Getting in the Saddle again

I've been on a hiatus from doing photo shoots for nearly a year.  I had my wedding and lot of other big changes in my life, in fact I am still going through some of these changes.  With the impending deadline of my portfolio I reached out to my friend Adam to set something up.  With a test shoot in mind we unintentionally came up with a great looking story.

Before we get to the pretty pictures let me explain some etiquette on test shoots, that people may not be aware of.  A test shoot typically no one is paid for this. It is exactly what it sounds like, a test.  The group is testing to make sure everyone get's along, if they would want to continue to work together.  This group usually includes, photographer, model, stylist (in my case designer), Hair/makeup (same or separate people). Each person has their role in working together to have some great photos.  Per the test shoot open communication is a plus.  Everyone participating should get a chance to do or get something out of the photos that they wanted or needed.  I think a test shoot is harder because everyone needs to work together to give and receive where on a normal shoot there is one goal and it is usually the concept.  For me coming in as the "designer" I want good straight on photos of my work so that it is showcased rather then hair or makeup of the model or extreme lighting/set of the photo.  For me coming to a test shoot getting that great photo of the garment on the body is what I need.  For photographers I work with it has usually been to try out new formats or lighting, also meeting new models for future potential projects.  A lot of models come in needing new head shots or to get a look that isn't already in their look book, something more artistic.  Make up Artist and Hair of course want to show off their skills so usually head shots are good them as well to get the details of their craft.

Well that is my spiel on test shoots.  

Welcome to the pretty!

90% of the clothing are my garments

Photos by Adam Leigh-Manuell

Model is Leah Cultice

Hair and MUA is Lydia

Silence and Thoughtfulness

Sorry for the silence the past week or so.  Things have been less then pleasant at my day job and then I've been working hard on Christmas presents that I wish I could post here but I don't want to ruin the surprise.  Not to mention still working on portfolio pieces and my Grad School letter of intent.  I am doing my best to stick to my guns in one thing in my life which is to keep a positive position and not to get all fire and brimstone about ethics and the bad turn of fate I am having. 

In other news here are some small quip updates for you!
My husband and I enjoyed the "Grand Illumination" this past Friday.  It might not be as spectacular as some other cities but it's home.  I also got a chance to finally check out the wonderful OSU Urban Arts Space downtown. 

 All the elegant scroll work on this piece was well worth the trip just to view.  It also had this disco ball in the middle that was refracting the shadows like crazy. It was a good reminder of things I have to look forward to doing when I am in Grad school.


Lastly in this small update I am getting back into working on a photo shoot with my friend Adam Leigh-Manuell.  Trying to get some newer work photographed for the portfolio while also getting back into the groove of being the professional artist that lives deep inside of me.  These are some snapshots of one of the dresses that I am taking for the photo shoot.  This dress was made from remnants of another garment and I like what came of the scraps much better. She is a juxtapose between evening and casual, looking unfinished but polished at the same time. Using a sport wear knit fabric instead of a high end silk or wool.

If you have gotten this far I'll tell you a secret.
I don't feel fully comfortable being called a Fashion Designer.  I would prefer to be known as a soft sculpture artist.  I feel like my work really shines more when they are stand alone OOAK (One Of A Kind) pieces.  There is a certain connection that they all have and can be considered a collection but I never set out to follow this collection.  I think it only looks and feels like a collection because of the way I manipulate the fabrics, just like how you can tell if a painting is a Picasso no matter the subject matter that is how I feel about my work.  I make pieces that invoke a feeling of awe when looked at then curiosity when investigated.  I like to break the conventional rules for fashion and garment making ways to obscure shapes and lines.  Things that transform the body and vision of the body through a garment.  So that is how I really feel about my work.  It's nothing new just new to saying it out loud as I prepare to defend my soft sculpture in my Grad School application.

June Riots!

Sorry I have been behind on the blogging and especially on OTD's but as I mentioned before with lack of camera it has been painful.

