Tankini's are in production!!!

With the swim line in full swing I recieved feed back from serveral people asking for tankini's.  Trying to meet those requests I designed two tankini's for this swim season.

Asymmetrical Tankini:

The Andy Asymetrical one piece was such a great suit that I thought it would be a fun suit to modify into a tankiki.  

It's called the Andy Asymmetrical after my sister Andrea; she was the first of my siblings to be a lifeguard and she is timeless, sporty and beautiful.

Here is a picture of the prototype tankini.

Krista Halter and Spencer Bottoms

Krista Halter Top: 

My friend Krista pulled me aside and was telling me she only wears bikini's because she doesn't find one pieces and tankini's sexy enough. 
After picking her brain I was able to find a one piece that she thought was sexy.
Even though it wasn't one I would have picked (the keyhole was huge like collarbone to belly button and there was no support for the bust) I liked the halter and key hole idea.
If this suit sells well I will modify it to be a one piece.

Pictured is a prototype of the Krista top and the Spencer bottoms.

Spencer Bottoms:

One of my brothers closest friends is a girl named Spencer and she is a fashion icon.  She was sporting bottoms high waisted and cross hatching, I fell in love with the idea and created a pair of my own inspired by her.

At the end of the day let there be no excuses, no explanations, no regrets.

Dr. Steve Maraboli

Here I am in the process of making my dreams come true and it's hard, really hard but way cool at the same time.  I have two finished swim suit patterns each with one variation (with and with out a ruffle) and soon to be three tankini tops in the process of being produced.  I have a healthy inventory of swim suits ready to be sold and a beautiful website that is about to be launched!  All of these things are super exciting.

At the same time I need to work through my fears and just keep moving and taking care of things as they come my way.  

I've never been a sales person!  Okay I sold cherries, peaches, blue berries, raspberries all manner of fruit when I was 14&15 but other than that I haven't had to sale a product. I'm a creative and an introverted one at that.  So what pushes me to keep going, it is having the courage to live a life with minimal regrets.

I heard this quote by John Wayne and it has helped me,

"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyways."

So here I am, pursuing every avenue and seeing how I can accomplish what it is I have set out to do.

To be honest if it weren't for prayer and a belief in God I wouldn't have even started.  The belief that there is something more powerful than myself that will give me strength to endure all that I am going through.  That he has given me talents and wants me to develop them and to create more.  Also the knowing there is a comforter, that will help guide me through all of this.  

Still its not easy there are definitely times when my mind tells me this is hard or when I remind myself of the odds of succeeding.  It's that spiritual relationship that I rely on the most.  For I know that if I am doing my part that Heavenly Father will pull through on his.  

This is why put myself and my designs on display.  Why I rack my brain on how to market my swimwear and skirts.  Why I keep looking for the best fabric and why I look for the most talented photographers to show case my designs.

Limited Editions:

First is the Andy Asymmetrical in Mint Green and White Houndstooth.

Okay the first two swim suits and their variations are produced!!!

So far I have the Sweet Pea strapless suit with a ruffle variation and the Andy Asymmetrical Suit with a ruffle variation.

Here is the Sweet Pea Strapless with out a ruffle

The Sweet Pea:  The Sweet Pea is a nick name my sister Amber would call me when I was in high school.  It's an oldies song which I of course loved!  When I was designing this suit it seemed fun and carefree and I thought my old nick name was the perfect name to fit this suit.

Let's talk fabric: I picked these fabrics myself and love how unique and fun they are.  I tried to make sure I had a variety of modern fabrics and a selection of vintage fabrics.  One is a dark watercolor floral which gives it a more sophisticated look but the floral still gives it a little softness, I have a cheery pink grapefruit fabric with a muted blue which gives it a mix of classic vintage/lively feel.  I added a Neon Yellow which I have in the strapless style with and without a ruffle.  the neon is fun summery more modern color that looks great with a tan.  There is the light pink fabric that is very soft and vintage but is also one of the colors of 2018 so there is a modern spin on it.  Then there is the striped grey and white which is very modern and I paired it with the asymmetrical style that has a vintage vibe to it.  I love how all my fabrics came together to form a line that is vintage and modern at the same time.

The Andy Asymmetrical Suit:  

I named this suit after my sister Andrea who's nick name is Andy.  She was the first of the siblings to become a lifeguard, (5 of the children in my family were lifeguards, my mother and a handful of my nieces and nephews).  I've always looked up to Andrea, she is hard working fun and beautiful.  When I was in lifeguard training my friends joked that my sisters where the Malibu beach barbies of life guarding and I have to agree they kind of were.

Any Asymmetrical Swimsuit with a ruffle in light pink

Details for both suits:  All my suits are fully lined and have a shelf bras, the suits with-out ruffles are all double lined in the breast to give more coverage. I've also added a little detail all of my own, it's a scalloped elastic at the hips that is my favorite detail.

Modern Girl with Vintage Style

Neon Yellow Sweet Pea Strapless Swim Suit 

Swimwear is a particular passion of mine.  I was a lifeguard for six years (during high school and in college).  After spending all day every day in a swimsuit I feel most comfortable in swimwear.  

Light Pink Andy Asymmetrical Swim Suit with Ruffle

Like my other designs my swimwear has elements of the classical body flattering style and of modern comfort.  I've handpicked the fabrics so you can have a modern twist to classic styles-swim suits that 

Blue Citrus Sweet Pea Strapless Swim Suit with Ruffle

(if you follow the washing instructions and avoid highly chlorinated hot tubs) will last for years.  

Dark Floral Strapless Sweet Pea Swim Suit 

Fun in the Sun!

One of my inspirations for my swim suits!  

Growing up I was a lifeguard from age 15&1/2 to age 20, which means I was in a swim suit 6 days a week and loved every second of it.  Being a lifeguard was more than a job it was a way of life.  My mother was a lifeguard and had managed a pool when I was young so every morning she would wake my siblings and me up at 4:00 am and we would drive to the pool she didn't want us sleeping in the break room so we either had to do our homework or would have to swim laps (I always swam laps).  When the time came my two older sisters became lifeguards, then me and then my two younger brothers followed suit as well.  We were usually at the pool or one of the many lakes we guarded, floating the river or hiking.

My main inspiration for two of the suits I designed.  I'm even making them in yellow!

One day a lifeguard friend of mine saw me at the mall and didn't recognize me at first, he just stood there staring at me and then from across the busy clothing store yelled "Ashlee I didn't recognize you with your clothes on" as you can guess the little 18 year old me as super embarrassed because everyone at the store stopped and looked at me.  

What I'm hoping the suit will look like when it's made... cross your fingers.

Being in swim wear all the time was the most comfortable way for me to dress thus creating a lifelong love for swim suits and I am excited to launch my first line of swim suits this year.  As many of you know I already design and sew skirts, robes and dresses so making swimsuits is a new chapter for me.  

Same design but I loved the color blocking so much I am incorporating it as well.

Right now I have designed the suits and given the manufacturer the patterns.  I am busy hand selecting and buying fabrics to be used and then the suits will be made.

What the tankini bottom design will look like.  Hello sexy zipper.

What the second design will look like.

Breakfast Burrito Love

One of my favorite Breakfast's

Breakfast Burrito A'La Ashlee
1 Tortilla (I like the kind that you cook, the un-baked totillas)
2 Red Potatoes
Cheese
1 Egg (I like Over Easy)
Avacado
2 Strips of Bacon

Serves 1 if you want to serve more than just make more.