SewMoe original handmade clothing

the art of daydreaming...short stories and birthdays.

2012-02-12T10:43:00.007-05:00

ahhh, yes--its that time again!

Time to hit the ground running (with scissors no less) and embark on a new summer's journey. In the next upcoming weeks, I'm hoping to complete and unleash a new season of sew moe. The goal is to have it launched by my sweet lil' birthday.

(ahem...March 18th: I will be accepting candy, flowers, and presents)

And brace yourselves, people...sew moe is going to make shorts this year!

After an inspiring chat with my Love's mother, we've decided its time:

I'm delighted to announce that 2012 will be the year of the shorts.

Now, some of you know me well enough to know that these won't be your average shorts.

No ma'am! There will be deep pockets. There will be herringbone (this obsession is not over yet!) There might be denim. And certainly belt loops--nice big sturdy ones--shaped like chevrons. Full zip front (this part is not so exciting for me--the seamstress) heavy duty, fashion-meets-function shorts.

Stay tuned!

February is for cardigan lovers...

2012-01-31T21:19:00.006-05:00

oh February, how dear you are. Every year you come around, for about 28 love riddled days, and when you gracefully exit--we are all left to wonder...where did the month go?

Well this year, you should buy a keepsake cardigan to remember the best February of your life. That's a bold statement, I know, but I'm a bold kind'a gal.

For this lover's month of February, buy any one of these cardigans:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sewmoe?section_id=11073282

and get any item from the shop 40% off!

Message me the details (a cardigan plus...what?), and I'll set up a bundled listing for you...oh sweet you!

Start your shopping here :

www.sewmoe.etsy.com

one cardigan + any item in my shop at 40% off = true love.

Last minute gifting...sew moe style!

2011-12-15T08:35:00.006-05:00

The holidays create an interesting rush of traffic--mostly happy, some a little frazzled, and a few too demanding--but the main question is always:

"Will it get here in time for Christmas?!"

Anyone who spends much time shipping knows they do NOT want to hand over their good reputation to the busy hands of the postal service during one of the most crazy shipping holidays of the year.

Not to mention the tears on Christmas morning when Sally doesn't get her infinity scarf!!

Sooooo...the introduction of the printable gift announcement and coupon!

From now until Christmas morning, all last minute Sew Moe purchases will come with the coupon above for your printing pleasure! Ask me for ideas on clever ways to print it and gift it to your lucky recipient. And before you know it, they will get their package in the mail--for Christmas part 2!

selling you infinity...

2011-11-30T22:01:00.003-05:00

One of my best best friends gave me this idea for an easily gifted, modestly priced sew moe design...

I present to you, my newest creation: the infinity scarf.

The perfect gift and the perfect treat for yourself.

It's fashionable and functional--two of my favorite qualities in design. J'adore!

You can wear this scarf in a couple of different ways, plus its constructed with a sassy buttoned tab to hold your do' in place. Visit the accessories section of my shop for a more detailed description:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/sewmoe?section_id=10785989

Oh, and one more thing...all month long you get one for free with any purchase. December's promotion: I'm giving you infinity! Don't say I never done gave you nothin'.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo moe

ALL THINGS BLACK.

2011-11-19T15:52:00.013-05:00

OOOOhh we've almost made it...

Black Friday through Cyber Monday weekend!

yayayayaa sew moe is going on sale, baby!!

Think storewide savings...think 30% off everything...think OMG where is my flippin' wallet?

And as a special teaser

(you know how I love to play)

all things black within my shop are on sale 30% off for the entire week. Forget waiting till the weekend!

Come Black Friday morning (11/25th) everything gets marked down for 4 glorious days until the end of Cyber Monday--but for 8 entire days everything black in my store will be on SALE.

Get ahead of the weekend and paint the town black.

All of it.

And save some money while you're at it. dang!

xoxoxoxo moe

Racing through November...

2011-11-13T18:47:00.010-05:00

Week 3: The brief return of the Twenty Pennies racer back Tank.

THIS WEEK ONLY!

November Penny Sale:

twenty pennies Racer Back Tank.

Your very own custom tank top for a handful of pretty pennies.

Eligible with any one purchase.

A classic sew moe piece and a great addition to any wardrobe--this racer back tank makes for a smooth transition piece for all seasons.

A fashion forward take on a simple classic design--the wrapped collar creates a flattering and feminine neckline that is both classy and practical.

And all the while maintaining the comfort of your favorite tshirt. You'll find this racer back tank making frequent appearances throughout the year--its true!

This season, pair it with a boyfriend cardigan:

or a nice draped hooded sweater:

or of course, under a hoodie:

Click here for more details:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73240283/november-penny-sale-twenty-pennies-racer

Just twenty pennies!

November--week 2. Sew Moe's rotating promotions of November brings you the 30% off hoodie.

2011-11-06T15:45:00.007-05:00

Daylight Savings Time has officially happened once again.

It's great for the mornings, sure--but alas my little chickadees--it's getting dark earlier and earlier these days. It's always hard for me to admit the beginning of winter, but give me something new and sweatery to wear and well...I'll hush up fast!

My current favorite thing to do is 'borrow' or more appropriate 'hold hostage' my Love's bulky winter wear. But now that he's actually starting to feel the chill (I was weeks early!), my adoration of his fresh wears is starting to loose its charm. For him. I still think his flannel shirts are the warmest things in the house and the absolute bee's knees--but yes, I will be a mature girlfriend and start wearing my own clothes again. shooooooooot...

So I'm saying this to you--and myself:

Its time to bundle up against the cold (in your own dang clothes) and get out there and enjoy the season's change.

This week ONLY--sew moe hoodies on sale 30% off.

There!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/77715856/the-amazing-hoodie-double-collar-hooded

November, November--a month to remember!

2011-10-30T21:31:00.006-04:00

(feather painting by amber alexander)

The month of November brings many exciting new deals to the Sew Moe shop.
One per week, to be exact!
And...wait for it...there's 5 weeks this month.
We're working on a Monday-Sunday basis so stay tuned at the end of each week for info on the newest deal to come.
Yes...you knew I'd wanna to keep you on your toes! One can't just throw out the champagne with the cork. tisk tisk!
But here's a few (obvious) hints since I'm feeling rather cheeky and sneaky this halloween:
week 1...see below. A pick from a reliable source.
week 2 we celebrate how cold it officially is with an awesome discount on your favorite hooded sweatshirt.
week 3 we celebrate how warm we wish it was with a super sweet BOGO offer.
week 4 we observe Black Friday and the official start of holiday shopping season with bangin' deals on all things black.
week 5 brings Cyber Monday and well, I'd never reveal that secret and spoil all the fun!

And here we go.
Week 1:
Tuesday marks the 'official' birthday of my lil' buddy and partner in crime, the one and only, Mr. Dakota Delmar Donnelly.He will be turning 12! I've had him since he was 4 months old, so me and this guy go waaaaaay back. And he told me, he'd like to give the people of the world free shipping. But he was very specific about it lasting only a week. Cause we've got other deals to smell and different treats to find. And the mailman really pisses him off. (duh.)
Free Shipping on any purchase! Domestic AND International. This week only!

A pretty sweet deal, I must say! But you're worth it.
All shipping fees will be removed from my Etsy listings come the morning of November 1st until the evening of the 6th. Its true!
Also important to note, because I'm working on a 4-6 week production turnaround, November 10th marks the last day for your purchases to arrive before Christmas (Domestic USPS only). See my store policies for more details--but this year you have the option of purchasing a 25% shipping/production upgrade fee to get your orders out in time.
Please see my shipping policies for more details:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sewmoe/policy

custom Better Than Your Boyfriend's cardigan--the saga continues.

