Who uses veils anyway?

Well, I'm hoping the answer is brides because this week I have been making veils & other delicious headpieces & millinery for the Complete Weddings Hollywood Glamour shoot.

It was like L'oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival all over again, except everything I made had to be different & from beautiful materials, as this was the real deal, not just a walk down the catwalk.

After a whirlwind trip to Clegs & Maria's Beads (formerly Maria George ), I spent Monday at school in Wizard of Oz land. It's really coming together beautifully, but it's so soon!

The rest of the week was spent with my head down in my studio designing & creating lovely headwear for the shoot on Thursday. It was at the Italianate Villa Quat Quatta in Ripponlea.

So here are my beauties.

And better yet most are available in my Etsy store, made to order in just a couple of weeks.

Adelaide Blusher with Diamante comb

 Minnie Silk Organza Headband

 One of a kind Juliette Vintage Beaded lace Fascinator

Sylvia Metallic Lace Bandeau

I cannot wait to see the results in the magazine come October.

And what's more, they asked to keep everything until after their shoot in Daylesford next week.

Then I have some more pieces to put together for the Prima Ballerina shoot mid June.

They are all designed, so I'll worry about making them next week.

Fonts & fascinators & 7 fabric dresses

Where did this last week go?

I have so many things I want to get on to, but there are never enough hours.

I've been on a 'make Empireroom look professional' jag recently.
I have these gorgeous head pieces & now everything else needs to look just as gorgeous, to get them out there & selling.
There's so much involved.
A new font & logo, better pictures, a new website with online shop, more samples for the range, sourcing materials. and then there is the business side of things.

I've been doing Marie Forleo's B-School which has opened up so many resources & information I feel a little like a duck. Serenely gliding over the water, with my little legs going like the blazes under the surface. There is a lot to digest in only 8 weeks, but i have learned so much about how to run an online business.

On the creative side, this has been happening.
Some more silk flowers with left over wedding petals.

A new blusher veil, in several different fabrics, this is crystal tulle.

Miz Mimi sporting last week's silk flower blusher.

A box of gorgeous crystal samples & some lace that I've been thinking of including in some 1920's bandaeaus

More petals & layered vintage motifs. I got these motifs in a huge garbage bag of dirty vintage lace from Job Warehouse years ago. They've been in the trims box at school since making lots of 1930's lingerie for 42nd Street in 2006. 

After all this time they suddenly spoke to me & said they were destined for bridal head pieces. And I think I agree with their destiny. I have stiffened them & layered  three on top of each other, all individually trimmed & with some beaded & gold thread they will look amazing

I also pick up this adorable Regency pattern & want to try the frilled wrap in silk & lace.

Of course the obsession with Wizard of Oz continues.

Glinda  & the Wicked Witch of the West  have hit the forefront & I'm so excited for their costumes now. 

Glinda was so hard because there are such strong images of her costume already out there. 

The MGM fairy floss pink  1930's fairy princess, the Meringue wedding dress of Wicked & the recent Great & Powerful Oz Glinda in slinky medieval inspired dresses.

I wanted my Glinda to be different & when the suggested wedding dress from Les Mis did not fit our actress, I was so happy to return to the drawing board.

Our Glinda will be wearing a dress of blue & gold brocade with 6 layers  of Organza, blue brocade, Glitter organza, blue tulle, gold spider web fabric in her skirt & silk shot chiffon sleeve drapes.

This was the inspiration.

 Our Wicked Witch also need to be equally spectacular. 

No ugly dowdy version. I loved that Wicked made her beautiful, paving the way to move beyond warts & pointed noses.

When I saw this 1890's dress on Pinterest I knew this was the foundation of the design. Majestic, elegant & powerful.

 Coupled with this pattern in my collection, I delved into the fabric store room & grabbed every textured scrap of fabric I could find. Lots of the pieces are from Chicago 2 years ago. I also like the feather trimming in the recent Oz incarnation & luckily I still had some Babette trim from Beauty & the Beast. Every single pattern piece is a different fabric, from sheer lace under sleeve, 3D flower fabric over sleeves, red & black lace overlay front panel, stretch cotton brocade bodice, lurex thread sleeve caps, crushed taffeta over skirt, red glitter tulle front under skirt & a removable black & red feather stand up collar.

Here is a little mock up with the scraps after cutting. 

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Busy Bee

I've been a busy bee last few days.
Added loads of Vintage patterns to my Etsy shop & sales started almost immediately. Several yards of lace, 4 patterns & an inquiry for all the lace as a lot all in two days. It would be nice if this continued. Here's a few examples of the 1940's-60's patterns I have for sale.

Yesterday I started on some personal sewing jobs for the Biggish Day.
Got the silk underbodice for my dress constructed, but am still waiting for the lining from Spotlight. It's so frustrating when I ordered it weeks ago & I can't go anyfurther with out it. Also cut out the lace overbodice. I drafted it & tweaked it on Mildura, but the lace is sitting quite different to the toile fabric that was a bit more fluid, so I need to work out how to get the bust sitting less puffy. It's exactly how I wanted though, so that's encouraging.
I also made the lace waistband & cut out 'millions' of silk petals for the waistband & birdcage fascinator. I still can't decide on exactly what I want so there is lots of samples, more things to put in the shop hopefully. I tried a little padded heart to sew the bits on to & a few gathered flowers, but decided I really want more authentic silk flowers. They are just so time consuming.

This silk flower is abut 150 years old from
the Vienna Museum Fashion Collection that I visited in June.
Mine is just going to be ivory & blush.

Love the size of this one, not too big, but still quite bridal.
   I don't quite get the point of the ones with veiling across the eyes,
so this really appeals to me.
Sorry I don't know where I got the pic. 

I've also been making a playlist for the wedding reception. I think we've got a good mix so far. Some romance, some dance music, some jazz, some classics, some silly songs (with Larry).

Prague Quadrennial: Estonian exhibit by Reet Aus

I have also been trawling google for more ideas for S2M. I'm getting more excited about the idea of upcycling, so I need to get down to Savers & other big Op Shops to find the right jackets, pants vests, skirts & tops to get sewing with. I think it's going to look so fun….