iT'S CHIRSTMAS!

Catch up time...

 

Well, it is Christmas.

 

I have been neglecting my Bloggin' duties.

 

But we have been busy busy.

 

New additions are up and on the go,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my favourite part of the process.

Making patterns.

  I love turning a sketch into the real deal.

I wish I had more time for it.

 

 

 

New Magical Invisible fabrics.....

 

 

...French Seams.

 

 

 

 

 

Production Photos

 





The internal organs couture.

 

 

 

Little Elf.

 

Praise be to Lacroix Sweetie Darling!

 

 

 

 

 

A New Iron!

Oooooooooh Shiny

and surprisingly powerful for £40?

220W Steam Generator Iron. Just what we needed.

 

Nothing is more important than pressing, so a good iron is an essential piece of couture kit.

This about the 3rd iron we've gone through since we started, but none have been this powerful, so let's hope this see us through.

 

Press Press

 

 

 

Emma is still beavering away with those frills and flounces.

 

 

...and this is my effort for Movember.

So far I have raised nothing.

Back to it

Having been away from the studio for a week!

 I was glad to get stuck in, and see what

Emma had been upto.

 

 

...Lots of hand sewing.

 

...Meters and meters of hand sewing. 

 

Although we work together, we both have our own idividual projects, we each have garment's that suit our individual work ethic... this one, would not suit me.

 

Emma gets the pain staking pieces, and i get the more tailor intensive garments.

 

Which are, to be fair, no less pain staking.

 

 

Shaped Seaming

 

 

Oversewing

 

 

We both cut... because it saves time

(and i hate it!)

 

 

Basting... (yeh... dont like that either)

 

 

Moulding

 

 

Draping

 

 

Tacking

 

 

 

For 'tis but too true, a labour of love.

 

 

The studio iron is dead. No steam.

and you can't make a two piece with out steam!

 

So i shall be investing in a new, expensive, steam machine.

 

That's all.

 

 

Is it a bird.... will it be with me forever?

 

It is my Hair!

 

Little Update

 

 

 

Lots of bits to fix, and corrections this week.

Little boring things, that make me feel like nothing has been done...

 

 

Fitting Toiles

 

 

Linings

 

 

 

Textile Development

 

 

 

I'm glad its not me doing that job... i'd not do it right.

 

 

 

I always like to put interesting seaming into our stuff,

I doesn't make things easier,

I do end up setting myself on with endless amounts of crazy seams, and forgetting to notch the

pattern pieces.

 

But they look beautiful.

 

We also chose to cut a few of the designs from the original line up,

...for the best.

 

That's it really. I'm away with work next week.

I'm taking home work though.

Emma will hold the fort.

 

We've also turned on the Christmas lights....

I know it's early,

but Emma says 'They're not just for Christmas'

 

 

 

 

 





Fiddle Di- Dee

 

 

 

Sometime, I wish I hadn't started a particular design.

 

People don't realize what goes into making clothes, especially from scratch.....

with no staff..... on domestic machines!

 

Designing can be a very mind taxing job,

its not just about drawing pretty dresses and colouring in...

 

A tutor once told me-

 

'it's not enough to just be creative'

 

and he was right.

 

A good designer has to be

an engineer, an architect, and have the possession of good

foresight.

 

Moulage

 

Technical awareness is mandatory in this particular method of working.

There has to be a way in, a way out, it as to be comfortable and of course it has to look hot!

 

It looks a mess I know....

 

 

Believe me, i'm on edge.

 

I do get stressed out,  but not for lack of skill,

i'm impatient.

All i can see is the finish line, and i want to get there soooo fast that I have a little breakdown.

 

 

Take a minuet to calm yourself,

 step back and walk around... pretend your wearing it, and think to yourself (our out loud... I do- do that) is this working?

 

 

 

 

Actually this particular article was a last minuet addition to the line up,

one Emma, wasn't so sure about.

 

But recently I heard a quote....

 

'Instincts are Everything,

We ignore them at our peril'

 

So.... i'm doing it.

 

 

...She loves it now.

 

 

 

 

 

 



Sneaky Peeky

 

 

 

Just a few processes away from finishing another one!

 

 

 

Emma finishing off the important bits before

a very laborious textile application.

 

The picture below was taken before the

 process had begun, as the technique is fashioned from a shear fabric....

preparing it is almost as testing as the actual procedure.

 

 



 Something New

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Erm yes... i do set myself on....

 

 

 

 

 

We should all live by this motto....

 

 

but make sure you carry a lint roller.



A Style Description

Describing our style.

 

We draw inspiration from early couture trends, through

 1920's to the 1960's

(skipping the Seventies)

and ending up with the really creative bits from the 1980's.

 

 

Our way of working is

Romantic, playful but understated, and Organic.

 

My direct source of inspiration comes from Music.

 

While i'm walking with my Ipod,

I make a direct link to a specific piece of music.

I then use what that music makes me think and feel.

 

I can begin referencing that mood to fist hand primary sources,

sampling and photography,

or secondary sources like books and the internet.

 

Although we don't have favourite designers,

it's my opinion as designers,

were not entitled to preference's, an open mind and all that. 

 

 

But the last word in fashion for Emma is Valentino.

Beautiful long classic lines, tones of sumptuous fabrics, and decadent embroideries.

 

For me, it's hard to choose a favourite,

I am in debt to so many of my role models.

I really wouldn't like to stipulate who I should celebrate the most.

 

Christian Dior

John Gailliano

 

Givenchy (image, Ricado Tisci)

 

Thierry Mugler

 

Gianfranco Ferre

 

Jean Paul Gaultier

 

Balenciaga

 

 Alexander McQueen

 

Christian Lacroix

 

... to name a few.

Each one an inspiration, a teacher, and a legend.