Day: 7
Hours: 9
Total Hours: 60!
Department: Production
Supervisor: Sabine
So my final day of internship was likely the least eventful.
I arrived with fresh cookies fom the Prague Bakery for everyone, in thanks for having me around.
Luis and I had some great chats, and when he headed over to Annie's studio he delivered a couple cookies on my behalf.
I spent the majority of the day sewing t-shirts, rather than working with Christine on rebranding - I was mildly dissappointed, but I know I'll be coming back to learn more later, so being more a of a help now is kindof ideal. I want to establish my usefulness!
I gave Sabine one of the internship questionnaires, and I left one for Sandi on her desk - it seemed silly to give one to Annie, as we haven't even worked in the same building the majority of the time. I'll be going back to pick them up on the 24th before the last internship class.
For a brief period when Haley & Christine had to go out (a desperate need for food!), I was asked to cover in the boutique. They both looked a little worried as they left, but they were absent for only a couple minutes and everything went fine. I look forward to working in the boutique - I have a bit of retail experience, but not in apparel, and I'd like to learn...
So.... yeah, I sewed t-shirts all day. I think I finished 7 or so, all but one of the yellow tees.
At around 4pm, I had a quick Q&A interview with Christine, to ask her some of the questions I hadn't found answers to during the internship... and I'll be e-mailing the remainder to Annie & calling her for the answers sometime this week (while I'm in BC).
At the end of the day I ran around hugging & thanking everyone, trying to snap some last photos. I went to Annie's studio to thank her as well. I really adore the crew at AT, everyone's so warm and friendly and knowledgable! I really can't wait to come back!
And with that... my internship of 60 hours has been completed!
Now I have to get to uploading the 250 someodd photos I snapped!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Friday the 13th
Day: 6
Hours: 9
Total Hours: 51
Department: Production
Supervisor: Sandi
For Friday, I moved from the white t-shirt sewing... to sewing yellow t-shirts. I'm happy to be comfortable with an industrial sewing machine again. To speed up the work on the Gemini Jacket that needed to be done, I opened the hem up while Sabeena worke don sewing other items. Later in the day, I picked the jacket up from it's pressing at Premier Launderer's, delivering it and the snap-tape I was requested to bring over to Annie's studio. Annie wasn't sure what the snap tape was about, so I was sent back with it. Then I delevired a couple patterns she needed from the boutique/studio. Annie asked me about my felting abilities, and where we might be able to do a bit of a workshop/party. I said I'd look into using the school studio, but that it was unavailable until September. It would be so fun to have a felting party with these ladies!!
After all the running around, I got back to the Sourcing catalogue. I edited everything Sandi changed on the print out, I double-checked all listed websites, everytime there was an e-mail that had an attached domain without a listed site, I'd check for it, and everytime there was a website but no contact info, I scoured the website for it, etc. After making sure that all listings had the fullest and most comprehensive listing I could gather, I alphabetized the list, as split into Wholesale, Retail and Notions.
I immediately printed it out and brought it over to Annie, who was meeting with Sandi at the time. Any bad impression I could have made on Thursday was wiped out by this point, I think! I was asked to print a couple more copies for Annie's home and the boutique, which I did as soon as I got back to the shop. I also asked about sending the remaining unanswered questions from the reccomended interview list to Annie via e-mail. She was up to it, but wanted to answer via phone if I could call her later in the week. She also gave me a little "tracking" calender, in which I've now recorded when I completed each of my internship hours (and will continue to, after the course is up.)
By the time I got back, it was already 6:15, so for the last 45 minutes I sewed t-shirts. Busy Day! Goooodness!
Hours: 9
Total Hours: 51
Department: Production
Supervisor: Sandi
For Friday, I moved from the white t-shirt sewing... to sewing yellow t-shirts. I'm happy to be comfortable with an industrial sewing machine again. To speed up the work on the Gemini Jacket that needed to be done, I opened the hem up while Sabeena worke don sewing other items. Later in the day, I picked the jacket up from it's pressing at Premier Launderer's, delivering it and the snap-tape I was requested to bring over to Annie's studio. Annie wasn't sure what the snap tape was about, so I was sent back with it. Then I delevired a couple patterns she needed from the boutique/studio. Annie asked me about my felting abilities, and where we might be able to do a bit of a workshop/party. I said I'd look into using the school studio, but that it was unavailable until September. It would be so fun to have a felting party with these ladies!!
