What Joi was thinking on the set of SEW IT ALL

I had sew much fun this weekend on my trip to Golden, Colorado where I had the opportunity to tape an episode of Sew It All TV Season 4. Taping was at the offices of Creative Crafts Group where they publish a myriad of popular sewing and hobby magazines including: Sew News, Sew It All, Creative Machine Embroidery, Love of Crochet, McCall's Quilting and many more. I had the opportunity to meet editors of some of the magazines that I had not met previously, see thier offices, meet the art department and see a sneak peek of my upcoming article in Sew It All (due out in June). It is a lovely 4 page spread on one of my coolest projects- also what I filmed for Sew It All.

So here is how it all happened:

I developed this amazing project last summer and started teaching some classes on the design. (I am keeping it a secret for now). I loved it sew much and I have written for Sew News in the past that I sent the idea to Ellen. I guess they loved it so much too that they did a lovely spread in the magazine and early last fall Ellen asked me to come on the show with my design. My taping date was April 30th but we started planning months in advance.

Prior to visiting the studios (which by the way are ADORABLE!!!!!) there is a lot of prep work. Time is limited so you have to prepare partially completed samples to jump to (aka the magic of television), so we email back and forth with questions, and I created many versions of my design in various stages. You also have to make doubles and triples of some things because if you mess up, or if there is a technical difficulty (like camera man forgets to push record- ok I don't know if that really happens) but you have extras for the just in case moments.

Fast forward to taping day:

Final studio preparations before taping

So on the day of taping (I was so excited) there is a lot to do before you even record on camera. When you arrive you layout all your step out samples and press them all so they are camera ready. HDTV picks up everything. Then there is hair and make up. Now my hubby laughs at me because I am very animated and love being in front of people not a bit nervous, but I was nervous about my make up. I am kind of known for my smoky eyes, but they had me in a minimal color palate  that I never wear  (TV is different then real life)  so I have to admit I don't think I look anything like my normal self. We will just have to wait and see LOL! This is my normal look.

Joi's real make up

After hair and make up we did a run through with Ellen and then a run through with the director so we could work out any bugs, answer any questions and know the general order of things.

ROLLING . . .

First I can't believe how fast it goes. I ran through my episode at my studio and it timed out at 30 minutes (you all know I talk a LOT). I email Ellen telling her I think I might go long. She reassures me it will go fast. That is also what the run through is for. We discussed parts to cut out, extras to add if we have time (I never need extras when I talk because I always have so many tips and tricks I run over I can't help it). We can't start taping because hair and make up keeps having to run from the computer room pull my hair out of the microphone (I have this problem everywhere I go the hair is such a DIVA). Finally we slick it off to one- side (I hope that is flattering on camera LOL). ACTION- wait stop Joi look at the camera for the intro when Ellen is talking. LOL I though I was being polite by looking at her. Ok I can fix that.

Action again: And we are off- we get one shot if you cough, burp, sneeze whatever just keep going they tell me.  Ok none of that happened to me, but I have to make fun of myself right?? Usually I am a total goober with really corny jokes but somehow in classes and person I make people laugh. So I tried not to do that on camera. I was comfortable the entire time, but I think I got right down to business so I don't think I was funny at all. I think I was just down to the project.  Plus, you want to look up but you have to look down at your project. I think I repeated the phrase "let me point out" three times LOL, at least I did not say "like" 50 times in a row like this and like that (and I like have no idea how to like even punctuate that sentence.)

For TV you have to cut out certain things, and make sure you hold your hands low to the table, work upside down so it is right side up for the camera, don't bang the table as that is picked up by the camera and it might sound like gun fire, hold your hands back from the sewing machine, move hands slowly etc…  Ellen does a wonderful job of moving you along through the progression of the project.  The lovely Kim Saba has the job of giving Ellen her time cues (which as the guest you don't pay attention to- I guess they don't want you making weird faces off camera trying to see the time or saying "huh?"). Apparently We were getting close and I say to Ellen "let's go to the table" not knowing we did not have the time, then we finish our last step and she guides us to the HERO or finished project. In my mind I was thinking we were under time. To my surprise we were really close to running out, but we get it all in the first shot. 

Overall, I had such a great time, learned a lot, taped TV wearing hardly any make up (never thought I would do that). I feel like I was down to business and maybe not my totally corny self and that is ok. Hopefully I was not a total goober and that when it comes out you all will enjoy it.

I think my episode got bumped to be the first episode in Season 4 and starts in October on PBS. Hope you like it!

