Academy Student Library

I am showcasing my 2022 Annual Symposium! The focus was on dyeing wedding dresses. You can link to the symposium here The goal of

The Anderson Alterations Academy is not only about learning the sewing skills of being a Bridal Alterations Specialist, but also focused on being a

You have probably heard of life coaches, sports trainers, and mentors.  Usually, these titles are referring to helping us improve our physical strength, mental

This is the third and final in a 3 part series from my ebook, “The most important dress a woman will ever wear”. You

This is the second in a 3 part series from my ebook, (read part 1 here) “The most important dress a woman will ever

This is the first in a 3 part series from my ebook, “The most important dress a woman will ever wear”. You can buy

I often write about black hole dresses.  Let me explain exactly what I mean: A black hole dress is a wedding dress that takes

(Please note, this series on brides comes from my book. You can buy the book here.) “Body Fluctuation” Our last common bridal drama comes

Burnout is a real thing.  First and foremost, if you are getting calls for more bridal work than you can possibly do it is

(Please note, this series on brides comes from my book. You can buy the book here.) The “Unrealistic Expectations” Bride  Ok, here we go.

(Please note, this series on brides comes from my book. You can buy the book here.)   The psychology of brides Part 3 This

One of the biggest and most important ways that we spend our time is work. Earning a living, paying the bills and then hoping

Bridal alterations is one of the highest paying jobs in the sewing industry.  Higher income than you imagined with less hours of work may

Here are a few more ways to avoid creating a bridezilla.   Don’t make Assumptions! Every bride is different and has her own special

(Please note, this series on brides comes from my book. You can buy the book here.) The majority of brides are happy, sweet, in

It’s very important that a seamstress presents herself as calm and confident as she meets with a bride during the alterations process. This can be…

(Please note, this series on brides comes from my book. You can buy the book here.) The majority of brides are happy, sweet, in

Many people spend a lifetime trying to figure out how to make a career out of something they love. Doing something you don’t enjoy

Work at home for a Bridal Shop This can be done either exclusively for one store or taking outside work from several shops and

Oh my. Where do I start? I am amazed at the variety of different work situations that BAS (Bridal Alterations Specialists) have available to

The Anderson Academy can mentor you as you create  your own business and clients. Knowing the protocols that bridal shops look for in their seamstresses…

A highly skilled bridal alterations seamstress is in high demand these days. And the skill of sewing in general is a dying art. Bridal

So let me tell you about some of my favorite bridal alterations tools.  They may surprise you. These are all tools that get used often. …

The basic sewing room essentials for a Bridal Alterations Specialist are: Very dependable sewing machine.  I would recommend an industrial sewing machine. Bridal alterations

As a seamstress, it’s a great idea to push your skills to the next level. You want to make a career out of it. 

We will soon be in the middle of the busy season for bridal alterations.  This is the perfect time to incorporate some yoga into your…

Ok people, March Madness is on its way! You should all know what I’m talking about. It’s not the basketball game madness. No. It’s way…

Bridal Shops are feeling the shortage of bridal alterations specialists. The time is now to get your shop prepared for the influx of brides. Will…

I do my pricing quite differently than most bridal alterations specialists. So you may or may not want to do your pricing my way, but…

Well, the January symposium has come and gone. You can still find it on my website under symposiums or use this link: https://theandersonacademy.com/symposium-23/ I

At the beginning of the year before our schedules get too crazy, we Bridal Alterations Specialists should ponder and refine our pricing for the

The new year has begun. We are sorting through our finances, getting ready for tax returns.  This is a great time of year to

Happy New Years to everyone.  I want to share with you a fun memory I have of a past New Year’s goal of mine. 

