Celebrate New England Winter In Style

Sometimes I feel like I am too old to model for my company. But today, I realized that my ideal customer is actually close to my age (46), has similar body image struggles and similar ideas when it comes to what we would like to see stores sell so that we can buy it!

Last week, I interviewed a few ladies to find out their frustrations when shopping for clothing in the Bangor, Maine, area. The ladies I interviewed were between the ages of 25 and 63, and I consider them fashion-forward. 

Some of the key things I learned are:

• She prefers quality over quantity.
• She shops because she is bored with her current wardrobe and feels that she needs a style update.
• She is inspired to purchase a well-made piece statement piece from time to time.
• She leans towards achieving a minimalist wardrobe.
• Her style is mostly casual, but she still wants to look presentable and feel sexy and beautiful.
• If there were a place to shop in the Bangor area that carried quality apparel at a reasonable price, she would choose to shop there instead of online. 
• She values her local retail/apparel stores.
• She enjoys a pleasant shopping experience that meets her pace. 

I was pleasantly surprised by some of the answers I received from some of these ladies. These match up with the type of customer I hope to serve when I open my boutique. A few didn't respond the way I had hoped, but I continue to remind myself that I cannot serve everyone, and that is not my intention. The reason for these interviews is for me to find out if there is a market in the Bangor, Maine area for what I want to build. So far, I would say, she is out there. 

In between Zoom interviews, I was inspired to purchase a couple of items from my company and take a walk with my camera and tripod in tow and show them off for you. It was such a cold yet beautiful day! A perfect day to celebrate New England winter in style. 

Shop the items seen in this post!   

 

My First Outdoor Pop Up Shop at The Maine Square

I will host my first outdoor pop-up shop for The Maine Square on July 19th, 2020! It is going to be in my yard and you are invited! It will begin at noon and only last until 3:00 pm at 1017 Olive Street in Veazie, Maine. 

 

July 19th falls on a Sunday. I hope you can make it! But if not, depending on how things go for this first one, I plan on hosting another one in September with a bit of a fall-ish feel. Anyway, you are invited, and you can even bring a friend. Please click HERE to access the Facebook invite to RSVP OR reply to this message or leave a comment at the end of this blog post to let me know you are coming. 

 

EVERYONE WHO ATTENDS MY POP-UP SHOP IS REQUIRED TO WEAR A FACE COVERING, and we must try as much as possible to stay 6 ft away from each other under my 12 ft. x 12 ft. canopy. That might mean that only a couple of people at a time will be able to shop. I will have cold seltzer water for you to drink while you are waiting! If you cannot wear a face-covering due to a health-related issue, then you can shop right on this very website at my online boutique. Everything at my pop-up shop will be available online as well, that is, until it sells out. Please feel free to continue reading this blog post if you want to know more about why I am hosting this pop-up shop in my yard and other things that I have stirring around in my head that I wanted to inform you about.

It has been so long since I filled you in on everything going on at The Maine Square! I have been terrible at posting on social media lately. I am struggling a little bit with "doing it all." The mask-making has been taking over The Maine Square. I am so grateful for all of the mask orders I have received over the past few months. Masks continue to be my most popular item. When this Covid-19 pandemic hit us back in March, I didn't know what would happen to The Maine Square. I knew certain people would not be shopping for unnecessary items, such as bow ties and pocket squares, which are the foundation of The Maine Square. Right before Covid hit, I had purchased some new inventory. I had been trying to reinvent my brand. Since many of my customers are women, I began making preppy cosmetic bags with embroidered lobsters and anchors. I had also ordered some new items made by my fellow makers to offer on the site. Sales were slow, but I think a lot of that was due to Google robots not showing my site in search results because I didn't really know what I was doing! Since I had some time on my hands during the state of Maine's "stay at home" order, I researched Google website compatibility. I also listened to many podcasts and watched Youtube videos on the subject. I think my site is more Google-friendly now. Plus, I have received a few reviews which rank high with Google! Trust me; it's a whole thing. And it's a work in progress every single day. And guess what? I absolutely love it! 

