Tuesday, April 12, 2011

What I Do

Amanda from Runninghood asked what exactly I did for my work. So Amanda this post is for you.

I'll just start by saying I spent five years at uni studying to be a vet and when I graduated the first job I did was a locum. When I was there a girl came in with her dog and she was allowed to stitch him up. When I asked about it I found out she was a qualified vet but because of personal circumstances, was working as a sewing machinist in a clothing factory. All I could think was 'who would give up vetting to sew?'

I started sewing with lycra when I was pregnant with Josh and needed some bathers that accommodated my growing bump. Then I made my gym-junky sister some tights. Pretty soon she was bringing home orders and I was making a little bit of money and that's how it all began.

So now I have a business that's reliable, will never make me rich, that satisfies my creative side and has allowed me to be home for my boys while they were growing up.

Basically I make anything in lycra. Swimming bathers



Rhythmic Gymnastics Costumes



Dance Costumes



Body building Bikinis
(I do the bikinis for a friend's business and she does all the decorating. She's a creative genius)



And Competition Aerobic costumes.

The video is some of the costumes I made in action at the World Championships.




I love what I get to do.

14 comments:

  1. I love those designs and I am just a bit envious because I cannot saw if my life depended on it. You certainly found your passion, well this and running. and kids... right?

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  2. Okay, this is too cool! You are so talented!! I just got out of bed to type this comment because I couldn't do it on my new phone in bed...I'm ridiculously stupid on that thing and it will take time for me to get my smart phone feet! Until then, I will keep to typing on my computer. Although my comments would be a lot shorter if I finger peck them on my phone. :)
    Seriously, these are so cool. I love this post. Thank you for sharing Char! And so cool that it makes you happy and that you got to stay home with your kids while you did it! Off to bed but so glad I saw this.

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  3. You are so talented. I have no ability whatsoever when it comes to craft - my husband sews his own buttons on and my Mum had to take up a hem for me recently. The gymnastic outfits in particular are amazing. (By the way, my verification word for this comment is ulazygmu - an Aussie insult perhaps?!)

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  4. I've said it before and I'll say it again. You are fantastic at what you do! And I need someone like you so badly because we're in the thick of ice show season and I'm having a helluva time finding costumes for Thing 1's trio. Bah!

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  5. Those desigs are really beautiful. Congrats, Char! Another great passion!

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  6. What a cool job/business! I love your work!

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  7. I cannot sew a button on - REALLY - so totally in awe. I have seen some of this before but love seeing more of what you do.

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  8. Beautiful work Char. Lycra is really diificult to sew - only attempted it twice and messed up on both occassions. My youngest daughter wants to be a vet - wait till I tell her you're a sewing vet :-)

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  9. You are an artist, those desings are fantastic.
    Congrats.

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  10. Very talented lady indeed! Much more enjoyable sewing those costumes than stitching up bleeding animals I think. It's great that you made such a radical change and now you are so happy doing what you do.

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  11. This was so fun to read, you are so talented!! Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Yeah, that was not going to be my first guess. Very impressive. I agree with someone else's comment, you are an artist.

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  13. Awesome work! Do you sell them anywhere online? Would love to see some designs for a kids "bather" (that's what we call 'swim suits'...lol)

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