Aftercalm

Even though the Storm that is Highball has not hit yet I am focusing on the calm afterwards........
I met with an old friend of mine that helped me a lot after college whether he knows it or not.  He helped to give me the confidence and connections to go to NYC and interview there for design positions.  Which in the end I didn't stay or end up at any of those companies but the experiance was priceless.   I have all this knowledge from the interviews to now pass onto all my students and it helped form me as a person and what kind of designer I wanted to be and turn into ultimately.

 ~~~~Break~~~~

OK as I was writing this nice little re-cap of a good thing I got this e.mail, basically saying the model new she had the flu and has been sick since last week and Just NOW less then two days away from the show is canceling.  Not professional and not cool.  At the slightest inkling of knowing you can't do a show you should inform all parties IMMEDIATELY especially since hair extensions are involved bought to match your hair color..........

Ohhhh how I loathe relying on other people......  This is why I try to only use my own models.  I thought I would be nice and use some of the S2 models since they were nice enough to help sponsor the event.  Last year I had one of my models stolen by Terri Stevens and this year one of them just canceling........... I hope that this does not become a trend as a part of my existence in Highball in the Short North.

Getting Wild!

So last night with about 3 hours of time I made majority of my MAX costume from Where the Wild Things Are.  It is going really really well.  All I have left is hood, butt flap, tail and Crown!

As for the Halloween Highball I am in a good spot!  Fitting with Gloria was PERFECT today and she told me that Priscilla rocked the Runway Class along with my given model Carolyn.  Tomorrow is the final Fitting on Angela for the Sea Anemone Costume and I am HOME FREE!

Oh I also started my new Job as Seamstress!  I have never had an easier more enjoyable job in my LIFE!  I spent all day just doing what I love, sewing!

In the work room

Here are some Photos all from Friday (yesterday) of me working on a dress from start to finish.  It was a bit of a marathon but I didn't want to leave any major sewing to do next week before Highball.  But I am super happy with the way it turned out.

The fabric is a 100% silk black and white checker and the model wearing it for Highball is Gloria! (below)

Highball Halloween Masquerade

This is so far my costume piece for the Halloween Highball.   It still has oodles of work and even since then it has changed quite a bit.   I had the fitting for this last week and had to make some adjustments on the skirt.  The top fit pretty well and of course the ruffles were a hit.  Last night I enlisted my Andy to help construct the bustle and today I plan to cover it and pad it for comfort of my model.   I also finally devised the perfect arm attachments to go with this.  Does this look Sea Anemone like to you, or just futuristic?   I hope as I finish it up it will turn over to the sea!

Here is the headpiece I have been working on for this costume also.

I can't believe it is less then 2 weeks for this to start!  I am so not ready for this right now, but I will be!

The Truth: RPG's

For a taste of something different and just so strangers out there in the vast internets who might be reading can get to know me a little better I am putting in a weekly post called "The Truth".  It is basically incredibly truthful things about myself that people don't normally know when they meet me or when they think of me as a fashion designer.  I feel these truth's actually explain a bit about my design elements.

This week's truth is RPG's.  If you don't know what that stands for then you are in for a treat!

Role Playing games = RPG's

I love them...............  Not like Dungeons and Dragons but video game RPG's like Final Fantasy, Persona, Lufia, The Legend of Zelda, etc etc....

It's a little bit like knitting to me.  Mindless repitition and picking different actions like picking different stitches.  As you get further the story unfolds just as you knit further you see your pattern unfold.  A little corny I know but I like the repetition.

The other thing that I love about RPG's is the character designs.  So complex and decorated and usually with some sort of reference to period costumes.  If I get stuck in a design rut I always turn back to my video games and try to get some inspiration from the characters or monsters or Aeons or espers whatever they call them per the game.  Not only do the games refer to periods in costume but also a lot of mythical legends and stories from all over the world.

I am actually such a huge nerd there are a few things I am very dedicated to. Final Fantasy by Square/Enix games, Atlus developed games and Nintendo.  Unfortunately for me each games usually takes anywhere from 40-120 hours to complete.  The story lines have become so complex and with so many sidequests and mini-games.  I have probably 6 games or more waiting for me to even start them.  I am about 20 hours or less from finishing Persona 3 right now which has been enjoyable for every 80+ hours I have put into it so far.  It is based in present day japan with an extra time at midnight called the "Dark Hour".  At this time select few have the power to stay concious and fight with their "personas".  Each persona is based on different tarot types and ancient gods/goddesses from different cultures and the end game is to stop the Dark hour and the monsters that come with it before the Japanese School year is over while creating relationships with people to strengthen the archetypes.  Sound Complicated? That isn't even half as complicated as Demon Souls or Disgaea.

Anyways here are some pictures of other games I had mentioned above.

And we All Fall Down!

I am feeling super good lately!

Got my first batch of product done for Milk Bar~

Came out of Craftin' Outlaws on the upside of the cash bar, in fact I hit my goal and then some.

Working on my Highball Costume is going smoothly and everything fit my models pretty good.  I just need to make one whole new dress so that's not that bad and it was something I wanted to do anyways.  I had to play a little musical outfits since the models they gave me were not what I had expected at all.  I requested a size 2-4 and one of them is a size 6!  Luckily I had been working on something else so that fit her but the sweater I had to give up on.

Lingerie is selling very well at Undone!  I made orders for holiday colors today so that I can start sewing for that.  I am very excited for this because I've never tried to do anything for JUST Holiday.

The one thing I really need to get my butt in gear is for the Substance Aspiring designer contest.  I've planned out several things but only started to cut out one of them.  I'm excited for it though.  I just need to sit down and get to work really.  I figure I will just randomly drape some things together from several of the shirts.  I know for sure I will be making a shawl of some sort, a dress, a skirt and a shirt.  I need to play with bleach some more and decide on my final colors also.

Lastly I am obsessed with this slippers!  They are by this Canadian company called Amimoc.  I saw them randomly on DSW and of course they were on sale and not my size.  Tracked them down and found them on another website.  Something about the rabbit fur and grey color just appeal to me and make me think ultra cozy.  I think they will be the perfect slippers to wear inside the sewing room at my new job as well.

And not it is time to get back to sewing!!!!  I plan to complete at least one skirt for myself tonight.  Perhaps I will work on a bandage skirt.

The progression is happening

Currently I have some great news!

I will be able to continue my dream of not buying anymore retail clothes and go full force with making my own clothes again!

Thanks to circumstances I will no longer be working at Express so much.  I have taken a job as a seamstress at a bridal/prom dress store in town.  Though it is far from glamourous it is a well paying job doing something that I enjoy that I will not get burnt out on.  Also the days I am working are perfect mix to give me days to detox and be my own personal seamstress at home.

I am all sorts of inspired and will be working on many new projects that I had put off on hold.  Like a white shirt collection similar to the one posted here.  Trying out some of the fabulous patterns from the Japanese Pattern books "Pattern magic".  

Even though Craftin Outlaws is this weekend and two weeks later is HighBall I feel no stress.  I am actually under budget for materials on Highball, I am so relieved!   I even started my Substance Designs and I have a good feeling about them!  The only thing currently holding me back is my Milk Bar Production work.  Even Undone Production work is fun right now!

Here are some other projects for myself that I want to work on.

Nice long Coat that actually fits my short body.

Huge Dress for myself for New year's Eve

A Deconstructed Linen or Muslin Skirt