HERE IT IS! THE NEW SPACE!

Well, at last we have done enough painting and fixing up to get open for the month of October and are finally up and running. As you may know, I've moved the shop twice now in Eureka Springs trying to find the perfect location. The original space on upper Spring street was getting too small and didn't get enough foot traffic, then the Center Street space was still too small and got too much traffic. I never dreamed I could afford the basement of the Wadsworth Building, but the owner was nice enough to recognize that the space was perfect for me, and worked hard to get me in. I wish I had before pictures to contrast these "afters", because you'd never believe the change. It is now brighter, lighter, and much less cavernous. We scraped tin foil off the woodwork and painted the black walls with giant blocks of color. It measures a whopping 2800 sq. feet, giving Rosie and I room for our own sewing areas, fabric storage, office, and more retail display than ever. Over the winter, we will convert the back room into a fitting salon, with two changing rooms and consultation area. It's located on the downtown side of the Post Office, visible from Spring Street, but not quite on the main drag, and best of all, we have not one, but TWO parking spaces reserved for clients 24/7.

Come check it out, this place is amazing!

HANDMADE CLOTHING AS ART?

The Pinnacle Hills Arts Festival is over! I set up in a frenzy with over a hundred talented "studio" artists on Friday, Sept 11th watching the skies and wondering if anyone would question me bringing clothing to an Art show. I kept saying to myself "I AM an artist- I create in the same way, I look for the same muse, and I have every right to be here". Everyone was super nice, and supportive of this new endeavor, and very complementary on my craftsmanship. I had sent out postcards to women on my mailing list from the area, and they were there in force, so it was like old home week. I sold lots of new things I had created just for the show, and many return clients ordered more of the same garments they had been loving for years, in new colors. They had great things to say about the longevity and classic-ness of what they've bought in the past, and that was great for me to hear. The event was three days long, and the threat of rain was high, but we kept back the water with sheer mental power, and I made it back home mostly dry.

Some friends talked me into setting up at this fairly new festival, and I'm glad they did. At first I thought I wouldn't be able to switch gears- we are in the middle of changing locations (yes, AGAIN)- the new space is being remodeled and everything is in boxes, some moved, some left behind until after the show. After three days of moving, we set up the machines and got busy cranking out jackets, digging through boxes to find buttons, thread, scissors, and making a layer of mess over the existing mess. (The day after returning from the show I finished the move, which put another layer of mess over the previous two, so now I really have a job in front of me.)

In the next posting I'll show you the new storefront, and maybe the mess inside. I'll also explain more about why I'm moving again. For now, I say "Thank-you" to everyone that came and bought my clothing and said sweet things to me. Thank-you to the friends that talked me into going on this venture, and helping me move, paint, and sew. And a big thank-you to the Sky-spirits that held back the rain until I was tucked into my cozy bed after the last rack and zipper-bag was put away safe and dry in the nice new studio. That patter of rain starting as I drifted off to a well-deserved sleep made me really smile.

Wee-Galia!

I love kids! But I have not seen much handmade clothing I like for children- everything is packed with ruffles, and clearly claims a gender.  My first attempt at children's clothing lead me straight to one of my more popular garments- the Hippari Jacket.  Surprisingly, making it for a child takes the same amount of time.  It's fully lined (but not really reversible) with a sweet multi-colored check cotton print. The outside is Bright blue linen, and I have a bright green version too.  This one is a size 4/5, probably the only size I'll do it in.  As soon as I get the pricing and color options figured out, I'll post it on Etsy as a One-of-a-Kind item.

Blogging at last!

I've been looking for ways to spice up www.regaliahandmade.com, and make it easier to tune in to what I'm working on in the studio periodically.. My clients are always wanting to know what's new, and this seems to be the easiest way to tell them and show them. I plan to show the process of carrying a new garment from conception to the sewing machine to the website. If you're not familiar with my clothing, check it out. It's fashion at its most basic- no trends or fads. Good, clean, timeless designs that work together to build a wardrobe for office, evening, or playtime, utilizing natural fiber fabrics from the past and the present.