EmpirerooM

Let's try that again.

2012-07-10T12:01:00.005+10:00

It's been a while. Again!
I don't quite have the hang of regular blogging yet.

One of the reasons for the extreme absence was Beauty & the Beast kind of took over my life temporarily.
It was such an amazing journey. I was working on my list of costumes single handed until the two weeks before opening, when I final got the assistance of a couple of spare sewers. It's one of those shows that you just wish you were performing more than just 5 shows, due to the amount of effort.

Castle object motif fabric

Plate girl sample

Mrs Potts Teapot skirt

Mrs Potts Spout & handle

the teacup & milk jug travelling home on the train.

Bells's 3 outfits
The Beast body - which it turned out I was allergic to.
The tea set including Mrs Potts, Chip, the Jug & the sugar bowl
Cogsworth
Babette's accessories
Madame skirt & accessories

Belle's blue bodice & skirt & blouse

Belle's Gold Dress

Beast body in progress

Babette's Collar & feather epaulets

Madame de la Grand Wardrobe skirt

Eyebrow decorations

Hat decoration

But I'm back, hopefully more committed to the blogginess & I've just entered my wedding dress into the Craftsy Wedding project competion.

It would be great if you could pop over there & vote for me.

December Wedding Dress

You Are Not Special Speech

2012-06-11T09:46:00.001+10:00

Some selfish Vintage sewing for me.

2012-05-29T15:11:00.000+10:00

After what seems an eternity of shows, jobs & sewing for everyone else, I decided it was time to have a day to sew for me.

Not for Beauty & the Beast: my latest show. Not for Alex Perry; dress design legend. Not for the kids ballet & band uniforms. Not for any styling jobs. It was time to use some stash fabric & break out some vintage patterns, just for me.

So yesterday, after an early trip to get fabric for Bride & Prejudice, my August production, I came home & made a blouse & pair of high waisted jeans.

I had already trialled the jeans pattern with some linen some time ago & found I needed to lower the waist about 4cm, lose the cuff & make the darts a bit bigger, as I am quite petite.

I used denim with a slight stretch that I was given about 10 years ago by the Tsubi guys(now Ksubi).
I also moved the zip opening from the front to the side seam. I didn't feel like fussing with a fly front in stretch fabric & I much prefer a side zip in high waist pants.

They are so comfortable.

The blouse was made with some beautiful self printed voile I picked up in Paris last year.

3m for 10euro. Bargain!

So soft & sheer, an appropriate undergarment is a must.

I made View 1, but again, due to my petite size the 3/4 sleeve is neither wrist or 3/4 length so I rolled them for the picture. I might add a cuff to make them long or just tack in the roll, as I think it looks quite neat. Very Lauren Bacall.
I'm also thinking of extending the darts up to the bust point for a more fitted look.

I think the blouse will work better with a skirt, but they look ok together for this picture.

Fashiony Goodness Served Cold.

2012-05-05T21:38:00.001+10:00

I've been getting lots of work as a mobile seamstress lately.

And what, you might ask, does a mobile seamstress do? I'm afraid it has less to do with sewing natty little covers for mobile phones & more to do with packing up your work room & hauling it all over town to do alterations.

At trusty Bernina sewing … something

I used to work as a head dresser on fashion parades & then after suggesting I could make a petticoat rather than sourcing another seamstress to do it for the stylist, my job description changed forever.

I went from drafting running orders, setting up backstage areas & cajoling dressers into getting their models on the catwalk in the correct outfit to slaving away with my trusty Bernina to make those size 10 samples fit on bustless size 6 models.

Backstage fittings. That's me on the floor. ^SS2009

View from my sewing machine AW2008

Waiting for it all to start 2007

'Backstage' for the Myer windows parade

Walk & smile & don't fall over. SS2009

Headpieces I made for Jayson Brunsden dresses

Magadalene bodysuit sized down to a size 6 AW 2011

Swimsuit by Cozi, skirt by me Myer SS2011

Backstage Autumn Winter 2012
- My workspace is by the yellow box.

