I have been kinda M.I.A…thought that I would be able to do this diary thing every week but I really didn’t anticipate all the wonderful things that would happen for my business. I have been trying to keep up with orders and experienced exhaustion like you wouldn’t belive! Got sick, recouped only to have to hit the sewing machines again. BUT great news: today was the first day I interviewed for help! I’m hiring a seamstress and 1-2 interns to help me out.  I’m so excited to get the ball rolling. There is so much ground I will be able to cover with the new additions to my team, including getting orders out much faster. So this week I will be conducting interviews and I hope to have everyone start next Monday. Super excited!

And speaking of hiring, I was looking at my 2012 business goals, posted in my second diary entry, and I am already ahead of schedule on a lot of things!  Most goals I wanted to reach by September & I have already reached them. Man, sometimes your mind can take you farther than you think if you just take the first step! But here are the goals I listed in January:

• move into a new studio space (in a much better managed building) DONE—-> living & working in the same place
• hire in-house seamstress(es) ALMOST DONE—-> interviewing potential candidates now
• buy an industrial coverstitch machine DONE
• do more wholesale selling (to reputable businesses) DOING—-> picked up 5+ new wholesale accounts since February
• attend a trade show (as a consumer & vendor) DID attend one in February as a consumer
• network more—-> This one is always a bitch for someone like me who is an introvert

I have more goals but I can’t give you everything! 

Spent the first couple months of 2012 working hard. Now I’m excited to start working smart!

After getting much needed rest this weekend (I can still use one more day), I am interviewing for interns and seamstresses this morning. Excited but still exhausted. 

So last night I had the privilege of being a guest on Lipstick Lies, a new streaming show hosted by Nyla Tinkerbelle. Last night was their second show. They highlighted women entrepreneurs. Had to drive all the way out to Long Island but it was worth it. Here are some pics from last night.

*Shout out to all my friends and customers who watched and hit up the chat room, i appreciate the love.

**You can watch the video here: www.ustream.tv/recorded/19728365

I appear after the 44:00 mark. And Uncle Jimmy makes a guest appearance towards the end, around the 1:07 mark.

My driver, Uncle Jimmy

Me (in all my granny-looking glory) and my dear friend Deanna. She was the one who referred me for the interview.

Deanna was also on the show. She is an attorney.

Me with the co-hosts. Cheesing. 

Talking.

Rent is too damn high!

Uncle Jimmy with Deanna and her husband CJ.

Red light special.

LL Cool J

Silly.

Ok, I will be serious…

But not for too long!

Wearing our new Dream On Leggings to this late night radio interview I am doing tonight. Excited, think this is my first radio interview; we will be talking about women entrepreneurs. 

Live streaming starts at 10pm EST, I should be on air around 10:40pm. Listen at www.mixbully.com. Holla!

this year has been quite amazing.

in 3 hours i will be at f.i.t. talking to students about having my own business. wow! i can’t believe this is happening. i remember taking continuing ed classes at f.i.t. back in 2005/2006; sitting there listening to fashion entrepreneurs give us advice on starting out. and now i am a guest speaker at one of these classes. never would have guessed it. so excited and thankful for this opportunity. i hope i can be an inspiration for them.

more updates coming soon. (u know we gonna have some kinds of pics.)  

i did a wonderful interview with fajr at stylishthought.com; a great blog geared to empowering women. had a great hour-long convo with fajr about being an entrepreneur and not having much of a life. lol check it out here:

Women Who Werk: Tennille McMillan of naKIMuli

p.s.—- i love this post fajr wrote about dating: 50 Dating Rules for Smart Girls Who Don’t Need Dating Rules 

let me know what you think about it. better yet, let her know! lol

another fun video interview i did a few weeks ago for the newbie site dopefiles.com. enjoy!