Bridesmaids

Boy, do I have wedding fever.

I'm doing another wedding!  I'm so very excited for it.  I am creating the wedding gown, and then two bridesmaids dresses as well - and this is not your average wedding dress.  The bride is one of the most unique, most stylish people I've had the pleasure to meet, and I'm honored that she chose me to design and create her gown. But more on that at a later time...

I'm also doing a bridesmaid dress for a gal whose bride is doing one of those muted pastel themed bridal parties - no nominated dress, just pick a little frock in a different shade:

(image via Pinterest)

Here are my first sketches for Emily (she chose a very light grey in a gorgeous crinkle-chiffon):

I'll keep you posted on what she choses!

Watercolor Therapy

This weekend called for a lot of relaxing - It has been a very stressful few weeks.   Even though we had a bunch to do this weekend, I was able to sit for an hour or two on sunday, throw on some relaxing classical tunes (WQXR if you're in the NY area), and dig into my little $10 set of watercolor supplies.  I find I sometimes waste money on my new 'ideas' before I really decide if I like them or not, so $10 seemed like enough for the first try.  Here are the results...

I love the texture of watercolor paper - gives the sketch a little life.

Practicing faces...

Some ideas for an upcoming event...

I think I like this watercolor thing.  I hope you all find a relaxing outlet to help you unwind.

A little something for Cat

This is a dress I am going to make for myself, starting tonight.

This is me if I was three feet taller and, oh, just a few ounces thinner.

This is me if I were slightly tanned.

But those are definitely my glasses.

Sewer's Block.

I completely understand that it sounds like we have plumbing issues, but the unfortunate homograph of sewer ('one who does sewing') is sewer ('a system of pipes used to transport human waste').  I'm trying to say I have that I have something like a writers block, only for sewing.  I had a three day weekend, finished the black & white gown [will get pictures from Jenna this weekend!], flipped a so-so vintage find, and then got stuck.  I had so much time, but no great fabric and a severe lack of creative flow.  I decided to get sketching.  I also decided to try a different approach and color them up in Photoshop instead of markers & pencils - my art supplies are in serious need of updating.  It definitely helped with the creative rut I was feeling.  What do you think?

The next idea for Caroline's prom dress.  A lot of light layers, a lot of draping, and a heck of a lot of awesome.

This is another idea for Caroline that is slightly out of the box from the ideas she's sent me - just throwin' her a curveball.

This is something I want to make for the spring.  Maybe for me, maybe not for me (clearly this one's a little more willowy than my 5'2" self), but I really love doing the hand-detailing featured on the bottom and the sleeve cap.  We'll see.