Really, it's fun, crazy busy & I get to work with some amazing stylists. And BTW I'm a miracle worker, or so I keep being told. That just makes me laugh. All I do is temporarily alter clothes… but if you insist, ok!

Celebrity dressing room

Recently it's evolved again.

As I work with all these fabulous stylists, they ask for my business card & they call me and say stuff like "Megan Gale is flying in tomorrow (Friday) & we need a dress altered on Saturday for her to shoot Project Runway on Sunday. Can we courier the dress to you Saturday at 1pm & pick it up at 10am Sunday?"

Which my answer is invariably "Yes, but it will be double time for a rushed job."

Mt Franklin Lightly Swarovski covered swimsuit

There have been Melbourne Cup outfits, Logie outfits, Mt Franklin ad campaigns, catalogues & the like over the passed few months. There's usually only a few days notice & a 24 hour time frame to complete these jobs.

Except with the Swarovski swimsuit. I had four evenings to do that because I was working on the Myer Autum Winter 2012 launch parade 10 hours each day.

And sometimes I just wonder whether it's all worth it & then I walk down Lygon Street & see a floor to ceiling image of a dress I made for a Sportsgirl campaign & the crazy schedule melts away.

On Thursday it was a Portmans shoot with Abbey Lee Kershaw, an Aussie model who has made it big, no huge, on the international scene & Trevor Stones, stylist.

At 7am start on the coldest autumn day in a photographic studio that had inadequate heating, I worked my magic yet again on a suit, 3 dresses, 2 coats, a cute pink jacket.

I get to work with a fabulous team, meet some very cool people & bask in private joy when I see 'that' person looking fabulous because I made their outfit fit like it was made for them.

Next stop a new season of Project Runway & the production of Beauty & the Beast, I'm designing.

Sometimes public transport can be scary

2012-04-27T12:38:00.000+10:00

Today I caught the train to work. There is nothing unusual about that.
I was on an express train to Richmond so i jumped off at Box Hill to wait for one that would stop at either Camberwell or better yet, Auburn.As I & 3 others entered we noticed someone had left a shopping bag under a seat near the door. A guy who exited chased after the only other person who alighted, with the bag.
Just as the doors were closing he came back saying "it's not mine' and threw it through the closing doors & it slid towards my seat, where it had been left.
'How odd?' I thought & proceeded to have a look in case there was evidence of it's owner.
Just a shoe box, that was heavy & taped up.
By now my Spidey senses were tingling, actually alarm bells were sounding, really loudly.
The guy in the next seat asked what it was.
So there was a bit of discussion, some further investigation, one guy actually shook it, which was a bit unnerving, but it had been thrown into the train without mishap.
We sort of skirted aound the obvious, without actually voicing that we all wondered if it was an explosive device.
At that point I suggested pushing the red button. No one was to excitied about that prospect, but I also didn't want to be blown to pieces. So i pushed the red button & spoke to the voice & we were told to take it off at Camberwell & it would be investigated there.
One of 'us' we alighting there, so he volunteered to take it.

My heart was racing & I was so relieved when it was gone & prayed that it was some innocent mistake. A parcel some one was planning to post, an assignment for school or uni.

So now I'm at school & calmly sewing costumes.
An embroidered skirt for Lady WIndemere's Fan & then Belle's ballgown.

The next big thing

2012-04-26T14:36:00.002+10:00

Wow, it's almost the end of April.
I knew I'd been busy since school started but I had no idea I hadn't posted in all that time.
This is how the last 3 months panned out.

42nd Street

Myer Autumn Winter Launch

Mt Franklin Ad campaign

L'oreal Fashion Festival

Logies

Hayley Lewis in Alex Perry, altered by yours truly

and now I'm designing Beauty & the Beast & just about to get into discussions about collaborating on a new musical. It doesn't rain but it pours. Which is great.

