17 May 2012

A Conversation with Lyn of Simply Special Dresses by Lyn


Lyn of Simply Special Dresses by Lyn, makes the prettiest girl's dresses for 2 to 6 year olds featuring lovely fabrics and delightful finishing touches.  A new New Zealand resident, Lyn shares an insight into her love of dress-making and more ....
Who is Simply Special Dresses by Lyn?

Lyn Garrard-Lyn is actually short for Lynden

What’s your “handmade groove ?”

I make cute dresses for very little girls Ages 2-6 usually in cotton for summer and corduroy for winter.

What’s on your bedside table right now? (hey, no tidying up or censoring)

A bedside lamp, the latest book I’m reading and a jar of Vicks vapo-rub.

Who are your creative role models? What music, books, images, poetry spark your creative fire?

My grandmother was a dressmaker and she taught my mom to sew well. I remember mom sewing many of the dresses my sister and I wore. Usually we were dressed the same. I can’t put my enjoyment of handcrafts down to any particular influence. But I have what other crafters have and that’s a desire to create something special.

What could you talk late into the night about with like minded people?

I’d like to talk to all kinds of different people. I’m making dresses for girls because I feel determined that we teach out young girls to feel good about themselves. They want to look pretty and my clothes are about the innocent, cute ‘pretty’ that’s different to the ‘miniture adult look’ or sexual innuendo on many shop bought clothing. So I could talk to people who also have concerns about modern young women and their problems. For me the solution lies in raising girls right.

If you could go to three free workshops/creative events this year which ones would they be? What are they about?

I would like to learn more about clothing design. Also I would like to attend Ellerslie Flower Show sometime but that’s not related to my dress business.

How do you balance your creative life with your family, life commitments

I’m a granny and have more time than young moms. I’m a new NZ resident and should be doing more formal work but my heart’s not in that. I want to get my little business going. I also like to give clothes away to disadvantaged small girls who need a treat. I’m able to put my dressmaking aside when I need to spend a week with my daughter and her children so this business gives me flexibility.

What is your favourite creative screw-up

This must be the same as my most embarrassing moment for a crafter so I can only say that I’ve had dreams in my mind of what I wanted to achieve but wrong fabric choice, misread pattern or something else have meant that the project was doomed to fail: a waste of time and effort.

Kitchen table or studio?

I have a little section of an enclosed verandah that’s hot in summer and cold in winter.

Do you have a wish list? Can you tell us what’s on it?

I want to still play a part in children becoming well rounded individuals and I want to help women to take more in control of their own destinies. But I also have lots of wishes to do with family and friends.

 
You can find Simply Special Dresses by Lyn ... here

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