Manali'S Boutique

Running a boutique in Bibwewadi means there is always fabric everywhere. My space is usually cluttered with measuring tapes, chalk, and rolls of cloth that haven't been touched in weeks. I’ve been doing this for a while now, mostly because I like working with my hands. It is not a big fancy showroom like you see in the malls. It is just a small shop where I do the cutting and sewing. People from around the neighborhood drop by with ideas or just to see what is on the racks. Sometimes the machines act up and I have to spend half the morning fixing a bobbin or oiling the parts. It is a lot of sitting and a lot of eye strain, but I am used to it. Bibwewadi is a busy place, and there are always people walking past the window. I don't have a big staff, just a couple of helpers when things get really backed up during the wedding season. It gets pretty cramped in here when we have a lot of orders to finish. I don't really do much advertising. People just see the sign or hear about me from their neighbors. It is a simple business. I pick out the fabrics I like and try to make things that look decent. Sometimes a design doesn't work out and I have to start over. That is just part of the process. It is a quiet life mostly, just me and my sewing machine. (252 words)