Since the wedding I have also been able to put enough money away to start designing our new kitchen. It will only be a flatpack, but who cares. A new kitchen! That has me excited in the home front.
Which leads nicely into my next project which also very exciting & full of kitchen ware, Beauty & the Beast (B&B)

I worked on the Professional production of Beauty in Sydney in 1996-97.
It was one of my all time favourite jobs & my first official paid for costume work. - I don't think $75 a week at Billanook really counted. I don't think there could have been a better place to learn all about costume as there were so many facets to Beauty. Objects, Beasts, Humans, pyrotechnics, cast change overs, shoes, jewellery, a couple of hundred costumes, dancers, singers, oesteopaths, prosthetics & beading galore. I was in heaven for the 11 months I work backstage.

Sharon, Markham, Chelsea, Katrina & Carolyn Sydney 1996

Silly Girls Disney production 1996

We're going for something a little darker than your usual sugar coated, brightly coloured, very Disney show. It's not a light & bright tale, so I'm edging towards Steampunk Tim Burton-esque, red, black, gunmetal, gold & cream. I've bought rolls of gold fabric for the Castle Objetcs & trying to design them to be as fantastic as possible, but also easy for teh parents to manage in 9 weeks.
Here's a couple of patterns that we're using.

Madame D'arque

Babatte's hat

Let the magic begin…..

Vintage Bikini mark II

2012-01-24T13:36:00.001+11:00

1950's beach babes

I've been researching Vintage swimwear a bit more & trying to find some examples of what I could try in cotton fabric. It seems like the high waist is still going to be popular in the coming year & I really like the idea of recreating those no stretch styles of the 1950's & 60's. After all there are so many girls who go to the beach or pool to be seen in something fashionable & not swim. I guess I also want them to be functional.

My search came up with some fab screen sirens in publicity shoots, as well as great bathing beauties of the time

Betty Grable

Carol Landis: So in love with this set. I think I'll try it next.

Janet Leigh

Grace Kelly

Ava Gardner

Ruching & skirts are super cute & perfect for someone who might want to distract from a touch of cellulite.

The gorgeous Norma Jean aka Marilyn Monroe

I love the frilled trim & skirt on this early Marilyn Two Piece below

The redrafted top didn't quite work as planned with the straps, so back to the drawing board I went. I tried a couple of different styles and finally came up with one I was happy with. It has great shape & sufficient support for a 10D.

Now I just have to work out how to grade the sizing for different cup sizes.

However I have discovered this amazing website called Pattern School, a fabulous resource for drafting & making all manner of leotards, swimwear & lingerie. I just have to sit down & wade through the formulas & diagrams.

The pants were less problematic with the insertion of three lycra panels, but I'm not sure about the V in the back. I'm still having my usual issues with getting my elastic inserted just right, but these don't look too bad & they are super comfy. I guess I should do a water test to see how they react when wet.

Excuse my lily white skin.

So the learning curve continues.

Bottoms Up

2012-01-18T17:10:00.000+11:00

Yesterday after faffing about for most of the day with Pinterest & Etsy I was finally inspired by a gorgeous retro bathing suit on Antique Dress that was aptly made by Plain Jane.

So at about 4pm I started perusing the swimsuit patterns I have amassed over the years & choose a design & some curtain fabric from the Frankston stash to start drafting something fabulous for EmpirerooM.

And this is what I came up with.

Being very careful not to snaffle any insider info from Hopeless Lingerie, who I sewed for a few years ago, I went with cotton.

After the first baggy bottom version I did some tucking & darting & added several lycra panels, thus eliminating the need for waist elastic & the sand catcher in the backside. I'm quite pleased with draft number one.

Today I've redrafted the bra top adding a strap into the design instead of having a seam above the bust cup &making a more flattering neck line. This I did while watching Harry Potter & the Philosophers Stone with my sister.
I've also been working on a garter belt to match if this decides it wants to be lingerie rather than swimwear. At this point I think it could go either way, if there's enough bust support. Maybe a layer of padding would help. Mmmmmm?
Now to the machine to stitch it all back together & see if it works. Wish me luck.