2011-10-06T21:00:00.032-04:00

And so it is to be--an ongoing list of favorites, named after the lovely ladies that picked out the fabric themselves. Sew Moe's catalog of the infamous "Better than Your Boyfriend's Cardigan" and the many forms it has taken.

the marlene:

the clara:

the christine:

the julie:

the jodene:

the melissa:

the annie:

the nancy:

the heather:

the ashley:

(organic cotton sweatshirt and grey thermal/waffle knit liner)

one for julie's friend:

the thuy:

the mckenzie:

the secil:

the jill:

the katie:

the sarah:

the helene:

(all different colored buttons, as requested!)

the marie:

the stacey:

You could still take me to Paris in October--SALE SALE SALE SALE!

2011-09-27T08:01:00.003-04:00

October 1st starts an exciting month for Sew Moe...its a whole new studio!

I'm moving into a much larger space in the River Arts District--into Riverview Station.

Its not too far from the old haunt--actually closer to home (no excuses not to ride ye ole bike!)--sandwiched between the railroad tracks and our little scenic river. I'll still be surrounded by artists of all kinds, and this winter the studio will actually have a heating option.

Say what???

Yes, my dearies. No more double jacket/double space-heater action for Sew Moe. Though I do suspect Miss Frozen Toes (aka...me) will still have one space heater. But only one!!

So to start the celebration into a new home and cozy style, I present to you TWO promotions this October. Ahem...

1. the Take Me To Paris Cardigan at 40% off!!! Normally priced $137, on SALE for $82.20. Save almost 55 bucks and help me get this cardigan in your hometown.

Come by the shop for more details:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/79791517/take-me-to-paris-cardigan-hooded-sweater

2. And back by popular demand! The Sweet Seventeen dollar Sweater--Eligible with any purchase.

In case you forgot...this is the sweater:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78838180/on-sale-the-sweet-seventeen-dollar

Initially a promotion to thank Australia for all the support she's given Sew Moe this year--I'd like to start the holiday shopping season with a flurry of sweater knit and buttons.
No one can argue against a good deal on these lightweight classic sweaters--a good bonus gift for you or the one you love.

xoxoxoxox moe

Drumroll please...

2011-07-31T10:23:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everyone who entered last month's photo contest!

For the chance to win a free sew moe Tshirt, I asked for images relating to the theme of 'Australian Beauties' to gear up for August's promotion--and I'm delighted to announce our winner:

Miss Ashby Pettigrew of Greensboro, North Carolina!

Titled Christmas on Bondi Beach, Ashby found this delightful image on Vintage Venus. Worth checking out for yourself--this blog is full of vintage Australian images and photographs. I particularly liked Ashby's choice and the ensuing daydream of having my own Australian beach holiday. Just look at that spread! And the bathing suits. Yes please!!

Its a perfect match for this month's promotion:

August in Australia Sale: the Sweet Seventeen dollar Sweater!

(http://www.etsy.com/listing/78838180/august-in-australia-sale-the-sweet)

Congratulations, Ashby! And enjoy your free sew moe custom Tshirt...

xoxoxox moe

2011-07-27T07:54:00.001-04:00

Congratulations!! It's a photo contest!

2011-07-06T10:43:00.000-04:00

Sew Moe's first online contest!

I'm looking for one winning photo to visualize my August promotion. Without giving too much away, next month brings a formal 'thank you' to Australia for all its support to Sew Moe this year. For one reason or another, the Aussie ladies have been floating my boat these past seasons and we will be tooting their horn next month in a show of thanks and appreciation.

Now back to the photo...I need a photo!

Please send me a picture--either from your own collection or found on the internet--that evokes this phrase:

australian beauties

it can be historic, ironic, sentimental, flashy, photoshopped--just appropriate to the theme.

Winner gets a custom handmade Tshirt, bragging rights, and international Sew Moe fame as the winner. Everyone loves a winner!

(above photo courtesy of: http://oursurprisingworld.com/money-celebrities-pictures/)

Your future Tshirt:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/41642742/cutsom-ordered-handmade-tshirt-choose

Custom fit...$37 value. Choose from many-a-color!

To enter, send your photo to villianelle@gmail.com

Subject: photo contest.

Contest closes July 29th.

Winner announced August 1st as the launch of my aussie promotion.

Good luck!

xoxoxox moe

July Penny Sale: twenty pennies Racer-Back Tank.

2011-06-30T10:17:00.000-04:00

Officially my last summer promotion! A full tank blow-out before my fall/winter collection is unveiled...Order your very own custom summer tank top for a handful of pretty pennies.
Twenty to be exact. Eligible with any purchase.
In celebration of June...and to say 'tank' you for your support!

Visit my etsy shop for more details:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/73240283/july-penny-sale-twenty-pennies-racer

greetings june

2011-05-30T21:11:00.000-04:00

Alrighty!

Ladies, show us your gams and treat yourselves to a custom skirt of your choosing. This is your season to be the bee's knees...

For this most delighted month of June, buy ANY item from my shop

and get a custom skirt half off!

Save $21-$40 on the skirt of your heart's desire

Colors/patterns completely negotiable. Let's talk!

See my shop for more details www.sewmoe.etsy.com and never hesitate to ask any questions!

A brief interlude with a super awesome deal.

2011-05-21T17:13:00.000-04:00

A Memorial Day WEEKEND S.A.L.E. is in our midst.

As a woman of upstanding integrity, I would be honored to invite each and every one of you to attend this event. Please do stop by!

sewmoe 20% off sale.

Friday May 27th through Memorial Day Monday May 30th.

All designs are 20% off at checkout by using the coupon code moememorial

(and yes, this applies to BuyOne GetOne HalfOff designs. Say what?! Yes, I do believe I just said that...)

Memorial Day |

abound!

2011-05-01T13:19:00.000-04:00

May is abound with many wonders...
may day!
mother's day!
cinco de mayo!
miss megan stone's birthday!
my lovely and wonderful studiomate,
hannah, gets married this month!

memorial day
AND its really and truly spring now!!
So, in celebration of all things May, I'm tickled pink to announce this month's promotion:

BUY ONE GET ONE HALF OFF--TSHIRTS, TUNICS, AND TANKS.
Visit my shop for more details: www.sewmoe.etsy.com

Yup, that's right! For the next 31 days all custom Sew Moe tshirts, tunics, and tanks will be available at this super sweet price. Any color(s) of your heart's desire.

2011-04-28T11:23:00.000-04:00

Here's to May flowers, spring adventures, and four leaf clovers...and a return of an old favorite:
Grey is the New Style tshirt.

comfortable, soft, classy and sassy. not to mention unarguably sew moe.

Sew Moe earth day sale...20% off!

2011-04-21T08:22:00.000-04:00

Greetings and salutations, my friends.

Yes, I know its been many-a-moon since I last posted but alas--here we are. Things have been busy Over Yonder the past few months. Drumroll: We have a new studio with twice the space! And twice the windows!! (Which means the world to this lil' daydreamer over here.) Our view even provides one steep grassy hill, a few trees, and the occasional wildlife sighting. And when I say wildlife, I really mean hawks and groundhogs but hey--I'm not picky.

My love and ever-resourceful companion, Ben Morrison, built a mighty-fine loft which has made my workspace worlds better. It really opened up a lot of work area for me--as well as a small display/retail space for client consultations and events like Studio Stroll.

Ooooh, and it feels incredibly liberating to not be cramped and swallowed by your materials.

Fifteen feet of organized fabric storage up top--complete with a napping perch for those extra long days. I haven't had to take a nap yet but I've spent a handful of 10 minute breaks up there--its quite a sweet perch, trust me.