Also I have been extremely busy with my teaching at CCAD.  Let me tell you when it rains it pours but in the good way for me.  I am teaching both the Beginning Pattern Drafting and Construction class as well as my newly approved Draping into Pattern and Fabric Manipulation Class.  Both of which are completely full with waiting lists once again.  It's no joke with the waiting lists either.  Today is the second night teaching and first night of the pattern class and I had someone drop this afternoon and a few hours later the spot was filled.  I am supposed to be maxed out at 15 students but I have 16 in each one!  It is madness in a most delightful way.  I even have the pleasure of using a TA which they don't usually allow for Continuing Education classes.  Even more Lucky for me it is my FAVORITE T.A. Tosha who has her own fabulous blog called The Pop Bang Fizz. 

On the down side I will not have a life for the next month as I work my 8-5 monday-friday and then immediately teach 6:20-9:45 monday-thursday.

Back on the bright side I was approved for two sewing machines for my classes exclusively!  I got them both from Westerville Sew N Save (whom I will do a little intro post later).  I got two Brother Innovis 80's.  Something about these electronic machines are easier for the high school students to understand and work with. 

I got new cards ordered from Moo.com again.  I had been dragging my feet on it and thankfully so since I was able to hold out for another photo shoot with the fantastic Mr. Chip Willis (NSFW).  I also have some reprints from Adam Leigh Manuell and one from my first shoot with Matthew Roharik

Since I can't get a lot of sewing accomplished while I focus on teaching I might be able to get my website updated finally after ummm.......... 7 years? ohhh that's been a while.

Listing it all

These are the events that I currently have going on from now till Christmas pretty much. Keep in mind this is all while still teaching and working a part time retail job.

-Craftin' Outlaws October 17th

- 4 outfits for Halloween Highball on October 31st

- Photo shoot after Halloween Highball with Adam Leigh- Manuell

- 12-13 Looks for the Shoe Designer's Photo shoot (possibly also the weekend of October 31st but that is up in the air as of now)

- Tiny Canary November 14th & 15th pending that Lexie and I get in with our shared booth

- Final 4 garments/looks for the Substance Aspiring Designer Award by December 3rd

It seems relatively short but when I break it down further it is a huge mess!

Craftin outlaws

- need to make at least 3 more crocheted cuffs with pearls

- more bubble scarves at least 20 for the show

- sew together 4-6 new garments (patterns already done)

- needle felt some items to sell (sweets and sea creatures)

- re-print Lingerie look book to have on table with Undone Cards

- label and price everything

Halloween Highball

- finish lining leather jacket and closures

- start Costume, drape, pattern, cut, sew

- Get money for costume materials

- Make one large elizabeth collar and one smaller one

- Cast one more model and reconfirm with all the others

- figure out other 3 outfits as a combination of several things

- Make at least one dress over again from Photo shoot dresses

- Finishing knitting anemone sweater or is it skirt?

Photo Shoot with Adam

- Get all models organized and make TIME to do

- Also need to get assistant for Shoot

Shoe Designer Photo Shoot

- need to complete men's Dress shirt

- Make another men's dress shirt with contrast collars

- leather vest men's and women's

- 1 more pair of pants for women's

- 3 skirts of varying lengths and types

- Finish embellishments on one sweater

- Finish knitting sweater dress

- Make at least one HUGE show stopper dress

Tiny Canary (pending that I get in)

- replenish so that I have at least 20 bubble scarves again

- Needle felt more creatures and sweets

- Replenish any clothes that were sold

- Replenish any jewelry that was sold

Substance Aspiring Designer

- Pick up materials September 29th

- start from scratch and make 4 new looks

- draping, sewing, patterns (maybe)

- presentation and contest!

Don't forget I teach and work a part time job. Which may have to turn into No part time because I just can NOT handle the hours it looks like they are putting me on.

I'm also looking into teaching knitting and crochet Locally in Grandview. Perhaps knitting machine lessons as well.

I'm a little late.

daily in cincy, originally uploaded by tornangel012.

So this was my outfit from the Thursday photo shoot down in Cincy. It was for my lingerie trunk show coming up August 21st at Undone Shoe and Lingerie Boutique in the Short North.

I am wearing a yellow lace balconette bra from Victoria's Secret which you can see the straps here.
Tie-dye skirt worn as a dress from TJ Maxx for $20.00
Vintage Swan pendant necklace
White mossimo flip flops from Target $12.99

Here is a little peak of the Behind the scene shoot. Next week the real photos will be in!

