lavieenorange

Coming Up for Air

Man. What a crazy few months it's been. Getting married really took a lot of the energy and focus I had away from my fledgling underwear empire, rightly, but it feels good to be back. I made my dress:

Photo by Captus Photography

And another Etsyian, Amanda Archer, did our bridesmaid dresses. Her stuff is all really beautiful and flattering on so many body types! I loved everything about working with her.

View full article →

Worldwide Underwear Domination

Sent my first international shipment today! So exciting! It seemed like it might be fun too to start a map of worldwide underwear domination!

See where Upitees have gone.

Where would you like Upitees to go?  Where have you worn yours?  Edit the map and make your mark!  :)

View full article →

Beginner's Luck

A screenprinting success!

So tonight I spent a few hours at the screen printing studio making mistakes and making a mess.

View full article →

3...2...1... Liftoff!

I went live with my Etsy site yesterday!  150 people have already visited and I am so overjoyed and astounded by the outpouring of support and love from my friends and family, and even sweet comments from people I don't know yet.  Thank you. To you!

Branding branding branding

Foxtroty- to print or not to print?

I am thisclose to getting stock up on my Etsy site.

View full article →

Launch Date: April 7

La Vie en Orange's launch date is set!  

April 7 is the day by which stock will be up, tweets will be flying and the world will find out about what's been cooking! Not coincidentally, it's also the day I'll donate a sewing lesson for 4 to Girls on the Run of Puget Sound for their No-Sweat Event fundraiser.  :)

 And I've already sent the flyer in advertising the site, so there it is. Let the countdown begin!

Mot-i-vah-shi-on

Feeling so motivated and productive after being sent this amazing link: 10 Awesome Videos On Idea Execution & The Creative Process

Making a label for the inside of my undies with care instructions, including, of course, the all important "Made in America" line.  

Which means I'm one step closer to getting all the cut out undies out of my studio and on to Etsy!  Woo!  :)  Such a journey!  :)

So what makes you get off the couch as it were and stop procrastinating?

Made in America?

So, how many things are you wearing that are Made in America? Made in America: The Clothing Challenge

When I first saw this video, I felt pretty proud- 75% of my clothes were made in America- pajama pants I'd made myself, a hoodie my Grandma had knitted, and an American Apparel tshirt.  

I must sheepishly admit that my undies were the only article that weren't!  

It's okay that I'm still working on changing out all my pairs as they wear out, right?

View full article →

Learning to Dance

Looking for some screen printing ideas

I'm dying to do a fox trot screen- I drew one a longtime ago, but it needs some professionalizing... :). Checked out Ballroom Dancing, Finest of All Hobbies, circa 1960. Ended up reading it on the bus just for the heck of it...  

Am loving the little bits of wisdom therein, my favorite so far being:

"The more a man progresses intellectually, the more he realizes that stumbling around the dance floor is definitely undesirable."

Inspiration comes in the most unexpected places...  :)  Stay tuned for the fox trot, coming to a pair of undies near you... :) Where do you find inspiration?

You Down With LLC? Yeah You Know Me!

So today I finished my application to be an LLC!  

So exciting and overwhelming and it gives me goosebumps and indigestion!  The brink of something new!

I spent part of the night sharing drinks and yummies with a friend and gushing about how excited I was to be starting this.

I haven't felt inspired and motivated to share my creativity with the world since college. I'm so looking forward to all the nitty gritty details- figuring out how much shipping costs. Making a rubber stamp with my return address and "logo." Eventually even designing a logo. Ordering screen printing supplies. Getting my tax stuff set up.

Riveting stuff, and I am thrilled!  Hoping to have stock online by the end of March :)