The Biggish Day goes off

2012-01-17T13:09:00.003+11:00

It's done.
On December 30th I got married.
And you know what?
Life just goes on…..

It's funny when you're planning your wedding & you think you have to get all the little details right. Well, when it comes to the day it doesn't really matter that much, if you have the basics - the man you want to spend the rest of your life with, your family & closest friends who love you, something to wear, something to eat, something to drink.

The boys waiting.

Our biggish day was just how I imagine.
Did everything go exactly to plan? No.
Did it matter? Not really.

Making everything was a bit stressful with very limited assistance, especially Nigel taking on the Eiffel Tower gingerbread cake a few days before the wedding. With no experience.

My dress was 50's style & made of silk organza from Bassetti Tessuiti in Rome, silk satin for $8 pm from Brunswick Fabrics, the lace was Vintage purchased new from Franke Stuart Hawthorn, buttons came from Nigel's Grandmothers sewing box & waistband came from my great Grandmothers sewing box.

The boys wore shirts, vests, pants & ties made by me. Nigel purchased his suit & shoes in Paris & I made his vest & shirt, with a tie from Venice.
I also made Emily's dress & both our fascinators.
The fabric for Nigel's shirt, the boys pants, & Emily's dress were from the fabric district in Paris, the boys vest fabric Clegs, Nigel's vest front & boys shirt fabric R&L Knight Lilydale Emily's shoes Sportsgirl,

We had to send an emergency delegation home for Nigel's shoes, overnight bag & the boys pants, that held up the service 45mins. And I still forgot Emily's gloves.

Our music after the ceremony didn't play because the musicians computer was plugged into the sound system.

The staff forgot to put the birdcage for wedding cards on the present table & didn't put the favors out till 70% of our guest had left.
Our photo booth never eventuated.

But it really was quite perfect.

A pleasant 30deg day was exactly what I ordered for the outdoor ceremony & reception at Seville Hill Winery.
Josie, John & Sandy made it so special for us.

With the help of my best friend, Nigel's & our ministers family we managed painted mdf words, family wedding photo 'albums', the table flowers, stickers on water bottles & favors, wrapped tealight candles, folded napkins, sewed 50 buttons on clothing, made sauces for the ice cream bar & Limoncella.

We all looked gorgeous, the food was stunning, everyone had a great time & were blown away by Nigel's first gingerbread construction, which I must say was spectacular.

Our ceremony was really special. We were lucky enough to have our friend Blair Cameron come down from Queensland to take the service. We wrote our own vows, had special friends & family do reading & pray for us & had one of my oldest friends Jeanette & a past student, Anna, sing 'Fields of Gold' & 'For Good'.

The wedding canopy was a last minute addition using my grandmothers hand crocheted tablecloth that Mum gave me just before Christmas. It was quite moving to stand underneath it something that has been at most special occasions through out my childhood.

These are just a few happy snaps from family, but there will be real photos from our real photographer, soon.

And now for the best bit, I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. And I have 3 amazing stepchildren.

Posies by Lucy loves Charlie. Ice Cream by Trampoline Gelato. Happy snaps by Stephen White

