Hi everyone. Fist of all I am not one to badmouth anyone, so please understand that ,that is not my intent and that i am just trying to track down my garb I ordered.
At the beginning of May of this year my husband ordered a doublet and slops and cape from a seamstress online. He also decided to surprise me by having a new velvet court gown made for me . That was in May.
In the end of June we contacted the seamstress who was making the garb to inquire about it's status. We informed here that our homefaire started in July and we were curious if the garb would be done in time for this season at our homefaire. She assured us we would have the garb by the second week of July.
Come August no garb yet. We understand fancy garb takes time to make, but when we made several attempts to contact her by email, and by phone we got no response back.My husband was starting to get concern because he had payed her already by paypal and the price of the garb was not cheap.
Here it is now September,our faire season is over for the year, and no garb and no response back yet. We would like to know if she fell behind with orders, did she fall ill, or simply put what is the status on our orders.
The seamstress's name is Virgina and the name of her online website /store is Midnightbreeze Designs. If anyone knows this person, or if she is a member on here, please ask her to contact me. Thankyou! I appreciate any help we can get.
No, but I found a wealth of info on her online. Have you tried both phone numbers or her ebay page (http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=midnightbreezedesigns&&_trksid=p4340.l2560&iid=370228251084&sspagename=VIP:feedback&ftab=FeedbackAsSeller)?
(512) 847-9975
(512) 558-1383
And yes, they both belong to her. Her name is Virginia Davis and I recognize a lot of the patterns she's used, unfortunately. You are supposed to come up with your own patterns and not use commercial ones but she's hardly the first person I've seen that has done that.
At any rate, call up both of those numbers and try to get in touch with her. Unfortunately, it's too late to file a claim through paypal -you might still want to try- and you might have to chalk this up to a lesson learned. Most seamstresses only ask for half the money up front and the rest when the order is finished.
Thanks for info ! Yes, i tried both numbers and her ebay page and her etsy site also.
Yes, i was a bit concern when my husband told me he paid in full.But i feel sorry for him too, cause he was trying to buy him something nice and surprise me with a new gown.From now on we only go with seamstresses that i know on here or at my homefaire.
Tried to file a claim with paypal , but you have to file claim within 10 days of purchase, which does not work well in anyones case if you are having something made for you.
Plans are to contact the credit card company and see if we can do a charge back.
Someone also suggested the better business beaureau or small claims court, which i hate to have to do that but might have to. If it was a small amonut of money it would be one thing, but this was not a cheap purchase and as we all know money does not come easy these days.
So sorry to read this, Amy. I hope you get a total refund.
That is a shame. I was considering ordering from that EBay store. Thanks for the warning.
Have you left feedback yet? She seems to respond to the negative feedback, if nothing else. Her score is not the best, but it's still pretty high.
PayPal may work something out with you considering the nature of the transaction. I have found them very accomodating. Good Luck!
i have left emails , etc.
Tried contacting the credit card company on friday to to a charge back but their dispute department was closed for the holiday weekend. my husband was going to contact the credit card company and pay pal again today.
yes, i would not order from them. Since posting this post, i have received a few personal messages from others who have had dealings with this website and this seamstress and the feedback was not too postive.
Its ashame cause she has several websites, ebay, etsy, facebook, and she is made to appear very reliable, and her stuff looks very nice on her site, but oviously that is not the case.
awwwww amy.....what a crappy deal!
i hope it all works out. thats why i make my own or deal with people on here or even at faire.
good luck!
Honestly, looking through her stuff I noticed a lot of problem right away. I'm only pointing these issues out to make people more aware in the future and, if they see these issues with another seller, to not buy from that person.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79042921/gown-grooms-set-for-sheila (http://www.etsy.com/listing/79042921/gown-grooms-set-for-sheila) Although this is a custom listing, the fact she uses the exact same photograph of the original (http://www.everaftercostumes.com/fashioninfilm8.shtml) -and not her own work- is disturbing. (It's the first photo, bottom row on the link.)
