Tiredness

This past week was the 11 month anniversary of my brother's suicide.  Grief affects the body in a way that's hard to fully explain.  Some days I'd wake up and physically/emotionally not have much to give that day.  This past week was one of those weeks where every day felt like that.

I decided on Sunday that I was going to try to work through it anyway and create something.  These aren't my favorite photos, but this shoot was more about working through the tired-rut than the outcome of the photos.

(click image for correct size).

1950s Inspired Spring Party Dress

Spring, spring, spring, spring!  Yes that was an excessive number of springs, but I'm too excited to even care!  I have been waiting for spring to arrive ever since January.   Normally I love winter, and I want it to stay prolonged for as long as possible, but this year I've just been ready for a change of seasons.  I'm ready for the flowers and the green again.  I think my trip to Savannah encouraged this, because I saw how green it was down there, and it made me long for summer.  Summer is the start of adventures, but spring is the start of the anticipation of all the possibilities, and I love that feeling.

All photos taken myself

Dress:  Esther from the Sticks

I made this dress for the Fort Wayne Museum of Art's Funky Formal Night that was about a month ago.  I wanted to create something very retro and 1950s inspired   I hand drafted this dress pattern and used over 5 yards of fabric.  There were so many pleats that had to be measured and hand pressed, that by the end I was ready to be done with the iron for awhile.  There are 1/2'' pleats around the top of the bodice, 1'' pleats around the waist, and 1.5'' pleats around the middle of the skirt.  There is also a pleated placket with buttons in the back covering the zipper.  

The dress itself is a simple strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline and an invisible zipper in the back.  The dress is fully lined with boning in the bodice for support.  There's also a colorful tulle crinoline that I designed to pop out on purpose 2.5'' below the hemline.

There are hidden pockets in the side.  Like I've said so many times before I like to have pockets in dresses.  Most of the time I don't want to carry around a clutch or a bag while I'm all dressed up.  I like having a place where I can stash my keys and cell phone without having to worry about carrying them all night.  

The first rough sketch. 

^Instagraming while in the middle of the sewing process.

Also for anyone who is interested this dress is for sale in my Etsy shop along with a couple other new garments.  I cleaned out my closet the other day of clothes that I will be selling so I'll keep you updated all throughout this month when new items are up.  

I hope you're having a lovely Friday and happy spring!  

Yesterday's Fire are Today's Ashes

Finally!  The warm spring weather is officially starting to hit Indiana.  You might not recognize this church. I've taken lots of photo shoots here in the past, but the appearance has changed quite dramatically   This past fall some vandals were playing around it and somehow the building caught on fire and burnt down.  It's amazing how just one small accident can change a building into something completely unrecognizable.  Even burnt down it's still a beautiful landmark to take pictures at.  It reminds me of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, when Violet, Klaus, and Sunny revisit their burnt down home for the first time.  It's melancholic and beautiful at the same time. 

Jacket:  Esther from the Sticks

Blouse:  Esther from the Sticks

Shorts:  Forever 21

Tights:  Thrfiited

Doc Martins:  Gift from my cousin

Leather Bag:  Thrifted

Sunglasses:  Thrifted. 

Necklace:  Esther from the Sticks

I made this jacket about a year and a half ago over Christmas break, but I just now finally got around to photographing it.  It seems like I have far too many sewing projects that still need to be photographed.  Some days it's hard trying to come up with new ideas when my environment is always the same.  I've been looking for new locations to take photos lately and I found some places that I'm excited about.  Now I just need to set time aside so I can focus on shooting my work more often.     

  I hand drafted this jacket pattern using my own measurements.   The jacket is fully lined and was constructed using the same technique of drafting a princess style seam bodice.  There are hidden pockets in the front alongside the zipper.   The sleeves have ribbed knit, jersey strips as part of the underneath sleeve so there’s easement in the arms to make it more comfortable.  I found all the fabric at Wal-Mart in their clearance section.   This jacket has had lots of use, and I'm thinking about making another one in a camel color sometime soon.  What do you think?

