Days

 Days of snow.

And days of pinning and sewing lace applique onto what will be a fabulous dress. This is for a wedding in April so I can't show any more yet, but will do when the time comes. For now just a sneak preview.

Designing

I mentioned in a previous post that I would be photographing hair accessories on my sister's head, well due to the snow at the weekend I've had no sister's head to photograph my hair accessories on, so those will have to wait until a suitable head comes along.

Instead I thought I'd show you a couple of designs I'm thinking of making as samples:

Given the recent weather, this top one might be a good idea for a winter wedding as it has long sleeves. I intend it to be a floppy dress, made of silk crepe. It could also work well made with an all over lace as well. I see it as quite a sophisticated dress suitable for multiple venues.

This one I've had in my files for ages, but not got around to making yet. Its quite a traditional look, and again has little cap sleeves which I like. I love the back. I see it as a church wedding dress, very feminine. A 'proper' wedding dress, but simple. Those are big pleats on the skirt, not gathers. The flower/corsage details are tbc and won't be worked out until its manufactured, but something can go in these areas of the design, I'm open to suggestion...

On re-reading the top of this post, I notice it looks like my sister may have met with an horrific accident in the snow - she is well and intact, but decided not to travel! ;)

This week

Do you have hair that needs, or just would like, something pretty in it? Don't want a tiara or something that sticks up? Just something flattish and decorative? Something that could be good not only for bridal hair accessories, but also just general summer prettiness?

I've been playing about with lace and come up with these. They are wired underneath so you can curve them around the shape of your head or make some bits stick out if you desire. These ones are sewn onto a hair clip, but I'm going to put some on bands as well.

These pics don't show proportion as yet, but at the weekend I will photograph them on my sister's head (she doesn't know this yet) so you can see how big they are. The top one is ivory with some twinkles, and the lower one - which is bigger - is ivory with some fine gold thread and twinkles.

I shall be putting them in my long neglected Folksy shop for sale asap, or I can sell directly to you, if you fancy one just drop me an email.

Some work in progress. Lots of hand-sewing this week. 

Ghosts

Many of you who have visited me for appointments and fittings will more than likely have received a greeting from, or had your departure acknowledged by Dolly. Among other 'hobbies', she liked to stare at, miaow at, purr loudly to and generally be a bit of a flirt with all manner of bridal customers, whether they were interested or not.

After a swift decline, Dolly died last week and we are very, very sad; to say she was loved is an understatement. If that wasn't sad enough, it felt compounded by the fact that our other cat, Bruno (equally adored), died two days before Christmas. They came to us together as rescue cats and it seems they have gone together as well.

Although they weren't allowed in my workroom, Dolly especially was a faithful 'waiter' outside the door, always ready to greet me or a client everytime one of us went in or out the door. Perhaps it was because she was a girl :) Bruno preferred getting up to no good in the barns that surround us, and was less interested in bridalwear as a rule.



Dolly

Bruno

Working from home, they were part of my working day as well as our home life. They were good companions and their ghosts haunt me at the edge of my vision.

Distraction

Just a few bits to see, on what for me is an emotionally tough day. More soon.

New Year's Day - a few days ago

Happy New Year!

Almost every New Year's day, my husband and I go for a walk. This year we went to Anglesey Abbey. If you've not been before, now is a fabulous time to go because there is the most amazing garden there. For anyone who feels that winter is dull in the garden, I urge you to go and look now, its amazing.

We thought it a good place to go to try out the new camera lens that Father Christmas gave me. These pics were taken by my husband while I was creative director, which is often the best outcome for all on a walk ;) I love these pictures and there are far more than I want to show here, so perhaps I'll post more another time or put them elsewhere.

I find plants very inspirational, especially in the bare, sculptural winter state. When I say inspirational, I don't mean I would try and translate them exactly into a wearable garment (unless I was asked to), more that they visually please me and that affects what I design. Perhaps that's another post...

twiggy buds

I enjoy the time just after Christmas and into the New Year, as a quiet (I hope) time for reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the next. I'm not one for 'resolutions' - statements of things I will or won't do, but rather, what I'd like to put in motion - gently - in the months to come. That feels softer somehow, and not as dictatorial, and I can feel a bit bereft if I don't think about these things.

One of my 'areas for improvement' is to find a new rhythm to my blog. Since I started it, its felt good when I've managed to post, but I'm aware as I write that I'm not the best at regular postings. Making wedding gowns is hugely labour intensive and naturally my clients come first. As weddings are immoveable deadlines, often I forget to take pictures or to think of anything to say other than "Phew! Cross that off. What's next?"



twisted willow

That said, I really enjoy the blog when I actually get a chance to sit down and concentrate on it. More often than not, I am working alone which I enjoy, but on many occasions it would be great to chat about what I'm up to as one might with work colleagues and a blog can go some way towards a substitute for that.

birch eyeballs

birches en-masse

So alongside finished wedding stuff, I hope to show some simpler work in progress, some clearer photography, some inspirational stuff, and perhaps general creative musings. I'll stop the list there and see what happens.

For now, I'd like to thank everyone who chose me to make their wedding gown last year, infact everyone who enquired. I look forward to seeing your photos ;) and to the outfits and gowns to come in 2012.

Best wishes for 2012.





This week

On the practical side, this week has been spent:

pattern cutting,

altering toiles,

layering and sewing lace dress pieces and removing the beads from the seam allowances,

snapping needles on the beads in the seam allowances that escaped removal,

admiring the motifs. All while listening to (and occasionally getting slightly irritated by) Stephen Fry, but I think he'd understand.