After all the running around, I got back to the Sourcing catalogue. I edited everything Sandi changed on the print out, I double-checked all listed websites, everytime there was an e-mail that had an attached domain without a listed site, I'd check for it, and everytime there was a website but no contact info, I scoured the website for it, etc. After making sure that all listings had the fullest and most comprehensive listing I could gather, I alphabetized the list, as split into Wholesale, Retail and Notions.
I immediately printed it out and brought it over to Annie, who was meeting with Sandi at the time. Any bad impression I could have made on Thursday was wiped out by this point, I think! I was asked to print a couple more copies for Annie's home and the boutique, which I did as soon as I got back to the shop. I also asked about sending the remaining unanswered questions from the reccomended interview list to Annie via e-mail. She was up to it, but wanted to answer via phone if I could call her later in the week. She also gave me a little "tracking" calender, in which I've now recorded when I completed each of my internship hours (and will continue to, after the course is up.)
By the time I got back, it was already 6:15, so for the last 45 minutes I sewed t-shirts. Busy Day! Goooodness!
Friday, July 13, 2007
Thursday is Margerita night
Day: 5
Hours: 9
Total Hours: 42
Department: Production
Supervisor: Sandi
Thursday was the busiest day yet that I've spent at Annie's.
In the morning I met Christina, the currently longest-standing staff member at 1.5 years. She's a very skilled seamstress and alteration specialist, and also cute & funny to boot. I spent my first hour finishing off the last two white t-shirts that I had started prior, and got away from the sewing machines for Christina to work her magic on all the items hanging on the alteration/repair rack.
I helped Luis carry some bolts of new fabric over to Annie's studio (where she was not yet in), and we chatted a bit on the way. Luis reminds me very much of my friend Lawrence from Pacific Design Academy - he's a great guy.
I then went with Sandi to pick up items around the city. First, we visited one of the sewing contractors in Kensington market to pick up a sample garment and find our construction costs. I was overwhelemed by the piles of garments and fabric all around the tiny production house. Gayle, who runs the place, was delightful and funny, and also very direct about her costs. The Kimono sweater that we sampled and had hoped to produce at $35 each would cost $45 with her. It was really intereseting to hear the banter on the subject. I hope I can remember where the place is...
Then we popped by Sandi's bank, and then hit Canadian Industrial Sewing Machines Co. to pick up two of the shop's old irons... which were apparently so mangled that it would cost $450 to fix, while he had a new italian model for $475.... I will definetely be returning to that shop with money someday.
Once we returned to the shop, we went for lunch (it was already 1!) Dinesh must think I don't eat enough or something, because he's always offering me food. His wife is clearly a fantastic cook, though... the nam & curry-like dish that he shared with me was really great. I tried to help him find a cheap flight to Europe online, but with minimal success.
Then I headed over to Annie's studio (still vacant), to pick up a list that Annie wanted Haley to type up for her. It's a list of suppliers... and I was really interested in it, and Haley looked really busy reorganizing the store, so I offered to type it up (as I'm a real quick type-er) for her.
A short while into my typing, Sandi asked me to stitch buttons to the Kimono sweater sample we picke dup from Gayle earlier so that she could have a fitting with Annie later in the afternoon. While sewing the buttons on, I asked if I could tag along for the meeting, to which she happily obliged.
We headed over to Annie's studio a while a later with patterns, samples, and a new selectiopn of nylon fabric swatches to show her. Annie tried on the samples (the Kimono Sweater, what's been referred to as the Gemini Jacket, and the Lyla top in green and blak stretch lace), giving multiple changes for each item, which I took down in notes while they talked. I tried to give an idea for an alteration to the Kimono sweater, but I bumbled up my speech a bit and came off as a bit too much of the overly-pushy-intern for my liking. Luckily that was quickly forgotten. Then Sandi and Annie got to discussing the colour choices and fabric quantities to order for this year's production of the Coacoa coat, and Annie mentioned aneed for caffeine so I offered to grab drinks. I ran over to the second cup to grab Annie her requested Chillate and a Hot chocolate for myself (Sandi declined anything).
