You Snooze...You Miss!! You Allow Clutter...You Miss!!

Yessssss, Yesssss, Yessss, Yessss, the...co-pilot....has.....now...been....officially. engaged.  The countdown can't be any more serious than this.  My first time launching a collection in New York during Fashion Week.  

"Evelyn, you need to write a book, do a movie or something..." those were the words that came through the phone this morning as I was going over the ever changing plans of my show.  I actually started writing when I first moved to America as a result of a culture shock.  My life is full of life itself... I have learnt to use lemons to make lemonade if lemons are what I stumble upon. 

God the father continues to give me all these different awesome lemonade recipes by officiating my life, God the Son adds this awesome water by orchestrating my life and God the Holy Spirit adds the most temperature changing ice cubes by executing my life.  Without this trinity I really would not be where I am today.  

My lights shined brightly in my head when I read the story of Jacob and how for as long as he wasn't going where God had instructed him to... all the wells they were digging for water were dry.  It wasn't until he finally decided to be obedient and go where God had sent him that he found water. After a heartfelt convo with a friend I  decided to be obedient and make the move to New York which I had been fighting  since 2010.  When God says move, we have to move and trust him to open doors that no man can open.  I know there are many waiting for the success story but just as many, if not many more waiting for the weakest link story.  Fortunately..... even though I make clothes for women, I don't seek praises from man because my father said I shouldn't.  I strongly believe I was given a gift for a reason.  

I didn't mean to preach today..I just couldn't help reflecting on who is ordering my footsteps. I am learning that jobs come and go, beauty fades, markets rise and fall.  Even close relationships can end.  The bible that I read teaches me principles that lead to freedom, and lasting happiness. I was starting to get stressed out about not reaching my financial goal to showcase my capsule collection, in the show that I wanted to...but when we make our own plans God has his way of reminding us that we have to live his plan.  I still get to show my collection but all of a sudden my financial goal has decreased and is now more feasible.  Everything that happens in my life has been to teach me a lesson and I would like to think that I am good student.  I feel I am ready for it all.....my career, the major retail stores, the dating, the hubby, the son, and all, because we are warned to not fear man.  Maybe now the "why are you single?" questions can now finally cease and desist.. I wrote my vision and make it plain on a table that he may run that readeath it; it will come it will not tarry...sayeth the Lord!!!  Habakkuk 2:2-4.  My daughter and I did on December 30th 2011 after a trip to Michaels for some arts and crafts.  Come July 2012 95% of our vision has come and did not tarry. 

Some pictures from this week as I was getting my inspiration at Lincoln Center...  I can't do this by myself, I am making clothes for you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So, enjoy!!!! Love you guys much... until next time. Stay prayerful, encouraged, positive and loving!!! Muah!, muah!!, Muah!!!

My new gadget and best porridge ever.."Pumpkin Porridge

I'm Giving Away an EL Exclusive....The Monday After Pharrell and Jannelle Monae

Today I had to take my daughter to Stuyvesant High School for testing.   I look the way I do in the video below because I only 2 hours of sleep.  I have a special prize for one viewer.   After watching the video let me know what color tank top was the last jogger in my background rocking?????  Leave your comment with the correct color and we will do a draw live on the blog and the winner will get an EL exclusive from the new collection.  Let's keep it fun.. Guys you can participate for you mother, sister, girlfriend or your wife.

This past weekend was the 8th annual Afro Punk Fest at Commodore Barry Park in Brooklyn.  This was my daughter and I's second concert together and the caviar is that it was FREE!!!! of charge...  The line up included Erykah Badu on Day 1 as the headliner with Jannelle Monae on Day 2.  My daughter was disappointed because Gym Class Heroes cancelled but by the time Jannelle Monae was on song number 2, she was all smiles and in a screaming battle with the thousands of New Yorkers that were in the park.   

Pharrell introducig Jannelle Monae

Jannelle Monae and her band KILLIN' IT!!!

I was faced with a decision of letting my daughter stay in the house and prepare for her specialized testing on Monday morning or let her go to the concert.  These decisions are never easy for me as a mother.  I always find myself being a little lenient with my daughter ever since her dad moved away in 2010 because she was affected by the sudden move.  I think for me it was more so the not saying bye in person…no hugs and kisses.  I remember having to tell her he had cancelled on their dinner date because he didn’t have time because he had to get on the road.  I found myself allowing her to do things I would never have allowed previously.  I find myself wearing the many hats of being a mother, a friend, the sister that she doesn’t have and the only one thing that  I can never be for her is be a father.  As a sister, a mother and a friend I can be that for my daughter but I can never know what it's like to be a man.  All I know is little girls need their fathers in their life so that they can have a healthy relationship with their partners.  When I hear people say Happy Father’s day to a woman…it boogles my mind.  A woman can never bring to the table what a man can and I feel we are not sending the right message to a child when we allow them to look at us as we are filling in the father void.  I had to nip it in the butt the first time my daughter told me happy father’s day.  We had a loooong talk and one thing I have always tried to maintain is a good relationship between her and her father and make her think that she has the best father in the world. I watched my mother do the same with my brothers, sisters & I when my father died, she subconsciously turned everything up a notch, and I saw right through it.  My heart used to just ache for her because she didn’t want us to miss our father as much as she did.  My father was the only one that bought us sodas once a month...all of a sudden my mother was allowing it. This was something she had opposed for years.

Overall the concert was serious and testing went well despite the rain.