I would let that slide -given that it a private listing- but I want to show why it's important to know your sewing patterns:
This lovely dress (http://www.midnightbreezedesigns.com/Anne.html) is from McCalls 3282 (http://betsyvintage.com/images/medium/tendec/mcv3282_MED.jpg)
This "Juliet" inspired one (http://www.midnightbreezedesigns.com/Juliet.html) is actually my favorite Simplicity pattern (http://ny-image0.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.184032632.jpg)
This men's doublet (http://www.midnightbreezedesigns.com/Andrew.html) is this McCall pattern 4695 (http://ny-image3.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.247286967.jpg)
So, why is this a problem? Honestly, partly because it's illegal. Technically speaking, by most pattern company standards, you are not to make the clothing from the pattern for resale. However, the other problem is that the seller's that typically do this illegal activity aren't the most experienced seamstresses/tailors. They may have been sewing for a few years but they have zero idea how to truly tailor a garment to *you*.
She may have used pretty materials, but you can do that yourself rather easily. Follow the directions on the pattern and you can have your own outfit for a lot cheaper. (Heck, you can even buy a sewing machine, the material, the pattern, sew it up yourself, and still save money based on the prices)
while not relevant prior to the 2nd
for what it's worth the 512 area code is in the Austin area
and there are a good deal of evacuations going on in the
outlying areas.
-h
Quote from: irish on September 06, 2011, 02:15:11 PM
awwwww amy.....what a crappy deal!
i hope it all works out. thats why i make my own or deal with people on here or even at faire.
good luck!
Exactly why i only deal with the seamstresses i know at my homefaire or the ones i know on here also. But like i said, i did not make the purchase, my hubby did. He is a smart, decent ,loving, caring , good guy, but he is not as experienced as in purchasing garb as i am. I feel bad for him, cause he was trying to buy himself and me something that he thought looked nice.
I too noticed things that did not look right on her site, but by then my husband had already made the purchase and well i just hoped for the best and that things would work out and i would be proved wrong. Apparently not !
Anyway was able to contact our credit card company today, talked to a very nice person, and a small claims dispute has been filed. Was told it could take a few weeks, so we shall what happens.
yes, he is a good man.
hope all works out.
Hi Lady Amy,
I'm sorry to hear you are having difficulty with Virginia.
I too have had dealings with her and still have an unresolved issue at the moment.
I first purchased a full mens outfit and then gown from her about 3 years ago. She took a lot longer than she said she would to make them, but she eventually came through. Fitting wasn't perfect, but they were good enough. However, after only 1 wearing, part of the gown started to fray. I contacted her and she responded quickly and said to send it to her and she'd fix it and return it to us quickly. It took nearly 4 months and lots of emails/phone calls before she finally responded by saying she had shipped it out yesterday.
Fast forward 2 and a half years and my wife and I decided to look into having new outfits made. I looked around and contacted a few people I had done business with before, either from this site, or others. While I was planning on using someone else, I decided to email her and see what she had to offer. She came back with a price that was far, far below anyone else. Knowing that she wasn't reliable, time-wise, I figured I had contacted her in March, and it would give her plenty of time to get them done before faire season started.
Well, faire season has started. While we initially got the outfits about a month and a half ago (after many emails and non-responses on her part), they didn't fit correctly at all. Mine was too big all over and my wife's bodice was waaay too short. I contacted her, stressed that if I sent them back to her, I'd need them before faire season. She assured me we'd have them back in time and, for once, she actually got them back to us. They aren't the perfect fit they should be, but they will work.
However, part of our order included a matching sword cape, a tall hat, and a french hood. Well, these have yet to materialize. I've emailed her at least 5 times since re-receiving the outfits, but have gotten no response.
In the past, as someone mentioned earlier, she seems to respond to negative emails and threats. I haven't gotten that far yet, but I was about to send her a new email, giving her only a few days to respond before I contact the better business bureau, post unfavorable comments on her facebook page, and so on and so forth. This seems to work well, as she has consistently responded after these threats AND has actually delivered on her responses.