Annie started talking about newer ideas she was working with, and asked me to bring back a roll of bias tape for her when I got back to the boutique/studio. There was a great deal more talking, a bit of negativity towards samples that weren't perfet... in total, the meeting was a couple hours, much longer than either Sandi or I expected.
When I got back to the boutique, it was already 1/4 to 6. I went right back to typing the Sources list.... forgetting the bias tape. It was 1/4 after 6 when an irritated Annie called to ask for it. I ran it over immediately, but annie was not terribly impressed.... I wasn't very impressed with myself, either.
For the last 40 minutes of my day, I typed the rest of the sources list.
Although I was a bit down, I realized it was Thursday... Margarita night at Tortilla Flats! After having mentioned this in Haley's prescence, she sounded interested too, so we went out for Margaritas together. Good times.
I think there's a lot of good to come from this internship, not just with the studio, but it's fantastic to meet everyone involved. Everyone has so much info, and are so free with it... I feel like I've gotten more out of this than the majority of classes I've taken!
Hours: 9
Total Hours: 42
Department: Production
Supervisor: Sandi
Thursday was the busiest day yet that I've spent at Annie's.
In the morning I met Christina, the currently longest-standing staff member at 1.5 years. She's a very skilled seamstress and alteration specialist, and also cute & funny to boot. I spent my first hour finishing off the last two white t-shirts that I had started prior, and got away from the sewing machines for Christina to work her magic on all the items hanging on the alteration/repair rack.
I helped Luis carry some bolts of new fabric over to Annie's studio (where she was not yet in), and we chatted a bit on the way. Luis reminds me very much of my friend Lawrence from Pacific Design Academy - he's a great guy.
I then went with Sandi to pick up items around the city. First, we visited one of the sewing contractors in Kensington market to pick up a sample garment and find our construction costs. I was overwhelemed by the piles of garments and fabric all around the tiny production house. Gayle, who runs the place, was delightful and funny, and also very direct about her costs. The Kimono sweater that we sampled and had hoped to produce at $35 each would cost $45 with her. It was really intereseting to hear the banter on the subject. I hope I can remember where the place is...
Then we popped by Sandi's bank, and then hit Canadian Industrial Sewing Machines Co. to pick up two of the shop's old irons... which were apparently so mangled that it would cost $450 to fix, while he had a new italian model for $475.... I will definetely be returning to that shop with money someday.
Once we returned to the shop, we went for lunch (it was already 1!) Dinesh must think I don't eat enough or something, because he's always offering me food. His wife is clearly a fantastic cook, though... the nam & curry-like dish that he shared with me was really great. I tried to help him find a cheap flight to Europe online, but with minimal success.
Then I headed over to Annie's studio (still vacant), to pick up a list that Annie wanted Haley to type up for her. It's a list of suppliers... and I was really interested in it, and Haley looked really busy reorganizing the store, so I offered to type it up (as I'm a real quick type-er) for her.
A short while into my typing, Sandi asked me to stitch buttons to the Kimono sweater sample we picke dup from Gayle earlier so that she could have a fitting with Annie later in the afternoon. While sewing the buttons on, I asked if I could tag along for the meeting, to which she happily obliged.
We headed over to Annie's studio a while a later with patterns, samples, and a new selectiopn of nylon fabric swatches to show her. Annie tried on the samples (the Kimono Sweater, what's been referred to as the Gemini Jacket, and the Lyla top in green and blak stretch lace), giving multiple changes for each item, which I took down in notes while they talked. I tried to give an idea for an alteration to the Kimono sweater, but I bumbled up my speech a bit and came off as a bit too much of the overly-pushy-intern for my liking. Luckily that was quickly forgotten. Then Sandi and Annie got to discussing the colour choices and fabric quantities to order for this year's production of the Coacoa coat, and Annie mentioned aneed for caffeine so I offered to grab drinks. I ran over to the second cup to grab Annie her requested Chillate and a Hot chocolate for myself (Sandi declined anything).
Annie started talking about newer ideas she was working with, and asked me to bring back a roll of bias tape for her when I got back to the boutique/studio. There was a great deal more talking, a bit of negativity towards samples that weren't perfet... in total, the meeting was a couple hours, much longer than either Sandi or I expected.