All photos taken myself

I hope you're all having a lovely Monday! 

It's Official...SCAD!

Well it's finally official; I have decided on a school!  I will be attending Savannah College of Art and Design in the fall to pursue a bachelors degree in fashion design.  I traveled to Savannah, Georgia to make my first visit this past weekend and I was blown away by their programs!  Not only that, but it was the most whimsical and beautiful city that I have ever been to.  It's such a visually creative environment that I can easily see myself creating there for four years.  I am so excited about this decision and to start the next four-year journey of my life!  

Military Jacket

When I was younger I was the biggest tomboy anyone would ever meet.  I had set in my mind that I was going to go into the army (not just any branch of the army, but the Navy Seals).  As you can probably guess my career choice has definitely changed since then, but I can still take inspiration from the younger tomboy in me so I designed and created a military jacket.

Jacket:  Esther from the Sticks

Checkered shirt:  Esther from the sticks

Striped shirt:  Thrifted

Pants:  Forever 21

Doc. Martins:  Birthday gift from my cousin 

Navy hat:  My Grandpa's. 

 I designed and hand drafted this pattern according to my own measurements.  It's made from a wool blend fabric that I got at Wal-Mart (like all my other fabrics) in their $1.50 section.  I've been playing around with exaggerated silhouette so I created an oversize collar.  There’s detailed seam work in the back, top of the shoulders, and around the waist of the coat that gives subtle geometric shapes to the design.  The coat is fully lined with buttons and epaulet detail on the shoulders.

Now that my computer is fixed I have so many new projects to post, along with some exciting news that I will be announcing next week (my final college decision.  Dun, dun, dunnnn).  More to come soon and I hope you're having a lovely Easter!  

P.S.  Check out my amazingly talented sister and brother-in-law's new website!  They're photographers and they just finished their new branding and I'm so proud of all their hard work!  

National Scholastic Announcement

Hello everyone!  I just I found out yesterday that I received a National Silver Medal in the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition for Photography.  Below is the photograph that received the award.  

Title:  Going Tanning.

I can't believe that this has been my last year of Scholastics.  I've been entering since the 8th grade and I think I might be lost next January, since I won't have the Scholastic deadline to finish anymore.  If you've been following me for a while, you probably know that I'm always scrambling those two weeks in January before the deadline.  I guess this just means that I'll have to find a new deadline to run around for.

If you're in high school or know of someone in high school I highly recommend entering the Scholastic Art and Writing competition.  Scholastics is so much more than just an award; it's something that has pushed myself to strive for a new level in my art every year.  It's challenged me to think outside the box and give me a goal to work towards.  I don't think that my artwork would be in the same place right now without the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition, and for that I am truly grateful.  

I also wanted to say how blessed I am to have such amazing Regional Scholastic Affiliates, Max Meyer and Joslyn Elliot of the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.  They've helped me and so many other students by making sure that we're able to continue our dream of pursuing art.  Max was even the one who introduced me to film-making, because he saw how I work so visually with my photography and he thought that I'd like it and he was right.  They take a personal interest in all of us and I'm so thankful for that support.

^Max and Joslyn while in New York City last year

Last night was the regional Formal/Funky Party with all the students who entered Scholastics or for anyone else who wanted to come.  It was so much fun getting to meet and talk with all the talented students who were there, and also I loved having another chance to check out everyone's work.  

^ I made the dress that I'm wearing.  I post a lot of my design process photos on Instagram if you'd like to check it out.

I have a couple new garments to show you all soon.  My laptop is down right now so I'm waiting for it to be fixed until I can edit and post the photos.  Hopefully I'll have it fixed sometime next week.  Until then, I hope you have a wonderful weekend and more sewing projects to come soon! 

P.S.  I also thought I'd mention that I received the First Place Platinum Award for Fashion Design in Savannah College of Art and Design's Challenge.  Below is the dress that received the award.