I would suggest that you send her an email stating that you will do these things and see what happens. If she doesn't respond, follow through. I've had luck so far with this method and I hope to have luck again with them, as I need my the hats and sword cloak before Oct. 1.
Good luck and I truly hope you get your outfits and that they fit as they should, or that you at least get your money back.
I will not be using her again. While I've truly enjoyed her final products and have gotten nothing positive responses from my fellow faire friends about how nice we look, I just don't wish to ever have to deal with someone like Virginia again.
Here's a picture of me wearing her most recent outfit. I love the look, but it's been more hassle than it's worth.
(http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/294419_2147029928258_1621606731_2093652_6682583_n.jpg)
Good luck,
Sir. Kindle
Amy,
Have you gotten your garb yet?
I have decided to make my own dress this winter. I only have 2 years experience and only one set of garb done, but it's safer this way.
Here is what ended up happening:
We contacted our credit card company and filed a dispute.
Then our credit card contacted Pay Pal. Pay Pal then contacted MidnightBreezeDesigns and let them know there was a dispute.
MidnightBreezedesigns contacted us on a Monday I think it was, and said they could have the garb made and shipped by Wednesday.My husband and i looked at each other, and we were both like " If we are paying that much to have garb done we don't want it to be rushed being made." Plus they were suppose to send be a mock bodice to try on which they never did before they made the actual bodice of the gown. After reading what Sir kindle went thru with this same seamstress,I was thinking " What if the gown does not fir right are we going to wait forever to get it back if i return it for alterations."
Plus to top it off neither me or my husband cared for the costumer service we had received from this seamstress all along. Not returning emails and phone calls, promising things and then never making do on those promises.
So we asked for our full money back, which they agreed to, and i think we just received credit to our account last week.
So from now on only going with seamstresses i know on here, or seamstresses i know from my homefaire, and i am thinking about learning on to sew. I have not sewed since the home ec courses i took in highschool.
Me too. I have learned a lot just by doing. Also check out your local fabric stores- they have sewing classes and probably would not mind you bringing your project in to work on. Nothing like having expert advice handy!
Sorry for bumping this thread. :-\
I just got my latest Renaissance magazine last week and I noted that Midnight Breeze is prominantly advertised in it; full page ads at that.
For some reason I thought she was out of business, or something. Anybody doing business with her? Is she getting better?
I will say this: if you need a spectacular garb creator, and I say that in lieu of seamstress because she is so much more, Lady Kathleen is amazing. Don't expect it to be cheap, or cheaply made. She's a pro.
As it turned out, I got my garb 3 or 4 months earlier than I had expected, although I think that was just my dumb luck (dumb luck is the only kind I get). It will be seen in public for the first time this weekend at Sherwood Forest Faire.
I too, am a customer of Lady Kathleen and I know what a fine job she does ;D,
However, I am not currently in the market for a seamstress. If I was, our own kind Lady would would most assuredly get the job! I have recommended her many times.
Regarding my original query: I was just curious to know why the Midnight Breeze is still around and taking out full page ads in Renaissance magazine, since it seems she has (had) major issues filling the orders she does have. Unless MB is getting her ads for free, business must be good which is a minor miracle considering the complaints I've read here.
...or perhaps lot of income with no outgo... that buys a lot of ad space...
A lot of very poor merchants advertise in all sorts of curriculums. Sad but true that a lot of circulations let anyone with the money buy any ads they want. Only way to truly combat things like this is for a large number of customers to said magazines to write or call in and complain about a merchant. It takes effort, as full page ads are usually very expensive and it takes a lot to move an owner from losing a large sum of magazine income no matter what the situation.
Per their website-Ren Mag charges 1K and up for a full page 4 color ad, for one issue.
Business must be good...
Business is always good if you take payment and do not deliver. ;)
Sorry if that is a bit facetious as I do not know this vendor, nor know anyone with direct dealings with them. But I have been there, done that, got two t shirts....so the above applies, at least IMO. ;) And perhaps I am still a little sore around the edges personally as recently a vendor bowed out on me 2 months after making an order with them. Fortunately I didn't put any money down.