When I got back to the boutique, it was already 1/4 to 6. I went right back to typing the Sources list.... forgetting the bias tape. It was 1/4 after 6 when an irritated Annie called to ask for it. I ran it over immediately, but annie was not terribly impressed.... I wasn't very impressed with myself, either.
For the last 40 minutes of my day, I typed the rest of the sources list.
Although I was a bit down, I realized it was Thursday... Margarita night at Tortilla Flats! After having mentioned this in Haley's prescence, she sounded interested too, so we went out for Margaritas together. Good times.
I think there's a lot of good to come from this internship, not just with the studio, but it's fantastic to meet everyone involved. Everyone has so much info, and are so free with it... I feel like I've gotten more out of this than the majority of classes I've taken!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Wed-nes-day
Day: 4
Hours: 9
Total Hours: 33
Department: Production
Supervisor: Sandi
So, on my fourth day I met the next newest intern (who had by that point not worked as many hours as I! weird...) Her name is Savanah, and she's from the Yukon... very stylish girl, but I didn't get much time to chat with her.
I spent most of the day sewing 12 darts onto Annie's altered t-shirts. I was taking much longer than I normally would, completing only 5 throughout the day (though I was doing other things on and off), as I was terrified of doing a poor job on a t-shirt being sold for $135-$190. While sewing Sabeena and I chatted a bunch, she's a really super lady. She offered me her recently passed cat's carrying cage when I mentioned that I had two cats and only one carrier. Turns out it was already in the shop and she was really having a hard time seeing it, so I thanked her a great deal and got it out of her sight that night.
Throughout the day, Dinesh asked for help with layering fabric for production cutting. Very precise and logical man. I'm learning a lot from him, but he seems to think that I'm entirely without experience - I know he's doing his best to help me, so I humour him a when he mentions tips that I already go by. He's also always offering me cherries that he brings from his neighbour's overflowing orchard.
Before lunch, Sabeena sent me to pick up some notions (bra strap parts, to be precise) at MacFab. It was nice to get a bit of fresh air.
At 2pm, Sandi called all of the interns (Luis, Savanah and myself) to the lunchroom for a meeting. She outlined a general task list for each of us to stick to for the rest of our time in production. I was pretty well versed in everything on mine already so it was quite comfortable.
Christine called me into her office at 4:30, and we talked about the rest of my internship stay. She asked if I would be up to sticking around after my school's hourly obligation was completed, and I said that I was very interested but unable to commit to much, as I'm about to head into a fairly crazy year already (thesis, my job at G&S, MAAD rep on the student union, member of the digital threads project with the textile museum...etc). It was really uplifting to hear how much they wanted to keep me around, and I agreed that I could do 8 hours weekly at least through the first semester. I'm not sure if I could graduate to a paying job during that period, but I do hope so.
We also talked about my working with her in the business end, and we're set to work together on Monday (to be my last day there before my trip to BC and the end of the internship course). Unfortunately, also got the news that Annie is wayyy too busy and stressed working on her production for fall 07 and designs for spring 08 that she doesn't quite have the time or patience to work with me right now. As I've already been offered more time to work with her later, I'm not broken hearted - and I don't want to add to anyone's stress by being there.
And, that's what I remember of day 4.
Hours: 9
Total Hours: 33
Department: Production
Supervisor: Sandi
So, on my fourth day I met the next newest intern (who had by that point not worked as many hours as I! weird...) Her name is Savanah, and she's from the Yukon... very stylish girl, but I didn't get much time to chat with her.
I spent most of the day sewing 12 darts onto Annie's altered t-shirts. I was taking much longer than I normally would, completing only 5 throughout the day (though I was doing other things on and off), as I was terrified of doing a poor job on a t-shirt being sold for $135-$190. While sewing Sabeena and I chatted a bunch, she's a really super lady. She offered me her recently passed cat's carrying cage when I mentioned that I had two cats and only one carrier. Turns out it was already in the shop and she was really having a hard time seeing it, so I thanked her a great deal and got it out of her sight that night.
Throughout the day, Dinesh asked for help with layering fabric for production cutting. Very precise and logical man. I'm learning a lot from him, but he seems to think that I'm entirely without experience - I know he's doing his best to help me, so I humour him a when he mentions tips that I already go by. He's also always offering me cherries that he brings from his neighbour's overflowing orchard.