Incidentally Ben is excited and willing to embark on future carpentry/building projects so if anyone in the Asheville area needs work done send me a line for his contact info. He comes recommended and endorsed by Sew Moe!

Its hard to believe its already the end of April, and with that comes Earth Day. As cliche as it sounds, I personally think every day should be earth day, but a recognized day of celebration is always right by me.

So whoo-hoo!! Its time for my shop's second annual Earth Day Sale!

All designs are 20% off through Easter Sunday. Simply use the coupon code SewGreen at checkout to cash in and save some green.

enjoy and until next time....xoxoxoxoxo

www.sewmoe.etsy.com

BOXING DAY weeklong SALE!

2010-12-25T12:04:00.000-05:00

BOXING DAY weeklong SALE!

December 26th - January 2nd, 2011.

20% off all designs in my etsy shop by using the coupon code: BoxingMoe

www.sewmoe.etsy.com

(and props to my Canadian lovelies who have been awesome to Sew Moe this year!)

Sew Moe...at the mall??!

2010-12-08T16:14:00.001-05:00

Yup! That's right!
Sew Moe is now available at the Asheville Mall in a lovely store called Elementality...just in time for the holiday season!

Elementality provides access to a number of local artisans for people who don't want to venture into downtown to find handmade. Plus, one of their goals is to help shoppers learn about the benefits of supporting local, non-sweatshop products and the joys of owning handmade. We all know it, but this is new info to a lot of shoppers who aren't used to thinking about sustainability or lessening their carbon footprint.
Also the owners, Jordana and Donnaleta, are delightful women to meet!
So if you're heading to the mall to fight the masses of holiday shoppers, don't miss out on stopping by this store.

Support good people...

it IS that time of year...

2010-11-15T12:21:00.001-05:00

Don't let holiday shopping become an epic adventure you're not prepared for...shop handmade from the comfort of your home!

BLACK FRIDAY through CYBER MONDAY SALE!
Great deals from Sew Moe...forget the mall.
Shop online between November 26 and 29th to receive 20% off my entire inventory!
Buy the gift of custom clothing for that special lady in your life. (Let her pick it out or surprise her. I can work with specific measurements or XS-XL sizes...lets talk!)
Gift certificates available too.
Shop handmade for the holidays!
www.sewmoe.etsy.com

pioneer meets fancypants...

2010-10-27T14:32:00.000-04:00

A quick briefing on new additions to the Sew Moe line...
bandanna blouses! A delightful long sleeved blouse--with button snap closures along the front and wrist cuffs--sports a cozy wrap collar that can be worn as a billowing bandanna or atop of your head as a hood. This lightweight cotton printed shirt, with fully lined collar, makes for a great layered piece or on its own. fancy!

SEASONAL SALE!

2010-10-11T13:28:00.000-04:00

Sew Moe's gotta make room for the new fall/winter inventory here at Over Yonder Studios. Until the end of October, select designs are on sale--20% off. Yay! Come get some: www.sewmoe.etsy.com
Enjoy, and thanks for the fun season!
xoxoxo moe

see you Over Yonder...

2010-09-09T09:03:00.000-04:00

A few shots of Over Yonder...a most awesome studio in the Phil Mechanic building shared with the lovely Hannah Dansie (Two Of Hearts). We are some crafty ladies. Its true! You can come visit us here too. We have a small shoppe set up front and even an extra chair if you wish to sit a spell and even share a tale.

::We'll keep you posted about future events such as Studio Stroll, seasonal trunk sales, and future art openings. Don't 'cho worry!::

the Big Crafty + you = the most awesome Sunday of your life!

2010-07-06T23:25:00.000-04:00

Yes, its true. The Big Crafty is Asheville's best craft market hands down.

Come visit us this Sunday at Pack Place 12-6...I will be beside the lovely Hannah Dansie of Two of Hearts, Megan Stone of WordStone Books, and Holly Reed with her awesome jewlery!

Come out.

beer. food. music. talented people.

Sailor Tshirts have arrived after a long journey...

2010-06-22T12:35:00.000-04:00

Fresh in...Sailor Tshirts. Get your paws ready.

I've been working for quite some time on the process of sourcing production for this particular Tshirt design. It has been a bit of a journey on choppy seas, but I'm very excited to announce the official Sailor Tshirt landfall onto the shores of Sew Moe! It was a delight to work with Opportunity Threads and local artist Sarah Danforth for this endeavor. Sarah is responsible for the beautiful ceramic buttons (http://sarahdanforthceramics.blogspot.com/) while Opportunity Threads provided the locally sourced production.

Visit the Honeypot, the Woolworth Walk, and the Big Crafty within the next few weeks to catch their arrival. Also available at MyMy in Doylestown PA and in my ETSY online store. Or stop by the studio sometime...828.301.1457 for an appointment.

Come see them in person. Try one on, fall in love, and get sassy about town. Available in

small, medium, and large--in black, grey, olive, and chocolate.

Project Reconstruction :: VivaLaModa fashion magazine

2010-05-20T10:14:00.000-04:00

For VivaLaModa's May issue, 12 designers were chosen to participate in "Project Reconstruction" and my dress was one of the selected few!

Voters decide who wins a fashion spread in the June issue.

One lucky voter (selected at random) gets to choose a design to keep, and the remaining designs will be auctioned on ebay with the money donated to CARE--Emergency in Haiti.

Each designer had to start with at least one men's dress shirt to create something new and original. Check it out for yourself (and vote):

http://www.vivalamoda.co.cc/

The contest starts on page 19...

(You can also go directly to the voter poll. My design is labeled as "Appetite for Reconstruction" by Melissa Donnelly.

http://www.vivalamoda.co.cc/poll.php)

Us Trendy--Spring Competition

2010-05-10T17:38:00.000-04:00

Feel like perusing through fashion photography? Perhaps voting for your friend Moe and her lil' ole label Sew Moe?

Well have I got the perfect opportunity for you!

I have an online store at a site called Us Trendy (http://store.ustrendy.com/sew-moe). Every season they offer voter contests to rate a favorite designer to win $1000.

whoohoooooooo!

So if you wanna help me win, go to this address:

http://www.ustrendy.com/spring-competition/

All you do is scroll through and rate each design with stars. I have five entries tucked away in there--the designer names are at the bottom left.

If I win I will buy you a slice of pizza and tell you a funny story...

also (and I am not naming names) there are a few "pretty classy" acid-wash designs in there. Trust me, you'll know when you see them.

2010-04-19T11:08:00.000-04:00

The new Summer 2010 collection is up!

Come visit the shop

www.sewmoe.etsy.com

Sew Moe is back!

2010-03-29T15:32:00.000-04:00

Sew Moe is back!

After almost of month of travel, it feels strange to be back home with my lovely stitching machines again.

Time to dust them off, and get right back at it. There's plenty of work to catch up on, and I'm finally getting materials ready for production with Opportunity Threads, a worker owned cut-and-sew facility.

The shop is open (www.sewmoe.etsy.com) for a last chance on winter items. Stay tuned for the launch of my Spring/Summer collection. I'll be sure to keep you posted and until then here's a sneak peek...

Beach and boardwalk photography by the lovely Yve Adams! (www.yveadams.com)

Sew Moe shop takes a vacation...

2010-03-05T20:08:00.000-05:00

Greetings and Aloha!

My shop is temporarily on hold as of today...

****I will be out of town March 9th-29th on a business trip/catalog shoot followedby a brief birthday vacation.

ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED BY MARCH 5th IF YOU WOULD LIKE THEM SHIPPED BEFORE I LEAVE.

Don't fret...I will still be taking orders while I am gone!

As a special Thank You for your patience, all orders placed while I am out of town will come with the gift of FREE Worldwide Shipping.

