Help A Brother Out

It Only Takes A Few Seconds People!!!

Please please pretty please sign The Whaleman Foundation petition to stop commercial whaling.

It's incredibly important now more than ever; Iceland recently announced it was upping its quota from 40 whales/year to 250 whales/year - including 150 endangered Fin Whales and 100 Minke whales.

We now only have 2 more months until the petition is delivered at the June 2009 meeting of the International Whaling Commission & they've made it incredibly easy for people to get involved and lend a helping hand.

So...... PLEASE HELP.

It's simple and quick. Just fill out 4 quick boxes and you're done!!!!!




If you didn't sign it while you were on my page, I am VERY disappointed

So this is Goodbye?

Buonanotte PPRD...


Alright, so we're two weeks from Spring Break, and then a month before my Billabong placement. Personal Planning, Reflection and Development is at its end, and here goes my final blog post, or is it?

Although throughout the weeks, there were some lame sessions, I have to admit I really grew from this class. And even though I absolutely dreaded having to write in this blog. I learned to actually love the outcome after each post. I enjoy showing family and friends and fixing it up to my liking.

The sessions really helped me out when it came to our other classes as well. I really grew a lot as a student and person. I have learned so much this past year, and as I reflect with my blog, I truly feel ready for the fashion industry and the challenges I have ahead. As much as I can't wait for the beach and relaxation of the summer ahead, what I'm looking forward to most is my amazing internship with Billabong, and hopefully buying an overlocker and getting started on my line of clothing. I just want to sew sew and sew. I'm extremely eager for what's ahead and have already started talking with family and friends about not only them having some pieces from my line but help with screenprinting and logos as well. I'm really serious about making this a life long journey, and accomplishing as much as possible.

I'm even debating loading up on some amazing fabrics from London and Paris while I'm still in Europe, this of course all depends on how much extra room I have in my luggage.

After three years of studying all different aspects of the fashion industry, I am now more than ever, sure about this being my future. I'm in LOVE

CDPain in my butt

Fashion VS. Sport


So to sum up this humongous project, it is pretty much a collaboration design between our own brand (fake) and a sports brand of our choice. We have to put together a sketchbook with research and design development, the actual process of designing an outfit then making the pattern for it, making a toile, buying fabric and finishing the garment. Sounds easier and quicker than it actually is, no lie! And once you've got those done you're STILL not done. You still have a theme board to put together, brand identity board, and final board with our design illustration, flat ketches and fabric swatches.

At this point, we've had our toile reviews and are now working towards finishing up our garments and perfecting our boards. Unfortunatelyyyyyyyy, my toile review didn't go so well and I now have to re-do an entire new pattern and toile without falling too far behind, UGH! To make matters worse, this new pattern I now have to do is incredibly hard people, not cool!

I really loved my previous design and am not happy what so ever with the fact that I am not able to use it, simply because it was not the design one of the tutors had decided on. Yet, isn't this my project? Whatever, so I'm making this new design, but am still going to continue developing my previous skirt because I love it and think it's adorable.

My toile..... (Racerback Tank and High Waisted Circle Skirt)


Notice the versatility of the skirt people??? Now who doesn't want that?

damn

Lovin Lectra Life

Like It, Live It, Love It... Lectraaaaaa

Holy crap! Lectra is like a magic wand!!!! I am freakishly obsessed and amazed with how quickly and easy you can add perfectly even seam allowance. You can change a pattern from a shirt to a vest which I also looooooooooove.

Pretty much, we learned all kinds of neat neat stuff in the duration of the class, and in the end we were to turn in a finished long sleeved t-shirt and binder with all our work and t-shirt pattern.

Oh how I love my comfy tee and Lectra knowledge...

My New Infatuation...

Textiles!!!!!

I have become absolutely obsessed with textiles in the past week. I have always thought fabrics, trim and color were by far the most important part of a design and making it a stand-out in the fashion industry.

