Custom Blaze

So....I've got a million and half things on my plate...and most of them almost finished so that I can make inventory.

Bridal Ooh la la.
Alteration nation
Stitchin' Wicked

Once all of those projects are complete I can finally design.....lol

Now to motivate and get a month's worth of work done today.........

Out to Launch

So I've been a rather busy bee.  I designed one show, that's right one show, this year and I'm just now sitting down to blog about it.

If you ever have the chance, go....run, don't walk, to see a show performed by the Evanston Dance Ensemble.  Those young adults are some of the most talented performers I've seen in a long time.

The show was a challenge for me artistically, professionally and designatudinally.  October through March.  It was 97 costumes...I had a shop of three main stitchers and two volunteers.  And somehow, we made it happen without ripping our hair out by the root or killing anyone.  LOL  The whole piece ended up being supremely gratifying on a plethora of levels...and I made some cool fun friends.  Always a bonus, I feel.

Pictures to follow.

Now?  I play catch up with my life.  It's wedding season....gotta get that stuff out and proud.  Then I have three accessory lines to launch.

First is the Chicago Haute Dog collection of cute dog stuff.

My client, Lisa, is a true inspiration.  (if you've not checked out her blog, do.  It's not only amazing artistically, it is also brilliant and hilarious: http://mamausesneedles.blogspot.com).

Her line of  baby clothes and accessories is super cute.  I have the occasion to help stitch them.  If you've got a flair for modern and contemporary art, then this is the line for you and your little ones. -- I'm being super generic with the terminology, mostly because, admittedly, I know very little about contemporary art.

I'm an art fan (ok, nerd), so my knowledge of fine art ends there, really - in what I gravitate towards...rather than a specific technique.  I know I tend to be lush in my design preferences.  While I can appreciate the simplicity of clean lines....I'm not one to surround myself with them. Give me baroque and pre-raphaelite and art nouveau swirly goldy guilded goodness, please. Layer it and cover it with acanthus leaves....and spray it silver and crackle it. Spangle it, stud it, rhinestones and velvety lushy plushy fab-itude.

J'adore.

However, style attraction and desires aside, I do really try to learn something from all of my clients.  It's not always about style.  By this, I mean: I am learning to appreciate contemporary art, yes....BUT....I'm also trying to really forge forward to get greener.  (Lisa's blog posting on 3/13/2012 is eye opening....about now many textiles are being....wasted....)

Thereto, I am trying  not to buy new fabric for my own stuff.

At the moment, it can't be helped for a lot of custom stuff, like the wedding pieces I do, but for my business label...I strive to be a green designer.  The ultimate goal for my wedding pieces is to do more altered couture. Things already built then recycled.  But that means more book learnin'....as I cannot by any stretch of the imagination or terminology call myself a couturier.

Instead, I'm concentrating on one goal at a time.  First.  Recycle more...and take advantage of the opportunities to neither "Consume" nor "over consume".  Which is hard for me. When I was a newly divorced person way back in the long long ago....my comfort was shopping for things with which to make other things....and for a time, my studio was filled to the brim with shit I never used, wore, etc.

So. Redemption beginneth.  I've been helping people clear out their closets...I'm a Craigslist stalker.  Regular.  I am the DIY queen and it's all because I check the "free" postings four times a day.

I've got nine beautiful pieces of fleece with which to work.  Though these pieces fall into the category of "not free," they are still a step in the right direction on the green front.

So now.  Focus.  This week, clean the shop, get it all done, make the space.  Start recycling and designing with a new sense of purpose.

Design it; build it; and launch it.

Glowy Absinthe Green Fairy Wings

 Construction Diary for Fairy Wings.

I found a shape from a 1920s painting that I really liked....then I took some pattern making paper and drew the wing shape free hand.  I tried to pay close attention to how the wings would attach later.

Edd and I collaborated on Phase Two of the project....which was tracing the outline of the wing perimeter onto a piece of plywood.  He then put penny nails all the way around the perimeter.  This was so that I could put the wire form on rather tightly - making for much easier chiffon and organza application.

Whew

So this holiday season has been absolutely insane.  I sold....all...of my jewelry (that's 80 pieces) in week one of the holiday blitz.

I've been playing catch up ever since.  It's been super fun.  I now sell my stuff at a store here in Chicago's Andersonville.  Emily runs a fantastic boutique.  Please be sure to check it out.

http://www.mrandmrsdigz.com/

In the "Tink"

So this is one of my favorite costume projects this season so far.  Super cute.

Holiday Pledge

"I, STATE YOUR NAME, as an Etsy artist, craft artisan and mixed media specialist, plan to: create my inventory, blog about it, market it, photograph it, and LOVE IT".

It used to be so difficult to get excited for the holidays.  Now that I'm my own artist....I am ecstatic! I love the holidays.  I love knowing that I can provide that perfect gift for that special person on the list....


This year....it's all about the trends.  I've been getting so many requests for cufflinks.  This....makes me swoon.  I love gents who like cool accessories.  So...your wish is my command.

News from the Road: The Magnificent Seven

Cincy Fringe.  Day 9 of 10.

So.  No Yul Brenner.  No Steven McQueen.  but there was a battle just the same.  The battle that Mother Nature always wins when it comes to the locals and the theater.  Mother nature is a total "mother". 

Storms raged; thunder boomed; lightening struck; flooding happened in the streets; and as a result: Dawn performed for a small audience of seven people.  Three of whom came late and wet.

She was....super bummed out about it.

I told her: honestly - I wasn't expecting...anyone.  Were we in Pittsburgh, this would have been a dress rehearsal.  LOL.  We knew going into this project that we were the outsiders competing with locals....so I've been excited, honestly, that anyone has come to see the show.  So already, the fact that people have been showing up at all -  in my book, yesterday included, we are winning.

I often think about my craft in these situations and recall Ron Harwood's The Dresser.  Norman states "My friend said:  'I don't care if there is only one person in the audience, I act for him.  Because that person is certain to know and understand'.  That's what my friend said"

Needless to say, we stayed in last night and just chillaxed with the first triumvirate of comfort snacking foods: cheddar cheese nachos, chocolate, and red wine.  We took the time to reflect on our time here and recognized that we needed to hand write thanks yous to those who DID come in the rain and muck and mire who didn't have to.....but did.  We gave ourselves credit for having done this in the first place....from air mattresses on concrete floors to being the New Kids in an eight year old festival in  a local community that is very very tightly woven.

And that these latter few contemplations were indeed why we also wanted to return to the festival and couldn't wait for next year to do it all over again.

That's where we were.  

Today we are inspired to give one final performance of Lydia Etudes at the 2011 Cincinnati Fringe Festival.  See a few more shows and then celebrate en mass with all involved at the closing party tonight.

It's been a wild ride....and....."SCENE".

:)