Finished... OMG

dianafront
Originally uploaded by I Will Fly design

You remember how I said that sometimes projects just seem to go on FOREVER? This was one of those.
My original design couldn't actually be realized with the single yard of Alencon bridal lace that I found as a remnant in a fabric shop, so Changes Had To Be Made.
For a long time I really struggled with not liking this corset and how it was turning out, but I think, now that I have the finished piece in my hands I actually do like it and think it's much cuter than I had anticipated. I ended up beading the front lace panel in tiny faux pearls and lacing the back with a wide pink satin ribbon, and those little touches, I feel, add a lot to the final piece. A lot of the other issues I had with it were resolved through trial and error and endless revisions. It's hard to tell in the pictures, but the lace curves very gently downward at the bottom edge, to soften the line and give it a more figure-flattering look. That was done by hand in a super secret way that only fashion designers know (in other words, I made it up).
The seaming on this style is slightly different than most of my cinchers, and the cut is slightly longer in the hip as well. I worked both of those ideas out with the interfacing fabric before the fashion fabric (the black satin and lace) was cut.
Anyhow, another Endless Project is done, and I am so happy! (I would also like to point out the lovely pearl choker I am wearing in these photographs. It was custom made for me by Etsy's TinyStorm, who was sweet and lovely to work with and created a quality piece that I am sure I will cherish for years to come. Check her out here: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5609152 )

Long time passing...

Spring1975
Originally uploaded by I Will Fly design

I haven't posted (or listed!) anything in what seems like ages!
I have been busy trying to clean house for guests and getting myself and my husband ready for his little sister's wedding.
I've also been taking motorcycle lessons (yep, almost there! I am going to buy a scooter now! Exciting!), and working at the fabric shop a little more than I would like to.
I am sewing, though, I promise! I am working on a corset right now that has become one of those never-ending projects. It just never stops! At a certain point I'm just going to have to call it good and stop messing with it!
Anyhow, I had planned on posting this cute yellow top that I made several months back but couldn't find it anywhere. I was afraid that maybe I had thrown it away on accident. Yesterday, though, when I was getting my dress shoes out of the closet for the wedding I found it! It had just fallen off it's hanger and dropped onto my shoe boxes. Of course, I had searched the closet time and again for it, I just never looked down!

a tutorial in the design process

There's an image most people have of fashion designers. Sitting hunched over a draft table sketching skinny models in outrageous designs all day. Most of the time I don't even bother to draw my designs out before I execute them. Once in a while, though, I know there will be a bit of lag time between concept and execution so I have to jot something down quickly to remind myself of what I was thinking about later on. A lot of those ideas don't get made, I'm afraid. And I'm even more sorry to say that, while I used to sit down and do a detailed sketch of the garment in mind and make sure it looked really fabulous in the end, now I just sort of throw it down on the paper well enough that I get the idea when I am looking back on it.
Here is a good example of a design I actually sketched. As you can see, I didn't spend much time making it a lovely drawing! Off to the side I wrote suggestions for fabrics (wool flannel and peacock blue"china silk" brand lining) and when I found a fabric I was particularly enamoured of I added that to the page to remind myself.
To the right you see the actual garment, which is closer to the drawing than many of my designs end up. In the end I didn't use wool flannel because it would have been prohibitively expensive (I used wool crepe instead and underlined it with cotton/poly poplin for weight) and switched from a solid satin lining to a striped cotton lining (I saw it in the shop and it just seemed so perfect to me!). But otherwise it's pretty true to the concept.

abso-bloomin-lutely

I think I love making my customers happy more than anything. I especially love photographic evidence of them working it in my designs! This week my Roberta bloomers were blogged about here and the post just fills me with joy. many thanks to Kandace and to all the lovely people who commented as well!

thinking outside the box

Often, the design process involves more than a little thinking outside the proverbial box. Here's an exercise in creative thinking for you.

I found these interesting sequined appliques at the local fabric shop the other day (okay, month. I have had them on hold since then. Anyway.) Above you see what the applique looks like in the manufacturer's packaging, right way up. Hmm. Interesting. Maybe a little Egyptian. Okay, yes. Fine. But what do you DO with something like that? Here was my solution:

Wings! Anyone who knows me knows I'm pretty crazy for anything wing-related. Angel wings and fairy wings and what have you. Just look at the name of my shop! I have several shirts with wings on the shoulders. I have often considered getting a wing tattoo but I'm too chicken. So, anyhow, with a few careful snips with my embroidery scissors and a quick flip-over this interesting if not terribly useful applique became something I could actually USE. The back of a jacket, maybe? Or the sides of something? How about attached to hair pins for a smashing nineteen twenties look? I haven't actually decided yet.
What other fabulous ways could you recreate the world around you from the pieces you are given?

I could give an inspiring speech, but I won't

Just a quick note to mention that Desert Sunset has been selected for the Carnivalesque Etsy poll! I am not sure why, exactly, and dang that peacock blue dress I'm up against is HOT, but I thought I would drop a line and let you vote for your favorite party item (*ahem*cough*ahem*)

Long time no post

Strawberry Fields shrug
Originally uploaded by I Will Fly design

I've been a little slow about my blogging, lately. I think I sort of ODed on craft show. And then I got caught up in myriad family and home issues and before I knew it life was happening. Luckily I have been able to keep up with my posting to Etsy (actually I had so much extra stock I had been hoarding before the craft show that I've been able to double my Etsy posting) so there are lots of new and exciting things to check out there. I've also been designing away and have great new plans for a cute nautical dress, a hooded wool vest, and some other projects TBA.

Anyway! Happy 75% off chocolate week (I just got two boxes of Russell Stover's for two bucks each. Sweet!)!