Purchases will be processed in the order that they are received.

Having said that, the Spring/Summer 2010 Collection is on its way! Stay tuned for new awesomeness.****

Sneak Peek::Spring/Summer 2010 catalog::Sneak Peek!

2010-02-25T19:19:00.000-05:00

Getting ready for the catalog shoot in Santa Cruz March 11th. We've got a few awesome locations lined up and fingers crossed, the weather will be perfect. I'm super excited to see old friends again and kick off my 31st birthday vacation!

Here's a quick peek into what's new for Summer 2010 from Sew Moe.

(the last dress design is still in the works and not pictured...always gotta save something for the last minute!)

::Stay tuned for the official launch::

Sailor Tshirts...available in olive, chocolate brown, grey, and black. Floral print lining, with handmade ceramic buttons from the studio of Sarah Danforth (buttons not pictured...yet!)

Jersey pocket dresses, available in black and rust.

Pleated bib dress...eyelet lace detail, braided straps, full circle skirt, and hidden pockets!

Also available in navy/peach combo.

Layered stripe dress...braided back, slimming layers, flapper pleats.

Available in black/tan combo as well.

Navy Prairie dress...an old favorite back again. This time available in navy and plum.

Simple Tshirt...available in grey, olive, chocolate, and black.

Ruffle tail skirt. Wear it high waisted or folded down around your hips. Available with grey or olive lining.

Sew Moe goes to Hawaii!

2010-02-16T15:33:00.000-05:00

Yup, that's right!

Sew Moe will be vending at the Maku'u Market in Pahoa, Hawaii.

If you know anyone that will be in the area, tell 'em to come see me at the Maku'u Farmer's Marke t Sunday March 21st 8am-2pm!

Sew Moe goes to paradise...

Spring/Summer 2010 catalog

2010-02-07T10:27:00.000-05:00

Sew Moe is gearing up for the long awaited change of seasons!

In a little over a month I will travel to Santa Cruz, CA to shoot the Sew Moe Spring/Summer 2010 catalog with an old friend and amazingly talented photographer Yve Adams.

(www.yveadams.com)

Yve has been scouting locations in Santa Cruz: seaside cliffs, the Pacific, sunny warm weather (it's worth mentioning that last years spring/summer catalog was shot in Asheville where it was snowing), and not to forget: the boardwalk where the Lost Boys was filmed! I am very excited about the location of the photoshoot this season...

A few of my favorite shots captured by Yve...

Yve has posted an ad on Craigslist for local models and we are both excited about the volume of response. (A local florist even offered to donate flowers in exchange for images...yesssssss!)

One of my oldest friends, Iman Payne, (pictured to the left, modeling at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville NC) will be meeting us in Santa Cruz for the shoot.

From left to right:

me, Iman Payne, Channelle Shepherd (daughter of Yve and an awesome assistant I might add!), Yve Adams

In the meantime...back to the studio!

Sew Moe on PaperNStitch!

2010-01-18T10:21:00.000-05:00

Sew Moe is now on PaperNStitch! (its kind of like etsy but with a different format)

http://papernstitch.com/shop/sew-moe-handmade-original-clothing

There's tons-o-cool stuff on the site this month...check it, check it out!

Here are some of my favorite shops this month:

This time last year...

2010-01-10T10:48:00.000-05:00

It was about this time last year, we had a photoshoot for my Spring/Summer '09 line. It snowed (of course) and these two ladies graciously modeled in the freezing cold. I ♥ Megan Stone and Meredith Cook! bbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

This year, my Spring/Summer '10 catalog shoot will be a bit later. Scheduled for mid-March, I will be flying out to Santa Cruz, CA to work with an old friend and colleague: Yve Adams.

(www.yveadams.com)

I've already drafted sketches of next season's wears and I'm excited to start working on the prototypes. Plaids will again be featured along with bamboo and organic cotton knits. I'll post a sneak peek soon!

Behind the Seams

2009-12-28T17:25:00.001-05:00

Featured on US Trendy!

Read the interview here:

Another free shipping weekend!

2009-12-17T09:05:00.001-05:00

Sew Moe's online store is offering free shipping this weekend!

Worldwide shipping?!

Yes, FREE to anywhere.

(wow!)

Stop by the shop and see if you can find something for yourself this holiday season.

Oh, and gift certificates...I've got those too!

Happy Holidays!

xoxoxoxoxo moe

Sew Moe gift certificates!

2009-12-09T14:51:00.000-05:00

Announcing Sew Moe $50 gift certificates available in my etsy shop!

Looking to give the gift of custom clothing, but not sure the exact style or size to buy?

A Sew Moe gift certificate will do the trick.

(I'll do all the work...you'll get all the credit...perfect!)

Certificate printed on 10pt glossy paper, 5.5"x4.25", and can ship to you or directly to the recipient.

They never expire and can be redeemed easily by referencing each certificate number at check out.

**good only at www.sewmoe.etsy.com. Not valid at any other retail locations**

Happy Gift Giving!

xoxooxxoxoxo moe

the Big Crafty!

2009-12-06T19:27:00.000-05:00

Just home from another Big Crafty...

thanks everyone for coming out and supporting local artists!

I shared a booth with the lovely Megan Stone and amazing Holly Reed.

We had a blast and managed to sell quite a number of things...can't wait till the next one!

Auxiliary Magazine...December '09

2009-12-02T09:37:00.001-05:00

The newest issue of Auxiliary Magazine is out...

See page 40 for Sew Moe paper dolls!

Sushi date...

2009-12-01T13:41:00.000-05:00

Sew Moe is celebrating its 200th etsy sale! The prize? Well a date with sushi, of course...I vow to eat 200 pieces of sushi to commemorate this Sew Moe milestone.

teehee! (Well not really. I couldn't even eat the 30 I promised myself on my 30th birthday, but you get the idea.)

It's time to celebrate and thank all my friends and clients that made 200 sales a reality!

Thinking of shopping at Sew Moe this holiday?

Mention "Sushi" at check out, and get FREE worldwide shipping! (I'll refund all shipping/handling fees through PayPal.)

This is a blog exclusive, offer good until the end of the year!

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!

It is ALWAYS a pleasure to be featured in the Mt.Xpress!

2009-11-18T11:05:00.000-05:00

Mountain Xpress Greener Goods Guide!

(http://www.mountainx.com/news/2009/111809looking_for_greener_goods)

• Sew Moe is a unique apparel line designed by Moe Erin Donnelly. The clothing incorporates recycled fabrics (along with new and sustainable fabrics), often culled from secondhand clothes. Designs are often based on vintage styles, with an eye toward modern silhouettes. Sew Moe clothing can be purchased at Etsy.com and at HoneyPot (86 N Lexington Ave., Asheville, 225-0304), which also sells designs by other upcycle artists. www.sewmoe.com

VivaLaModa November 2009 issue

2009-11-17T21:02:00.001-05:00

The newest issue of VivaLaModa is out!

I am very delighted and honored share the sweater spread with such talented designers!

#6 Victorian Sweater in black fleece page 19!

This issue is FULL of artists I've been admiring for awhile...

Stephanie Teague page30

Ureshii page40

Ozetta page40

(just to name a few)

Plus, to be featured with The Uniform Project...I'm blushing!

Go read the issue here, and be a fan on Facebook:

http://www.vivalamoda.co.cc/

Front Page feature...

2009-11-08T17:03:00.000-05:00

Sew Moe was featured on the front page of Etsy yesterday evening.

Delightful!

...time to share.

2009-11-01T15:17:00.000-05:00

I really wanted to share this lovely photo created by my friend Yve.