Before lunch, Sabeena sent me to pick up some notions (bra strap parts, to be precise) at MacFab. It was nice to get a bit of fresh air.
At 2pm, Sandi called all of the interns (Luis, Savanah and myself) to the lunchroom for a meeting. She outlined a general task list for each of us to stick to for the rest of our time in production. I was pretty well versed in everything on mine already so it was quite comfortable.
Christine called me into her office at 4:30, and we talked about the rest of my internship stay. She asked if I would be up to sticking around after my school's hourly obligation was completed, and I said that I was very interested but unable to commit to much, as I'm about to head into a fairly crazy year already (thesis, my job at G&S, MAAD rep on the student union, member of the digital threads project with the textile museum...etc). It was really uplifting to hear how much they wanted to keep me around, and I agreed that I could do 8 hours weekly at least through the first semester. I'm not sure if I could graduate to a paying job during that period, but I do hope so.
We also talked about my working with her in the business end, and we're set to work together on Monday (to be my last day there before my trip to BC and the end of the internship course). Unfortunately, also got the news that Annie is wayyy too busy and stressed working on her production for fall 07 and designs for spring 08 that she doesn't quite have the time or patience to work with me right now. As I've already been offered more time to work with her later, I'm not broken hearted - and I don't want to add to anyone's stress by being there.
And, that's what I remember of day 4.
learning the industrial swivel
I'm a day behind in postings, it's getting really hard for me to handle this many hours. I get up every day at 6:30am to prepare myself for the day, catch the 7:30 bus to the Bramalea City Center, catch the 8:30 bus to Yorkdale, hop on the Subway by 9:10, get out at Osgoode by 9:30, hop on the Spadina streetcar and get to the boutique/studio by 10. I've been leaving at about 7pm each day, walking to Osgoode (as the Spadina streetcar rarely appears this time of day), getting on the subway by about 7:45, arriving at Finch by 8:10, catching the 8:30 77 bus to the Bramalea City Center, getting to Queen & Torbram by 9:30 and walking 20 minutes to get home, averagely. Time spent on preparing for, getting to, and returning home from internship daily: approximately 15 hours and 20 minutes. So I have between 9:50pm and 1am to make dinner, kindof unwind, post to this blog, and keep track of everything else in my life. I've been getting about 5 hours sleep nightly for 2 weeks now and I'm really starting to burn out.
Yikes.
Yikes.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Jour Trois
Day: 3
Hours: 9
Total Hours: 24
Department: Production
Supervisor: Sabine
So, I came in for my third day, feeling much more comfortable with my surroundings in production. Not that I was terribly fidgety before, but now I understand where I fit there a lot better, and I better understand everyone elses quirks.
Sabine was already there, as lovely and chipper as she always seems to be, and Haley showed up shortly after. I left a list of websites I've designed on Sandi's desk, on Christine's desk, and gave one to Haley (as well as a CD of string quartet instrumentals of radiohead songs to listen to at work). Haley and I chatted about websites for a bit, then I headed to the back to get to work.
So, Sandi left a little list of items for me to complete:
~finish sewing buttons onto the sample garments
~help tag new inventory
~help Dinesh with cutting
~help Haley in the Shop
It took me little over 2 hours to finish the button sewing, and there was no inventory that needed tagging (that the girls knew the prices for), so I worked at helping Dinesh with cutting for a bit.
Christine showed up later in the day, and we chatted about what I'd be doing later in the week. I have at least one more day in production before being anywhere else - that's ok, a LOT goes on in production! And I do really want to visit contractors with Sandi...
Sabine asked out of the blue if I knew how to work with industrial sewing machines, and as I had, asked if I would mind sewing a series of t-shirts with exterior darts - much more precise than any other work I'd been handed, but I'm quite capable. It was actually very interesting... and the time flew by. I finished 2 shirts, but had another bunch started (I was working by-the-seam to speed things up). I will likely be returned to this task when I come back on Wednesday.
Since Sabine had to leave early, I was going to be the last person in production, so they set me with a little bit of clean up duty. Sweepy Sweepy!
Now: sleepy sleepy.
Hours: 9
Total Hours: 24
Department: Production
Supervisor: Sabine
So, I came in for my third day, feeling much more comfortable with my surroundings in production. Not that I was terribly fidgety before, but now I understand where I fit there a lot better, and I better understand everyone elses quirks.