The treasure trove

2011-12-13T09:56:00.001+11:00

A couple of weeks ago I won this lovely antique tallboy chest of drawers on eBay. I'd been search for months for the right look, size & price, but everything kept going beyond my budget. Finally I won this one & my bloke & I travelled down to Mount Eliza to pick it up.
The couple were clearing out their mother/in law's unit who had moved into assisted living & while the men did the hard work, Jill & I had a friendly chat as she showed me around the near empty unit. My work came up & she told me her mother in law had been a dressmaker.
They'd already sent her clothing & accessories to the Op Shop (gasp, sigh), but her sewing supplies were in their garage.
I said I'd be most interested in purchasing some of it & she said she would go through it & send me some photos before she listed it all on eBay.
The email came last week with picture of fabric, buttons, haby & 160 patterns. I could have the lot for a very reasonable amount, if I would take it all. Too right I'd take it all.
Sunday we made the trip back down the Pennisula & picked up the booty. And I spent Sunday night & Monday morning sorting through it all. Lining, interfacing, wool, silk, satin, sateen, prints, plains, stripes, checks, cottons, tartan, furnishing, curtains.
Of the 6 Singapore bags of fabric I have sorted it into one for myself, one to resell, two for Carey & one will go to charity. Only a supermarket bag full of scraps went to the bin.

Then there was the 60 button jars sorted into types or colours plus more on cards, more than 300 reels of thread, some millinery supplies, fastenings, bias binding, zips & a small amount of eqiptment - needles, measures etc.

Finally 3 boxes of patterns dating back to the 1950's. What a collection. And they are in sizes that fit me. Of course I wanted to keep masses for myself, but as if I'm going to make all those 60's dresses when my favorite eras are 10's, 20's, 30's & 50's.

There is a 1950's Norman Hartnell that could fetch a small fortune as it's so rare, but I can't bare to part with it just yet. So I have a 'keep for now' pile, a keep for school pile& 3 boxes: sell individually, sell in lots & send to the charity shop.

It meant that I was throughly distracted from wedding stuff for almost a whole day, but eventually yesterday afternoon I sat down & got Emily's dress finished, to the hand stitching stage. It's so pretty. I must get on to finishing my own dress today.....

Less than a month

2011-12-08T09:56:00.001+11:00

So Servant of Two Masters finished on Monday night. By all accounts it was a resounding success, which I didn't actually get to see because Emily's dance concert was on too.
With that out of the way all there is to focus on now is Christmas & the Big Day.

I am starting to stress a bit with the wedding being so close. The days get less & there is still so much to achieve.
Shirts are done, boys pants are done except for fastenings.
Ties are cut, vests are cut.
Emily's dress is started.
After a mild nervous breakdown when I tried on my own dress last week & discovered I no longer have the boobs to fill it. (No idea where they went as I haven't lost weight, just toned up)
I couldn't face it until yesterday, so armed with the tv series Kingdom Hospital I sat myself down to rectify the problem.
I unpicked the lace overlay from bodice, unpicked the top seam & removed a couple of centimetres from the bust, but then the sweetheart shape wasn't siting right so I cut that down, but it still wasn't right, so I trimmed some more, added bust cups, eliminating the bra issues & stitched it back up. After some tears, tantrums & almost dislocating a shoulder trying to hook the back up it finally fits again & sits, almost, perfectly. Now I just have to reattach the lace overlay, finish the beading, attach the skirt, sew on the vintage glass buttons & voila!
I cannot change shape again in the next 23 days or I'm likely to throw the dress out the window & wear a sack.

I am actually enjoying the amount of exercise I'm getting & it's helped so much with my back pain. Given the amount of sewing I'm doing, I'm fairing pretty well.
I think with the discipline of working each day on sewing tasks I can see myself being able to stick to the program next year & really get my Etsy store happening.
Each week I've been getting a sale for my vintage lace or patterns & as I'm picking up a huge stash from a retired dressmaker this Sunday I should have lots more to list.
But it's really getting on to making things & having the confidence to list them in the new year that I'm struggling with. It's ridiculous when I can get a call to dash into Crown Towers to alter a designer beaded dress for an evening event & get the job done in 3 hours. I know I can do it, I just need to find the confidence to put myself out there. New Years resolution? Maybe.

So I'd better stop procrastinating & get back to it, I hear Kingdom Hospital calling.

Anything but…..