Portrait of the Designer

by Yve Adams

(www.yveadamsphotography)

Thank you Asheville!

2009-10-21T18:52:00.000-04:00

This year's votes are in for the Best Of WNC 2009.

Sew Moe shares 3rd place with the lovely Myah Hubbell of Recyclone

in the "Local Fashion Designer" category. Thank you Asheville!

LOCAL FASHION DESIGNER

1. R. Brooke Priddy
Ship to Shore, http://www.shiptoshoreshop.comDream-like elegance distinguishes dressmaker and designer R. Brooke Priddy's captivating style. From her West Asheville studio, Ship to Shore, Priddy brings fashion into the "the realm of living sculpture," creating custom garments for women, special occasions and local performance artists.
2. Sarabeth Larrimore
Unabashed apparel, http://www.unabashedapparel.com
2. Constance Ensner
Constance Boutique, http://www.constanceboutique.com
3. Moe Erin Donnelly
Sew Moe, http://www.sewmoe.com
3. Myah Hubbell
Recyclone, http://www.myspace.com/therealrecyclone

Asheville Street Style feature

2009-10-15T20:06:00.001-04:00

Featured on Asheville's Street Style column...thank you Alli and the Mountain Xpress!

FREE Worldwide Shipping this weekend...Again!

2009-10-07T10:08:00.000-04:00

Stop by the Sew Moe shop this weekend (October 16th-18th)!

All shipping is free...worldwide...in honor of those chilly temperatures finally starting to set in.

Simply mention "Weekend Deals" at checkout and I will promptly send you a refund through PayPal.

Yay!

Etsy Gift Guides--Lucky Magazine's Picks

2009-09-26T16:40:00.000-04:00

On of my dresses from the new line was featured on ETSY as a must have for the season!

Here's a little more about the feature:

Shop Live is Etsy's live, interactive, online shopping event, where Etsy teams up with a bevy of talented taste-makers to bring unique picks on their online meeting space, the Virtual Labs.

Jackie Nasser, Lucky Magazine online fashion editor, hosted Shop Live on August 12th, if you missed it, check out this guide to browse through all of Lucky's top Etsy picks for autumn!

Autumn Equinox and Catalog Launch party!

2009-09-19T21:29:00.001-04:00

Yay! Its officially the new season here at Sew Moe...just in time for the Autumn Equinox. The days are getting shorter, but fret not! It also means a wardrobe change and an excuse to wear leg warmers all day. Take a peek at ye ole shoppe for this seasons' fashions and receive free shipping on all orders placed between September 21-27th.

****This week only! Mention "Launch Party" at check out and all Shipping/Handling fees will promptly be refunded through PayPal****

Fall/Winter '09 collection...sneak peek pt 2

2009-09-11T20:29:00.000-04:00

I am so excited about these photos!

Rene Treece photography (www.renetreecephotography.com)

(Greer Gerkin, Megan Stone, Me, Amanthus Lunn, Meredith Cook, and the lovely Rene Treece crouched like a tiger...)

Free Worldwide Shipping this weekend!

2009-09-09T09:58:00.001-04:00

This weekend, all items purchased in my ETSY shop will include free shipping--worldwide!

All shipping/handling fees will be promptly refunded through PayPal on purchases made Sept 11-13th.

Enjoy!!

Also check out a great treasury curated by ETSY seller Northernlodge:

Hats off to NY

It will only be up for a limited time, so check it while you can. If enough people gaze at it, the treasury may be featured on ETSY's homepage. Now that would be delightful!

Fall/Winter '09 collection...sneak peek!!

2009-09-02T21:43:00.000-04:00

I'm gearing up for the photo shoot for the Sew Moe fall/winter '09 collection.

The lovely Rene Treece will share her photography talents (www.renetreecephotography.com) and the models will be meeting w/Miss Erin Fussell for make-up beforehand. Four of my favorite ladies have volunteered their beauty and modeling skills to the project...you have to wait and see who they are!

For this season I am inspired by polymorphic turtlenecks, billowed and draped necklines, and a dash of Victorian delight. I wanted to create designs that could be worn in varying ways for different moods or occasions. I mainly provided room to play with different ways to wear a collar or neckline, though some designs feature ties that can be arranged in unique ways.

I've tried to use only the softest fabrics I could find that are also well insulating (bamboo and fleece). This season keeps the color palette in darker shades, with splashes of pastel and white.

Artifaktori RULES!

2009-08-30T17:36:00.000-04:00

I've recently had the pleasure of working with the lovely ladies of Artifaktori boutique in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Amy and Amanda featured my designs on their Artifaktori blog, complete with pictures and all.

Aren't they so darlin' in Sew Moe?!

If you're in the area, visit their shop.

22a College Avenue • Davis Square
Somerville, Massachusetts • 02144

There seems to be tons of great stuff in there!

Visit their blog for more pictures of the goodies they have to offer:

http://artifaktori.blogspot.com/

Color My World

2009-08-29T19:38:00.000-04:00

One of my dresses was featured in The Storque (a blog curated by ETSY staff) in an article titled Color My World.

This entry highlights the shop by color feature on ETSY. I'm so delighed to see my Purple Makes You Prettier dress and featured with other lovely violet, gold, and grey hues!

The French Cupboard

2009-08-01T18:50:00.001-04:00

Today I had the pleasure of discovering a lovely, victorian inspired blog:

French Cupboard: Vintage Journal

The topic today is "Grey is the New Black" and how true!

Grey suits any mood, it's easily dressed up or down, plus you can wear it with any color shoes!

I was particularly inspired by the author's selection of this velvet blazer from Bonzie:

I would love to wear it with these shoes...

and my friend Coty Lee made this delightful top, also featured in the blog:

...makes me want to wear these!

And maybe one of my dresses was featured on it as well. Go here to find out:

French Cupboard

Verve Magazine July/August issue

2009-07-22T14:57:00.000-04:00

Featured in Verve magazine's July/August issue!

Click here to read the full article!

Scrap Happy

by Jennifer McNally

photo by Rene Treece

Yes, opportunity knocks, but these days, it can also make a little electronic “ding.” In this case, Asheville clothing designer Moe Donnelly was sitting at her laptop in late May when she got an email from a cast member from the TV show Project Runway. The person had seen Donnelly’s work online and thought she would make a good candidate for Season 7 of the show. “At first I was convinced it was junk,” Donnelly says, admitting she didn’t even respond to the email for days. “Then I got very excited. Then really nervous.”

A week later, Donnelly drove to Atlanta, made it through a round of interviews and walked into a taped audition with a panel of judges that included the show’s fashion guru Tim Gunn. In an instant, she realized the judges were less than thrilled with her signature garb: funky, vintage-inspired pieces that can be dressed up or down, some made with new fabrics but many made from recycled fabric and scraps. A bit of soft cotton jersey here, a little purple plaid rayon there, and voila, you get a one-of-a-kind Sew Moe creation. “It was clear they were looking for new construction from the first stages, something more ‘high couture,’” she says. She was doubly surprised at their disdain for her recycled pieces, since Season 3 of the show was all about making clothes from recyclable materials. “They were not looking for everyday clothes,” she says.

But lucky for Moe and a handful of other WNC designers, Asheville’s haute couture is all about scraps. Recycled and earth-friendly fabrics couldn’t be more au courant in an area so full of artsy types and DIYers. And there’s good evidence that now “recycled couture,” which is both earth-friendly and recession-friendly, is everywhere. Cities around the country have staged “recycled fashion” shows with names like Junk to Funk (Portland);

Discarded to Divine (San Francisco); and last fall’s earth-friendly New York show, Be Eco Chic. Santa Fe artist Nancy Judd, who’s been making arty outfits out of garbage for years, got a chance to debut a “green” cocktail dress, made entirely from Obama campaign posters, at January’s $500-a-ticket Green Inaugural Ball. Afterwards, newspapers and other news outlets around the country hailed the “trashion trend.”

