July Boutique of the Month-- Josi Q Creations

We are excited to announce that our Boutique of the Month for July is Josi Q Creations!!! If you haven't already, go like her Facebook Page to see more of her beautiful work!!! We loved reading her story and hope you will too!!!


 


1. Congrats on being the CKC Boutique of the Month! We love your work and the creative designs that you come up with! So, how did you get into sewing and what got you to open your own boutique?


First let me thank you for choosing me as your Boutique of the Month. It really is an honor to be associated with such a creative group of people and following in the footsteps of so many fabulous boutiques.

My family moved to the US from Brazil when I was 2 and my mother brought with her an incredible talent for sewing. We moved into a small two bedroom apartment in New York City and my bedroom, which I shared with my brother, was also the sewing room. I remember falling asleep many nights to the hum of the sewing machine so it feels like there never has been a time when sewing and fabric was not a part of my life. I literally learned to sew at my mother’s knee. I remember going window shopping on 5^th Avenue only to have my mother pull out her note book and sketch a dress she liked and then we’d go home and she’d duplicate it. We would often spend an afternoon digging through piles of fabric at one of the many fabric stores in NYC’s fashion district looking for just the right fabric. My younger sister and I were the best dressed kids around but, of course, I didn’t appreciate it as I do now. I thought “store bought” was better. How I long for those days again.

When I married and had 3 daughters of my own I began sewing for them. I loved classic children’s clothing so I learned to smock and sewed heirloom style dresses for my girls and, much to his chagrin, the little boy that followed. My sewing took a hiatus for several years when I joined corporate America but after being downsized, I found myself with time on my hands and a new beautiful granddaughter so out my beloved Bernina came out of storage. I had forgotten how much I loved to sew and how happy it made me feel. I started by sewing just for my granddaughter but I couldn’t stop so I started putting items in local consignment shops and that was the start of Josi Q Creations.



2. How have you learned to balance being a mom with owning a business?



While I’m no longer a mom with little kids at home, I still need to balance working another job, my husband, my 4 (soon to be 5) grandchildren, church activities along with my sewing. I find that at home businesses often look at their work as hobbies and try to squeeze it in when they have time. One of the best pieces of advice I received from another at home business owner was to set hours for myself and “go to work”. I’m a morning person so I do most of my sewing early in the morning. This allows me time with my husband in the evenings. Of course, there are those times when I have a big project, like the bridal party I am currently working on, where overtime is necessary. My husband does the cooking on those days. When my children where little I got most of my sewing done after they went to bed. If I had small children now, I would hire someone to come do my house work once a week so that I could focus on them when I wasn’t sewing.

3. So what inspires you as a business owner? How do you come up with new designs? What is your creation process?

My earliest inspiration was, of course, my mother, Josette. I loved watching her take a limp piece of fabric and transform it into a beautiful garment. Her passion for sewing and her attention to detail is something that I want to pass on to my customers. Another early inspiration for me was Martha Pullen from Sew Beautiful Magazine. I would spend hours poring over her magazines looking for designs to make for my girls. I still have all those magazines and still pour over them. I even spent a week at her sewing school in Alabama. Talk about a vacation – all those creative people around me made my head spin. Fabric and all the talented fabric designers out there today are a real source of inspiration for me. My heart even starts to race when I walk into a well stocked fabric store. Sometimes a design will come into being simply because of the fabric. Of course, the wonderful boutiques and the incredibly talented pattern designers that are out there today are a real source of inspiration. I may not use the pattern exactly as is but, really, I owe so much to them. Not too long ago I saw a dress I wanted to make so I combined two of Create Kids Couture’s patterns to make the dress. It’s been a favorite of mine. I’m also inspired by classic and vintage children’s clothes and hope to someday create a classic/vintage line.

4. What is your favorite piece that you have ever created for your boutique?
No, you are not paying me to say this but one of my very favorite pieces has been the Elena’s Twirly Peasant Dress. I love the double layered skirt, the ruffles and the fullness of the dress. It works for every season and is absolutely darling on. I’ve probably made more from that dress pattern than any other because customers love it.
I also love making ruffled diaper covers. They look so darling on babies and are great for photo shoots. Of course, I love ruffles in general. Anything with ruffles is great.

5. If you could go back to when you started Josi Q and tell yourself about the most important thing you’ve learned as a business owner thus far, what would it be?
I would tell myself to take myself more seriously as a business owner. It’s OK to have a business plan and to set goals. I absolutely love what I do and it would be awesome if I could supplement the rest of my life doing something I was passionate about and that made others happy. I love seeing little girls twirl in my dresses, seeing the dad’s eyes light up when they see their little princesses all dressed up and watching the mom’s smile as they share in the daughter’s happiness. One thing I’ve learned so far is that, if you love what you are doing, it isn’t work. Having plans and setting goals only makes those moments attainable and possible. If you don’t plan, nothing will happen.

Thank you, again.
Josi Q Creations