2011-11-28T13:58:00.001+11:00

I'm finding it really hard to focus today.
Invoices, packages, Facebook, youtube, emails, Houzz, eBay, anything but what I'm supposed to be doing.
Which is making Nigel's shirt & cutting out vests.
Unfortunately while I was at school on Saturday Willow our fluffy grey kitty decided to have a little shred of the vest pattern. She just loves shredding tissue paper & is not discerning when it come to what is patterns & what is discarded.
So I have to find a new pattern.
I have made some matching lace cuffs for Beatrice's jacket with the lace from the jabot. The sleeves were just a touch short & the black & white broderie anglaise cuffs will just finish it superbly. I still have some for sale in my store if you are interested.
She looked amazing on Saturday. I trimmed a tall velvet hat with ostrich feather, buttons & ribbon that really bought the whole look together.
I was really pleased with the overall look of the show, I think the costumes & set really complement each other.
I think Servant of Two Masters will be a really fun night.
Ok really must go & sew…...

Almost on stage.

2011-11-25T10:43:00.001+11:00

S2M is almost done.
First Dress rehearsal is tomorrow & I'm pretty sure everyone has a costume. I was in a bit of a panic at the beginning of the week when I discovered the majority of the boys costume were still untouched. Hems were pinned, pictures attached with fabric scraps & trims chosen, but nothing was finished.
With only a few hours of my contract left, I cleaned up the work space & got to decorating the boys outfits. And here I thought I was just the designer.....

Today I'm finishing a really cute jabot for Beatrice who spends most of the play masquerading as her brother. We've gone with a traditional 16th century costume with a modern day Gothic twist to fit with the overall costume concept. It's made up of 3 length of vintage lace with a heart motif to represent the love she has lost. It's so sweet.
Other things on the horizon are

working up a design concept for the first production for 2012, 42nd Street
making an Alice costume for a friends 30th.

On the other front I have a massive to do list all set out for every day til the wedding.
How did I get myself into such a big DIY wedding?
This is when you need adult attendants & a family who can actually assist you with all this, but it's just little ole' me. It will look fab though.
After much searching & several stalled attempts, I finally found some local drink dispensers for the lemonade from eBay.
It's really encouraging to be getting all the RSVP's, some are coming from interstate & the UK.
Well better to get back to it.

Big Week doing nothing

2011-10-29T12:42:00.000+11:00

This week was supposed to be a catch up week, but how differently it turned out.
Headed off to Savers first thing Monday morning to fill out the S2M costumes. Wow, so much good stuff to be had, even found a pair of electric blue Versace men's pants, but at $59.99 they were a little beyond the budget.
$226 later we had blouses, tops, shirts, skirts & pants enough to kit out the remaining cast.
Our first costume workshop two weeks ago was brilliant. Lots of students turned up & made the cutest headbands. Last Saturday only one was there, which was disappointing, but she made lots of gorgeous little fabric flowers.
This week we have a mid semester break for the race that stops a nation. Yes we have a public holiday for a horse race, the Melbourne Cup.
So no rehearsals on Friday or Saturday, but this is where my week took a turn for the…. interesting.

Friday 3pm: Could I make 4 x U shaped covered cushions for 6'x4' banquets? "Possibly". In grey velvet, by Tuesday, we'll have the fabric to you Monday? "Ahhhh let me thing about that. No."

Tuesday 11.30am: Could you make 2 chiffon curtains 3x3m by tomorrow? We'll have the fabric to you at 3 for an 11am pick up." Ahhh, ok."

Rebecca Twigley 2010

Wednesday 11am: Could you come to Crown on Thursday at 2pm & Friday at 11.30am to do fittings for Rebecca Twigley & Jennifer Hawkins Race Day outfits? It'll only be a few small alterations. "Sure, I'll take the work home as my mobile machine is broken & I can't make it til 12 on Friday'". That's fine I'll let Thelma know.

