Day 35: My Last Day at PLA.

(11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Today is my last day at PLA and to start the day off Shannon had a field trip planned. We went to this cafe called "Portlands", Shannon wanted to get something to eat for lunch.  We both ended up getting a sandwich and the food there was really good. We ended up eating them at the shop then when we finished I started putting tags in the tops. That didn't take me long to finish them and after that it was time to iron them. Between ironing the tops Shannon had me iron a couple of yards of fabric that she had cut. After I finished ironing all the tops and yards of fabric, that was all Shannon had for me to do today. So Shannon and I talked for a little while about random things like our families and places I should apply for jobs.

Shannon also had a card for me that was so sweet and she even got me a gift card for Carrabbas because she remembered that I love italian food. Today was a short day and I am really going to miss Shannon and interning here. I have learned a lot working here at PLA and I will take everything I have learned and put it to good use. Even though I won't be interning here anymore I told Shannon that I will be visiting and that I will always keep in touch.

Brittney C.

Day 33: Finishing Tags

 

(11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Today at PLA I spent the whole day working on finishing the tags. Yesterday I hand printed  and cut out 70 tags. Today I wasn't so lucky just because majority of the tags that I printed messed up. I think its because I put too much ink on them and held so down the stamp s too long. Out of all the tags that I stamps I got maybe 35 good ones. This may not seem like it took me a whole day to finish but I guarantee that it does. 

Tomorrow is my last day and I can say that I'm gonna miss interning there but not to get all mussy now. I will save all of that for tomorrow. 

Brittney C.

Day 32: Window Display, Bandanas and Tags

(11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

I started my day off by changing the window display for this week. This week I had a little difficulty because as I was changing one of the displays. Then one of the standing mannequins decided it wanted to fall down and break apart. I didn't break it only the arms came off and I was over it.

After I finished the window display I  Shannon wanted me to make some PLA tags for the tops. Who knew that making tags would take up all the time and I didn't even get finished. Today Shannon was tired so we ended up closing up early and tomorrow I will finish up the tags.

Day 31: Heat Setting, Dying and Bleaching

(11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Today at PLA I started off the day heat setting heat setting the two 25x25 squares that I dyed yesterday.  After heat setting the mock fabric it was time to cut out 4 white 25x25 squares and 2 black squares.  We first dyed two of the white squares that we just cut out, we had to wait about 40 minutes to make sure they dyed all the way.  Will I waited I did some research oh how to sculpt a felt hat and of course watching my favorite anime "Dragon Ball Z".

When time was up it was time to take the squares out and hang them to dry. After that it was time to bleach the black squares and I was super excited to see how Shannon did that. Shannon and I each had on square to bleach, I had to wear gloves because Shannon didn't want me to get it on my hands. I bleached my black square on the sides while Shannon bleached hers on the tips. Shannon didn't like how hers came out but I loved mine so I kept mine.

Next week will be my last week as an intern at PLA and I am sad. I told Shannon that I will visit and that we will keep in touch.  I won't talk about that now, I will wait until next Friday. 

Brittney C. 

Day 30: Window Display and Fabric Dying

(11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Today at PLA I started off my day by changing the window display then I changed the displays in the store. Then Shannon had me cut out scraps of white fabric to do dye test on them. Its my first time actually dying the fabric by myself so you know I was super excited. 

We dyed about five strips of fabric just to test them out, then chose the one that we thought would work best. Then I had to cut out two 25x25 white mock bandanas to be dyed again. We dyed them both the same but we used different ways we dyed them. Until we found the way that we thought would be easier and less messy. Now all we had to do was wait for them to dry and see what color that were. Unfortunately it takes a day for them to dry so thats where this blog post will end. Until tomorrow!!

Brittney C.

Day 28: Window Display, Washing and Labels

(10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

This week has been a tough one but I will push through like I always do. Its always good to go to my internship at the end of the week because it always seems to get my mind off my troubles. The first thing that was on the list was for me to change the window display. Shannon had already picked out the outfits that would go up in the window. So I just put the clothes on the mannequin and arrange them in the window. 

After that I heat set some pieces that Shannon had dyed, while she printed on a couple of patterns. Then it was time to hand wash the fabric I heat set, ring them out and hang them to dry.  The last thing I did for the day was sew on a lot of labels for an order she had. She also told me that I had tomorrow off because you had to take a trip. Thank God!!! I need tomorrow off, I have been stressed all week.

Brittney Council

Day 27: Senior Collection

(10:30 a.m to 5 p.m.)

Today will probably be another short post because Shannon said I could work on my garments again today. I am so grateful that she is letting me do this because I was getting a little stressed about it just because I have a lot on my plate this semester. 

Today I was able to finish three of my blouses and I was even able to sew in most of my labels in the garments. My labels are looking really good, thanks to my friend Brittany Combs. I was able to finish  my black dress and my beige dress. Hopefully I can get some more of my garments done before tomorrow but only time can tell.

Brittney C.

Day 26: Senior Collection

(12 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

Today was a relatively easy day, I helped Shannon a little bit then she decided to let me work on my Senior Collection for the rest of the day. Thank God!!! I really needed this time to work on it just because this whole week I have been do work from other classes. I have fittings next week and I need to have majority of these garments ready. I was able to put in the lining for most of my garments and was also able to sew on all of the appliqué. This will be a short post today since all I really did was sew all day. Hopefully tomorrowI will have more to talk about, until next time.