To be sure, a recycled outfit may not suit everyone—especially if your idea of a good time does not include wearing a dress made entirely of pieces of colorful junk mail. But there’s no doubt about it, WNC’s trendsetters and tastemakers have embraced recycled fashion, which is a tremendous opportunity (no matter what sound it makes) for these three designers and others.

MYAH HUBBELL
For Myah Hubbell, the true charm of recycled design is in the backstory. “When I’m working with vintage pieces—and everything I look at, really—I like to think about where it has been and where it came from. I think it’s beautiful when you can turn objects that have already had a history into another creation that’s going to have its own history.”

Hubbell got her start in design nearly ten years ago, creating complex costumes for the Surreal Circus, an Asheville performance art troupe—no formal training whatsoever. As people began to notice her work, she found herself with custom orders for real clothing, which soon transitioned into her own company, Recyclone Designs. In her early days, Hubbell’s work was known for having an almost other-worldly quality. But in the last year, her garments have become more sophisticated, evolving into what she’s temporarily calling “futuristic bohemian pretty.”

Her goal is to create special, one-of-a-kind pieces with an everyday wearability. But in doing that, she has started to need larger pieces of material, making it almost impossible to use only the scraps of deconstructed clothing. She does take care, though, to buy only scrap fabric bolts, making use of the dregs of what the fabric industry leaves behind.

“Our society seems to be out of control in terms of endless consumerism. There are enough things in the world. No need to create more,” she says. “Instead of having a ton of clothing from the mall that they halfway like, a lot of my customers have decided they want to buy a few, very special, nice things. And they like knowing the person who made them.”

MOE DONNELLY
Donnelly describes her style as “neo-classical.” She likes taking parts of eras past—the bustles from the Victorian age, the boyish charm of the 1920s flapper era—and incorporating them into her own modern designs. Some outfits are fancy, some basic, some incorporate humorous touches like fabric covered in red monkey heads. Overall, most dresses and sweaters are in the “functional fashion” category. “My market is definitely the working woman,” she says.

Recently, Donnelly has started to transition into using bamboo fabrics. The bad part: bamboo’s price tag. Raw fabric can range from $8.99 a yard to $20 a yard, compared to, say, cotton jersey at $3.99 a yard. The good part: bamboo is one of the most eco-friendly materials available—fast-growing and requiring minimal pesticides, it thrives in tight spaces and produces fabric known for wicking moisture in summer and insulating in winter.

These days, Donnelly is just working to keep up with the brisk business she does through her online store at etsy.com. Her long-term goal is to steer the catalogue portion of her work toward a 100 percent bamboo line, and to supplement with sustainable fabrics like organic cotton and hemp. And she’ll always keep up her one-of-a-kind pieces made from scrap—no matter what those Project Runway judges think. “I have no hard feelings, but I know I don’t want to do it again,” she says of the audition process. “I still watch the show religiously, but I know now I don’t want any part of it.”

ALANNA HIBBARD
Alanna Hibbard starts listing her inspirations, dropping each like an alien missile in a friendly game of Space Invaders. “I enjoy retro pieces,” she says. “I’m into new technologies. Science fiction. Interstellar travel. Imaginary technologies. Space-age theory. High fantasy. Intergalactic visualization. Time travel.” And then finally: “I like utilitarian design,” she says, out of ammunition for now. “But I don’t like boring.”

And boring she is not. Working on her clothing line POUTfits from perhaps the smallest studio in Asheville (think short hallway with walls and a door), Hibbard sets a techno playlist in motion and gets to work bringing old fashion to new life. A plan isn’t always necessary for her work. Originality, however, is a must.

With their angular lines and mixed fabrics, Alanna’s designs have an undeniable space-age appeal. Made from super soft vintage material (she’s extremely picky in this category), she thinks of them as “comfortable high fashion,” ideal for party situations, or any occasion that calls for a dash of freaky fabulous.

One of her most clever creations is the hooded, fully reversible, one-piece mini-skirt. (She felt extra smart when she came up with that one.) And then there are her shrugs. Minimalist by design, the “jackets” are little more than sleeves and a hood—small enough to be folded and fit into one’s purse or pocket.

When it comes to her target market, Hibbard knows the people who appreciate her designs. She’ll tell you straight out, she’s aiming to reach “the weirder people.” “There are plenty of nice dresses out there,” she says. “My work is something all together different.”

Clothing by Moe Donnelly, Alanna Hibbard and Myah Hubbell is on sale at Honeypot, 86 North Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville, 828-225-0304. Hubbell’s clothes are also at Woolworth Walk, 25 Haywood Street in downtown Asheville, 828-254-9234. Online, check out the designers’ handiwork at sewmoe.com or poutfits.com, or call Recyclone Designs at 828-216-1936.

To view the full issue, or past archives visit www.vervemag.com

Big fun at the Big Crafty!!

2009-07-21T10:29:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share some pictures taken at The Big Crafty by my dear friend and fellow crafter,Holly Reed! The Big Crafty happened on sunday July 12th in Pack Place. I shared a booth with Holly (jewerly) and Megan Stone of Word Stone books (awesome handmade journals).

Beautiful sign made by my friend Hannah (Thank you Hannah!)

View of our booth: Sew Moe on the left, Word Stone books in the middle (Megan hiding in the background) and Holly Reed's jewelry on the right!

Miss Megan Stone (when she's not hiding!) happily guarding Holly's jewelry display.

Some of my other favorites included Two of Hearts and Old Gold...

and of course the RunnyBunny!

New Favorite website!!

2009-07-16T16:39:00.000-04:00

This, ladies and gentlemen, is my new favorite website to visit once a day...really!

I highly recommend it. This girl's style is awesome, and she's raising money with it.

The Uniform Project is a blog that chronicles the daily dressings of a lil' lady from New York who has vowed to wear the same dress all year (365 days, one black dress) as an exercise in sustainable fashion. She is allowed to accessorize with vintage, second hand, and handmade pieces any way that she wants to. Each day she re-invents a simple, classic black dress into truly amazing outfits!

The dress itself is designed to be worn either front-wards or backwards, and it buttons open all the way for different layering options. In this picture she's wearing a vintage doily over the top of the dress...wonderful!

Go look at what she's wearing today!

The Uniform Project is also a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year, all contributions will go toward Akanksha’s School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for children living in Indian slums.

Front page this morning!

2009-07-09T10:06:00.001-04:00

My Purple Makes You Prettier dress made it to the front page this morning...(dress on the top right, $175 available in my etsy shop!)

AND DON'T FORGET THE BIG CRAFTY THIS SUNDAY JULY 12TH 12-6...its free!

the Big Crafty is here again

2009-07-07T21:30:00.001-04:00

Come to the Big Crafty this Sunday July 12th in Pack Place!
Its a free event, downtown, from 12-6. Many talented crafters will be there...including myself!
For the complete list, visit www.thebigcrafty.com

This morning...

2009-07-02T10:24:00.000-04:00

My Victorian Soiree dress was featured on the front page this morning...on the top right. For sale in my ETSY shop for $175.
I am just pleased as punch!

Featured on ETSY's front page, June 28!

2009-06-30T17:44:00.000-04:00

My Tshirt made it...on the bottom right!
Teal Dreams Tshirt $37 for sale on ETSY.com.

New summer tanks are here!

2009-06-25T10:22:00.000-04:00

A Sew Moe summer

special...

jersey tanks for $25!