Sabine was already there, as lovely and chipper as she always seems to be, and Haley showed up shortly after. I left a list of websites I've designed on Sandi's desk, on Christine's desk, and gave one to Haley (as well as a CD of string quartet instrumentals of radiohead songs to listen to at work). Haley and I chatted about websites for a bit, then I headed to the back to get to work.
So, Sandi left a little list of items for me to complete:
~finish sewing buttons onto the sample garments
~help tag new inventory
~help Dinesh with cutting
~help Haley in the Shop
It took me little over 2 hours to finish the button sewing, and there was no inventory that needed tagging (that the girls knew the prices for), so I worked at helping Dinesh with cutting for a bit.
Christine showed up later in the day, and we chatted about what I'd be doing later in the week. I have at least one more day in production before being anywhere else - that's ok, a LOT goes on in production! And I do really want to visit contractors with Sandi...
Sabine asked out of the blue if I knew how to work with industrial sewing machines, and as I had, asked if I would mind sewing a series of t-shirts with exterior darts - much more precise than any other work I'd been handed, but I'm quite capable. It was actually very interesting... and the time flew by. I finished 2 shirts, but had another bunch started (I was working by-the-seam to speed things up). I will likely be returned to this task when I come back on Wednesday.
Since Sabine had to leave early, I was going to be the last person in production, so they set me with a little bit of clean up duty. Sweepy Sweepy!
Now: sleepy sleepy.
Monday, July 9, 2007
7/7/7
Day: 2
Hours: 6
Total Hours: 15
Department: Production
Supervisor: Sandi
So I had a nice short shift on Saturday before checking out the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition where a whole bunch of my friends were exhibiting.
My first task of the day was to sew buttons onto jacket samples. I completed 8/9 buttons on the first jacket when Contractor Tommy ran in with an armfull of hot-off-the-sewing-machine shirts for Fall/Winter 2007. They're gorgeous, too. I really want the black boat-neck top. Anyway, Sandi moved me from button sewing to work on Quality Control and fibre content labelling.
Quality Control entails double-checking every seam of a completed garment for sewing problems, trimming off loose threads, making sure that there are the right number of garments in the right sizes, checking for any fabric damage or staining, and notating all the problems that may have occured during production. Any garments that need fixing or cleaning must be put aside rather than sent to the boutique with the rest. If there are too many issues, it becomes the contractor's responsibility to fix them.
Fibre content labelling ususally gets done before the garments are made, but this batch was rushed out at the last minute, so they all had blank fibre content tags attached on the inside. I had to look up each used material in the Swatch book to find their content and washing instructions, which I then carefully filled out on each tag.
I was working very meticulously at both, so that really took the majority of my time there.
When I left the shift, Haley was about to leave too, so we walked down Queen St. together an had a chat. She's a really spiffy girl and I think we have some talents to trade. She said she wanted a more professional website, but to be honest, when I saw her website it looked pretty great for a first run anyway. We'll see.
Hours: 6
Total Hours: 15
Department: Production
Supervisor: Sandi
So I had a nice short shift on Saturday before checking out the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition where a whole bunch of my friends were exhibiting.
My first task of the day was to sew buttons onto jacket samples. I completed 8/9 buttons on the first jacket when Contractor Tommy ran in with an armfull of hot-off-the-sewing-machine shirts for Fall/Winter 2007. They're gorgeous, too. I really want the black boat-neck top. Anyway, Sandi moved me from button sewing to work on Quality Control and fibre content labelling.
Quality Control entails double-checking every seam of a completed garment for sewing problems, trimming off loose threads, making sure that there are the right number of garments in the right sizes, checking for any fabric damage or staining, and notating all the problems that may have occured during production. Any garments that need fixing or cleaning must be put aside rather than sent to the boutique with the rest. If there are too many issues, it becomes the contractor's responsibility to fix them.
Fibre content labelling ususally gets done before the garments are made, but this batch was rushed out at the last minute, so they all had blank fibre content tags attached on the inside. I had to look up each used material in the Swatch book to find their content and washing instructions, which I then carefully filled out on each tag.
I was working very meticulously at both, so that really took the majority of my time there.
