Chic and Cozy Cape and Skinny Pants

I am really excited about this entire outfit.  Maybe because I made the whole fit....but the cape definitely stole the show! .... Well..... and this bag! 

Like a lot of sewers out there, I have a stash of fabric that I've been holding on to forever.  If you are anything like me, you fall in love with the fabric at the store and have absolutely no plans on what you are going to do with it but you buy it anyways and add to your stash.  And then, you go out again and spot some new fabric and the cycle is repeated.  Well, I am so guilty!  The problem?  Since I don't exactly know what I am going to make, I don't know how many yards I should get.  And then what ends up happening is when I finally have an inspired garment in mind, I don't have enough fabric!  So lately I have been challenging myself to design within the limitations in extra yardage.  It sounds easy, but when you have the entire piece figured out and then you find out you don't have enough to add sleeves, it's enough to make you want to throw in the towel and abandon the project.  I can always come up with an excuse to buy more fabric..but until I clear out my stash I have promised to refrain!  To my surprise I've noticed that I'm being a lot more creative!  And not drafting the patterns on paper first is also allowing me to see exactly how I want to use the fabric.  I just hold it up to my dress form- which takes the guesswork out.  It is usually at this point when the light bulb goes off and the design takes shape.
I had this fleece for probably 2 years.  It's so soft I considered just using it as a blanket and curling up on the sofa with some hot tea and a good movie.  But then I realized that I have virtually no outerwear and it's winter!  For some reason I am still being a rebellious....freezing...Californian.  So, I decided on a cape because I only had about 1 1/2 yards to play with.  I wanted to make a whole outfit of it so I also made some skinny pants and styled it with a leather hand-painted brooch and earrings.  To finish off the look, I could resist adding in my favorite bag, "Corners" from my accessories collection in a color combination I like to call Timberland- because of its army green color and cognac details. This look is super comfortable and effortless!  Another new addition into my closet..... CHECK!  To keep up with all of my creations as I sew my new custom wardrobe follow me on Pinterest!

    

To customize and purchase your handbag Corners handbag click HERE.  To view or purchase our hand-painted earrings click HERE.

www.thegreybutton.com

Cropped Denim Jacket

Sometimes you just have to let the fabric speak yo you. It knows what it wants to be. And that's exactly what ended up happening with this denim jacket project. What I set out for in the beginning grew into a completely different product in the end. I originally imagined a loose fitting cropped jacket with flowing sleeves. But when I searched through my fabric stash, I came across some leftover denim from another project.  I didn't have much so this could work out for my cropped jacket. Well..... now that changes everything because the denim is way more stiff than my original design.  Almost immediately- I felt a structured jacket was the way to go!  A couple of snips and tucks and this jacket started coming to life. My goal: keep things simple to allow the eyes to be drawn to the clean style lines and defined sleeves. Descrete pockets, a crisp top stitch and covered buttons finish the garment.

What I love most about this jacket is its versatility. Initially it feels dressy but I can easily dress it down with some jeans and a tee.  Throw in a cute clutch and some earrings and I am good to go! That's the beauty of being an artist! YOU can bring your vision to life!!  

Bella Clutch ~ "Grey and Stripe"
Available at www.thegreybutton.com

"Fanned Out" Leather Hand-Painted Earrings in Silver
Available at www.thegreybutton.com

2015 is off to a great start! What projects will you be working on this month to start off the new year?  You can follow my journey as I sew my way through my portfolio and into a brand new wardrobe! I've created a Pinterest board just for my looks and you can also see what I'm up to on Instagram. I'd love to hear from you!  Bye for now buttons!!

Supporters!

I had such a good weekend that I am still in a super spirits!  I remember working at VZW and not being happy.  I already knew what I wanted to do in life.  Design!!  I could see myself being so happy creating things and sharing it with people.  So to bring my dreams into focus I started to bring my sketchbook to work and started designing.  I was determined to acheive happiness.  A couple of my co-workers took interest and I recall some of them saying, "Nadia, when you get big, I am going to come work with you!"  I'm not sure if at the time they really believed that it could happen, but I know I did!  I can honestly say that my old Verizon Wireless family has done nothing but shown me love and support from the beginning and I am sooooo very thankful for them!  They were some of my first customers and still show their support.  

Ms Vera at the old office in her TGB Signature Tee!

Fast forward, three years removed from the corporate world and I have reconnected with an old  co-worker and friend, Ms. Vera.  When I got back in town I called her up to see how she was doing.  And to my surprise her work situation has also changed and allowing her a bit more free time and more than anything happiness.  Now I must say... we make a great team.  This past weekend she was my partner in crime as I went out promoting THE GREY BUTTON.  It means the world to me to have people like Vera by my side rooting me on along this journey.  We met some amazing ladies.....and men, who were all open and excited to listen to me pitch our brand to them and with the support of their purchases we added a bunch of people to the button family!  Here are some pics from a few of the places we went to!  I have to get better at remembering to take pictures.  I LOVE going back and flipping through them but unfortunately I don't have a lot this time!!

On my mind: "Where is TGB going?"

I get asked a lot, "Where do you see THE GREY BUTTON going?"  And if I'm being honest, I would love to see our designs in some of the top department stores one day and across small boutiques around the world so that we could provide jobs right at home with our own GREY BUTTON factory!  Now, even though I know the method of getting to that stage is challenging, I believe we can because we would have the support of real people!  And that is by actually putting in the work to get out and talk to people about the brand.  No one knows it better than me (and the hubs)!  This is our baby!!  Who else is going to speak so passionately about our vision? ....the significance of the button?  Who else knows what goes into the development of each product from concept to production.  The blood, sweat and tears....Knows the love and gratitude that goes behind and beyond THE GREY BUTTON.  We do!  Where do we start?   Back at our roots and making our rounds networking with local beauty/barber salons.  Why not start here?  This is where every woman starts getting beautiful.....with her hair.  And where men who have girlfriends and wives go-all the time .  Ok,  I admit, I am usually freaking out right before I have to walk in to pitch my business to strangers.  But once I bring out some product and start to see people are really interested, and handing out my card, and talking about the button and such, I feel really good!  Yes! Another person knows about THE GREY BUTTON.  I'm doing that times a million if I have to.  Until the next question is, "Looking back did you ever think THE GREY BUTTON would have grown to ALL of this?"  And I can answer, YES.  I have big dreams and I'm never letting go!  

Who wants to come with me?!.

Tangled Leather Earrings ~ "Algae"
www.thegreybutton.com