
Andrea getting fixed up.
Dorenda fixing our bride's veil.
All of the girls together, that's the lovely Brianna on the far right.
Khayshea looking beautiful.
Khayshea in the Bardot gown.
Striking a pose.
Khayshea in the Beau top and the Bella skirt.
There was an amazing energy on the set. Everyone had a great time.
So, that's a sneek peek at the collection, I'll have the photos from the look book up by the end of the week. I hope for the next shoot I'm able to assemble an amazing team again! After Sunday's photo shoot I feel more confident than ever, and am looking forward to Swoon. Also, I just found out that Heather Hawkins photos are going to be featured on the The Bride's Cafeblog, it's our first press! Hopefully, there's more to come.
So, this week as I planned I met with Ellen, the woman who was going to connect me with her sewers. Before I got there I was under the impression that she ran a little factory or something, but she actually turned out to be a very skilled pattern maker, as well as a production coordinator/manager, and basically a connection to almost everyone in the Dallas apparel industry. Needless to say, I am beyond excited at all of the opportunities this presents; when the Ruby Charles line gains momentum and clients she can run my production and possibly take over patterns which would free up my time to focus on designing! Ellen is extremely knowledgeable and a total riot. What's even better is that she has introduced me to the woman who is currently producing the majority of my samples (I kept 3 to do myself, mostly because I didn't have them cut yet O_O), and she is beyond skilled! I dropped stuff off to her on Monday afternoon and when I went back Tuesday to drop off some elastic, she had finished 4 samples and handed them over to me to take back to the studio. Her name is Berta, she's fast AND her work is flawless.
A moment of pure bliss looking over my samples.
I spent hours slashing and spreading patterns and the clothes are nice and full, and moving just the way I wanted them to!
Ta-da! The "Beacon" top, I love it!
My photos this week are courtesy of the honorableMarion Marshall, or as I like to call her "The Wizard". She shared in my excitement and snapped some fun shots during my "moment of bliss". It's an amazing feeling to see the results of all the work I've been doing. I'm picking up the rest of the samples on Saturday or maybe even earlier at the rate that Berta is sewing, and then the photo shoot happens on Sunday! I'm pretty excited I've got a great photographer, professional hair and make-up artists, and some awesome volunteers! Oh, and I have a friend who's coming to do behind the scenes shots of the photo shoot so that will be really cool too.The only issue is that I've lost my 2nd model in a row. My first model got a part in a new Quentin Tarantino movie that's filming in Louisiana, and the 2nd is booked. So, I'm in a little bit of a scramble to find someone. I have a couple of prospects so I'm thinking it's going to work out! In the mean time I'm starting to sketch some new stuff, I'm hoping to have a summer capsule in at least 1 to 2 boutiques for the summer!
In The Mean Time: Edith Piaf
I've been listening to Edith Piaf all week, this is one of the only pictures of her I found where she was smiling.
Song of the Week: La foule by Edith Piaf
I'll be posting pictures of the photo shoot soon. In next few days I've got to finish getting my accessories together, as well as shoes,and pulling hair and make-up pictures. Then I've got to get my hang tags and labels ready, and then...tons more. I've also got a great friend who is going to help me with a couple of things for my booth at Swoon. I'm excited!!! Wish me luck!
So, this week I have purchased my fabric, my stamp and paper for my hang tags, and will finish cutting and deliver (if not all hopefully at least half depending on my $$$) to a sewing house for my very first Ruby Charles collection (the bridal line is Ruby Charles Blue Label by the way). I'm very excited and exhausted, but it ain't over til it's over, and I hope this will never be over. After the clothes are done I still have the photo shoot and Swoon, where I will hopefully pick up some clients! After that...let's just say there's A LOT more, it's exciting though. I have also started to receive some help in the marketing department so that is also really amazing and helpful, I'll be able to get the brand more exposure, and start participating in more events.
A beacon of light, Golden D'or Fabrics, they have nice stuff for good prices!
Endless....
Endless choices. It took me at least an hour and a half for each room and there a lot of rooms.
Did you know that you could sharpen your scissors by cutting layers of aluminum foil? It works!
Muhahahahaha! I was so happy when I got my stamp, I went a little crazy trying all of the different ink pads I got. I am very pleased. If you ever need a custom stamp made go to Acme Rubber Stamp . They're really sweet guys, and the prices are not bad at all.
Also, the play I've been doing costumes and props for, "Angela's Mixtape" is opening this week at the South Dallas Cultural Center. While it's been nice to work in theatre again, I'm happy it's winding down and that I can again put 150% of my focus back on Ruby Charles. Also, I have been working with a web designer to get the official website up, so that's another exciting something that's happening. Anyway, I must go to bed if I plan on being as productive as I would like tomorrow. Remember...