April was when the idea for masking masks hit me. I didn't want to make them at first. I was sort of in denial about Covid, and I didn't want it to be happening. I thought if I pretended that Life was every day, that it would be. I know that is a stupid thought. But maybe you can relate. We have never experienced anything like this in our lifetime! Life has always been a fun and safe feeling for me for the most part. Yes, I have had my fair share of worries and hardships, but now we have the same concern and troubles from time to time, but with Covid and mask-wearing in the mix, it can really get to you if you let it. We must be strong. We must go with it, for now. It will pass. But for now, you need a mask. And that is why I decided to begin making them. I would have felt guilty for not making them since I had a sewing machine and plenty of fabric. I have to say that elastic was not easy to come by in April. I scrounged up what I could, but everyone was out of stock! Finally, I found Fabric Warehouse online, a sewing supply store in Auburn, Maine! I ordered plenty of elastic and still currently have plenty to make masks with. Thank goodness for Fabric Warehouse!

Because customers had ordered so many masks from me, I have purchased more inventory for my online boutique, which is why I have decided to host a pop-up shop! Thank you so much, you guys! I have always wanted to host a pop-up shop, but I always thought it would break my budget. I would have to pay to host my shop in a specific location, which wouldn't work for me right now. Plus, with Covid-19 on the loose still, I don't think people would be very excited to be inside a building in close quarters with other customers shopping at a tiny pop-up boutique. So, I had a brilliant idea. Why couldn't I host a pop-up shop in my own yard? Would that be tacky? Maybe. But you have to start somewhere! It will be spacious enough since it's outside, and I can (and will) require people to wear a mask if they would like to attend. Would my town allow me to do something like this? There was only one way to find out. Go down to the Veazie town office and ask! So I did. And they gave me a permit! It was very inexpensive. Why didn't I think of this before?! 

Some of the brands you will be able to see and purchase at my pop up shop are:

• The Maine Square
• Erin Flett
• Sea Ropes Maine
• LiveME
• Gracie Designs
• Seawicks Candle Co.
• Borestone Soap Co.
• Mermaids & Madeleines
• The Acadian
• Peachy Pendants
• Salty Girl Designs by The Beaded Wire
• Wicked Ginger Artisan Soap
• Mr. Bandana
• .....and more!

ALL of these brands are small-batch companies. Meaning that everything they create, they create in small batches. Nothing is mass-produced. Everything is locally owned and run by real people who work hard every day and produce everything themselves. They have a small staff who works for a fair and decent wage in a comfortable work environment. Every one of the brands that I carry has a person behind the brand who has a passion and has worked extremely hard to bring their passion to Life for all to enjoy! I am very thankful for these people. They keep us inspired even in a world filled with uncertainty. They bring us up when we are down. And I am so passionate about showing you all the good that is happening in this world!

If you read this blog post to the end, I thank you! I hope to see you at my pop-up shop. And if you are not comfortable joining me in person this time, you can always shop all of these brands right here at TheMaineSquare.com. 

xoxo Laura Lynn Michaud

P.S. If you attend my pop-up shop in person on July 19th from 12 pm-3 pm, mention the code word: SHOP LOCAL, and you will receive 10% off your purchase! 

Erin Flett + L.L.Bean = YES!

I was super excited to hear that L.L.Bean had partnered with one of my favorite designers, Erin Flett! I have been a fan of Ms. Flett's work for a very long time, so when I heard that she was partnering with L.L.Bean and designing some limited editions for them, I knew that I couldn't put off purchasing one of my own! So, I purchased two. This beautiful Megan tote in the ocean plaid, as well as the coordinating Jen bag that I will carry as a clutch or as a cosmetic bag inside of my tote. Oh, and how perfect does this Retro Ribbon from The Maine Square look tied on this tote?!

