Quality Quidditch Supplies

This past Fall of 2011, thanks to U of O Quidditch team, Row West became a supplier of Quidditch Uniforms.   For this team, I did a full dye sublimation print for the shirt body, including individualized numbers and on the sleeves I applied a high gloss Golden Snitch in vinyl.   Quidditch is a pretty rough sport so I used a high durability fabric with lots of stretch.  The stretch being useful because these fanatics play all year long and it helps to have a jersey that fits over a snowsuit.

In the works...

I'm thinking about all the frozen people enjoying winter rowing....

just sketching critters

Finally got my Cintiq screen hooked up again.  First test drawing using Artrage software.

Hoods for Helos

 

At the request of Dalhousie University Crew, I finally developed a hood pattern for the Helo jacket.  Since the detachable version is a lot more work than just building it as part of the jacket I'm not sure if I will offer [detachable] as an option.   I will, however, be making the attached hood part of the ordering options for all the jackets.

Sometimes kids are good fashion test subjects.

In the interest of testing the dye sublimation process on waterproof softshell jackets, I recently made jackets in size Youth-S and Youth-M.   I'm pleased with the results and will adapt the graphic ideas to some adult versions soon.   Just have to finish some overdue work left over from the Fall and the holiday gift orders!

Mini fashion

So, here's my first effort at tiny clothing. I made this t- shirt for Cherry Bomb Toys. The figure wearing it is around 12" tall.

Ok - so it's been many many nights since I've had more than 5 hours of sleep in one go which, once again, brings up the issue of hiring people to help get things done.   Tonight I decided to lose a few hours of time to beer with Dan - a computer programmer with a creative edge.   He quoted something along the lines of 'we rise to the limits of our incompetence' or something like that.  Which he quoted with reference to the fact that although he manages a team of programmers, he's probably the best programmer amongst them - and his limitation is management.   So why isn't he a well paid programmer, replacing three less skilled people and being managed by someone who excels in management (not that he isn't good at that too).   With reference to Row West, it applies in the fact that I still haven't come across anyone who can sew as fast as me without making mistakes. And yet, business practices would indicate that as the owner of the company, I abandon sewing work to hire others to do it for me, decreasing production efficiency and creating a delicate balance of increasing costs vs the need for increased sales. 

So, what's the backward solution?   Maybe it's hiring someone to manage me.    Suppose I stay in the labour pool - it's kind of nice work.  You get to watch/listen to movies all day while making nice clothing.   Why should I stress about watching people who aren't as skilled as I am  putting my quality control at risk?    Is there a business where the owner occupies the entry level position while others do the managing of customer communication, accounting, etc?    Maybe that's what I need to create.   It seems like it might be a more fun way to own a business.   And really, if it's not fun it's not a great way to spend your life.

Also, aside from Row West stuff, if you have an eye for unusual beauty in creativity, look up Amanda Louise Spayd.    Her work really gives some people the heebyjeebies but all I see is astonishing beauty in bizarre form.