Jennifer Hawkins 2010

Wednesday 12.30pm: Just wanted to give you a heads up, Jen hates one of her skirts. The first one didn't fit so we asked the designer to make another that was slightly bigger, longer & pencil shape. It's not. They have no more fabric & they're in Perth so there might be quite a bit of work to reconstruct it. See you soon. "Excellent, I love a challenge"
When I arrive I'm asked where my machine is. "Didn't Melissa tell you it's broken" No.
Anyway the decision is to completely remake the skirt for Jen's fitting tomorrow at 12, so I would have to work at home anyway. I have no measurements, no fabric & less than 24 hours to make a skirt as well as alter Bec's outfits including cutting & hemming a 3 layer silk circle skirt.
"No worries"
Race into Clegs to match fabric & Vicki saves the day with Ivory Victoria Silk Satin.
Race home, design & draft skirt. Finish sewing skirt to fitting stage at 11pm, start on alterations for Bec's outfits at 6am, leave home at 9am for an appointment. Catch 10.48am train to city with borrowed machine.

Thursday 11.40am: Where are you Jen's here waiting? " Didn't Melissa tell you I couldn't make it till 12pm, I'll jump in a taxi from Spencer St"
11.50am: Jen tries on the skirt & LOVES it. It fits like a glove. Her Cup Day dress however is not as expected, so major alterations need to be done to make her smile. I set to work on adding the waistband & hemming the skirt before unpicking the whole skirt of her Sass & Bide dress & reshaping it. 3pm finish.
I've effectively done two full days work in 24 hours.
Bring on the money…...

Silk Flowers a go

2011-10-13T20:48:00.000+11:00

After my little back hitch, I haven't been doing a whole lot of anything except surfing the net, watching the box & lying around.
Yesterday I was determined to get back to work, even if I only managed a few hours.

Armed with Nurophen I got stuck into the costume rooms & sought items & fabric in my quest for upcycling all the costumes for S2M. I have a budget of about $2000, but I'm hoping that we won't even spend half utilising as many items as possible from stock.
I found so many pictures for inspiration googling upcycling, Japanese fashion, steampunk, Harajuku, & Hi 5 & we're well on the way to getting most of the outfits together for the chorus.
The plan is to only make costumes from scratch for the 9 leads.
It's really exciting to see the outfits evolve. One of my fav sources of inspiration is Gothic Lolita Fashion Magazine with patterns that I get from a Pomapour's Craft Cafe on Ebay. I have bought way too many Japanese pattern books from her, but the are so cute. I'm addicted.

Today I've been shaping all my silk petals into one of a kind rose petals. It's quite time consuming, but as the little pile grows, I know I'm that much closer to having my Wedding dress belt & fascinator finished.

2011-10-09T16:12:00.000+11:00

My stiff back decided to turn chronic overnight, stupid back pain. And I have to go back to school tomorrow.
Instead of being able to take advantage of my beautifully tidy sewing room, I've been creeping round the house trying to avoid doing anything to send my lower back into spasm.
So the dreaded sort of tax receipts, invoices, payments & overseas trip has ensued. You don't have to move much to sort papers & enter them on a spreadsheet. Bring on the tax return…..
Now I'm going to look as S2M designs. Maybe a little sketching will be relaxing.

Clean up Day

2011-10-08T11:09:00.000+11:00

After yesterday's effort of trying to stiffen all the silk petals for my wedding fascinator on my work room floor & being left with a stiffened back, I am resolved to completely clear my storage, um I mean work table, so I can actually work on it. I'm sure I'll find lots of goodies I have forgotten I have. So that's the plan for today. Also got a call from a friend at church to help alter her daughters costumes for their upcoming production of Oliver. That should be easy, their school borrowed them from my 2010 production.

Busy Bee

2011-10-07T13:46:00.000+11:00

I've been a busy bee last few days.
Added loads of Vintage patterns to my Etsy shop & sales started almost immediately. Several yards of lace, 4 patterns & an inquiry for all the lace as a lot all in two days. It would be nice if this continued. Here's a few examples of the 1940's-60's patterns I have for sale.