If you want to attend a stellar sewing event, consider attending this event on March 23, 24 and 25th in beautiful Wine Country Santa Rosa, California presented by Pam Cortese owner of My Sewing and Vacuum Place. I have been working with Pam since last fall preparing for this fabulous sewing event. I have a special garment project planned for all my students. No UFOS, you will complete and entire garment during class. This year we have a fashion focus and attendees will have the opportunity to learn sewing, serging and machine embroidery tips, techniques and the sewing secrets of four internationally acclaimed sewing stars:

Simon Haskins of www.jennyhaskins.com (Embroidery)

Joi Mahon of www.designerjoi.com and Baby Lock Love of Fashion Spokes Designer (Fashion Sewing)

Margret Tully Serger Expert and Personality and

Diane Aholt Creative Director of Sewing Projects

Other special features include: "Get to the Point" on Friday presented by Rhonda Pierce from Schmetz Needle Company, and "Top 20 Sewing Tips" on Saturday presented by licensed Palmer/Pletsch instructor Janice Langan. You will attend the Finale Luncheon and Trunk Show on Sunday.

This is going to be a fantastic event! If you are from my area and want to travel with me let me know and I would love to have you join me in my travels.

Designer Joi's 2012 Design Preview

January is often a time of looking forward with expectation into the new year and to start fresh and new.  Here at Dress Forms we feel the same and there is a lot of studio news to be excited about in 2012.  My calendar is filling with goals to achieve, new techniques to share, and a list of creative new designs to  provide clients with amazing custom garments.

2012 Highlights

New Fabrics – My first task of the new year is always to source new fabrics that will appeal to my clients.  Whether an updated version of a fashion staple or a new trend, fabrics in gorgeous new colors and pattern  help start the year off with a shot of inspiration. I am currently inspired by bold color and unique texture.

In the Studio - A big part of preparing for a busy new year is studio prep.  This includes organizing my growing collection of swatches and color cards that I use to show clients.  Dress Forms studio is undergoing a major renovation that will provide a new look and more space (watch for an post in the future and tour our new space). During this time of preparation and planning, I also schedule time to learn new techniques that I will incorporate into my new designs and there is always something new to learn and share!

Bookings -  I am always inundated with requests for custom work at the beginning of the year. After all everyone else is starting fresh and new too.   BOOK EARLY!!  I already have started some eye-catching designs for my creative clientele.  Many of my past designs have been featured on popular blog sites, magazine covers, articles and more. Will your design be one of my next famous garments?

Classes - I am planning new and exciting programs for my 2012 season of Baby Lock Love of Fashion classes. I already have several events scheduled (see the list above) and am developing new designs to inspire students. I will be filming short how to videos to post on my website that help further education of my students that take my classes. I will to travel to Santa Rosa, CA in March to help kick off the start of the Love of Fashion season.  In addition, I am super excited to be filming an episode of a popular sewing TV show in April .  Stay tuned for more details!

As you can see, Dress Forms will have a  busy and exciting year in 2012. I love this time of goal setting and anticipation and am excited to see what we will create this year!

You provide the sewing machine, and they provide the labor. Within no time there's money to purchase food for the children and to even send them to school with new clothes. This year at Christmas when you are shopping for a pair of $100 shoes or a purse that you will only wear a few times and then discard, why not give the gift of a livelihood and something meaningful. For $85.00 you can purchase a manual sewing machine and for $115 you can purchase an electric sewing machine.

What about an embroidery machine to generate income? Asian clothing is often enhanced with intricate designs. For centuries, the needlework was painstakingly completed by hand. With your gift, this process can be greatly improved. This machine allows a seamstress or tailor to craft remarkably beautiful items to sell, helping to improve their standard of living. An embroidery machine is only $155.

Weaving looms are $137. Northeast India's tribal villages are known around the world for their beautiful hand woven textiles. Entire families make their living weaving cloth and sewing it into garments, handbags, hats, and household items. Donating a weaving loom allows a family to produce these items faster, increase their profits, and provide for their needs.

Visit the holiday gift catalog at www.gfa.org or www.gfa.org/gift/browse/gifts-for-the-poor

This is also a wonderful ministry of sharing the love of Christ at this special time of year. I have already purchased my sewing machine gifts for a needy family. Isn't it neat to know that there are those all the way across the world that enjoy the love of sewing and make a living with this art just like we do, and this simple gesture can help them in so many ways.

Get back to the real meaning of Christmas and give a gift that really matters. I am so happy I can share this.

(Description of the gifts is taken from the www.gfa.org website).(other gifts such as animals, water wells, and more are also available to purchase. 100% of the donation goes to purchasing items for the needy families)

Check out my design and how to sewing project The Elastic Bubble Skirt  featured on page 84 of Sew It All magazine volume 3. (Available  on newsstands December 6).

I designed the Elastic Bubble Skirt last year when I had the idea of recreating the popular bubble hem effect utilizing wide elastic.  I was able to design a project and eliminate several steps to a traditional hem technique. See the latest issue of Sew It All  volume 3 to see how it is done, and create one for yourself or as a gift. 

