Weekly Wrap Up

Let’s just jump in, shall we?  As if 3 months hadn’t passed…..

This week:

 

I (finally) jumped into 2016 and upgraded to an iPhone.  First thing my sister said was “download Neko Atsume immediately”.  I’m in love with the kitties!  Obsessed with the kitties!  Games that are adorable and require very little from me are high on my list of good times.

A few Mardi Gras pieces yet to finish up, a complete over-haul of the studio (I hope) and a new online shop are all on the horizon.

Happy Friday–weekend here I come!  (after I finish this stack of orders….)

 

 

A Dark Alice Kind of Week

So happy to welcome Friday this week.

The hubby has been out of town all week, leaving me to fend for myself amongst the kitties.  He’ll be back today. 🙂

Luckily, I had made a big pot of Chana Masala that fed me in the evenings, lots of veggies for salad lunches, many orders to sew up, and a whole stack of audio books to listen to.

Also:  A whole new season of “Mind of a Chef” on Netflix.

I have an upcoming order for a Wednesday Addams dress, and the client and I were ironing out the final design for it.  Of course, I had about a million ideas, ranging from the very traditional to the more “out there”:

Wednesday Addams possibilities

Wednesday Addams possibilities

Wednesday Addams Possibilities

Wednesday Addams Possibilities

I had two back-to-back Dark Alice orders, which ended up taking up the whole week, after Monday was spent cutting and most of Tuesday was spent visiting family and running errands.

Alternate Dark Alice, featuring a lower neckline

Alternate Dark Alice, featuring a lower neckline

The orders shouldn’t have taken quite as long as they did.  To be fair, the first order went smoothly.  But the second one.  The second one wasn’t cooperating, resulting in me have to entirely re-work (and re-cut) the bodice.  It just wasn’t laying correctly, and there was no other option.

This isn't the exact dress that I made, but its the same design....and I can't access the picture I took of the one this week

This isn’t the exact dress that I made, but its the same design….and I can’t access the picture I took of the one this week

So, I’m running a day behind at this point. 

Lucky for me, I was running way ahead of schedule before the set-back. 😉

Today I’ll be sewing up one last order that’s cut, and cutting a few more that are waiting.

Did you watch Project Runway this week? 

Loved the concept this week, but rather disappointed with the end results.  I had a really hard time picking a top 3, mainly because so much that walked that runway was dark and, honestly, kind of dull.  Not really a lot of new ideas. 

Which is sad, considering this is probably going to be one of the few challenges this season where they could have thought outside the box.

My top 3:

Samantha

Samantha

A bit basic, too reminiscent of the 90s, and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GET RID OF THAT BACKPACK, but I liked the jacket and cowl neck here.  I hate those shoes something fierce.  Are those REALLY back?  Because there are, like, 5 pairs of them on the Aldo wall this season.

Emily

Emily

This was really cool, loved it with the jacket–but I wish she’d made the jacket in some other material.  It felt too…..snuggie.  Like, I’d be wearing that fabric sitting on the couch in my pj’s.  But, the jumpsuit was really cool–and I’m a gal that HATES a jumpsuit with a fierce passion normally.

Sandhya

Sandhya

I know this is weird, and I know a lot of people are going to hate it, but I think, of all the offerings, this one fit the challenge the best, and is something NEW.  It definitely appeals to the costumer in me, and maybe that’s why I like it so much.  I still love Sandhya–while they definitely gave her the whiny-edit last week, I still think she’s the one to watch this season.  She’s the only one, so far, to really show that she has something to SAY.  She really thinks about her designs, and what she wants them to be saying, and I really respond to that.

I can’t stop staring at the models toes, hanging off those shoes, and it’s FREAKING ME OUT.

I hate toes, and I hate women who wear sandals too-small for them.  GO UP A SIZE, LADIES.  There’s no shame in it.

Gahhh, toes.  *shudder*

Okay, they’re out of my direct line of sight now. 

Listening to this week:

"The Seven Dials Mystery"--Agatha Christie

“The Seven Dials Mystery”–Agatha Christie

I’m a Christie-addict.  I go through the collection and start all over.  I just don’t get tired of listening to them.

"'Salem's Lot"--Stephen King

“‘Salem’s Lot”–Stephen King

I read this back in…..high school?  Junior high?  I was a huge King fan (and Anne Rice).  I’ve been listening to a lot of the books I read back then, and it’s fun to remember the stories, but to understand them on a whole different level now.

"White Fire"--Preston & Child

“White Fire”–Preston & Child

I really enjoyed this, but I spent half the book yelling at the main character because she was SO. DAMN. STUPID.

I don’t think it’s a good thing that I was vehemently hoping she’d bite it before the end.

Well, that’ was my week–hope yours was good, and I’ll see you Monday!

Where I’ve Been

Or, rather, what I’ve been up to, since where I’ve been (the studio and the garden) hasn’t really changed.