Some of the Midnight Breeze designs were listed in the current Wedding issue of Renaissance Magazine.
Also, our own Lady Kathleen of Olmsted was named under the Very Merry Seamstress wedding garb, because she made the nobleman's shirt. A seller like VMS, owned by Heather, is the kind of business that the rest of the world should aspire to. She makes promises and holds to them, the contact with the customer is ongoing, she stands behind her work, and she gives credit to others where credit is due. She started out on Ebay many years ago - I bought my first cloak from her - around 11 or 12 years ago, and it was custom made for me and it still looks brand new.
For custom garb, I highly recommend Lady Kathleen. She is another whose service is impeccable, and we never fail to receive compliments the entire day when we wear garb she has made.
^Ditto^. I saw the ads for VMS too, and I expected those. Love the wedding issue.
The MB ad is on the facing page, I do believe.
You have to do some research prior to having outfits made by someone you might never see! I wont buy from someone with out checking them out! I have three outfits made Lady Kathleen they are Fabulous. She kept in contact and posted pictures of progress. She is a Great seamstress. I Will have more outfits made by her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Huzzah
And an excellent way to research is right here, on the faire photo pages!
Frequently the captions name the person pictured and the seamstress who made the garb, if different from the wearer.
I have taken a quick gander round the website... First impressions are:
Looks like commercial patterns from the Big Four were used for all the garments.
Fabric choices look like budget options and furnishing fabric/curtain remnants... Rather scrappy and 'flung together'. Made out of what was on sale the day she went to the store.
Prices are good for what you see: budget garments for budget prices. We charge this sort of price for our sample garments.
You can't see the finish, but the way the garment sections fit together isn't massively impressive. They don't look like they were carefully pressed at each stage. I strongly suspect inadequate boning in cheap plastic or cable ties (FINE if you are doing home-made on a budget: a big NO if you are making for customers! We use plastic whalebone replacement therapy, but it is GOOD QUALITY stuff, even on our Bronze Finish kit), Vilene/Pellon interfacing where used, and horrible big shiny grommets rather than tidy neat little ones or stitched eyelets.
If you are buying as ready made garments, and what you see is what you get for the price, then I'd expect a fully machine made finish, and if they last a couple of seasons, you've done well for the price. As bespoke garments, they are miles off. They really don't match up to 'made to measure' either.
Looks like the skirts are not properly supported on commercial wedding dress hooped petticoats rather than proper farthingales: big give-away is that ridge above the hem where the hoop is... Tut-tut!
Commercial patterns are fine. You see something you like, you buy it, you take it and the fabrics along to a dressmaker and pay them to make it up. It fits nicely and is properly finished. It costs you a neat packet, and lasts a good three to five years, if you made good fabric choices. Lady K and I can do that for you, but we prefer to do proper Bespoke stuff... Given you size and shape and fabric choices won't be exactly the same as the pattern company used, you should get a reasonable and nicely finished version of the pattern envelope photo.
Bespoke is what Lady K and I and others really love: research the time period meticulously, get samples of the fabrics for you to choose from, hunt up fab trims and buttons, cut a pattern to YOUR measurements, do several fittings, incorporate YOUR ideas and changes of mind (we do limit those! ;) ), and make you something hand finished, pressed to perfection, and that will probably get taken up/in some years down the line for your grandchild as a teenager!
Heh... Right now I have just ordered a set of RAF uniform buttons for a Space Ranger LARP uniform... It'll be made from an all wool dress barathea. Yum!
After going thru my mail after a 2 week trip out to Reno, Nevada, I paged through the newest issue of RENAISSANCE magazine. I was totally stunned to see my name in print.
I also want to say that it is an HONOR to work with Heather of Very Merry Seamstress. I have admired her work for many years prior to her approaching me via this community to add my talents to her line. The feedbacks she recieves from items I have done for her clients been positive, that she keeps me busy with orders when they come in.