Brittney C

Day 25: Operation Organize and Field Trip........

(10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Today we finished what we had started yesterday. Shannon had bought ten small storage boxes to store everything in. Not knowing that it still wouldn't be enough. 

So we decided that it was time to go on a little field trip to Michaels Crafts and Supplies. Its funny how riding through East Nashville would be so much fun but it was. I think its because I don't explore East Nashville regularly.

After we bought ten more small storage boxes Shannon and I took a trip to Bongo Java. It was my first time there and it didn't disappoint, even though I don't drink coffee. They had the next best thing, tea and cookies! I was a little hesitant to get a cookie though because it was vegan. What is a vegan oatmeal cookie? Shannon explained that they didn't use eggs to make it. I swear that I have the best internship boss ever!!!

When we came back to the shop we finished putting the rest of the items in the boxes and I got to work on my alterations and blog.

Next week I will probably rehearse with Shannon my senior presentation. I need all the practice I can get when it comes to presenting and getting my point across. Well until next time.

Brittney C.

Day 24 Redecorating and Bulletin Board Display....

(12 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

Today I learned that we were redecorating the whole shop. Shannon and I moved all the shelves from one side of the shop to another. Plus we had to take all the books, fabric, markers and anything else that was on the shelves off. I didn't know Shannon had as much stuff as she did, especially all the fabric.

We even took down her make shift drafting table and it was extremely heavy. All the doors had to be emptied and cleaned out. We also cleaned then organized the bathroom and it looks good. 

The last thing Shannon wanted me to do after we did all the redecorating we could do. Was to tack down all the inspiration tare outs that she neatly placed on the bulletin board but before I knew that was one of my task. I had accidentally  picked up and all the pictures fell off and I had to reorganize them on the board again. Talk about me being so mad at myself for that but it happens.

After that there wasn't really anything left for me to do so I worked on my blog while I looked at A Different World and it was time to go.  I know tomorrow we will have our work cut out for us. 

Brittney C.

Day 23: Wholesale, Window Display, Mini Photo-shoot, Painting and Senior Collection

 (10:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

Today was a relaxed day, she didn't have much for me to do. The first thing she wanted me to do was to change the price tags to wholesales tags. Then I took the tops that were in the window down because they were going to be shipped out today. After that we had a mini photo-shoot with two tops that she hadn't photographed. I asked her where was she going to put them but after moving a round so much I have forgotten what she said. Any who, after we finished the mini photo-shoot Shannon told me I could pick any three tops  I wanted to be shown in the window. So of course it took me forever to figure out which three I wanted to go up in the window. Who knew that fixing up a display would be so hard.

The next thing on the list was to paint two cork boards white, while Shannon had to go run some errands. So whir she was gone I painted the boards and caught up on a little Dragon Ball Z. I finished one of the boards but didn't have enough acrylic paint to finish the other. Shannon figured I wouldn't finish and told me she would buy some more. 

Shannon didnt have anything else for me todo today so I worked on my senior collection until it was time to go. OH!! We also go the most coolest visitor today. He was opening up a retail shop close by and wanted to introduce himself. He said that in his shop he sold a lot of rocker themed clothing. He even said that he sells Vivienne Westwood clothing. I can't wait till it opens up this summer. 

After he left I did some sweeping and then it was time to go.

Brittney C.

Day 22: Sewing, Tagging and Free time.....

(10:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Today was a short day at my internship. Shannon didn't have a lot for me todo today. The first thing that was on the list was to put labels in some tops that she had. That took me about 2 hours, then I ironed them all. After that was finished Shannon wrote out the information on the price tags and then I pinned them to the right top. The last thing she wanted me to do was change the tags on some of the tops she had. After that there was nothing left for me to do so I just watched some movies and did some homework. Hopefully tomorrow she has more for me to do.

Brittney C.

Day 21: Cleaning up all the Hoard....

(10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Today was a fairly calm day, I started off by sewing tags onto some tops that were for an order that Shannon has. Then I put the whole sale tags on the tops and it was time for my next task. After that Shannon wanted me to help her clean up a bit. I helped her fold some clothes, clean up and moves a make shift shelf to the back. You never know how dirty something are until you start moving things around. 

At around one o'clock I took a lunch break to eat some chicken noodle soup, mini wheats and cheddar popcorn I brought form home, Yes, I know its a funny combination but when your hungry you will eat anything. After I got finished my delicious lunch, Shannon had a bit of a hoarder situation. It was time for her to clean out some of her printing paper that she uses.  It was funny seeing Shannon go through all the paper, she was reminiscing on when use used each paper. She made me think of when look through my old drawings, she even made me cut out a few pieces for her to put in he books. When she finally finished went through all her papers when took that ones she wash keeping to the dumpster. When we got back Shannon cut had a big piece of paper with scraps of testing fabrics. She wanted me to staple them in her sketch book so she can have them as a reference. 

The last thing we did today was sweep and mop the floors and then it was time for us to go.

Brittney C.