What I've been up to!

Happy Friday!! And for us Canadians, Happy Canada Day long weekend!  I love long weekends because not only do I have an extra day off, next week is a day shorter...yesssss.   Summer is usually slow at work and this summer seems to be even slower with fewer people around and summer vacations. I do however, have a lot more design time to explore and try new things, so that's fun!  I realize I haven't said much about what I've been up to since the fashion shows.  I was so busy I kind of neglected blogging.  May was a bit of a recovery month for me since I was ridiculously busy since about January.  I even started another venture...selling Arbonne products!  I thought it would be a great side business but honestly, I didn't have the time for it and should have waited to sign up....however, I'm going to try my best to make it work now! So anyways, May was recovery....and withdrawal!  I was used to coming home after work every day and sewing away and loving it .  So, of course I started some new projects!! There is a little thing in August were members of the Fashion Council can submit two pieces to put on live models at one of the local restaurants, "The Palate".  The models can pass out business cards and talk about us.  I'm pretty excited for that because I've had some ideas but no reason to start them...I can't believe I just said that...terrible, as if I need a reason to create something fabulous!!!!  I've also got some client work coming up!!  I'm pretty stoked! I  Just did one of the girl's measurements on Tuesday.  The fabric is gorgeous and I can't wait to get to work on it!  OH and the most awesome thing ever....I finally got an industrial sewing machine!!!!!!! Ahhhh!!!! My awesome husband surprised me with it on my birthday.  Now I just have to figure it out.  I decided to name him (that's right, it's a boy...I decided) Valentino.   The name I chose has a duality to it...Valentino the designer whose garments I adore and am fascinated by and Valentino Rossi, the Moto GP racer, whom I also enjoy.  My husband and I are slowly becoming hard core Moto GP fans....he's been for a long time.  Since he got his snazzy new bike he's been getting into it again and of course, me too.  I think I'm more into it than him lol.  So yes, Valentino is the name of my industrial sewing machine because he is fabulous and fast!   And there is what I've been up to!  Hope you all have a fantabulous weekend!

I got this fabric last summer.  I fell in love with the pattern and the colours....now I'm trying to decide how I want it to look..I think I've figured it out.   There will be some ruffles!!!

"Valentino", my new machine :)  That little square in the middle is my new business card!!! 

Another project I'm working on hopefully for the show I mentioned.  I decided to challenge myself with lines...I hate matching up lines and that's why I chose it!

Zac Posen for David's Bridal

Hello All!! I know, it's been a little while.  Here is a little something that made me happy.  Although I absolutely loved my wedding dress, I would get married all over (to the same lovely man of course!) again just to slip on one of the dresses from Zac Posen's new line for David's Bridal.   He has such a gift for creating the most beautiful and exquisite gowns.  With an amazing eye for detail and structure, his dresses are easily identified on the Red Carpet.  I just love his designs!  It's kind of funny, just after my wedding, Vera Wang came out with a line that I completely loved and now Zac Posen!   So, all you ladies planning a wedding, who haven't yet purchased your gown, check them out!!!

All photos via www.usatoday.com

Check out this link for a little video and more pictures! 

Zac Posen for David's Bridal

Red Dress Fashion Gala

I'm getting really bad at posting new entries!!  I realized that I forgot to post a little something about the Red Dress Fashion Show!!  It was wonderful.  Our special guest, Chantal Kreviazuk was fantastic and the dresses were gorgeous!!  I have to say, I just saw the dresses from the show in Toronto and ours were just as nice if not nicer!! Awesome work ladies!!

My model, Samantha Robichaud, international violinist.  I'm not being biased when I say I feel i had the best model this year!  She played her fiddle down the runway and wow, she is awesome.  She brought my design to life more then I could have ever imagined.

All the dresses from the show.  They rocked the runway!

A closeup of a few of the models.  

Moi et ma modele fabuleuse!!! I made my dress as well!

A Perfect 10

Wow, I can't believe I haven't written in a month!!  All I can say is I was sew busy ;)  So, here is a peak at what I was up to.  

This is from the NBCCD show from two weeks ago.  My friend Gill and I decided to do a collaboration in celebration of 10 years since graduating!  We called it "A Perfect 10".  Our models were fabulous and our hair stylist did an amazing job!  Thank you, Amy!

More to come!

Photography by Jeff Crawfordwww.facebook.com/JeffCrawfordPhoto

This is one of Gill's lovely creations.  This girl definitely worked it!

This is my first piece out on the runway.  I called this one my Yin Yang dress. lol.  

Back of the dress...no that's not her underwear.  I had a mini placket.

