Sweet Dreams Project

Ok so, Hello everyone.

My name is Nancy and Im new to the sweet dreams co-op. I was a little afraid coming here at first, but turns out it was really easy to settle in here. Everyone has been really cool and welcoming which was greatly appreciated especially since this is my first real job ever.

I got into sewing when the Turning Heads project came to my school as seminar. I didn’t really think much of it at first but turned out to be a class i look forward to all week.My first project was a small bag-purse thing that wasn’t as hard as i thought it would be. Unfortunately it was misplaced and i never got to show it to anyone

This is my first job so i really hope i get many new skills that i can use  not just here but at other jobs or even at school P.s. I’m a senior.

So for the past couple weeks, everything has been going great and everyone is so awesome here. I hope this work vibe lives strong. P.s. kind of cool having a co worker with the same name P.s.s. Veronica got me in here so i have her to thank ….soooo…Thanks!!

Sincerely Nancy C

The women at Sweet Dreams were awesome enough to donate eye pillows to Latina Educational Support Group at City College of San Francisco. LESG is throwing a Halloween/ Costume party at the Mission campus to raise money to attend a Latina Network convention. I am so happy and excited about this party!  The eye pillows are being raffled off and given out as a 1st place prize at the costume contest.
If you are 18 and over, come dance the afternoon off  on Saturday, October 29, 2011 from 4-9pm at the Mission Campus of City College of San Francisco. Tickets are $15 at the door. All proceeds go to the LESG. If you want to buy tickets, come through to the Latino Service Network at City College of San Francisco, Ocean Campus at 50 Phelan Ave. San Francisco, CA 94112 Cloud hall 3rd floor

My name is Nancy and I joined the Co-Op about 4-5 months ago, but it’s my first time writing a blog with Sweet Dreams.

Today I went to the DMV to take my 5th test for my 2nd permit to drive. I was embarrassed to think how many times I been there! It was embarrassing, and I was hoping that the workers at the DMV couldn’t see that on the computer when I registered. So I passed my test with 2 errors, and now I have a whole year to practice my driving.

In a way, this experience made me think about sewing, and how it takes time to get the stitch or project right…most importantly it made me realize that i need to be patient, we all learn at different paces. Everything in this life is a learning process.

At Sweet Dreams, we have bumped in to “critical errors” as it says on the driving test, for example, when we make a smaller seam allowence, have an invisible stitch that is not so invisible, cut the fabric an inch too short, or even over filling the eye pillows! Luckly here, our mentors and peers have patience with us and say something like “that’s ok, it happens!” Unlike at the DMV, where  its an ” I TOLD YOU LEFT!” which makes one even more nervous and prone to keep making mistakes.

Hello subscribers!

   Although not as fabulous, I’m Samantha (not Orisa as listed). I’m writing to give you a little insight on the roles a person from Sweet Dreams can have that has recently helped me in a new position I have taken on.

    In the financial department, I work with the lovely Orisa to regulate and calculate the hours and pay of each member. Fortunately, this experience has helped me transfer quick counting and organizational skills to improve proficiency in my new job. The financial department has also helped me become more direct. With that newly found confidence I am able to approach customers with professionalism and politeness I had not used before. Don’t get me wrong, Sweet Dreams Co-Op is no miracle fix-it cream, but it has definitely sharpened my job readiness in the experience it provides.

   Another department I am a part of is the production department. This position is one that is meant to check and facilitate over work that has been done within the span of a Co-Op session. It is also lets you see the importance of attention to detail. You can imagine the need for such a skill in a retail position (which I have recently embarked on).

   Lastly, I am responsible for calling our clients and filling in orders that they request. This has easily been the clearest  transfer of skills in knowledge of customer service and the importance of communication.

   Honestly, I didn’t think that this small Co-Op with great people and even greater products could help me gain the skills necessary to cope with the real world and all its various responsibilities. Thanks Sweet Dreams!

Love,

Samantha

What a lovely day it is outside today! i just got back from Yosemite and the weather in San Francisco is hotter than what it was over there. i didn’t get to sleep much but when i got the news that an order just came in from Australia i was excited! WE ARE INTERNATIONAL!!!! what a surprise from a lil mighty studio in a 7 mile wide city! we also got an order from Moraga.  (Not saying we aren’t fond of you Moraga but when something comes from Australia we just get a bit more enthusiastic!)

Last week we added to our group a new person. i am proud to say that wonderful Nancy is our new co-op member. WAHOO! we are saved, thank Goodness.  She came following the Oasis girls that visited our studio. Welcome our dearest Nancy, enjoy your stay!

