"KEEP GOING", says God.

What a way to start the year off..... 

I was tasked with creating a three piece suit for my client's 50th birthday. 

So... Let me tell you what believing in yourself and desiring to succeed at your craft will produce.

When Miss Kim reached out to me for a custom piece, it was right on time. I had been discussing with my sister that I wanted to design a collection for my plus size queens. So, I was so happy to take on this project and honored that she chose me. I've had several plus size queens reach out to me about not forgetting them when I design my collections and I wanted each of them to know that I WASN'T! This opportunity meant the world to me and I expressed my gratitude to Mrs. Kim on every occasion.

Back to my point though,

Aside from the fact that I was happy to take on this project, I was so nervous. I knew this was going to challenge me, but I always felt like I was going to pull it off. When Miss Kim told me, "I'm trusting your process," that pushed me over the edge. She trusted me and she had faith in my ability, that was so refreshing. I kept envisioning her in the design and I knew I was going to do it. Any time I can see something play out in my mind, I just know it's going to happen and I choose to believe it. The devil fought me here and there but I prayed through every obstacle. 

This was a very last minute design and usually I wouldn't take on a new project within this time frame especially having to wait on fabric to ship and arrive. When her fabric came in, I had two days to create her three piece suit. I had already began working on her sample design so that I could test the patterns I created using her measurements, so I was feeling way more confident by the time her fabric arrived. Her first fitting went great so I was pleased with the patterns I designed for her, so at this point I'm excited to start working on the the actual design. I just know it's about to be a breeze. 

With the amount of time I had left to complete her design (2 days), the crying and the frustration started to kick in when I realized SEQUINS are tougher needles. Listen to me, as of today, 2 needles left. I broke so many needles that I soon realized I had to cut the sequins off the fabric in order to sew everything up. Sounds pretty simple, well, IT AINT!! There are 6 pieces to one pair of pants, it took me 3hrs on one piece of and her design was due in 16hrs. I was panicking and the devil was having a blast. At this point, I only had her shirt completed and hadn't even cutout her blazer so my back was against the wall. I began to pray because I didn't know what else to do at this point. Even though my fear was screaming, I could still hear faith talking. Hours go by and I realized I don't have time to keep removing these sequins. Her design is due by 9pm, its 3pm and I'm just now starting on the blazer after finishing the pants. Lord, what am I going to do?

The only thing I can do is just sew and pray my way through these sequins. Those sequins were created by the devil himself. Can you imagine your client arriving and her design isn't finished. Can you imagine the disappointment. I was devastated when Miss Kim came to my studio and I was still working on her design. I felt like a failure. I even began thinking about how I'd come on here and explain to you all how I failed my first client. Fear was shouting so loud in my mind, I could barely hear the gospel music playing just 2 inches from my ear. Miss Kim stood and sat so patiently as I continued to sew and break every needle. Sequins and needles were everywhere. I'd sew two inches and SNAP, the needle breaks. I had to remove the broken needle, find a new needle, install it and rethread it only for it to break in less than a second. I was frustrated and sense of defeat started creeping in. Writing this story doesn't give this moment any justice, you should have seen the disappointment on her face when I told her my needle didn't sew through the fabric. She sent her daughter home to pick up her backup outfit, she saw how difficult it was and honestly, you couldn't blame me if I gave up. It literally looked like I wasn't going to be able to pull it off in time. And I didn't. She began putting on her back up outfit and I heard God's voice say, "Keep going!" After waiting so long and drying my tears, I told Miss Kim to go to her party and I promised her that I'd bring her outfit. They call her Hollywood and nothing says Hollywood like an outfit change during her birthday party. She left to greet her guests, who'd already been waiting on her arrival for 3 hours.

My bestfriend came over right after she left and I was still working. I cried to her and I told her how much of a failure I felt like. She gave me her usual pep talk and reminded me that IT WASN'T OVER until IT WAS OVER! I dried those tears and i continued to work. Just 50 mins later right before 11pm, I was dropped her design off. Let me tell you this, IT WAS RIGHT ON TIME. 

You see, her original plan (before asking me to design her outfit) was to have an outfit change for her party. She had two outfits prior to reaching out to me, but after finding out I could create something that she really really wanted, she let go of her original plan (an outfit change). BUT GOD! I had no idea that she originally planned to have an outfit change for her party, all I did was take a chance and listened to God when he said, "KEEP GOING!" Listen to me, please understand this, I could have given up. Hope was 2%. Her party started at 7, she arrived to my studio at 9, she left at 10 with NOTHING and I was down to my last two needles, I could have given up. But I DIDN'T and I'm so thankful to God that I pushed through for Miss Kim. EVERYTHING WORKED OUT PERFECTLY according to GOD'S PLAN! 

Miss Kim, if you ever read this, Thank you so much! You were an amazing AMAAAZING client and despite the tears in the end, I enjoyed working with and working for you. I'm excited to it again. To hear how happy and how pleased she was with my design made everything WORTH IT! What a challenge and a pleasure this was. 

I don't care what the clock says, DON'T YOU EVER GIVE UP because it ain't over unless you do! You don't know what God is lining up for You, EVERYTHING happens for a reason. It was always God's Plan for her to have an outfit change and that was such a huge moment for her. The devil kept trying to convince me that I failed and I felt like a failure many times throughout this process, but I kept fighting and I slayed that dragon! 

I want each of my clients and my future clients to know that I will bend over backwards and forwards for them. All of my garments are designed with love and I'm dedicated to very end. Your dream won't be easy and it will test you but Challenges make Champions, see y'all at the finish line. Amen! 

If you made it this far, drop a blue heart for Miss Kim below.

Happy 50th Birthday Hollywood!