I try to work hard, but I am not perfect and have some regrets on how I have used my time sometimes in the

I want to tell you a bit about my husband, Doug.  He was raised in a family of hard workers.  Not just hard workers,

“The easiest way to discern a person’s priorities is to see how they spend their time. “ This statement is a punch in the

Every Wednesday in the morning I go to a beginner Yoga class. One of my girlfriends in the class said “Hey, you should do

“Decision Challenged Brides” These brides are simply overwhelmed by the many decisions that need to be made for a wedding.  Psychologists call it decision

How do you know what to charge? I do my pricing differently than most. And pricing can vary so much from location to location.

This is a tough love kind of topic. I try to be a compassionate person, but sometimes the consequences of giving up and dropping

As the CEO of my own business, I am so aware of time management. It’s just me, myself and I getting the sewing done.

As a professional business owner, I am in charge of managing my own work time. Time management can make or break a sole proprietorship

Wedding Season Burnout Every year at this time, I have the same conversation with my girlfriends at early morning exercise. I’ve been up early sewing…

Holy cow! That symposium was so fun.  I really had a great time filming my classes and felt like Diana Casey and Adrienne Gonzales went…

2022 Colorful Bride Adding Color to Wedding Dresses, Materials, and Laces January 9 - 15, 2022 This Symposium is FREE to all registered guests. Sign…

I traveled 4 hours to Boise with my husband to attend this wonderful sewing professional training conference. Covid cancelled the large event, but they put…

  Bridal Shops are feeling the shortage of bridal alterations specialists. 2022 is forecast to be the biggest year in weddings since the 1980s. The…

Bridal Shops are feeling the shortage of bridal alterations specialists. 2022 is forecast to be the biggest year in weddings since the 1980s. The

Hello to all the new brides out there. Congratulations to you on your engagement!I hope one of the best parts of preparing for your

  You have probably heard of life coaches, sports trainers, and mentors.  Usually, these words are referring to our physical strength, mental or emotional health…

One of the biggest and most important ways that we spend our time is work. Earning a living, paying the bills and then hoping

The Covid-19 outbreak is making things difficult for everyone.  If bridal shops want to survive 2021, it’s going take a lot of work.  You’ll

How Covid Affects Bridal Shops   A lot of people postponed their weddings during Covid-19, but plan for significantly more sales during 2021. Those

Refine Your Bridal Alterations Skills As a seamstress, you always need to push your skills to the next level if you want to make

Whether a bride's  wedding dress needs just a simple hemming, a bustle added, or needs to be completely resized, a bride's goal is to find…

All seamstresses are different! Some are good at children's clothes or keepsake quilting. Some specialize in men’s tailoring. But when it comes to a wedding…

The need for a competent and highly skilled bridal alterations seamstress is in high demand and the skill of sewing in general is a dying…

How To Keep Your Bride Happy! It’s very important that a seamstress presents herself as calm and confident as she meets with a bride during…

Day in the life of a Bridal Alterations Seamstress    Well, today I am hemming a lace dress.  But this lace hem is a bit…

Not only are the skills of a bridal alterations seamstress highly sought after, it is also a very rewarding career and comes with numerous

Pregnant and Getting Married! I received a phone call from a mother of bride.  Her daughter was 7 months pregnant and getting married in 2…

This dress has incredible beadwork on chiffon.  The hem border would be lost if I hemmed it from the bottom.  The best alternative for this…

This dress has an amazing lace.  The only issue is the lace edged hem.       This lace edged hem has an extreme high-low difference. …

Bridal Alterations can give you the job security you are looking for! Finding a well paying stable job can be difficult, yet, it can

Today I received a sweet text from a former beautiful bride with pictures. Back in January and February I worked on her dress. Long before…

This heavily beaded dress needed the hem lengthened about 1” to 1 ½”. Usually I take about a week to gradually ease the length

Many people spend a lifetime trying to figure out how to make a career out of something they love. Doing something you don’t enjoy day…

My model for the Level 2 Rodeo Queen section of my Academy is getting married. Hurray! What a treat to work with her again. Last…

High Demand for Bridal Alterations! Want to make a career out of your sewing skills?  Anyone trying to create their own business should know the…