My Texas Kitchen

My Texas Kitchen My Texas Kitchen --- Family, Friends, Food, and Fashion --- Love sharing my family recipes!

Bunkie saves the day Part 2 HopeNext week, I was on the road to Bunkie!Fabrics, patterns, hand-smocked collars, and butt...
06/04/2026

Bunkie saves the day

Part 2

Hope

Next week, I was on the road to Bunkie!

Fabrics, patterns, hand-smocked collars, and buttons filled the back of my parent’s suburban. Directions in hand, I drove from Shreveport to Bunkie, 162 miles south with FM radio playing popular songs of the 80s. I stopped for lunch at Lea’s Lunch Room in Lecompte, Louisiana.

A legendary Louisiana café (established in 1928) with mile high lemon meringue pie. Best in the world and good for the soul. I felt revitalized!

Just a bit to go, I arrived in Bunkie. I spotted Sonic. Took a right turn. As Tom promised, “Bon Cherie was located behind Sonic.”

A new deal

Tom gave a factory tour . . . sewing machines buzzing, a large cutting table stretched from the front to the back on one side of the building. Stacks of various fabrics were cut into pattern pieces for the ladies to sew.

Following a brief visit, Tom gave a $10.00 price to cut and sew each dress, a promise to deliver them by my deadline, we were ready for business. The dresses would be shipped on time. Phew!

Bunkie and Bon Cherie, my home away from home for several years sure were good to me. As I learned the craft of manufacturing dresses from Tom Vincent, Susan Apple was off to a great start!

#ᴛʙᴛ

Bunkie saves the day Part 1 When Salty’s in Ft. Worth closed, I found Bon Cherie, an apparel factory in Bunkie, Louisian...
06/04/2026

Bunkie saves the day

Part 1

When Salty’s in Ft. Worth closed, I found Bon Cherie, an apparel factory in Bunkie, Louisiana. Bunkie became my new home away from home as I learned the craft of manufacturing dresses.

A couple of years ago I visited Sr. Margaret Rose in Lafayette. On the road back to Dallas miles of rice fields stretched on each side of the highway.

Bunkie signs along the highway called to me.

Should I take a little extra time to go down memory lane? Yes! I decided to take a detour and take this photo.

Deadlines

1984, Susan Apple dress orders in hand, cotton twill fabrics paid and shipped, I had less than ten weeks to deliver the dresses to the stores. Otherwise, they would cancel their orders. I would be left in debt with hundreds of yards of fabric. Worst of all, let my customers down. I quickly learned that deadlines were the biggest challenge in the fashion industry.

Panick

This was a time before Google. We navigated businesses by word of mouth.

I called my Tandler Textiles’ sales representative. Their beautiful cotton twills, imported from Japan were our primary dress fabrics. (Sadly, they went out of business too).

I asked, “Do you know of a factory to make my dresses?”

He responded, “There is a fellow, Tom Vincent. Bon Cherie is his factory. They are down in Bunkie, Louisiana. They made uniforms for the World’s Fair in New Orleans a couple of years ago. (1984). Maybe he can help.”

Part 2 is on my next post because my essay had too many words for Instagram. 🙂

James, Blessings on your baptism day!JT, congratulations on becoming at godfather! 🩵🙏🩵
05/30/2026

James, Blessings on your baptism day!
JT, congratulations on becoming at godfather!
🩵🙏🩵

A little glimpse Remember my first office, the 5’ X 5’ closet. You can see it here, just over my right shoulder. It’s De...
05/28/2026

A little glimpse

Remember my first office, the 5’ X 5’ closet. You can see it here, just over my right shoulder. It’s December 1984. My childhood friend Leslie and I were sewing a new dress.

A little break for a phone call.

The landline phone was the hub of our household. In many ways it kept us connected. When the phone rang, we answered it. We visited with whoever was calling. Most of the time it was for Billie. One of her sisters, a cousin, aunt, friend or parent (to discuss one of their children in her kindergarten class) was calling. I visited a bit before announcing the caller to Billie (seems like I was her personal assistant). She took each one of her phone calls. Made lots of them too. Billie loved talking on the phone!

The landline phone gave a busy signal when we were visiting. Knowing that we were home, often the caller decided it would be best to drop by for a visit. This was even better because it led to longer visits on our front porch. In the summer, tall glasses of iced tea were passed around to our guests. Soon, another passerby saw the activity and would stop for a visit. Before long, we had an impromptu party on our porch. Life was simple. Seems like we had more time. Although, I am not sure about this.

A little glimpse of the 80s

Catherine, Happy Birthday!You have filled our hearts with sunshine, smiles and joy! 🌻💛🌻💛🌻We love you, Mom and Dad💕💕
05/22/2026

Catherine,
Happy Birthday!
You have filled our hearts with sunshine, smiles and joy! 🌻💛🌻💛🌻
We love you,
Mom and Dad
💕💕

A dressmaker’s dreamI was able to pursue my dressmaker’s dreams because I stood on the shoulders of my fearless parents,...
05/21/2026

A dressmaker’s dream

I was able to pursue my dressmaker’s dreams because I stood on the shoulders of my fearless parents, Billie and Boots Apple. They were entrepreneurs. Even before it became as popular as it is today.

Boots operated Apple Engineering. Billie, taught kindergarten at St. Joseph Catholic School’s kindergarten for 25+ years. They were willing to take the road less traveled for the best long-term outcomes. They led by example.

Soon after our first batch of dresses were made at Salty’s Apparel in Ft Worth, we learned that they were closing their doors. Heartbreak.

Margaret McWhorter, my business backer and TCU professor, made the decision to continue her career at TCU. Afterall, she was the Chair of the Fashion Department!

After TCU graduation, I moved back home to live with my parents. During the summer, I worked at Counter Culture selling the world’s best yogurt. During my spare time, I continued designing and sewing dresses. On sweltering, humid Louisiana afternoons, I could be found on our front porch, reading Women’s Wear Daily and dreaming about becoming a dressmaker. Should I get a “real job” or pursue my dream?

By the end of the summer, I decided to follow my heart and pursue my dressmaker’s dream. Although it was not logical, my supportive parents made my dream a reality by signing a $3,000 promissory note. (Yes, I paid them back!) At the time their loan felt like one million dollars.

I was officially in business.

I set up shop in a 5’ X 5’ closet in my childhood home. I had a sewing machine and shelves filled with boxes of fabrics, laces, buttons and thread. I was making progress with my new financing. I traveled and sold more dresses and purchased fabrics.

Now, I realize God‘s grace in my life because my humble beginning turned into almost twenty years of designing and manufacturing dresses. What a gift!

Thank you to Billie and Boots
#ᴛʙᴛ

05/20/2026

Welcome to my studio!

I’m drafting my first pattern in my new studio.

Inspired by all of the beautiful women and their dresses at a spring lunchroom that I recently attended. Observing each fabric, silhouette, button and style of their spring dresses, I retreated to my studio for two days of pattern drafting, a first sewing sample and fitting. At last, I cut out the complete pattern in a tropical blue polish linen.

Now, I’m off to my favorite seamstress.
I can hardly wait to show you the final dress!

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8017 Preston Road
Dallas, TX
75225

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