My gracious photographer Adam Leigh-Manuell from Alias Imaging in Cincinnati

Tosha doing Makeup and Hair.

Tondi from "Her thought Bubble" modeling for me and Laura I.

THE END!

For this post at least...............

None of that

Sorry today is an extremely boring unfulfilled post but I feel I must make one regardless.

I am prepping for my Lingerie Trunk Show at Undone which I am also going to be showing/selling some pieces that aren't lingerie but I feel more lounge worthy. Such as the above pants. They are simple knit pants that are german military inspired. I went through my current stock and the fabrics I have and I am in good shape. No need to buy any new fabric, I just need to get it together and make the new pieces. I've also nailed down one model for a look book photo shoot for the trunk show and will shoot again with Adam Leigh-Manuell. Now I need one more model and stylist. I might leave those up to Adam but we need to discuss this all a little more and I need to get a positive YES from the current model as well as contact information. I feel doing all communication through Model Mayhem is not very professional

seeing how so many of them have failed. My biggest project for this Lingerie trunk show is to produce some a new bralet top. I think I am going to be playful also because I found all this leftover gold, black and Turquoise Lame.

There was another photo shoot that was completed with Michelle Washington a Stylist and Stephanie Matthews was the Photographer and Riquina J. I'm eagerly awaiting the photos. Unfortunately I don't think I will be able to actually post them for awhile. I am learning all sorts of new stuff about the fashion world and fashion photography that I never would of thought important. Such as keeping photos that are being submitted for publication confident until after acceptance/rejection of the photo set. Like even if only one of the photos is being submitted none of them from that set should still be posted anywhere publicly. It's really a strange world that I am trying very hard not to step on anyone's toes.

Fashion photography is unlike any other art form in my opinion. First of all there are so many people involved. On this particular turn it was a Photographer, make up artist, wardrobe stylist, and model. You could add me in as the clothing designer but that all depends on the viewpoint. It's like a group project no matter who is responsible for what and since they are all artists it's like walking on eggshells because you don't want to offend anyone. Everyone has their own take an viewpoint and direction. You just hope everyone is on that same direction. It is also more a form of advertisement to get more jobs then it is art. Only the few lucky ones can do this as purely an "art" form and be able to make it their entire living. Not that people don't live off of it but there aren't many people that can make a living off of just Fashion photography shoots. Most make up artists also work a counter, weddings, touch ups for TV or commercial makeup to supplement with Fashion. Photographers same thing they have weddings, portraits, and other none fashion related work. They are lucky because I think they have a little more leeway for art because they can do nudes, or just artistic photos that aren't directly fashion related but still art related. If that makes sense. Stylists are pretty much all around stylists, they look for the clothes, concepts, trends and they clothe people whether it be for fashion or not. They make people look good and put together in general. I just make clothes both avant garde and commercial. Sometimes I get the opportunity to be my own stylist for shoots and every once in a while I do makeup as well. I am at a lose with hair and photography though.

I think I should just keep my mouth/fingers shut all the time. I feel like I am always offending people lately when I don't mean to be. It all just makes me so nervous. I apparently made a comment that I didn't think was bad in anyway but I felt like it was taken the wrong way. I really don't want to come off as some critic or anything. I'm really open to everything. I'm just happy to get good photos of my clothes and I feel everyone has their own take on the same pieces and it's just so much fun to see what different people do. I hope I apologized enough to get that across. I just don't know what more I can do lately. Not just with the photo shoot but all around in life right now I feel kind of helpless and like I am apologizing everywhere to everyone. It makes me want to be less and less social and just hide in my basement and sew till someone calls on me. A friend sent me photos of her work and I haven't even responded yet for fear of sounding critical.......... She does amazing work.

I think maybe because of all the classes lately since I have to critique the student work constantly I don't think I am doing anything wrong. I just have to constantly instill in them what makes good aesthetic designs and their level of work is far from professional. I'm not a perfectionist by far but I know what I like and don't like and what comes out appealing. I haven't seen anything from the outside that I outright do not like, I just don't know...... I am going to keep my mouth shut.