"Find a Need and Fill It"

Great day, I'm back to producing and selling hair aids. I stopped production about four years ago when my husband, daughter and I moved to Texas. My dream at the time of our move was to reinvent myself as an online marketer, selling my creations, and living off the income----but things went array. I haven't put it all into thoughts or words I can currently express, things just went in another direction.  But I'm back!!!!!!  My easy order shop.

LARGE SLEEP BONNET, GRAPHIC HOUNDSTOOTH PRINT, will fit comfortably over big hairstyles, is fully lined with soft grey 100% polyester knit, that will not grab or pull hair. The smooth finish outer covering, is 100% polyester that will move freely on bedcoverings.

SMALL SLEEP BONNET, GRAPHIC HOUNDSTOOTH PRINT, this small sleep bonnet fits comfortably over my short TWA, and I just love it.




Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.  Psalm 31:24

Creating Fabric from Ready-Made Clothing

This is what I really like to do, make fabric from ready to wear items. I am always buying clothing pieces more for the amount of fabric I can get out a item, then just to remake the item. This is one of my reclaimed fabric remakes from my Youtube channel.

"May your choices reflect your Hopes, not your Fears."

                                                     -Nelson Mandela

"I Going to Make Something Today"

It's been a great busy week, and today I awoke with the desire to do something FUN. I have this great white linen shirt, that had been altered by removing the collar and cutting off the curved shirttails. The shirt is an Xlarge, with beautiful pintucking and machine embroidery down the front. I decided it needed a bit of shaping, which I removed from the side seams including the underarm area. I then added a bias strip at the hem edge, to give the shirt a neater finish. All in all this was really just a fine-tuning of an oversized shirt, made of very good linen. The first remake just didn't work, but the shirt was to good to toss aside. This will be my only white shirt to wear this fall and early spring of next year.

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

                                                                                                 Hebrew 13:6

Another Project Done

My client asked for a custom fit western style jacket, with the yellow rose of Texas embroidered on each sleeve. The finished project looked absolutely awesome on him.

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.  

Nahum 1:7

Wedding Ring

Today I got my redesigned wedding from the jewelers  (http://www.facetsoftoddmichael.com/ )  and it is lovely. Thank you, Todd Michael----Love my ring!!!!

"Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
                                                                        II Chronicles 15:7

A Relaxed Look

I’ve had a two-piece fine knit pantsuit for about a month, I thrifted it on an impromptu shopping spree with my husband. Always one to keep a running list of colors and fabric textures in my ever present journal, the extra-large beige knit pantsuit was an okay buy.  Later I acquired a soft beige and green short sleeved man’s shirt (extra large) that matched quite nicely. Second generation styling is this lovely easy dress, that’s just my style.

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."                      Psalm 139:14

What's Old is New

Got an order on yesterday from a customer who had bought a haircare item I marketed over five years ago, while still living in Detroit. The item “Topaz” a new style shower cap,  its a great shower cap for those who wear their hair in locs or braided hairstyles and need secure coverage while showering.  She stated, she’s owned her shower cap for about 4 years and wanted a new one, even though the original is still perfectly good. Because my website was down, she tracked me through Facebook, my daughter’s webpage, and  “three other degrees of separation” techniques to get her order to me. Well I’m sewing and designing again and filling her order was a definite pleasure. “Topaz” my shower cap design was the sister design of “CASEY” formally known as, “L.B. Soc”....for locs/braids and more., titled the Original Locs/Braids Hair Snood. Momentum was lost on marketing my products after losing  a 5 year trademark battle with a retail giant (take a wild guess), who claimed my product name would make people think of them instead of African-American hair care products. It took awhile but I’m over it, and I’m BACK.  If you want a great shower cap or a hair snood, send me an email----I’m ready to supply.

“Live with intention. Play with abandon.”

-Mary Anne Radmacher-Hershey, American Poet

"This Little Piggy Went to Market"

I am an avid crafter--my hands are seldom idle, I knit while waiting on the bus. Working a project, seeing something emerge from the bits and pieces of found items is like drinking a Red Bull energy drink, it gives me wings--so to speak. Now managing with intent is my renewed focus in growing the Denise Reed Product Design  empire. Who would have thought it, that five years ago a simple, yet totally useful idea, mainly a” loc’s soc” (defined as: a tubular shaped piece of fabric, that is usually worn over locs, braided hairstyles, Sisterlocks® to protect or maintain the integrity of the hairstyle while sleeping, working in dusty or unsafe environment,ect.) which was created out of my own need to cover my locs at night, all while enjoying a comfortable night’ rest. One thing leads to another and I’m on the web marketing this sweet little necessity of life. Following strict business principles, the clones have arrived---since 2003 the need for a “loc soc” as these beauty essentials are now known as has grown to the emergence of a cheaplocsocs.com, site---EEK!!!! There of course are those of us who take great pride in our workmanship, and price our products accordingly.  Ray Smith of Shades of Color (soclocsoc.com), whom I met at the Locks Conference in Philadelphia, has a wonderful line of  “locs soc’s”, using great fabrics and brilliant color selection. Totally awesome and professional in his product presentation, Ray is doing his part to elevate the image of ethnic product designers/manufacturers. Now there is also Jennipher Adkins, who has been around since 1991, designing and manufacturing head garments and nightwear. I've personally seen her products in local stores, and I love the look of the website (jennycapp.com). So what I'm seeing is an emerging market to an old need, ethnic hair maintenance---and a lot of people filling the bill.  There Strickland Products (Hair Bonnet), Deon Leftenant of Locksdown (locksdown.com)  all producing-loc soc's-. Deon is even working at getting his product to the NFL---imagine what doors that will open for designer/manufacturers of ethnic hair care products. Looking at the variety of producers for the same type of products makes me think of APPLE(R), PC, DELL(r) and other computer companies---they all have a place in the market. There is nothing new under the sun---except the Olympic opening ceremony, a totally awesome and completely innovative presentation, no one is going to top it.

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun. 

 Ecclesiastes 1:9