On Stage in Fashion at the NYPL for the Performing Arts

I just caught the exhibit On Stage in Fashion in the nick of time because it closes tomorrow. I’m so glad I got to see it! I’ve always loved the performing arts — especially opera — because of the elaborate costumes. (I even considered becoming a costumer for a while; the summer between my junior and senior years at Parsons I did an apprenticeship as a costume stitcher at the Santa Fe Opera.)

There were some gowns by Callot Soeurs that I thought were extraordinary, and there was a bias cut chiffon ballet costume that had no side seams which fascinated me; I wish it hadn’t been right up against a wall so I could see how it was constructed in the back. While there weren’t as many opera costumes as I was hoping, there were a lot of really amazing archival costume sketches and photos from obscure but beautiful 20th century plays and productions.

It closes tomorrow but I overheard one of the docents mention to a group of students that it will be open on Tuesday…Go if you can!

Little Kids Being Creative

My dad forwarded me this video today and it made me so happy I was laughing and crying simultaneously as I watched it. How can you not be inspired by this? There is nothing that makes me worry less about the future of the world than seeing examples of young children being exposed to the Arts and being encouraged and nurtured as they express their creativity. (Plus this just seems like a great way for little ones to get some exercise!)

 

Welcome!

While I started writing this blog in July 2010, I haven’t shared it publicly (or really figured out this blogging thing) until recently. I hope you’ll enjoy looking around. Now that it’s live I’ll be posting more frequently so be sure to sign up to receive updates!

Snowflakes and Icing and Chocolate and….

These are some of the Christmas goodies I made while I was on vacation at my aunt’s house over the holidays… (I always have to be making something and when I can’t be working on a gown or drawing I’m usually doing something artistic in the kitchen.)

I love piping with royal icing — any icing, really — or even melted chocolate, as is the case with the dark chocolate turtles below. It’s like doing embroidery that you can eat!

A few weeks ago I posted a new photo to my Vintage Wedding Photo Gallery on Facebook. What I loved about it was the cake; beautifully iced with detailed piping. So, after I finished decorating my snowflakes, I did some royal icing freestyle just for fun.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

Victorian Gown in Martha Stewart Weddings

I’m very excited to have another dress in Martha Stewart Weddings! The Victorian Gown is featured in the current issue, Winter 2011. You can see it online, but I think it looks best in the magazine itself, where it can be found on page 308.

The Petal Gown in Martha Stewart Weddings

The Petal Gown was featured in the Winter 2010 issue of Martha Stewart Weddings and can be found on page 251, or online.

Horacio Salinas Photo

While riding up my elevator with a pile of new mail, I began my typical mindless perusal of whatever magazine showed up. Today that magazine happened to be W. I randomly turned to the most extraordinary photo on page 32/33 by Horacio Salinas. It depicted a female torso standing behind a block of ice. What really spoke to me were the abstract patterns created by the cracks and clouds in the ice, the light and shadows, and the obscured flesh behind it. I could stare at this for hours – the simultaneously warm and cool color palette, the texture and depth. I just love it. I want a giant print of this on my wall. In the meantime the magazine tear out on my inspiration board will have to do.

The Groom’s Tie

I had a client whose husband had a custom tuxedo tailored for him to wear on their wedding day. I provided his tailor with an extra yard of the silk peau d’ange I was using to make his bride’s gown so that it could be made into a tie that matched. It was a beautiful detail that brought the bride and groom together visually, and metaphorically — each of them wearing something “cut from the same cloth,” as it were, to symbolize their union.

Of course, I would only recommend doing this if the wedding gown is made in a tightly woven fabric that would befit a tie or vest, such as duchess satin, peau d’ange, or possibly some taffetas. In any case, you should make sure that the whites your groom wears match the white of your dress as there are many shades of white, off-white and cream.

Sewing History, Part II: My First Act of Rebellion…

Me and my oldest sister playing dress-up wedding at Grandma and Grandpa Komm’s house, right around the same time this story happened.

While my first encounter with a sewing machine was a traumatic disaster, the second one was totally the opposite — it was one of those special experiences where the heavens open and rays of light shine down and angels sing. Well, metaphorically at least.

My oldest sister — not the one who sewed through my finger — had been sick for a week or two and had missed enough of her eighth grade Home Ec classes that she had to catch up on her pillow sewing project at home. My mom was showing her how to use the old green Bernina downstairs, and I was wandering around looking for her. As soon as I found them — sitting at the sewing machine with the fabric, scissors and notions all set out — I thought to myself, “I have to do that.”

I stood nearby and watched, completely mesmerized. When they were done, I asked my mom when she was going to teach me how to use the sewing machine. Her reply (obviously referencing my first encounter with it) was, “Oh, Murf,*  you’re too young! You’ll sew through your finger!” To which I silently replied, watch me. It was game-on as far as I was concerned. A seven-year-old never had a clearer or more compelling mission — and this one needed to be covert. I would figure out how to sew without her help and prove her wrong!

The OGB was set up in what had been my older brother’s bedroom before he went away to college. Because it was downstairs and at the end of the hallway, it was the perfect place to sneak into and never get caught. I spent all my free time in there, figuring out, by trial and error, what this knob did and that. Once I had taught myself enough to sew a straight line, I thought I had it all figured out. When a bobbin ran out of thread, I would wind a new one. By hand.

I used scraps from my mom’s old sewing projects as well as my old, too-small clothes as fabric. My Barbie doll doubled as both muse and mannequin; I studied her clothes to find out how they were constructed and what shapes I would need to cut out of my old jeans to make her some new ones. I even found some teeny snaps and scraps of Velcro in my mom’s wicker sewing basket so I could finish the pants just like Mattel did.

*When I was born, my brother (whose room eventually became the sewing room) started calling me Smurfette. The moniker stuck, as did its derivatives: Murfette, Smurfy, Smurf, Murfy and Murf (which is what my mom still calls me).

Eric Joisel Origami

The other day I came across an obituary in the New York Times for an origami artist named Eric Joisel. I had never heard of him before, but the photograph of his work caught my eye. (How in the world could that be made out of one piece of folded paper?) So I read it and clicked through the accompanying slide show.

I was completely blown away. Nothing gets me more excited than seeing artistry and craftsmanship taken to the nth degree, especially by a single person using just their own two hands and minimal materials.

The obituary mentioned Between the Folds, a documentary in which he was featured, so I found it on Netflix and streamed it – with my eyes and mouth wide open, in total awe. This is a must watch!

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