Blast from the Past

Today I thought i'd reminisce on some past projects I created when I was 14- 16 years of age.

 First up is my favourite that I made when I was 16, at this stage of my life I was addicted to the TLC show 'Toddlers and Tiaras', so naturally I decided to make a glitz pageant dress. Some may think its a tacky concept with bad values placed behind a glitzy dress, but for one I loved every minute sewing over the top sequin trims and curly frills!

The next dress was inspired by Australia's beautiful Great Barrier Reef. At the tender age of 16 I wanted to use colour, and lots of it! This dress in particular probably took the longest time to make, but at the time I thought it was worth it. By now you can probably tell my fashion sense is very over the top and full of colour!

when I was 14, there was a part of me that still secretly believed in faeries, so why not make a fairy dress for that off chance that they do exist! If barbie ever needed another fairy dress for her extensive wardrobe then this would be almost perfect for her!

Last but not least is my blue Cinderella like gown, that I wore once to a teen pageant and then a fashion design competition. I can still remember clearly quickly sewing on the sequins on both days of these events, minutes before I went on stage. Lets just say i'm probably not cut out for the hectic pageant lifestyle!

Anyways I hope you enjoy looking at my past sewing projects and got a little glimpse into my past.

xxx

 

Vatican City Tailoring

My recent tailoring project at Fashion college inspired by the architecture and paintings within the Vatican City! 

Fabric Manipulations- Arabian Nights

Reflecting the brass plated architecture and the grainy texture of the desert sand, this texture combines modern day Arabic glamour and elegance with the traditional beading used on belly dancer costumes. This fabric contains a mixture of frayed chiffon, brass pearls, and metal seed beads.

 

Inspired by the radiant setting sun over the Middle East through is textural and boundless deserts, this fabric manipulation represents an Avant-garde approach towards the traditional Arabic embroided rugs. To create the richness and luxury feel of an Arabic rug in this fabric manipulation, I started off by dyeing an off white denim into a burnt orange colour. I then added eyelets throughout the surface. I then formed an abstract geometrical pattern on the fabric through threading the embroidery threads between multiple eyelets. To finish this manipulation off, an to add even more delicious textures on the fabric, I sewed metal seed beads in vertical lines, to generate a brassy affect.

The fabric on this texture was woven to replicate the Arabic cutout window panels used throughout the historical mosques and palaces. The fabric manipulation is backed on a sheer mesh to craft a light feel and look on the body.

The smocking manipulation was used to replicate the embossing technique used in Arabic furniture and architecture. The smocking was hand sewn in a woolen fabric to create a sculptural affect.