This turned out to be a very rewarding project as I was able to represent Baby Lock and the National Sewing Council while teaching at the Chicago CHA Craft Super Show last summer. We taught non stop for two days and each session was sold out. At this event  participants created an entire sewn garment project start to finish in about an hour and a half, and it was a free make and take thanks to many wonderful industry sponsors. For many, this was their first time sewing or their first garment project after many years of non-sewing, and the goal of National Sewing Council was to reach this group.   The technique is really pretty simple although there are a few special tips and tricks along with some easy measurement guidelines.

I have also taught this class to many Baby Lock Sewing Machine Dealers at Baby Lock Tech in St. Louis, at the American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan as well as other sewing events/programs.

The summer of my freshman year in High School I was working as an assistant to a tailor, and I saved all my money to buy a serger.  I knew I wanted to put a professional finish on the inside of my garments. After looking, I selected a Baby Lock BLSE200 Special Edition because it was one of the top of the line sergers of the time. This was my first Baby Lock machine (foreshadowing for the future). Baby Lock sergers still cannot be beat!  I think I paid around $600-700 at the time which was a LOT for a 9th grader. I of course, had my priorities right!

Fast forward through studying Fashion Design, starting my own Business, and come to 2009; all my clients are encouraging me to apply for Project Runway. This of course would be fun, but I couldn't drop everything to enter and I am not huge fan of  what goes on behind the scenes of reality TV. I was encouraged to enter the American Sewing Expo Passion For Fashion Design Competition. This is similar to  a single episode of PR. Baby Lock was a sponsor. I won. Late,r Baby Lock was looking for a designer to host an event at the 2010 Craft Super Show in Anaheim, CA, and wanted to appeal to the younger sewing demographic. They sponsored me to teach  and I had the opportunity to present some of my ideas of where fashion sewing is going to the President of Baby Lock, Steve Jeffery. The Love of Fashion Program was born, and I now teach sponsored by Baby Lock.  Baby Lock is open to new ideas, and  I love that about them because I am a bit of an idea person and when I know something will work I like to make it happen.

Since the development of Love of Fashion, I have had the opportunity to teach Baby Lock dealers at Baby Lock Tech in St. Louis, represent Baby Lock at Sewing Expos, CHA shows, Conventions, fabric stores and sewing machine Dealerships. I sew on my top of the line Baby Lock Ellisimo almost everyday, use the Baby Lock A-Line Audrey machines in my kids sewing camps, and have a  top of the line Baby Lock Evolution serger as well. By the way, almost 20 years later I still have that BLSE200 Special Edition that I bought in high school. It still works and puts the best narrow rolled edging on all of my thousands of yards of netting that I sew through each year.

1.Custom Designer:  I design and  work with individual clients to create my one of a kind eye-catching designs. Designs might be wedding dresses, event dresses, tailored suits, kids designs, competition dance costumes to name a few. Design is very collaborative so I incorporate my design experience and aesthetic with the ideas and needs of my clients. A good designer will do this and not just push a style onto a client. Seeing individuals in your creations is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job.

One of my custom designs

2.  Educator: I have the privilege of traveling all around the country teaching others design and sewing techniques at sewing expos, conventions, sewing guildes, fashion schools and brick and mortar stores. Anyone that teaches can attest that you often learn a lot from your students and that is the best perk of teaching.Recently I learned a cool pinning technique from a student who sews covers for helicopters. How cool is that?  I am also blessed to be sponsored by the best Sewing Machine Company Baby Lock USA. They are so innovative, supportive and open to my ideas and Programs.

3. Patent Owner: I own an official US Patent on a functional apparel item that I am working to license in the market place. It is a long process and I enjoy the challenges of this type of product development. I can definitely attest to anything worth doing takes time, patience and there are no overnight successes. Success happens when all the puzzle pieces come together at the right time, and you cannot force something if the time is not right.

4. Freelance Consultant: I work with start up companies and existing companies  to design samples and prototypes for their sewn products. This is more of a technical service and requires long term planning and development. Right now I have a major firm that I am creating pattern work in multiple sizes, technical specs, evaluating design details, and working with the factory in China to perfect all the samples before full production. These garments will be sold in several well known mass- retailers Fall 2012. More to come . . .

5. Pattern Maker: Many of my services entail creating pattern work. These patterns might be for an consulting project for mass production, a designer that does not have the skills to create patterns for thier ideas (limited service) and developing my own pattern line. Right now I have some proposals out for developing some of my patterns and will be excited to see where that leads.

5. Other: I teach kids to sew locally and at sewing camps, I write articles about sewing business for a trade publication as well as project and technique articles for Consumer Publications such as Sew News and Sew It All, I design eye-catching garments for marketing campaigns and pretty much anything else that I can attach my creativity to. I create patterns, sketch and sew almost every day. I LOVE IT!!! 

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