Manic Pop

I realized recently that I left my readers hanging here - no worries! I'm still creating! Albeit at a snail's pace for the time being.  I've been running through my head ideas for what I called "board collections" - flats boards, croquis boards, and inspiration boards for a "collection" that will primarily stay ideas and not become a reality necessarily.  I've been having a really hard time with collection planning recently. I've had a Twilight Zone themed collection swirling about for at least 2 years now and every time I start on it, I can't really make it cohesive enough. I guess it needs to be surreal and weird but I keep designing cute, wearable but offbeat garments. Ah well.  Here's a selection of some flat sketching I've been playing with, though I'm not too keen on anything to be honest. I do want to make some really beautiful, time-consuming sketches in a collection so perhaps I'll make ...

60s psychedelic landscapes, Islamic art, henna drawings, mandalas, Peter Max-like illustrations, retro-futurism - these are a few images I've downloaded onto my computer as a design inspiration/reference.  Since my fashion design work has slowed down for a brief moment (I want to work on some design boards, play with the mini-mandalas I started on a few years ago, work on certain fashion projects for far longer, etc.) enjoy some images that are currently inspiring me!        

So me and Sally and her friend Michelle all went thrifting the other day at my favorite thrift store in Chicago! Sally was visiting from Florida and hanging out with her was pretty awesome since we've lived in the same part of Michigan long ago. I even worked with her younger sister at my high school job! Sally is a designer as well, so be sure to check out her blog and her Etsy shop to see the amazing bags she's made -  I have a rainbow one from her and it's seriously my new favorite. Sally was also nice enough to put me into a blog post the other day of hers so I thought I would show you what I found that day while out with her. It was like a day in the life of me in 2007! I lived in Uptown for 4 years before moving on the far northwest end.  All the awesome stuff I found, but we do have to talk about it because OF COURSE I'll be cutting up and re-imagining things!  Ok, the light in the sewing room is really yellow. Tried to color correct in Photoshop but...

Alright, everyone! Here is the tutorial I promised of how I designed and constructed the Trafalgar Dress! This dress isn't 100% perfect by my standards but I had never done this technique before this and am still getting a hold on it. But it's an exciting technique that has changed entirely how I design now. What you'll need: Pattern blocks (or a fitted pattern you like) Drafting paper Pencils Ruler set - straight, hip curve, french curve Pins Thread/fabric/sewing machine Muslin  Dressform I attended the webinar that BurdaStyle did mostly about the technique Japanese designer Shingo Sato applies to his garments. I'll eventually be buying his book. If you're a fan of the Pattern Magic series, then you'll definitely appreciate his work. First thing's first - you will need to make a muslin in the shape of the garment you're planning to make. Much of my pattern work consists of simple silhouettes with color design inset pieces. I just...

This one was a fun one! I'm starting to experiment with new techniques and this was the first one I created using a technique developed by Japanese designer Shingo Sato called Transformational Reconstruction. BurdaStyle also did a webinar on this technique a few months ago and due to being busy with my collection,  I just now got around to trying it out. The stripes actually go around the bodice (note the no side seam on the right side of the garment here!) and follow all the way to the back zip.    This technique has quite literally changed my design life!  Funny note, I have a bag that I use as a color pencil case that basically matches this dress, hence the name. I actually had the matching messenger bag in high school but used it until it died. Such a sad day! Closer detail photo. One thing: I wasn't as exacting with my lines while drawing them as I thought. Though I did true up the lines in the patternmaking process, apparently I coul...