A Washing Machine with a Voracious Appetite
I started sewing as a young mother of three children, two of whom were twins. My husband and I were tired of buying clothing for our children where after washing the clothing, they didn't fit anymore due to shrinkage, or they just didn't last due to broken zippers, seams coming apart, but yet, I'd always shopped in the "high end" price range.

I couldn't understand why the quality wasn't there and I felt we weren't getting our moneys worth. I thought my washing machine was eating all of the clothing, yet I followed washing instructions.

Practice Makes Perfect
My kids claimed I practiced on them with my sewing when they were little, (and I did), but now that they are grown, they come to me when they need a baby shower gift or a gift to give to someone. They also promote my clothing line to all of their friends and extended families, and I get a lot of referrals from them.

Also, while working in a professional office for 25 years, I made all of my suits and pant suits that were required of me to wear every day. I even had an associate ask me to make her wedding dress and bridesmaids' dresses, but turned that one down.

A Faithful Following
I have been attending craft and trade shows for a number of years now and have a faithful following. I would either call or send a postcard to my faithful customers giving them the date and time of the next craft or trade show event and they would always show up to see my latest designs and clothing. If they couldn't attend the event, they would call me and I would make arrangements with them to come to their home to show them my latest creations. (Only did this for my very best customers and if they lived close to me.)

Sold!
Because I usually attended the same craft and trade shows every year, the promoters of these craft shows got to know me and my clothing line and they would come to my booth before the craft fair opened to the public, look through my clothing line that was going to be on display and declare "that's sold" before the general public was allowed in. Some items were sold out even before the fair opened to the public. If I was selling an item where I only had a few of that clothing item with me, I would put a "sold" sign on the item, and convince the promoters to come back after the show and then they could pick up their item. This way I could still show the item and take orders for it from the general public, but I also learned that if people see a "sold" sign on something, they usually want the same item.

My Special Touch
My customers are of all ages, including young parents with children, grandparents, and parents who have difficulty finding clothes that fit their children. While their child might wear a normal size 2 in length, they might need a larger waistband on an item, and I would make them clothes that will fit their child around the waist in the colors that they wanted, with or without pockets or embroidery designs and priced them accordingly. They got to choose the clothing rather than just having to pick out an item from what was available in the stores and saved them from going store to store.

If the child was with the parents at the trade or craft show, I would ask the child what colors and designs they like and found that parents have learned that if a child doesn't like the clothing, they won't wear it. If I have to make up a special order for a child and have to mail it, I always address the package to the child in care of their parents and always include a "little something extra" like a small purse for a girl, or baseball cards for a boy. Children love to receive mail and it makes them feel special, especially if they got to pick out the colors and designs and everyone is happy and I receive more orders and referrals.

Age Appropriate Children’s Clothing
Some parents that buy from me feel that the clothing available to them for a four year old girl in the stores is just "too mature" for their child and they are looking for age appropriate clothing and they love the cute embroidery designs I use which are age appropriate. While I make both mature and age appropriate child styles, they get to chose what they want for their child and again, in the color they want and size.

My Personal Guarantee
People that have been buying from me for years love that I follow the current trends in clothing, (like this year hoodies, denim, layering and camo's are in style and are what I am carrying); that they can have almost any color in the rainbow, and they know the durability of my clothes. They also know that if they want something "special", I can come up with ideas regarding their request and will make up a sample of clothing that represents their request, (for a fee) and either mail it to them or send them an e-mail about it.

They know that my clothing is well made and will not shrink. They also know that I can duplicate an item that they might have seen in a store, but didn't want the same thing that every other child was wearing. While my prices may be a little higher than what they would pay in a store, they know they can design their own clothing for their child, get the colors they want and the fit.

They also know that I stand behind my clothes and if there is a defect, I will replace it at my cost. If they are a very good customer of mine, I will give them an item of clothing that I know they wanted, but couldn't afford right now, at my cost, as a "thank you" for being such a good customer, or let them pick out an item for free from clothes that I will no longer carry in my future clothing line.

I always donate clothes to a company in NY that adopts a family for Christmas every year, and any clothes that are left over at the end of the season, I donate to a local Church in NY where the clothes go to children of abused women.