I have been thinking about carrying Erin Flett's designs at The Maine Square for a long time now. While I currently don't have the funds to ask her to design something exclusively for my brand, I think that I could choose some of her current summer styles to sell at my online boutique. Would you like that? Tell me what you think!

Gift Ideas For Mother's Day

Whether you're a mother or not, you know how important it is to always support small businesses, but it is especially important at this extremely uncertain time. Owning a small business is pretty stressful even during "normal times", but that is not a complaint. People who run/own small businesses have signed up for a lifetime of uncertainty. We work hard to make things that the consumer wants/needs/loves. It is in our blood to WORK HARD and to EARN OUR MONEY. 

Everything at The Maine Square online boutique has been made by human hands. Most of our items are made in Maine. There are a few items made outside of Maine, but ALL items are made in the USA. 

Below you will find some wonderful Mother's Day gift ideas. I know that she will love anything from our collection. And I would like you to know that every purchase that you make gets us closer to designing more items and ordering more designs from our fellow makers to sell at our online boutique that you will love and cherish for years to come. I would also like you to know that every penny we make is put back into our business at this time. We are not profitable, but we would love to be able to someday make a living and be able to provide you with outstanding service and special products that will keep you coming back for more. 

Enjoy shopping our latest makes for her! 

xoxo Laura Lynn Michaud

Tie A Retro Ribbon On Your L.L. Bean Boat & Tote!

L.L. Bean Boat & Tote bags have been around since 1944, but it wasn't until pretty recently that we began seeing them make an appearance in the fashion world. I never thought that I would carry a Boat and Tote bag as a purse, but here I am, doing it! I actually love them. This one pictured is the smallest one that they make. I really love the fact that it has a zipper on the top so that all of my stuff stays secure inside. You can order one from L.L. Bean with an option to have it monogrammed like mine, or you can just keep it plain. They also come in a multitude of color choices. And the price range starts at $34.95 so you can have more than one! Order your L.L. Bean Boat and Tote Bag right HERE.  I also couldn't help but notice how The Maine Square Lobster Print Retro Ribbon is the perfect compliment to my L.L. Bean Boat and Tote! It's also there to tie in my hair or around my neck as a scarf if I feel the urge. Scroll to the end of this blog post to shop all of my Retro Ribbon styles! I think I have one to match almost every color Boat and Tote!





Shop L.L. Bean Boat and Totes!

Shop The Maine Square Retro Ribbons!

A Simple Dress Made For All Body Types!

Lately I have been really craving to make something different other than ties, cosmetic bags, and Retro Ribbons. I think that is my biggest problem around building an actual business around something that I make. I seem to get bored of making the same thing day after day. So, I have begin to try my hand at making apparel. No, I will not be making clothing for The Maine Square customer. (Never say never though...) For now I am sewing apparel just for myself and for family members. But you never know what the future holds! I decided to try something that seemed fairly simple to make. But the truth is, no matter how simple something looks to make, it never is that simple. Sewing is a skill that requires precision and patience. Two things that I have always had in me, but never really exercised until I began sewing back in 2016. It's pretty amazing what we can do when we put our minds to it! Like with anything, sewing requires practice. And like I said, even when it looks simple, if you have never done it before, it isn't as easy as it may look. But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't try it! I suggest practicing on very cheap fabric such as a muslin first. I know, muslins are so plain and boring and you are excited to begin sewing with some pretty fabric. I get it! But you will be so mad at yourself if you mess something up on your nice fabric. I've done it and it's devastating! So I suggest practicing on something boring and very cheap first. I also suggest not setting the expectation to make an entire garment in one day. Do it in baby steps. Maybe you set aside an hour a day to sew. That way, you won't get burnt out when things might not go exactly the way you had planned. Just take a break and revisit your project the next day or in a few hours! I have made a few pieces of clothing now. I have made a skirt with darts and a zipper, (I'm really proud of that one,) and a sleeveless blouse with a pretty pleat down the front, (I even tackled making my own bias trim for that one!) And this dress shown in this blog post, which I am making again in a dressier metallic linen fabric for my sister and I. It's coming out pretty nice except the metallic bias trim has been a little difficult to work with. It's so slippery, but I am getting the hang of it! I'll show that dress off in a future blog post...Hopefully with both my sister and I wearing them!
Below are a few more detailed photo of the dress I made. And If you scroll to the bottom of this blog post, I share the four materials I used to make this dress and the links to purchase them if you would like to make this!