Gill's next creation.  The lovely Emerald colour of this dress is not as evident in the picture but it was sooo nice!

This was one my favourites to make.  I designed it last summer and have seen so many similar designs I almost took it out! Then I thought, hey I know when I designed it and I wasn't copying anything I saw.  She rocked it. The lining is a wild animal like print...so fun!

The back has buttons...a little detail I decided to add rather than a zipper.  

This is my Red Dress from last year!!! I had to put it out on the runway.

This seafoam dress is so light and springy!! I loved it.

The back had a great little sparkly detail at the neck but you can't see it here!!! 

Can you tell I helped out with the designing....all the ruffles!!!   This one is Gill's too!

I had to make something Minty....this fabric was very ummm sensitive to work with.  I wanted something billowy and free.  The fabric was very light.  There is also a jewel detail on the belt but hard to see from there!

Oh that's me....in my dress!  I want to wear it out somewhere fabulous but I dunno where....I bought those crazy high shoes for the show...then I remembered how much I don't walk in heels...I still have a blister. 

My co-desgner and awesome friend.   She was so sparkly in her dress!  I loved all that gold!

Happy Easter! Pastels!

 Happy Easter!! I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend and got to spend time with family and maybe even hunt for eggs!  We had our usual two dinners today....so, very stuffed!  I tried my best to pace myself but it's difficult when there are such delicious things to eat!  Easter is a reminder of Spring and today felt like Spring! It was so nice out; Almost 15 degrees Celsius.   People often associate Easter with pastels...another big Spring trend.  One thing that drives me crazy is when people say "oh no that looks likes Easter"...hmmm maybe Easter looks like Spring!!  Would Easter be the same if it were dark colours?? No!  So yes, Easter time has pastels...because it's Spring time!!  It's a time for lighter and softer hues...a time to get away from the darker colours of winter...to warm up if you will.  Then, once Summer comes, they get a little brighter.  So, here are a few pictures celebrating pastels for Spring!!   Have a great week everyone:)

p.s 

Great story: I've been working very hard on my designs...hence the lack of posts.  Anyways, last weekend in a fit of motivation I decided to go out, get a few things and work allllll afternoon!! Great idea until I locked myself out of the house!!!  I've never done that before. My husband was gone for the day, with the other key, so,  I had to call my dad to come get me.  I felt like an idiot...sitting there on my step, the keys I could see through the window, right by the door.  Fail. But ,it was nice to hang out with my parents and think about my designs and what to do next:)

Photo via www.fashion.telegraph.co.uk
Dior Spring 2013

Photo via www.chanel.com
Chanel Spring 2013

Photo via www.shefinds.com
Butter nail polish.

Photo via www.instyle.com
Keira Knightley in Erdem.

Photo via www.fashiongonerogue.com
Blumarine Spring 2013

Photo via www.elle.com
Nina Ricci Spring 2013

Photo via www.fashiongonerogue.com
Mulberry Spring 2013

Photo via www.squidoo.com

Yay Friday!

Yay Friday!!!  The weekend is finally here.  What am I doing this weekend???? Well, let me tell you, working on my designs of course.  The shows are just over a month away and I gotta get crackin'!  I've got three dresses nearly complete and then one more to make....and then my Red Dress which is all fitted and ready to be created!  I can't wait to cut into that beautiful fabric.  I always get excited for this time of year (and a little stressed but it's all worth it because I love it!!!!  I mean, I must...I'm not even getting paid to do this).  So, here are a few sneak peaks of what I'm making.  Enjoy :)

Have a great weekend and be sure to do something you love!!

You know I love me some polka dots!

This is a lining for one of my designs...wait and see which one!

Black and White....designed this one before the big black and white trend hit the runways!

Love this fabric.  It's like a vintage mint if that makes any sense. 

International Women's Day

Happy International Women's Day!  I didn't even know this day existed until a few years ago.   One of my co-workers is from Hungary and today is her birthday.  She explained to me that she was born on "Woman's Day" and how it was celebrated in Hungary.  I guess it's celebrated differently around the world.  Some places treat it as a mothers day type of day (like here) or celebrate with deeper meaning like in Hungary.  I was just asking my Husband where all my spoiling was!  I was only kidding...although I wouldn't complain ;)  Here is a link to Wikipedia with a little more info on the day.     Anyways, there are so many fabulous and wonderful women that got us to where we are today and I want to say thank you!  Here is a link I found with 100 inspirational women---> here.

 Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

photo via http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca

ps I've decided there's not really a point to having "Fashion Friday" when I'm most often talking about fashion in some way!   So, every day is a Fashion day :)