This is a promotional price for all my ladies who love the look of custom clothing but feel they can't afford it. These tanks are custom sized for each order, and constructed of soft cotton Tshirt jersey. Comfortable and durable, the hems have been serged and top-stitched for many-a-summer's journey. Check out my shop for more color options, as new hues will be arriving soon!

www.sewmoe.etsy.com

So many ways to wear a dress...

2009-06-16T18:02:00.000-04:00

www.sewmoe.etsy.com

Poppytalk Handmade Market

2009-06-15T21:41:00.000-04:00

Poppytalk Handmade is a monthly online street market. This month's theme is "Here Comes the Sun: All things summer". I've decided to set-up shop and give it a try for a month.

What a fun combination of artists at this market!

Especially Irena Sophia's illustrations...

This one is titled Girl and Uniorn.

I've crushed on this next photo for some time, after seeing it on etsy. Its called looking for love...check out isphotography!

The Sew Moe booth can be found following this address, any time this month!

Sew Moe on Poppytalkhandmade.com

Featured in a lovely treasury today!

2009-06-04T20:17:00.000-04:00

SewMoe was featured in a lovely treasury by Clementinyclothing today (My dress is on the bottom right...click here to see the treasury listing while its still up!).

This treasury is amazing...I want all of these lovely dresses!!

For more eyecandy, check out Clementinyclothings' etsy store: www.clementinyclothing.etsy.com

Project Runway and the runaway audition...

2009-05-27T14:26:00.000-04:00

As some of you may know, I auditioned to be on season 7 of the reality show Project Runway.

The auditions were held in steamy Atlanta this past Friday and quite the experience was had by yours truly!

Lets start out by stating, that I will not be a contestant on the show. The judges seemed astonished about many things, and were confused about my design aesthetic completely. Halfway through the interview I wondered why the judges were being so catty and biting, and then I remembered...this was an audition for a nationally celebrated television series, and I was the star of a very embarrassing moment!

I can say I learned a number of things about myself and the reality of Reality Television.

Some of the highlights of what I've learned:

1. I am able to support myself on the sales of my clothing without offending people or making them feel bad. This apparently is not the path everyone takes. If I want my business to grow sustainably and organically I have to do it at my own pace, and this is okay.

2. Tim Gunn is not a SewMoe fan. In fact, none of the judges are.

3. I have the power to make Tim Gunn turn bright red, and while shaking his head say only the following: "No, no, no...I'm going to have to say No."

4. Even though the televised show is full of constructive criticism, the judges are not obliged to offer anything constructive during the audition process. Yes, it may have been naive of me to think that advice may be coming my way. I think maybe when Tim Gunn asked why I didn't go to design school, he was attempting to give me a hint....?

5. I don't regret not going to design school.

6. Signing a network television waiver means that your most embarrassing moment ever is potentially going to be aired on the Lifetime network for millions to see...and that you are at the mercy of whomever edits the clips. Maybe such highlights as "Who would wear this?!" or "What kind of job would they have?!" will make it on the show.

7. I am a strong person who can act like a mature adult even when being laughed at by famous people.

8. I still believe in myself and my work as a designer...and that whole Project Runway thing is just not me.

So yes, I am excited to watch the new season and I hope my blushing face doesn't make it to the blooper reel of season 7.

I will wish all the designers the best of luck from my living room, and will maybe even shed a tear for the designers who feel they have unfairly been cut. I will probably laugh at the judges' snarky comments too...after all it is reality television!

(Click here for a funny video!)

More reasons to LuvHandmade!

2009-05-18T10:49:00.000-04:00

I am the Spotlight Seller this week on LuvHandmade!

Check it out...

Here's the interview:

Tell us about yourself. Name, location, and general info about you.

I live in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina and go by the nickname of Moe. (My given name is Melissa, and maybe if you're not from the south you can imagine the slow drawl of people calling me Moe-lissa). I've been designing clothes for the past decade or so under my label SewMoe. I love living in the mountains, as experiencing the seasons change here can be quite beautiful! I have 2 dogs and a wonderfully handsome boyfriend, and we often find ourselves outdoors if I'm not locked in my studio. Since SewMoe is a one woman operation its often hard for me to find free time. I am lucky to have patient friends and a great support system to keep me going.

When did you first know that you wanted to become an artist/crafter?
I've always been drawn to art. At a young age, I was a crayon enthusiast. I have vivid memories of drawing/coloring/sharpening crayons. Later, I tried dance and was trained classically as a violinist. I've always loved making gifts and cards. I just really enjoy the satisfaction of making something out of nothing. In my experience, the most fun art projects manifest themselves by accident and the best projects are usually the ones that started off as something different entirely.

Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc..
I usually sketch designs first, and draw out the pattern shapes. When I come up with a new design, it is always an experiment. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Its never a waste of time if you learn something from it! When designing I focus on comfort and wearability, while keeping a classy and sophisticated aesthetic. On a good day, I come up with something great. On a bad day I curse my machines and try to remember to count to 10. Every day is different, which is ultimately pretty exciting. You have to take the good and the bad and just feel lucky to be able to do what you love.

What is your favorite item that you have made and why?
My favorite dress of all time is this lovely purple number I made for a fashion show last year. I don't even like purple, but this dress really took on a life of its own. I started designing it freeform--just draping fabric here and there. The best accident ever. I get so many complements on it whenever its on display. My only regret is that I made it to fit a model whom is considerably smaller framed than me, and try as I might--I can not fit into it. I keep it around as a reminder of what the next dress I design for myself will look like!

Please list your shop webpage, blogs, twitter name.. ect..
www.sewmoe.com
www.sewmoe.etsy.com
www.sewmoe.blogspot.com

What do you do in your free time when you are not being creative?
Well there really isn't much free time involved but I love taking the dogs out, collecting feathers, mushroom hunting, kitchen experiments, and ANY trip to the beach...especially if snorkeling is involved.

What advice would you give to other artists who are trying to sell their craft?
Just keep at it. Its hard not to get discouraged sometimes, but if you work hard people will notice. It also really helps if you put yourself and your craft in the public eye. I participate in a number of craft fairs just to get my name circulated. Most of my designs are in the $40-$85 price range, which is not normally the budget of festival goers or people that just come to browse (at least not around here). What I have noticed is that often, someone will come back to my website or ETSY store and say "I saw your stuff at a street fair, and now I'm ready to buy something."
It took me awhile to realize that often there isn't always the immediate satisfaction of a sale. People will remember you if they like your designs, you just have to make sure they can find you again. Websites like LuvHandmade, indieNC, and ETSY are great for this!

What do you like most about luvhandmade.com?
It supports independent artists like myself, and gives us an awesome way to display our designs. I love the unique discoveries section too!

How do you promote your work?
Like I mentioned earlier, I set up at craft fairs and bazaars. I usually share a table with friends and just have fun with it.
I also maintain a blog (www.sewmoe.blogspot.com) and update my ETSY store often. Business cards are a must, and I always send out a few extra with every purchase so that people can share them with friends. When selling consignment, I make sure to sew my SewMoe label in each garment. It adds a nice finishing touch and is always there as a reminder.

What are your dreams in 5 years from now?
I think having my own studio/retail space, with a couple of helpers, sounds absolutely peachy.
I would like to be able to take vacations too!

indieNC

2009-05-17T16:19:00.000-04:00

SewMoe has designs for sale on indieNC, which is a fabulous on-line boutique for independent North Carolina artists. Here's a little more info:

indieNC is an online boutique celebrating the emerging talent of North Carolina artists. On our site you will find a handpicked selection of gifts representing the hippest and most fresh designs coming from the state. Expanded profiles of our featured designers offer a glimpse into their creative processes.

