Small Sewing Business Development

Hi Creative Community,
Well, I have created my blog a couple of days ago and today is the first time I have had the opportunity to come back. Now, I am thinking...it is my intentions to provide you with interesting information about me, my business development as well as provide you with some great sewing tips. I am faced with scheduling a time whereas I can commit to posting on my blog on a regular basis. Anyway, I will get it together sooner than later!...bare with me!..Let's get started...let me give you a brief history of my skills, experience, and new adventures into developing, Sewing Treasures!
I have over 30 years experience in sewing... to ease your mind...I have no intentions on going over all the things I have done...just enough so you can know where I am coming from. I have had businesses when I was very young. I first starting making clothes for my Barbie dolls and friend's Barbie dolls, and then moved on to getting paid to do alterations for the women at my mother's, then, job! That was very rewarding considering the women were really pleased with my work...they would pay me way more than what I was charging...for an 11 year old...at that time...an extra $10.00 meant, I was RICH!! My friends and I had a great time at the candy store! LOL.
Bringing it forward...I learned the bulk of my sewing skills when I entered high school. My home economics sewing teacher was the greatest! I say this because when she taught sewing classes, she believed in quality, not quantity! Although many of the times I was frustrated with a lot of the projects she would make us take apart and do over...I am now, highly grateful for that, because the construction on all of my sewing pieces are close to, if not, better than manufactured garments...if I do say so myself! :-)
I have conducted multiple fashion shows (too many to count)...I had another business whereas I designed costumed lingerie and evening wear for men and women (mostly women, though)...and I have created a fashion newsletter that I distributed bi-monthly. The newsletter contained helpful fashion tips, current fashion events and it allowed other local designers to advertise...as I type, I am thinking..."um...I should get back into doing that, too!" it was really fun!!.  Well...one child...a marriage...another child...a divorce...and two college degrees later...I am back to embrace my original love...SEWING!
I decided to teach sewing classes because I believe everyone should embrace some sort of creative outlet...considering my outlet is sewing...why not spread the love? I started writing my business plan for Sewing Treasures last year in August 2010. Now writing a business plan is certainly not new to me...but, facing the realities of a cash flow statement and budgeting for start-up costs, marketing and other business purposes, were and are, a HUGE challenge.  Taking into consideration that I am self-financing my business...I have to keep my full time job for another few years...simply because my children and I would like to eat daily, keep clothes on our backs, a roof over our heads, and utilities...you know..."little" unnecessary things like that...LOL! The early part of the week, my children have their after school activities like karate, T-ball, and track. So, for right now...Sewing Treasures is a part-time business whereas I teach evening classes on Wednesdays through Fridays and conduct workshops every Saturday.  My time, just like most people, is very limited but, we still have to keep it moving, right? I will return soon...until next time!