Monday, August 26, 2013

Meet the Designers: Mie from Sewing Like Mad



Wow, this is kind of surreal. Me, Mie from Sewing Like Mad, on the Project Run & Play blog being presented as one of the contestant. Surreal in a very exciting and scary for sure!

I am originally from Denmark but moved with my British husband and two (well, at that time one 7 months baby) to North Carolina 5 years ago. We absolutely love living here.

I am a formally trained seamstress (I think that is the best word to describe it). In Denmark that is a 4 year education where you spend some of it in school doing the hardcore sewing training as in "sew as many men's shirts, welt pockets, collar stands and so on until they come out perfect (ahhhhhhh), but also a bit of pattern making. And some of it being a sewing trainee in the real life. I was very lucky being a trainee in a shop north of Copenhagen where everything we sold in the shop was designed and sewed by the owner and us her trainees. We both made ball gowns and everyday clothes and it was for sure the last I personally enjoyed making the most.

The goal with our education besides being able to sew was to work with designers. Not only sew their salesmen samples for the sales fairs but also help them choose between different sewing techniques for the details on theirs designs so that the end result matched the price they wanted to sell the clothes for. 

After graduation I worked freelance sewing here and there for different Danish fashion companies. Usually the smaller ones that were starting up and not had their whole production scheme set up yet. When that happens our job usually goes to the factory that also sews the production.

Like so many others I had a dream of designing myself and I made a tiny collection that no shop bought BUT one shop made a order on the condition only to pay for it when she actually sold it in her shop and I would get the rest back when the season was over. Ha, what a deal! I had no money for a production so I sewed it all myself - don't worry it was a tiny order ;-)

But I was young and was ready to make another collection and that went a tiny bit better and a shop or two actually agreed to pay for the clothes when they received it. Ohhh what luck. I still sewed it all myself and man what that hard work...and kind of boring - phew.

I ended up meeting someone who helped me setting up my production in Lithuania which was a big relief. I will never forget the feeling of opening those boxes full of my clothes. BEST EVER!!

I was growing veeery slowly and I am a TERRIBLE business woman. Oh dear! I wanted the best fabrics and great qualities but I did not wanted to have too high prices - going against everything I learned, ha! It was very uphill the whole way and when I became pregnant with my oldest daughter Wilma in 2007 it was an easy decision to close the company and get ready for motherhood. No income, 12-14 hour work days and my first baby did not feel like the right mix for me.

Well, then we got the opportunity to move here, we had another girl Evelyn who is 3.5 and in spring 2012 when the worst baby craziness was over, I actually discovered PR&P and realized there was this whole sewing and blog community and I was very interested. All my sewing friends was back in Denmark and my new friends was not sewing so I started Sewing Like Mad and even though it took a bit to feel like I belonged I must say this spring and summer have been fun. I have meet so many new friends, learned soooo many new things, realized how many things I still don't know - can you say photography, editing, lightning, graphic design, HTML (arghhhhhh), sponsors oh and quilting (hello, brand new world) and so on and on -  but I am pretty much enjoying almost every minute of it - almost, ahem...

That is all for me.
Thank you!
Mie

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20 comments :

  1. I am looking forward to seeing your creations for PR&P... I am equally excited (and a bit stunned) to be part of the competition!! I am also scared of your many years of experience working as a seamstress!!! Happy sewing:)

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    1. Well, sewing is not all in this competition so don't worry Suz! Let's just have fun! ;-) Can't wait to see what you make.

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  2. Oh, really loved to know about your background. Can't wait to see your creations!

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  3. Oh my Mie, such an impressive background. Looking forward to see what you come up with.

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  4. Amazing story! I loved reading every bit of it. Good luck in the competition!

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  5. Good luck in the competition and very looking forward to see your creations!.

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  6. Okay Mie, you win for most interesting introduction! I loved reading this!

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    1. Ha, well then I will at least win something ;-) A bunch of VERY talented ladies I am up against!

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  7. I loved reading your story! Excited to see what you come up with! And I am with Suz! Intimidated by your many years of sewing experience!

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    1. Well, I am intimidated by your amazing photography skills so that makes us even ;-)

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  8. Wow, what amazing introduction!!! Enjoy it!!

    Good luck!!

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  9. What a fun background to have in sewing! I loved reading about it. =)

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  10. Det er så rart at have an dansker i Project Run and Play. Tillykke!

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  11. I love your story - I love that PR&P opens up new worlds of sewing blogs! I'm off to check out your blog....x

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  12. Mie, I am from North Carolina! How do you like it? Myself, I grew up in the NC mountains, so I am biased for there. But my family has also visited the coast, and it is gorgeous as well.
    I loved reading your story and hope to see more from you.
    Carol W

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    1. Hi Carol. I absolutely LOVE it here! I was a bit skeptical arriving straight from Copenhagen and big city-life. Everyone told me NC is growing on you. Hmmm, I thought ;-) But 5 years later I can honestly say it is true. Such a family friendly and beautiful place with everything you need within reach. We have not been to the mountains yet (yeah, embarrassing I know) but it is for sure on our do-to-list. With small kids we have not been around that much but now that they are 3.5 and 5.5 yrs old it is for sure getting easier.
      Thank you!

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  13. THANK YOU to all of you who took the time to comment on my bio. That really really means a lot.
    When I wrote it I did not realize it was that long so I am just grateful someone actually read it ;-)

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  14. Good luck, Mie!! We are excited to see what you bring to PR&P, season 8!!

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