When I left the shift, Haley was about to leave too, so we walked down Queen St. together an had a chat. She's a really spiffy girl and I think we have some talents to trade. She said she wanted a more professional website, but to be honest, when I saw her website it looked pretty great for a first run anyway. We'll see.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
First Day
Day: 1
Hours: 9
Total Hours: 9
Department: Production
Supervisor: Sandi
Hours: 9
Total Hours: 9
Department: Production
Supervisor: Sandi
So I had my first day! I was asked by Annie to show up 15 minutes -after- everyone else would be showing, so the 'being there early' thing was discouraged. Regardless I showed up at the Second Cup next to the studio 15 minutes earlier than everyone was suppoesd to be there - and bumped into my supervisor for the day, Sandi! So she knew I was there early, bonus.
I was introduced to a bunch of the production crew (photos will be added to this post soon).
Sandy is in charge of everything, she sets out everyone's tasks, calls all the suppliers, and contractors, and does the problem solving aspect of garment design. Sandi makes Annie's most complex and unworking garments work.
Dinesh, also refferred to as Dennis, is the cutter. He cuts all the sample muslins, final samples, and even does full production cutting of all the garments in house. After he has done cutting production numbers, the cut pieces are packed and sent to contractors to be sewn. After he's done cutting sample pieces, Sabina takes them to her segment.
Sabeena is the sample maker and garment detailer. She puts together muslin samples, detail samples and final samples to make sure hte pattern and directions to the contractors are perfect. She assists Sandi with problem-solving and also does finishing touches on garments sewn by outside contractors.
Louisse is a multi-task assistant. He does... whatever needs doing. I didn't see him much because he was working in Annie's private studio on Friday, grometting t-shirts.
I also met some of the sales staff: Haley, Annie's daughter, and Zakira (Zakira was manning the shop when I was interviewed, so she was a familiar face).
There are apparently two other interns, but I have yet to meet them.
I was immediately given the task of hand stitching ribbon rosettes to altered t-shirts. There were 9 rosettes per shirt, and I'm not a terribly quite hand sewer. I was also being maybe a little too meticulous with my sewing... but those rosettes are ON those shirts and not going anywhere. It honestly took me most of the day to do, like 6 shirts.
Throughout the day I picked up other minor tasks too.
When Dinesh had to roll up some fabric, I offered to do it so he wouldn't have to waste his more valuable time on such a menial task - I also happen to be quite good at rolling fabric quickly thanks to years at Fabricland and G&S. I helped him out with laying out paper and fabric for cutting to help him save time, too.
Dinesh also taught me some finer cutting points and had me try to cut out some complicated shapes with their ridiculously large production scissors. He also showed me how to use the motorized rotary cutter! I want one! I'm still too scared of the saw-cutter, though. It can cut through 50 layers of fabric at once...
Later, Sandi started showing me the sample books and how she organizes having items produced with their 20 or so outside contractors. She said I could tag along for a trip to a couple of them in the upcoming week!
At the end of the day, I got to the task of sewing buttons onto samples. I usually sew buttons quite quickly but I really want all my work for Annie to be of particularly high quality, so I only finished one coat by 7.
And that was day one! More details and photos to come.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
The Hunt
So, it took me a while to get to applying for internship.
I spent over a month and a half on the internship package to hand around (photos coming soon).
I was so busy with my other summer classes that I unfortunately lagged with getting my application out. Last week, I FINALLY handed in my package at Annie Thompson's Studio.
I'll add a lot more to this post later, describing the process leading up to handing it in, but for now I'll give a quick run-down of how I ended up being taken on as an intern.
I first called the Studio to follow-up on my application on Friday, at the time, no one was available to talk with me about an internship interview. I called back on the next business day, Tuesday the 3rd, and was answered by Hailie(sp?), who said that if anyone would be contacting me about an internship, it would be someone named Christine. She said she'd leave a message for her. I called back the next day, and rather than going through the spiel of the last two days, I just asked to talk to Christine directly.
I asked Christine whether she'd seen my internship app/package, and she hadn't! I was dissappointed, but she immediately launched into questions on the phone, and I was very encouraged by her interest. We chatted for a while, and she arranged a meeting with me for Monday. I was ecstatic.