Hugs & Kisses to all and thank you again for visiting

......Evelyn

Look What I found in E Harlem.... Fabricgasm!!!

Okay, I find myself not getting enough of this fabricgasm..... A fabric store is my home away from home.. because most of my inspiration comes from fabric.  I work backwards compared to most designers.  I decided to go to the garment district yesterday.  Please leave me a comment letting me know what you guys think of this fun fun find...Courtesy of E Harlem

My baby, Alita & I goofing off before leaving the house

Here is my daughter & I getting ready.  I don't know anyone else who takes as many pics as we do on a daily basis.  We had to make sure we were also camera ready along with Alita who was going to 106&Park with Vance (Tatty & I so love Alita and Vance.  They are the cutest fun couple everrrrr!!!!). Even though my daughter is now bugging me to register for 106&Park tickets....I need someone to please help me and let this little lady know that I have some sewing to do. I can't have a show without clothes...Some have tried.. History shows it doesn't work.  

Today in the video below we are looking at more steals I found in E Harlem while I'm looking fabulous!!!!!!  Got my devotion in already...can't start my day without feeding my spirit.  I have to read as soon as I get up...now I have my playlist ready.  Today's playlist includes this R&B Divas song Lovin' Me.. I'm so hooked.  Brandy's new song...tells me Brandy is baaaaack.  I love me some Brandy and Ryan Leslie.  I have Monique Walker "Second Chance" and Deitrick Haddon "We Cry Holy" in the mix.

Yesterday I decided to get everyone involved in helping me pick my fabric pairing for the dress I am working on.  I am excited about the use of my African fabric and marrying it with some fun solids.  Please leave me a comment on whether you think I should use A..the "Purple", B..the "Cobalt", C...the "Canary Yellow" or D.. the Pink.  I was also thinking green...

Week 1 August 13 - August 17

Forte Green (Brooklyn) Board of Education, My daughter's cupcakes, EL SS'13(fun back details)

Week 1 was VERY hectic!!!! ....a continuation of the week prior where I attempted to raise funds to pay for my NYFW show.  I reached out to friends and Ryan touched my heart by making the first donation, considering I've only known him for less than 2 months.  Ryan has been extremely supportive and inspiring as a fellow designer.      Bahja followed, then Tracy and Martha.  I was overwhelmed by their support and how much they believe in my vision.  I was humbled and am VERY much obliged....  If anyone wants to donate please click on the donate button on the top right hand side of the page.  

After a short celebration of the success of my studio session for the promo clip and my donations, it was back to balancing my career, motherhood and a personal life which is the norm for me.  I got my proof of residency letter from Con Edison, so I finally was able to go down to the Brooklyn Board of Education as seen in the picture above to register my daughter for High School.  Gosh!!! High School.....I still am trying to come to terms with my angel starting High School.  Her passion for baking cupcakes and making bracelets has been put on hold for a while as she prepares for her audition and testing for several performing schools.  We got her ticket for LaGuardia and Stuyvesant.....  In the midst of my motherhood duties I still had to finish the back of this cobalt blue dress.  There is nothing like a woman's dress leaving a memorable expression as she exits a room.  The back detail of this dress is to die for....  Stay tuned to see what I have worked up for the EL girl.

30 til EL

......A video diary shot on a mix of high end smart-phones and pro-grade digital video cameras, 30 til EL will journalize the process of Fashion Designer and London transplant Evelyn Lambert as she prepares to ready a capsule collection for a staged guerrilla showing, during the September 2012, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York City.

Evelyn is faced with multiple challenges from various stages of a hectic life. She has the ultimate goal of getting the capsule collection ready in 30 Days with all of the attendant challenges, while also getting acclimated to New York City as a single mom, placing her daughter in the prestigious Laguardia High School Of Music And Performing Arts and juggling the demands on her time as a custom designer for a client list of televisions most high maintenance reality TV stars.

It's more than just the guerrilla showing of her capsule collection. Though that is the ultimate goal, it's the process that is the featured character of the story as Evelyn traipses around New York City, hitting the garment district for fabric, trimmings and finishings, figuring out the capsule collection, while also selecting, draping and fitting models...in addition to dealing with life as Evelyn Lambert away from the sewing machine.

30 Til El will post daily video webisodes of the process and document it so that viewers can appreciate the effort and dedication involved in bringing dreams to fruition, while inspiring others to do the same. 30 Til EL will utilize contemporary methods of communication, across various social networking platforms such as Face book, Twitter, Pinterest and Foursquare to tell the story, spark dialogue between viewers and 30 Til EL, and also spark dialogue between the viewers via comments, retweets and reposts.

The production of a guerrilla marketing tactic has a long history, especially in fashion design, yet the process is where the real story lies, not just in the staging of the tactic. By the time Evelyn Lambert puts on her subversive capsule show, viewers will be fully immersed in the entertainment of bringing the effort to life. The use of video cameras on high end smart-phones allows a very intimate telling of the story from the perspective of the designer, the models, the PR people, the precociously talented daughter and anyone else intimately involved in 30 Til EL.

Zimbabwe born, London raised and American cultivated, Evelyn Lambert's story of 30 Til El will be candid and surprising as the reveal of where and when the EL pop-up capsule show will appear comes at the end of the 30 days. Perhaps she'll unleash her beautiful pieces in front of your favorite designers collection show, during the NYC, September 2012 Fashion week....and maybe become your NEW, favorite designer.