Somedays are sacred to me..by this I mean all that i have learned, worked hard for, loved every minute is mine….i love that certain days in my career it is ok not to share anything with  any one…this feels so self respecting…i have learned to value myself in many different ways as i am growing older…i love to share,help,give info to others and the flow comes right back to me on certain days..

here wonderful people…somedays I seem to not know how much i can give out without giving myself away…it is a fine dance….in the early days of my career I answered everyones questions, told them where i bought all my fabric,even gave ideas all the time…as i have seasoned in my age i have much better limits…i give out and then i keep some things just for me…it feels self respecting. and very sacred….just a little info for those starting out…honor and respect yourself  …know your own limits…love to you all toni

hi great people out there..i was with a fantastic gentleman ..when i was deciding what do i want to do when i grow up..he mentioned to me one day-  toni you are a fashion designer…i replyed i do not have a degree…he gently stated —  chant to yourself  I AM A FASHION DESIGNER and you will become one…he was right i just started saying i was a fashion designer all the time ..he said you don’t need a degree…after my career was starting to take off i went to design school(when i was 45) just for the fun of it….so teens young adults , anybody just start putting out to the universe what you want to become….it works….coming from a person who never thought she would become one…

when i was young i had a best friend and we made paperdolls..they are the best way to start designing…teens and young adults you can practice with designs …make them modern and start seeing what YOUR  style is..you could even buy a barbie and make her updated kool clothing…you will start to see who you are as a designer..and an added bonus you will have made your first collection before you get really famous…hee hee…love toni

hi everyone…here is a great tip for all of your knitters and those who love to crochet…go to a knit shop get a pattern make  some purses(bags), belts , head bands etc…..contact your local consignment shop and sell you own products…how fun..this is great for a teen or young adult that wants to sell their own designs…gives them the taste and the beginnings of starting a company..i did this in my 20′s ..it was so fun and satisfying..it did really help to give me courage later in life to promote myself–  when i look at the payoff..enjoy love toni

hi everyone  here i go with another story…..when i was a young woman –approx 28ish…i used to adore to make homemade holiday ornaments all kinds from wood,blown out eggs, pastry doe, felt, hand embrodiery ,painting wood etc…well that was the day when “Country look” was in pre shabby chic…well…i made lots of them put them in darling baskets on my dining room table(oak of course at that time) and called the country stores in my area to come and buy…THEY DID…it was so fun and they decorated their store trees with my ornaments and sold them..great great project for teens and young adults..especially if the stores buy it will help them to start out to beginto step into owning  their own companies some day..great practice..and mom sell some of yours to….enjoy go for it..it is fun….