I had to be in Toronto again today, so I decided to put together a new internship package to drop off for Christine so she could see it before meeting with me - I knew it was a strongpackage and that it would get my foot in the door, if it wasn't already.
I called Christine this morning to ask if it was ok with her for me to drop it off with her. She replied that she had been so intriguied after our conversation that she had hunted it down. She said she was "blown away"! She loved the package and was impressed with my skills, and she asked if I would be available to come by sometime after 1pm today, rather than waiting til Monday.
Perfect!! I have to get 60 hours in by the 17th, and time is RUNNING OUT! So, even though I was already supposed to be at the school for a first year meet-and-greet for the Student Union, I bailed and took off for the interview.
I showed up at the Boutique/Studio at 1:30, and was immediately greeted by an incredibly warm and encouraging Christine. It felt more like a "so when can you start?" spiel than an interview, and I felt totally at home. She is in charge of the business and organizational end of Annie's business. Christine is fantastic. We chatted for just over half an hour, before she introduced me to Sandi, the production manager. Sandi was equally cool, and showed me all around the boutique and production studio... which was really cool.
While I was talking with Sandi, Christine called Annie to see if she could meet with me today. In minutes I had an appointment for 40 minutes later at Annie's creative studio, around the corner.
I gathered myself together, tried to not psyche-out and headed over.
Annieand her studio were exactly as I'd imagined/hoped. She had a more intimidating demeanor than the other two, but that only makes sense as it's her business. She seemed impressed with my enthusiasm, and after another half hour chat, I had been told that showing up tomorrow at 10:20 would be great.
Omigoodness. I have an internship with my hero.
Sometimes life can rock.
It just takes work.
I spent over a month and a half on the internship package to hand around (photos coming soon).
I was so busy with my other summer classes that I unfortunately lagged with getting my application out. Last week, I FINALLY handed in my package at Annie Thompson's Studio.
I'll add a lot more to this post later, describing the process leading up to handing it in, but for now I'll give a quick run-down of how I ended up being taken on as an intern.
I first called the Studio to follow-up on my application on Friday, at the time, no one was available to talk with me about an internship interview. I called back on the next business day, Tuesday the 3rd, and was answered by Hailie(sp?), who said that if anyone would be contacting me about an internship, it would be someone named Christine. She said she'd leave a message for her. I called back the next day, and rather than going through the spiel of the last two days, I just asked to talk to Christine directly.
I asked Christine whether she'd seen my internship app/package, and she hadn't! I was dissappointed, but she immediately launched into questions on the phone, and I was very encouraged by her interest. We chatted for a while, and she arranged a meeting with me for Monday. I was ecstatic.
I had to be in Toronto again today, so I decided to put together a new internship package to drop off for Christine so she could see it before meeting with me - I knew it was a strongpackage and that it would get my foot in the door, if it wasn't already.
I called Christine this morning to ask if it was ok with her for me to drop it off with her. She replied that she had been so intriguied after our conversation that she had hunted it down. She said she was "blown away"! She loved the package and was impressed with my skills, and she asked if I would be available to come by sometime after 1pm today, rather than waiting til Monday.
Perfect!! I have to get 60 hours in by the 17th, and time is RUNNING OUT! So, even though I was already supposed to be at the school for a first year meet-and-greet for the Student Union, I bailed and took off for the interview.
I showed up at the Boutique/Studio at 1:30, and was immediately greeted by an incredibly warm and encouraging Christine. It felt more like a "so when can you start?" spiel than an interview, and I felt totally at home. She is in charge of the business and organizational end of Annie's business. Christine is fantastic. We chatted for just over half an hour, before she introduced me to Sandi, the production manager. Sandi was equally cool, and showed me all around the boutique and production studio... which was really cool.
While I was talking with Sandi, Christine called Annie to see if she could meet with me today. In minutes I had an appointment for 40 minutes later at Annie's creative studio, around the corner.
I gathered myself together, tried to not psyche-out and headed over.
Annieand her studio were exactly as I'd imagined/hoped. She had a more intimidating demeanor than the other two, but that only makes sense as it's her business. She seemed impressed with my enthusiasm, and after another half hour chat, I had been told that showing up tomorrow at 10:20 would be great.
Omigoodness. I have an internship with my hero.
Sometimes life can rock.
It just takes work.
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