God, do I hate that or what!? 36 hours has never felt so long ever before... I just wanna know if I'm the best international fashion designer NOW!

I'm eating candy for breakfast and answer e-mails about photo shoots. It's hard to get everything together. Even though I wasn't planning on doing so many shoots this spring, lots of people get in touch with great ideas and portfolios, so I can't say no... Unfortunately it seems like everyone wants the same clothes, or shall I say lightning pants?? I'll get it together somehow...

Today's the first day of the sale! It feels good to have a sale before increasing the prices. I know lots of people think the clothes are expensive already, but they don't seem to think about that they're not some kind of mass-produced low-quality shit like H&M. It's handmade by order. Anyway; I completely understand - I'm a just a poor designer myself, haha - and if I can make someone happy, who normally can't afford it, then that's great.

Oh, I just saw a picture of miss December wearing my metallic star dress, all I can say is; lucky you who's going to the Scandal Beauties Party next weekend! That girl is smoking hot! Wanna see it too? Check it out here!

Well... maybe it's time to get myself together and take my place by the sewing machine. No rest for the wicked!

Lena xo

...and I'm starting to feel quite a bit nervous... The voting for Alt Fashion's best international fashion designer of 2009 closes Saturday 9 AM, local time. (10 AM in Sweden). And then I have to wait. I hate waiting. The result will be presented late Sunday night. Right now I haven't got a clue how the voting's gonna end... but I sure as hell wanna win! So please vote and vote again and again!

Click here to come to the poll!

Woke up and felt completely trashed and bored today. Still got the cold from hell - fever and a head full of snot - but doesn't wanna stay in bed. Got so much to do... and I still have stuff that should have been done before Christmas that I haven't had the time to do yet. I've been sick all the time! Tons of e-mail to answer. A sale to prepare. A spring collection to finish. New Spandexxx Classics. The fall/winter collection. The Sewing Fair fashion shows. My fetish collection. Special orders. But my body is saying no...

At least I managed to get some stuff shipped to Gothenburg and miss December Wiklund for the photo shoot today. It's been a while since we last worked together and I'm thrilled to see her rock the pants and the dress I sent her.

You can check out my glamour bad girl here at her blog! (In swedish, but lots of lovely pics from her modelling work)

Lena xo

When inspiration hits me, it's like being struck by lightning. It's like a wave of electricity going through my body and I can't let go of my pen. I'm sketching til I'm completely drained of creativity. This part of my job is without doubt my favourite one.

It all started yesterday when watching Nausicaä. One of my fave movies. I love Miyazaki, all his films are amazing, but I love the futuristic, down to earth, clothing the charcters are wearings in this one. Despite hangover, some seed of inspiration started to grow and afterwards when I nearly fell asleep I got a vision of futuristic Hollywood glamazons. Leather, suede, fur, mirror glass and sheer stretch. Corsets and drapings. I'm in love.

Now I'm just waiting for my suppliers to get back to me with some price info on the materials I've chosen.. hurry up, damnit! I wanna know if this is possible!

However, I know myself as a designer pretty well by now. I know that I will put this to rest while finishing the spring/summer collection and when I pick this up again, I will probably hate half of it, that's how I work. But I'm not sure this time... this collection is representing me as a designer in so many ways - it's rock' n' roll, edgy and still very glamorous, so I might actually still like it in a few months from now. We'll see...

Lena xo

Today when I woke up I had a lovely surprise in my e-mail inbox; an e-mail from the gorgeous Aeryn, with a sneek preview of the fab photo shoot she just had! I'm dying to see all of the pics! It's dark, fashion forward and very edgy! I'm very happy with the result and is looking forward to receive them all! I think she nailed it - what do you think??

Photo by Oliver Wong.

So I've been thinking again... even though I must admit I cannot understand how I can come up with any ideas at all, with my insomnia problem the last week. I haven't slept a whole night in over a week and it has really started to mess with my mind. Enough whining about that; I've been thinking; even if I don't win the Alt Fashion voting, I'm gonna have a sale anyway. I didn't have a Christmas sale and it's soon Valentine's Day and I want my customers to know how much I appreciate their support!