Yesterday I started on some personal sewing jobs for the Biggish Day.
Got the silk underbodice for my dress constructed, but am still waiting for the lining from Spotlight. It's so frustrating when I ordered it weeks ago & I can't go anyfurther with out it. Also cut out the lace overbodice. I drafted it & tweaked it on Mildura, but the lace is sitting quite different to the toile fabric that was a bit more fluid, so I need to work out how to get the bust sitting less puffy. It's exactly how I wanted though, so that's encouraging.
I also made the lace waistband & cut out 'millions' of silk petals for the waistband & birdcage fascinator. I still can't decide on exactly what I want so there is lots of samples, more things to put in the shop hopefully. I tried a little padded heart to sew the bits on to & a few gathered flowers, but decided I really want more authentic silk flowers. They are just so time consuming.

This silk flower is abut 150 years old from
the Vienna Museum Fashion Collection that I visited in June.
Mine is just going to be ivory & blush.

Love the size of this one, not too big, but still quite bridal.
I don't quite get the point of the ones with veiling across the eyes,
so this really appeals to me.
Sorry I don't know where I got the pic.

I've also been making a playlist for the wedding reception. I think we've got a good mix so far. Some romance, some dance music, some jazz, some classics, some silly songs (with Larry).

Prague Quadrennial: Estonian exhibit by Reet Aus

I have also been trawling google for more ideas for S2M. I'm getting more excited about the idea of upcycling, so I need to get down to Savers & other big Op Shops to find the right jackets, pants vests, skirts & tops to get sewing with. I think it's going to look so fun….

Lovely Lacies

2011-10-04T15:05:00.000+11:00

Got the good old Etsy store up & running again today & filled it with beautiful Vintage lace from Austria, France & England. Aren't they pretty. Tomorrow it's the excess Vintage patterns.
It's just getting motivated to make some stuff. That's the scary bit, which is ridiculous when you think about how much I make in a year for Carey & Myer. I just have to move passed the idea that no one will buy anything. They will won't they……?

S2M

2011-10-04T06:30:00.001+11:00

I just got back from a week in Mildura as costume maker, cook, ticket seller & general rouse about for Aspect Motion Dance Company's first tour collective. It was exhausting, but amazing.

Now I've got my next two projects to focus on.

The Servant of Two Masters, hereafter known as 'S2M', & my wedding, hereafter known as 'the biggish day'. Both due in December, I need to get my skates on & get designing, collating, & creating.

S2M costumes are a merge of Hi 5, Harajuku & Steampunk. I'm really hoping to try & upcycle as much as possible & make this show look really creative.

At the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Space & Design I was super inspired by Reet Aus, eesti-naiste-laulud,

an Estonian designer who creates new costumes out of discarded clothes & textiles. Then today when checking out some back issues of Belle Amoire I came across another group of designers, Gibbous Fashions,

who work with the same methods. I am so in love with their designs & will be scouring Savers for Vests, jackets, coats & pants to create our own upcycled outfits for the cast. I was already excited about this production, by now am more inspired than ever, especially knowing I have so few hours to work on it.

Surely the parents & students can manage this sort of crazy costume construction where there are no rules & no need to be highly skilled in sewing, patternmaking & construction methods.

I'm really excited & can't wait to get shopping.

My aim is to come under budget & still look spectacular.

The other project has only 88 days to completion. Argh!

The biggish day is going to be very DIY, but still our budget seems wildly extravagant. Some lace, some fabric, a lot of fabric, some mdf cutouts, stickers, straws, more fabric, ribbon, paper, heart shape paper clips. So many little things add up. And then the big things like the venue & catering….

Pretty Pieces

2011-10-03T20:36:00.001+11:00

I have too many options for the Biggish Day. I have searched so many website, wedding blogs, magazines, that I can't narrow all the ideas down. I guess on the upside I can just try a whole heap & then sell what I don't absolutely love. Good way to get my Etsy shop up & happening again.
Waistbands, fascinators, jewellery, dresses. No, I should really only make one dress.
Tomorrow I get started. Really, the search has to stop & the making has to start.