 It took me a little bit to figure out how to attach the single fold bias tape. But I finally did it after watching a few awesome YouTube videos which I will link to at the end of this blog post if you are interested in watching.

 I am really proud of my French seams. They look really professional! I know I am just a beginner sewist, and most people recommend just using pinking shears to prevent your garment from unraveling, but it just didn't look professional enough to me. I will link to the YouTube video tutorial on How To Sew A French Seam at the end of this blog post for your reference.

 My dress has pockets!

Materials used to make this dress:
Dress No. 1 Pattern by 100 Acts of Sewing
Garden Girl 100% cotton fabric from Hobby Lobby
White thread by Sewology
Single fold bias tape by Sewology
YouTube videos about how to apply bias tape by Lauren Guthrie:
Part 1 https://youtu.be/hn077MsVhNI
Part 2 https://youtu.be/C-Lh1TG5dys
YouTube video on how to sew French seams: https://youtu.be/YYa86gQbN6c

If you try to make this or anything else, please have fun! Make mistakes and learn from them, try again, and be so proud of yourself! And I am here for you always! Please fee free to contact me by making a comment below or you can always e mail me by using my online contact form here! 

Winter Blues

I hate to say it, but I officially have the winter blues. I know it is the new year. I should be jumping for joy and raring and ready to go, but I'm not. The winter is really challenging for me. It's so cold here in Maine for way too long. I am actually being a big baby right now. Honestly, this winter has been pretty mild so far. We have only had a couple of days that the temp has hung around down in the teens, but I am sure that Mother Nature is just getting started. My workout routine has pretty much gone down hill. I like to go for walks and ride my bike outside and its not enjoyable for me once the temps go down below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Lately I have been trying to do some indoor workouts by following some YouTube videos, but even though it's warm inside, just knowing that it's winter outside keeps me down. I really have to push myself. That being said, I plan on doing a 30 minute mild cardio workout this morning and I am going to stick to that plan! One of my New Years Resolutions is to not break promises to myself. I keep the promises I make to everyone else. Why do I break promises to myself when I am the most important person in my life?! That sounds totally narcissistic, but I think you know what I mean. Also, I try to wear things that I love and treat myself to something new once in a while. I don't want to go over board with buying because I am trying to get my credit cards paid off. (another New Years resolution) But I think it's important to treat ourselves once in a while with something new. Maybe once a month! I am going to treat myself once a month but only if I reach a goal. For instance, like doing a 30 min workout at least three times a week in the month of January. If I reach that goal, I am going to buy myself something new! Id love to hear some of your goals for 2020. Please feel free to share in the comments at the end of this post! 

I LOVE my new fabric storage bins from Target. I purchased the cube storage shelving system from Wayfair last year and just recently purchased the boxes. There is no better feeling than being organized. I can think a lot more clearly when I am organized. Do you feel the same? 

Everyone needs a pair of pearl earrings. I wear my pearls almost every day. They go with everything and tend to brighten up my face. Just try it! Pearls will brighten you up too! 

My Little Guy always try to get into my "photo shoots." He's so handsome. I don't mind...

I LOVE the macrame detail on these semi precious stone friendship bracelets by Mermaids and Madeleines. So delicate looking but yet so durable and completely adjustable.

Shop everything in this post!