I’ve been sewing up a few shirts for a friend’s order (that blue jersey is one of my FAVORITE fabrics of all-time.  I made myself a shirt with it, and it’s just sooooooo comfy and soft!):

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Turning a big ol’ stack:

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Into a bunch of these:

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And sewing up a pair of shorts (WHAAAAT?  I never sew shorts!):

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The shirts and the shorts are being made for a soon (I hope) shoot I have in the works with one of my amazingly talented model-friends.  Just a low-key shoot, probably along the lakefront.  I’m in love with the shirts, and want to have a whole slew of them up in the shops soon–but they just look so lackluster on the dress forms!  They change dramatically when on a human form.  Also–a great excuse to get out of the studio and go have some FUN!

I have a number of shoots in the works right now–can’t wait to get going on them all!

Happy Monday–I know it’s not the norm to enjoy a Monday, but I always kind of do (don’t smack me).  It always feels a little like a fresh start, and I have an extra bounce in my step as I go about planning the week.

This Week

I keep forgetting what day it is this week.

I also decided to reintroduce caffeine.

THAT’S the kind of week it’s been.

So far, I’ve:

Finished up an Alice order.

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Made a new Dieselpunk military capelet.

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Created a super ruffly red and white striped choker.

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Made a beautiful silk brocade capelet.

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And spent many, many hours putting together sketches, images, prices and a full proposal for a really cool job. (SPOILER:  I didn’t get it–but I did give myself a ton of new ideas for future offerings and a potential photo shoot)

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I feel like I should have more accomplished by today….maybe I need to give myself some slack?

This Week

You may have noticed that my shops are all on vacation this week.  Only a temporary hiatus while I catch up on orders and regroup a bit.  I expect to be back up and running in a couple of weeks.

As mentioned, I’m using this time to catch up on orders.  But FIRST, I had to complete the doll pairing for my nieces:

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A red chiffon skirt/dress (shown as a dress since is so LOOOOOOONG):

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A couple of sparkly cowl-neck tunics flew off to the UK:

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An Alice dress is in the works for a lucky actress:

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And a striped tunic, bustle and military hat came off the machines, too:

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All-in-all, a productive week so far.  Hope yours is going well, too!

Work In Progress

The Wicked Witch replica dress is still in the works.  *this close* to being done.

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I only have the dress photographed (and poorly at that) so far.  Note the dress form she’s on is slightly too small….

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Can’t wait to get better pictures and the whole costume together!  Hopefully this weekend will allow me some time to do so.

It’s definitely been a longer process than anticipated.  Cobbling together the pattern and making it all work together proved to be more intensive than I had imagined.  But, it’s looking beautiful, and will soon be offered on a made-to-order basis in my shops.  🙂

This Week

Cutting, Sewing, Book-Keeping.

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It’s cold.  Again.

Overcast.  Again.

Makes me want to snuggle on the couch with the kitties and play Skyrim.

Instead, I will cut out the latest orders and listen to some audio books.

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Stay warm, folks.  Looks like a lot of the country is in for some more beautiful winter weather.  Ugh.

In Progress

I’ve been working on a custom full costume order.

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I actually *gasp* made a mock-up for this one.  I’m combining a few existing (highly altered) patterns, and draping a few of my own pieces for this, so a practice garment really just HAD to be made.

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Plus, I can use it as the final pattern moving forward, as I do plan to offer the costume in my shop.

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There are a few tweaks to make for the customer before I start on the real fabric.  The sleeves need to have less puff, the corset needs to be a wee bit shorter.  Nothing too substantial.

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So, it’s back to the studio with me, armed with a cup (or 2, or 3) of hot tea.

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I can’t wait for this to be done, so I can post images of the final!

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In the Studio

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I’ll be shooting my winter knits session this weekend–extremely excited for that.  While I had to scale down my original intention for the set, I’m happy with the current ideas bouncing around my head.  I need to find a few crucial set pieces, which is today’s project.

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Bits and Bangs

Back to the everyday workload.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a hard time getting back to the regularly scheduled programming after our Thanksgiving festivities (and then getting sick for a week).

I have orders in, and am hoping to get a couple special dresses sewn up for my nieces in time for a special Birthday celebration–which means some overtime sewing this weekend.

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This lovely tunic (technically one just like it in a different size–it was a made to order item) is on its way to the UK.  I hope it has a happy owner in its future.

I have a ready-to-ship one up in the shop right now, and it’s marked down to $56.25 from $75 for my Winter Sale:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/127712901/sale-black-tunic-top-velvet-tunic-velvet?ref=shop_home_active

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New hair-cut yesterday–I’ve been sporting side-swept bangs for years, and just got the itch to go with the full-on blunt bang.  So far I’m in love.  The verdict is still out on how everything will look with my regular curls.  I generally don’t have the stamina to straighten my hair daily, so the only time it’s done is at the stylists, after a cut.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend.  I’m hoping for colder temperatures, good sewing, and getting the guest room cleared out for my sister’s impending Christmas visit!