In addition to our online store, we offer trunk shows and workshops as another opportunity to shop for our goods, see our items in person and learn more about the designers who’ve created them.

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Follow this link to see a few of my designs.

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The Runny Bunny just added some things as well!

(I love her ceramic creatures!)

Featured seller on Luv Handmade!

2009-05-13T10:25:00.000-04:00

Imagine my surprise, to wake up and find out that not only am I the featured seller for today, but I get to stay up on display until 10pm tomorrow night!
Check out this wonderfully neat-o site often, as the featured sellers and their designs change often:
http://www.LuvHandmade.com/

A little about the site from the authors themselves:
"LuvHandmade was created to help promote artisans and crafter's who are trying to sell their handmade crafts online! We know how hard it is to get your handmade items out in front of your target audience so we are here to help by providing low cost advertising solutions as well as free advertising daily in our Unique Discoveries section!

Each day we showcase a sellers items on the front page!
Each day we display 12 different sellers items on the Unique Discoveries page!
And weekly we showcase a Spotlight Seller here are LuvHandmade - includes a fun interview!

We have many features to come and we hope to provide a fun and interesting Handmade website for our guests! We want our readers to enjoy what we have to offer and for our buyers and sellers to keep coming back to see whats new here at LuvHandmade!"

2009-05-13T10:21:00.000-04:00

ETSY front page...

2009-05-08T20:03:00.000-04:00

This past Thursday one of my dresses was featured on ETSY's front page for a bit...

(Click the image above for a closer look, my dress is the purple one on the left)

Greer is an awesome model and the pictures turned out great!

Here's the link to see the purple dress in closer detail.

WNC magazine May 2009

2009-05-02T18:31:00.000-04:00

What an honor...one of my dresses was featured in WNC Magazine!

The Lifestyle section of the May issue features 5 local designers, and I must say that we make for quite a lovely spread together...

Featured from left to right is Meredith Law, myself (SewMoe), Stina Anderson of Arteries, R.Brooke Priddy of Ship to Shore, and the lovely Anne Mettee.

Mountain Xpress street style

2009-04-29T14:53:00.000-04:00

http://www.mountainx.com/streetstyle

Follow this link to visit Asheville Street Style, a photographic record of Asheville’s unique and evolving DIY fashion. Most outfits (and their wearers) are scouted and shot in the streets of downtown Asheville, though this site also includes images from fashion shows, boutiques, concerts, parties and other happenings in and around Western North Carolina.

Todays images display the AWESOME photo work of miss rene treece and the fabulous designs of Liz White whom I recently had the pleasure to meet!

and lucky me....I got an entry too! Follow this link:

http://www.mountainx.com/streetstyle/2009/so_sew_moe

Wedding dress for Kate

2009-04-27T19:42:00.000-04:00

A wedding dress for the lovely Kate...

I have recently had the pleasure of working with

a soon to be Mrs. Trombley. The dress is made

with predominately stretch satin in contrasting shades

of white and ivory--both shinny and matte.

The ruffled under layers feature recycled materials in

shades ranging from white to beige to pink!

A pleated waist gives the dress a corseted affect, and

made of stretch satin it is very comfortable to wear.

This bustle in the back uses a mix of new and recycled

fabrics.

The tiered front features subtle color contrasts and

a ruffle of recycled materials--mostly slips and camisoles.

ETSY front page...again!

2009-04-19T11:27:00.000-04:00

To my delight, a fellow ETSY fan pointed out to me that one of my new dresses (the flapper inspired pendulum dress) made it to the front page of ETSY.com this past Friday. It is featured on the bottom right in this picture:

the flapper inspired Pendulum Dress!

2009-04-15T19:05:00.000-04:00

New in the Sew Moe shop:

the flapper inspired Pendulum Dress!

SewMoe makes an appearance on ETSY's front page

2009-04-13T14:57:00.000-04:00

Check it out...

The listing on the top right is from my spring catalog!

The Fancy Admiral bib dress modeled by the lovelies:

Megan Stone and Meredith Cook

What a surprise to see it on ETSY's home page.

Everything looks so darlin' together and the mustache

gentleman (by simplijessi) in the middle is great!

With Greer as model...

2009-04-09T20:19:00.000-04:00

Today was perfect for an afternoon photoshoot. Its finally spring!

My delightful friend, Greer, models a dress I created for last year's

Purple Ball hosted by the Asheville Area Arts Council.

The dress was originally named "Cowgirl", then it was

renamed "When I live on that Little House On the Prairie"

and finally: "Purple Makes you Prettier". Not sure which name

is worse, but miss Greer certainly looks lovely!

This dress is available in my ETSY shop...

Victorian trash on ThreadBanger

2009-04-07T16:35:00.000-04:00

Browsing through TreadBanger (a site that

spotlights DIY fashion projects) I came across

one of my favorite tutorials on recycling clothing:

How to make Victorian Trash outfits! This

particular episode interviews Colleen Atwood on

her experience as costume designer of the recent

Sweeny Todd remake. At the end, our hosts teach

us how to make a couple of great outfits including

one of my Recycled Ruffle shirts for men! The

host is actually wearing one of my shirts. He must

have found it at the HoneyPot here in Asheville...

and I should say he looks quite dashing in it!

ThreadBanger: How to Make Victorian Trash outfits

These photos are from The Ingenerals fashion show

It was a great collaborative show

I did with the fabulous Amanda Boekhout of

Elliott Elephant in August '07.

In this show, men's wear utilized all recycled

elements and was greatly inspired by the

Victorian aesthetic...

thus the idea of Victorian Trash!

As the bobbin turns...

2009-04-02T12:50:00.000-04:00

Following the launch of my spring/summer '09 catalog, I have received a lot of great feedback and sales (fingers crossed they keep up!)

One of the most enjoyable aspects I've found so far about the catalog is the structure and efficiency it has given to my business. As I perfect each design, I am able to throw in a twist or two and come up with new adaptations...expanding my catalog as the season develops.

Here are some examples of new styles that hatched out of an original catalog design:

This new Tshirt features an elliptical vent in the back. Contrasting fabrics line the inside offering glimpses of color as the wearer moves about.

These two adaptions of the very popular Spring Love sweater feature a lightweight sweater knit and 3/4 sleeves...customers can choose the collar fabric, or to have a peek-a-boo lining affect!

Ruffle tops...with buttons! This style plays on my original Tshirt design. A ruffle cascades down the front and around the back collar. These buttons are from my collection of vintage and salvaged finds, so each shirt comes with its own story.

Simple grey jersey Tshirts (short flutter sleeves or 3/4 sleeves) simple and soft as can be!

The 3/4 sleeved version is named after the customer who first requested it. It is fondly named the Holland Tshirt after a lovely lady named Holland from San Francisco.

Spring/Summer Catalog '09

2009-04-02T10:39:00.000-04:00

This year via ETSY.com, I launched my first online Spring Catalog.

www.sewmoe.etsy.com

Designs focus on innovative lines and textures while maintaining comfort and quality construction. Orders are made to each client's specific measurements from XS to XXL. Check it out!

I also retail at a number of stores in Asheville and a few small boutiques on the east coast:

· the HoneyPot 86 N Lexington Ave Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 225-0304

· Woolworth Walk 25 Haywood St Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 254-9234

· Genuine Artikle 527 Hawkins Ave, Lake Ronkonkoma NY 11779 (631) 615-2830

· the Makery 1572 Bardstown Rd Louisville KY 40205 (502) 410-2132

I am available for direct commissions. Through word of mouth, I have collected a growing clientele in the local Asheville area. Ranging from weddings to theater, these commissioned jobs have given me a broad range of experience and practice designing with clients. Please don't hesitate to email and set up a consultation if interested!

Photos by Rene Treece