Brown skirt

This is a skirt I designed as part of my fall collection. Alex is one of my best customers and she loved the skirt so of course we made one just for her!

The Trouble With Angels Dress Making Scene

This is a scene from a 1966 Haley Mills movie called the Trouble with Angels. In it the Reverend Mother is making a dress for the girl sleeping on the couch in the background. I was always inspired by the sewing machines and dressforms in the background and wished I went to school to learn how to make clothes! Eventually I did.

Holiday Dress One~Black Lace and Sequins Shift Dress

This is the most simple and flattering design ever! I'm not sure how I got turned on to making a shift style dress but I'm glad I did.
I was a little unenthusiastic about this project all together at first. The lace wasn't exactly what I was looking for or the lining. After I drafted and cut the pattern the pieces sat pinned on my Judy for about a week before I finally got it down to sew it. And during the first fitting I fell in love! This has turned out to be one of my favourite designs ever! More to come...

 

Versatile Jersey Top/Skirt

I think jersey might be my new favourite fabric to work with and I always end up with smaller pieces that I need to find a use for after cutting my more complicated designs. Here's what I did.

 

The Importance of Good Photography

It was a fun and tiring day working on this photo shoot with Michael Grills but it was definitely worth it. Because I put a lot of time and effort into the designs I make I decided that I would be cheating myself if I didn't have some professional photos taken to show my work. Like this article on the Importance of Good Product Photography from RGBDIGITAL says "one thing you can never do twice is make a first impression" and I really wanted my designs to look good online because not everyone can come by the shop to see for themselves.
Good photography can make a big difference in whether or not you present your product effectively and whether or not you make a sale!  Everybody now days has a camera and can take photos and post them online but a professional photographer knows how to use the right angles and light to make your product look it's best when it is intangible.

Here are some fun shots from my last photo shoot with Michael Grills Photography!

 

Michael Grills setting up for shooting.

 

I don't think the photographer is used to getting his picture taken 

Here are a few more articles on the importance of good  product photography.
http://ukhandmade.co.uk/content/business-importance-good-product-photography

http://kspicknell.wordpress.com/2011/08/17/importance-of-good-product-photography/
http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2010/etsys-guide-to-photography/

Circle Wrap Sweaters

These very versatile circle wrap sweaters are perfect for dressing up or down. Wear them with your favourite comfy jeans or your best dress slacks. When closed the sweater hugs around your shoulders creating a nice shawl look around the back, pin with a large kilt pin or your favourite brooch! When worn open the fabric drapes beautifully in folds creating a look of comfort and carelessness. Available In The Shop or on my Etsy store. Also available in grey, brown and heathered grey.

Photography by Michael Grills Photography

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Reversible Faux Fur Vest

I don't normally like to work from a commercial pattern but I made an exception in this case because the pattern was already cut out and my client had already had a similar vest made in the past so it was already going to fit! Voila!

Party Dress Inspirations ~ Leisl's Dress from the Sound of Music

A designer should always work 6 months or more in advance of the season they are in and I have yet to master the art of thinking that far ahead. That being said I have come up with a couple of designs for party dresses for the quickly approaching holiday season and one of my inspirations is Leisl's dress from the Sound of Music.

Unfortunately this was the best photo I could find but for those of you who have seen this movie you know what it looks like.
What I'm going to borrow from this dress is the bodice that stops at the natural waist and the full skirt. The sleeves are clearly way out of date so those will go but some ribbon straps will do.
I think it is the gathered chiffon on the bodice with the ribbon creating the cinching that makes this dress so feminine and endearing.

Jersey Knit Tops With Large Front Pleat

So I have a regular following of clients who request that I remake garments that they love. Three of my best girls recently brought in a couple of tops they loved that they each wanted to have and I made them up for them In the Shop.
I love these ladies and I love making their fashions for them. Some days I feel so blessed that I have such good people supporting my business. Thanks Nicole, Louise and Madeline!
Maybe you have a favourite shirt or something else that you would like to have remade??

My First Figure Skating Dress

I've often thought about trying my hand at figure skating dresses and was finally presented with the opportunity to make one this fall! Tiffany and her mom Laurie came in to the shop to ask if I could make Tiffany a custom sized figure skating outfit. Because Tiffany is tall it's difficult for her to buy dresses that fit her through her torso. Finding the fabric to make the top was a bit of a challenge for the ladies but after some searching they found something Tiffany really liked. I was so thrilled that they loved the dress. Here's the finished result.

Professional Portraits by Micheal Grills Photography

As a small business owner and designer I keep running into situations that require me to submit a photo of myself and of course everybody wants to represent themselves looking their best sooooo I decided to get some professional portraits taken by photographer Micheal Grills. I'm thrilled with these photos! Thanks Michael:)

 http://michaelgrillsphoto.com/

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