The sale starts January 30 and will last til February 14; 25% off on all Spandexxx Classics! And after the sale I will increase the prices, as I've mentioned earlier. My supplier has increased their prices, so I have to follow...

Well, I stll need your votes... 9 days left to go... I wanna win, damnit! So please take a minute, or a miute every day- right here!

Lena xo

Last night was another night of insomnia. I cannot stop thinking about all the things I should have done, but haven't had the time to do yet. Orders not sent. Orders lost during shipping. Orders to sew. Clothes not sent back from photo shoots. Upcoming photo shoots. Payments I haven't received and because of that not been able to pay others. The new collection. The list goes on and on and on forever...

Good thing though; It's not like I have nothing to do, which is an even worse nightmare.

I made a list in my head of all the things coming up this spring:

The spring/summer couture collection

The new Spandexxx Classics, including the new high fashion spandex line

The Malmö Sewing Fair fashion shows, oganizing all the shows

The fetish side project - planning on a fashion show later, maybe during the summer

Some special ordered gowns, including a prom dress and a wedding gown

Stage outfits for at least one rock band

+ all the usual orders, photo shoots and the other stuff I need to do every day

Will I have the time to eat, sleep or hang out with my friends and my boyfriend? Not sure yet, but that's how things usually are :)  However; one thing is very sure; I'm defo gonna deserve that one week off I'm planning in early May. Hopefully we're gonna go to Barcelona. Without phone and computer, just like in Berlin last spring.

Lena xo

Another late night yesterday, remaking the spring collection as I always do when it comes closer to the release. It's pretty. Very cute according to Lena Quist, with roses and chiffon, leather and studs- it's still rock' n' roll.

Today I woke up with new ideas. I've been thinking and struggeling for a long time now, trying to make my two parts of the brand work together more. And I gotta be honest, I love my spandex, particulary the leather-look fabric, but I wanna do the entire brand more luxury rock' n' roll fashion. Personally I'm so over glam rock, I can't stand it. Not the music, but the style. However, I know my customers disagree, so I'm keeping the bright coloured animal prints and the metallic star stuff for now. And since I'm a bit into the fetish inspired style I will make that a bigger part of the brand. But the biggest change will be the new "Black Line" with spandex in a more of a high fashion point of view.

So here's the new Spandexxx Classics:

* ROCK STAR* - Colourful glam rock spandex gear

* NAUGHTY* - Fetish inspired swimwear & clubwear

* THE BLACK LINE* - Exclusive rock' n' roll fashion

I guess it will never go together completely. I've always been in between. Not alternative enough and not typical fashion trendy enough, just caught up in the middle. I wanna do high fashion rock' n' roll. But where do I find the shops selling those clothes? Any tips would be highly appreciated!

Lena xo

My job isn't always just good news and sunshine. I'm in a very bad mood today. I woke up late after spending the night hunting down fuckers who's using my pics without permission. I don't mean those of you who are using them in your blog while writing about the designs, please take as many as you want, I'm just glad you like what I do. I'm talking about those sneaky fuckers who's stealing pics and are trying to take the credit for the work. Come on! If you don't have a talant of your own, don't try to use mine or the photographers to make yourself look better. The truth always comes out in the end.

I hate having to hunt people down. I've got better things to do. So please, send the clothes back after the shoot as soon as possible, pay the invoices on time so I don't have to explain to other people why they can't have their money on time.

Ok, I'm done bithin' for today.

Lena xo

Today I might have got the best e-mail in a long time. Maybe in my entire career. IF this turns out to be something. In that case it might turn out to be huge. I wanna tell, I wanna scream it out, but I wanna be sure first. In the fashion and music industry you get promised so much, but when it comes down to reality not half of it happens or come true. But this time; I want this so bad, it doesn't matter if I'm gonna have to get on the next plane to L.A. and only go there for one meeting. If I get this, it would be totally worth it. Curious?? I'm over the top excited!

I've had lots of great news lately, keep them coming, please! If things keep happening as fast as they have the last few weeks I'm gonna be a star before this year is over, haha :)