Bustlin’

February 17, 2014 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

New in the shop over the weekend:

The bustles are all being offered on a made-to-order basis, too.

I’m trying to beef up the shop in between orders. I have a whole stack of things that are ready to be sewn up, and I try to add to it every weekend, as well as subtract from it (ie: sew things up) every week. Problems only arise when I’ve fallen out of love with whatever idea I had had when I cut whatever-it-is out. Then….well, then it goes to the bottom of the stack.

This Week

February 12, 2014 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

Cutting, Sewing, Book-Keeping.

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.

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

Over the Weekend

February 3, 2014 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

Much photographing, editing and listing was done over the weekend.

Probably my least favorite, but most essential, part of the job.

A lot of these items are available made to order, too.

There’s still more to photograph and list.

But they’ll have to wait until next weekend.

Slowly working through the stack of ready-to-list items.

They build up quickly!

You can find any of these in the shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TrappedInTimeDesigns

Happy Monday!

Ready, Set, GO

January 21, 2014 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

Today’s the editorial shoot for 2 of the looks from my recent RAWards mini collection!

I’ve been putting the final touches on the looks.

Everything is packed and ready to go.

I’ll be back tomorrow with a sneak peek or two!

Over the Weekend

January 20, 2014 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

The weekend meant finishing up (or almost finishing up–the capelet needs more chain) the capelet:

And the hat:

As well as some candle-making:

There was knitting, too, but I didn’t get a picture.

Don’t get TOO jealous at my crazy, wild life, okay?

I’m off to finish up the bits for TOMORROW’S editorial shoot! Can’t wait!

This Week

January 17, 2014 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

This week has flown by, and I haven’t accomplished 80% of the things I wanted to accomplish. I guess weeks like this happen every once in awhile, right?

This week, I’ve been:

Finishing up work in the photography/shipping studio (still more to do):

Working on new patterns that will be used in an editorial shoot scheduled for next week (!!!), and that will be offered in the shop after that. I first made them in a heavy ticking, as that’s what I had on hand, and I didn’t want to cut into the nice (and expensive) wool I have that will be what the final results are made of:

I love both the hat AND the capelet. *swoon*

Working on a pair of knit boot toppers that may or may not be part of the same shoot:

I really need to learn to crochet. It goes so much faster.

I’ve also been working on a new costume, which means combining 3 different existing patterns into one, and changing them rather extensively along the way. But, in the end, I’m hopeful that I’ll have a new full costume to offer on a made-to-order basis:

All this in the midst of a few orders and an intense desire to cook big dinners with lots and lots of veggies.

I always mean to snap pictures of my cooking, and prep, and final results. But my pictures never come out as lovely as food bloggers’, and my kitchen isn’t NEARLY as lovely. I really need to get on the kitchen re-do that I’ve had scheduled in my head since we moved in. FIVE YEARS AGO.

In the Studio

January 2, 2014 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

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.

Bits and Bangs

December 13, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

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.

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

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!

Finale

December 10, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

The final look for my mini RAWards collection was actually the second look I dreamed up, hot on the tail of the first look. I knew I wanted Mary Andrus to model it from the get-go, too.

Initially, I envisioned a brocade bust with an extremely full chiffon skirt. I even toyed with pockets.

Paired with the tattered lace collar and the (not-gonna-happen) spats, it looked really cute.

I think I design things that I would wear if I were tall and thin. Because I would so totally wear any of the things in my collection if I were. Sadly, being of the oompa loompa persuasion, I must live vicariously through my beautiful models.

I decided to make the closure for this dress lace-up to accommodate a closer fit that wouldn’t have to be hiked up every few minutes. I switched the chiffon idea over to a beautiful black lace with an attached black mini skirt lining. The back is bustled and the overskirt is longer than the lining.

First fitting:

Mary looked beautiful, OF COURSE. The top did need to be taken in quite a bit, so there was some deconstruction and re-construction in the dresses immediate future.

Walking the runway:

From the pre-show photo shoot:

Clothing by me: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TrappedInTimeDesigns

Hair & Make Up by: Amanda Bravender For inquiries : http://www.ahbweddingandevents.com

Model: Mary Andruss https://www.facebook.com/ModelMaryAndrus

Photography by: Underexposed Photography https://www.facebook.com/brittsmithphoto

Five

December 9, 2013 / trappedintimedesigns / Leave a comment

My post titles are really gripping lately, aren’t they? I just can’t come up with witty headers for the RAWards looks. Ah, well. You’ll have to settle for little wit, but a whole lotta pretty.

The fifth look is another that underwent a rather extensive transformation from sketch to final product. That had to do with a few things:

1) my falling out of love with the idea of using that grey pinstripe suiting

2) my realization that the original idea for this look was DULL DULL DULL

3) my recent love affair with bustles

So, the (dull) original (dull) sketch was this (SUPREMELY DULL):

The original idea was a brocade bustier, grey suiting mini skirt, ruffle capri leggings, tattered collar & spats.

I realized one day that it was just boring. It just felt thrown together, no real inspiration.

As I mentioned, my love affair had begun with the bustle, and I knew that I wanted to do a bustle in that gorgeous brocade. This time, I decided to do an attached underskirt, rather than just the bustle (as shown in the first look). The brocade made the most gorgeous bustle.

Fitting:

I ended up going with the bustle and a repurposed mens-wear bustier featuring belt loops at the waist, to accommodate a belt if desired. This fit beautifully from the get-go. No alterations needed at all.

The final design walking the runway: