The Blossoming

Zero Waste with Timo Rissanen

2011-11-29T22:10:00.000-08:00

Zero Waste, the concept is as old as clothing itself. However, as per Timo Rissanen, Zero Waste is a philosophy of making and being in the world. Timo is a fashion professor working on a dissertation about the concept of zero materials waste in apparel manufacturing. April 2011, I had the amazing opportunity to attend a master class by Timo at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
Zero-waste design strives to create clothing patterns that leave not so much as a scrap of fabric on the cutting room floor. The pattern making of zero-waste designs starts before the designer even knows what the end result will be.

In my experiment I created a pattern based on a square of fabric 56" X 56". Then through, pinning and tucking, a cowl neck dress evolved.

Front

Back View

Bonding Technology Seminar

2011-11-02T00:29:00.000-07:00

This past October, I traveled to Portland with Sugoi to check out Framis Italia's Bonding Technology.

Styling for Martin Prihoda Photoshoot

2011-11-01T23:11:00.000-07:00

This past summer I had the great opportunity to style a shoot for Martin Prihoda. Alongside professional stylist: Claudia DaPonte I learned some great tricks of her trade and had a blast too.

RESULTS of the shoot CLICK HERE.

Other talented people on site were:

Hair and Make up: Felicia Bromba & Jessica Ruth

Models: Lisa B and Kendall

Production: Rob Gilbert, Henry Mah, Ami Sanyal, Darko Sikman, Toranj, Kayvon, Natalie Buskila, Pratik Naik.

Mirror Mosaic Corset

2010-11-22T23:22:00.000-08:00

Well this is how the mirror mosaic corset turned out. I will display it Nov.26th-28th 2010 at the Eastside Culture Crawl. Along with some Japanese & fetish inspired pieces.

Through the Broken Looking Glass

2010-06-03T11:15:00.000-07:00

This is the second piece that I am creating for the Alice in Wonderland inspired piece for the Beyond Wonderland Art Show happening Saturday June 12th at Box Studios. The piece is called "Through the Broken Looking Glass" and is made with canvas, recycled mirror, and metal. I started by Draping with paper as opposed to fabric. then created a paper pattern and cut the bodice pieces out of canvas to help emphasize the angles, plains and structure. Hot glue worked a bit too well to secure the broken mirror pieces. Next to fill with grout or calking....

The Red Queen

2010-06-02T15:27:00.000-07:00

I've been working on an Alice in Wonderland inspired piece to create for the Beyond Wonderland Art Show happening Saturday June 12th at Box Studios. Because Julian Roberts is coming to town to teach his Subtraction Cutting Method, I thought I would look in his book and give it a go. I of course had help from Kwantlen Instructor, Lesley Pollard and inspiration from fashion student, Sabrina Khan.

I started with a sketch...it's pretty much a guess how your garment will turn out when doing Subtraction Cutting. Then I used half sized blocks to show me where the neck and arm holes would be.

Then I sewed up a sample and displayed it on a half sized dress form. The full sized garment will be displayed at Beyond Wonderland, as mentioned on June 12th.

Big Ball of Pooh

2010-05-05T20:55:00.000-07:00

Yet another creation inspired by, well, the exact same thing someone else made once. I am certainly not claiming this is any piece of originality. The first big ball of pooh I saw was at Center Camp, BRC. I just HAD to have my own big ball of Pooh to share with my friends. It took one year to collect enough Pooh. You can have your own Ball of Pooh too!

Step 1: Sew a ball shape and stuff it. Here's How

Step 2: Hand sew Pooh to the surface.

Halloween Boots

2008-10-26T02:39:00.000-07:00

My favourite time of year! Halloween! An excuse to pretend to be someone else for one night. I'm not sure exactly what my costume will be but I know it will revolve around these white patent hooker boots I transformed into spectators

Step 1: Tape off the contrasting sections.
Step 2: Use Black Gloss Spray paint and go nuts.

Step 3: I needed buttons. I wasn't about to handsew 16 buttons through PVC. SO....What can I glue gun? Aha, being a wine-oh comes in handy. I sawed 1/4" disks from old wine corks.

Step 4: Black gloss spray paint to the rescue....again.

Voila! Spectator Spats a la 7" heel. I'll post the final costume next week if it is PG13.

Green Sleeves

2007-12-11T14:24:00.000-08:00

Sunday December 9th 2007, the North Shore News featured Sweet Idea Designs and the X-mas 2007 collection of Reusable coffee sleeves. Thank you to everyone that has shown interest. I have had to make more already!!!

XOV