Work in progress

Well I didn't make my deadline! I was still working an hour and a half after it, when the head of design came around the corner! She was fine and lovely and my freaking out subsided, to oh well, it's a work in progress! The bottom of the dress has 80% of the embroidery left to be sewn and then it all needs to be put together to make the Oh so pretty party dress after Easter. I guess a complete redesign three days before the deadline was a little optimistic. 

The first two photos are of the final design before re design! The little semi circles are the sleeves, and I made the buttons which were then turned into hair clips for the new design! (see below) 

the sewing due to the tiny scale was painful, but so fun. I'm off to the city (Truro!) to have a floral consultation (squeeeaaal!) and will buy lots more mustard thread to complete. 

Love emme lou x

Redesign

 I started sewing my dress. After the teal dyeing went wrong I decided not to dye at all!
I chose a dull palette of threads, from my bright and pretty colour palette. Why?! Because I panicked and rushed my design, thinking it would look great. But as I was sat sewing at 11pm in my cute little room last night, staring at all the thread I knew it looked kind of horrid. Denial denial! Carry on sewing...

Today with my little sleeves and my buttons all done, I got to work on my yoke bib. I popped my name on the tutorial list and cracked on. 

My brilliant tutor told me...the colours were DRAB, and she wouldn't buy it. The worst thing?! I TOTALLY agreed! And she was also right how the colours looked like Brownies! As memories of wearing a mustard jumper and brown sash came flooding back I wondered what the hell was I thinking?! 

So......after a dog walk in the sun, cutting the grass, washing, power cleaning and buying tickets to see my baby sister in London, (megabus = more money for wedding shopping!)  I'm getting my head together to redesign. I need to make it fun, bright and something a stylish mummy like my tutor would want to buy for their little girl!!  OH and the deadline is Friday. 

Fingers crossed.

Toddler dress

 I re hemmed the toile dress last night, feeling extremely broody and reminding myself that I am getting married and that's much more fun than the cute little thing that would wear the dress!
I measured (sneakily) 2-3 year old dresses in a large High street department store this week, to see the average length (which works out at 45cm from neck to hem if you were wondering!) as it was looking more like a Christening gown than a S/S mock dress.
I'm now trying to get the perfect teal shade to dye the bottom of the actual garment. It's going to be a long afternoon tomorrow, hopefully it will go smoothly and I will finally be ready to embroider!

Love emme lou x

Puppy Boredom

I came home after a disaster day at Uni which resulted in me redesigning on the train and spending 3 hours in Truro fabrics,  (mostly sat on the floor colour matching!) to a very sticky gooey mess...

I didn't realise the ten eggs nestled in their egg box fresh from our friends ducks and hens were in puppy reach, turns out he can jump pretty high for a little dog! After mopping and picking up shell, the little terror repeated my lesson of leaving things on the worktops and pulled them down again! This is what happens when we run out of raw hide chew bones. MUST buy some more! 

Love emme lou x

Visuals and Toiles

I'm working on my visuals and designs for my taking it forward production piece project at the moment. I was going to make the cushions, but I always make cushions, I LOVE cushions, but I know I can do them so wanted to push myself and do something a little different that I'm really passionate about. 

Children's wear!  I've made my toile for a girls smock dress, age 2-3 years. I worked on the pattern for the frill cap sleeves with the head of Textile Design. We're getting pretty carried away with the finishing and pattern making, but it's great that she knows I love making and is 'allowing' me this, as we are textile designers not fashion students. I really want to blur the line as much as I can!

I have a LOT of designing, sewing and dyeing to do over the next couple of weeks, but I can't wait! 

I'm pretty torn between a cream & peach ombre dip dyed dress or peach & coral, but I think having the base neutral will allow the colours to really 'pop' in the embroidered designs. We shall see! 

Love emme lou x

Cute as a Button

I created some cute buttons that could be used both in interiors and fashion....

Can't wait to see these on my production piece!

Love emme lou x

Feeling Fruity!

Wow..2 Months since my last post! I've been posting on our little family wedding blog constantly, so this one has been a little neglected. I can't wait to share all the lovely wedding things and developments! It's so sooo excited!

A quick little update on our plans...we have a photographer, venue, registrar, marquee, DRESS, almost 2 of the 3 bridesmaid dresses, a special commission, and our cake designed already! I have a long list of really fun and pretty DIY projects to do over the Easter and Summer breaks, so that everything is boxed and ready to go, so it doesn't get in the way of dissertation writing and degree show sewing!

All of our wedding colours in our palette are coming together perfectly and it's a perfect mix of both me and James, which, after all...is what a wedding and marriage is all about!

I thought I'd share some embroidery from my last project which I am further developing into a garment in my current one.

We were given the brief from The Thread Project, to take the traditional Lambani embroidery and make it relevant to the western world whilst putting our own spin on it, for the interior market.

I decided to use fruit as my 'theme' and inspiration, creating a bright, bold, fun and modern take on their tradition. Bananas, melons, kiwi, oranges and blueberries! 

Buttons coming up next!

Love emme lou x