As i got dropped off this afternoon at 12:30, i sat and waited for Jane to appear around 1:30. it was a tedious wait but none the less i was here at the studio. upon walking in i  grabbed myself  a bagel out of the freezer and defrosted it in our newly mini oven! P.S it was very delightful!

In recent up and coming t news, 12 girls from a non-profit organization called Oasis for girls is coming today at 5 o’clock  sharp. This lovely program empowers young women with their everyday lives and creates leaders their communities.

Hopefully some of these girls will be so enthralled by our sewing  program, they will join our Sweet Dreams co-operative upon completing the necessary training and replace those of us  (such as myself and others) heading off to college who can no longer attend the program.=(

We are so eager about these girls arriving, Jane and i replaced the old paper underneath  the mega mat (we all use to cut fabric on) and put clean white paper and taped it all down neatly. We even swept the floor to a notable sparkle!

Just in! Carnival is coming up soon in late May and costumes for a dance teacher at the marsh theater are needed and guess what, there is a possibility of that project falling into our hands, isn’t that exciting?Any-who that’s all the news i got so far, until next time my friends… ciao!

I reunite with my fellow mate, the blogging machine!

hello friends, comrades and cherished customers. i am back from the  busy real world with a tangerine in hand ready to spill out the ever so intriguing events that happen in our studio.  Along with all the random opera/Madonna/Lady GaGa singing happening in one corner of our room due to our lovely Nadia Johnson, we are making neck pillows of our own to distribute to whom ever we see fit to give to.

We are also planning to see the extraordinary fashion couturier  Balenciaga exhibit at the De Young by the ever so famous Hamish Bowles. For those who don’t know who he is, he  created Jakie Kennedy’s style. Oh what a joy!

Furthermore we are finishing our ever so extraneous lavender harvesting. finally after many many months of harvesting we have 6 more bags left to get crack-en down on and we will be free of the harvesting. Don’t get us wrong it was pleasant while it lasted especially the smell but let’s say we’re happy to get away from the taunting lavender ingrained in our brains.  we’re ecstatic we are almost DONE! YIPPY!!!

It has been a while since we’ve blogged and so to clue you in what i’ve done today i have included a fairly short yet large summary! Enjoy!

Today i had a really really good day. it all started when my teacher Mr. Archer asked me why i came to school so early ( it was late start today) and i said ” my mom drops me off fairly early in the morning!” He said “Oh” uncaringly and opened to door to his classroom. Then out of nowhere people started pouring in the class and yelling out “I GOT MY PERMISSION  SLIP MR. ARCHER” i was like “WHAT? … there’s a field trip and i didn’t know about it? oh no i got to go with you guys!”. So in a matter of minutes i got my permission slip signed and met up with Melissa at forest hill station. i got to Fort Miley  with my peers and Zip lined/ rope climbed everywhere including to the co-op, lol. Because i didn’t eat all day i ended up scarfing down a chicken, rice, and cheese taco with hot coffee, ( not the best idea but it quenched my hunger) all in under 15 minutes. Today at the co-op we are supposed to make zipper case demos and in addition we are going to have a special deal for valentine’s day!

WAHOO ready to work work and work! xoxo Orisa=>

Today is a on and off rainy day, resulting in a semi rainy day. Walking in the studio and getting settled to start work,  our mentors stopped us in our tracks and we had a group meeting. We talked about how now we were going to start having group meeting at the beginning of work  to discuss our agenda for the day such as: checking in with every one’s day so far, our production schedule, reports- (sales, special events, online work) and lastly discussing field trips to stores that sell our products.  Leaving us on that note, our director of sweet dreams needed to take a group picture of the hard working females that make the successful production possible.  It was actually really funny because personally i had some bad hat hair (it does that on days like these) and one of the members gave me a hair makeover which looked exactly like hers and everyone (including myself started) laughing. I decided to wear my cashmere scarf as a turban so i ended up looking like a Russian  biejita.- We had lots of fun! Our orders are shorter than usual so, today we will finish early.

Today as my peers and I walked into the studio, we went straight to work on the computer. Blogging  just about anything we could think of including  the new products we have just launched online a.k.a the special products that are limited edition. We posted them on our Etsy page for sale.  Now, if a loved one wants a dream pillow or yoga mat bag for their birthday you’d better not wait because they are selling out extremely fast. If you want one, the early bird catches the worm so order, order, order!!!! Thank you.

To order online, click here!