Last week, I met up with my cousin Raquel who is currently studying at Brighton, on a quest for FANTABULOUS fabrics for my final design. I already had an idea for the fabrics. But of course, knowing me, I don't mind changing things up last minute. It's all part of the adventures in fashion design and expressing your creativity.

My new favorite store to play in in definitely Cloth House No.98 in London. I'm seriously obsessed with the store! If I didn't have a bus to catch I would have 100% stayed longer and bought many many meters of different fabrics. I have never been so tempted in my life! And not only were the fabrics absolutely gorgeous, but they were at bargain prices too! I can't wait to go back and buy myself many more fabrics and trims to play with :)

If only Fashion courses included more in depth textiles classes. When I studied Merchandise Marketing at FIDM, we got to take one Textile Science class, but it was mostly engraving the functions of different fabrics in our brains instead of actually learning and practicing the process of making different textiles. I wold love to be able to experiment with different yarns and stitchings and screenprinting except I have absolutely no clue how to manage the machinery. Fortunately the internet has everything and I've been able to get a lot of nifty ideas on using fabrics for different things. And thankfully, you can buy things ready made.

Either way, I'm extremely excited to be able to show off the small extra pieces I should be making for myself and friends before I leave for my Billabong placement in May. I'm going to go nuts at Cloth House and the second I'm done with my deadlines, get started on the fun stuff!!!

Ciao Milano!!!!!!!

Bella, Bella, Bellisimo!!!


A week in Milan, Italy and my favorite memory........ the ICE CREAM!!!! Unfortunately, no, I am not kidding. The fashion were definitely remarkable, along with the stellar shopping, except.... I'm poor. Bummer I know.

Anywho, I tried to keep up fashion wise, along with eat as much good food as possible, and let me tell you... I DID IT!

Jealous?


:D

She Can Sew?!

Final PCCP Project, Patterned Constructed and DONE!


Even though I was a tad bit rushed, I did finish on time and, in my opinion, finished wonderfully. Buttons and everything :) Unfortunately, I did screw up slightly on the front section of the shirt, yet it's not that noticeable, atleast not in my opinion. SHHHHH

On to other finished products.... here are some lovelyyyyy images for your enjoyment. All from PCCP :


I'm AWESOME! I know

My Design Philosophy

Final FDP Project.... Beautiful Outcome!!!!!!


So, my final design project was finally finished and I have to admit I am EXTREMELY proud of it. Above, is the theme board for my final outfit design. Love it?????

I also put together my brand name and philosophy on a board, plus a board with examples from the collection, and finally my illustration, flat sketches and fabric swatches for my final otfit design.


<3333333

McQ Alexander McQueen for TARGET

Get ready for March!!!

“I wanted my Target collection to feature key aspects of the McQ Alexander McQueen aesthetic, classic craftsmanship with a rebellious, nostalgic flare,” McQueen told NYLON. “The collection is comprised of effortless, chic menswear inspired tailored pieces that women will feel confident wearing.”

Why Moss as his muse? For McQueen, the pick was quite simple: “I am always inspired by youth subcultures. I’m also inspired by music, rebellion, style revolution, and people with the passion to make a lasting difference.”

Check out the first look of the collection... How many will you get?

All of them? :)

Folk Project

Lame topic, happy with the outcome.

Shirt project based on Eastern European folk costumes with a sketchbook, theme board, and full illustration with front and back flat drawings of the final shirt.

If only we could have chosen from any country, I would have loved somewhere like Mexico or Africa. Oh the color possibilities!!!!!

I thought about using Photoshop on some of the pictures, making my shirt brighter and funner, but then it wouldn't have been folk at all really. I wanted to keep it Folk and classic.

The shirt is patchwork of the fabric cut out and placed on the board, with flared loose sleeves and a snug tie at cleavage with purple bow and tassels. I paired it with a nice vest and big flared skirt with belt.

Take a look :

"Organic"... At last

Check che check check check, che check it out!!!

Above is my theme board and sketchbook. 

I thought my theme board could have been more creative, but overall was very professional and really captured the essence of what my final piece ended up being. You can really see the connection 

between the two. My sketchbook is well... a sketchbook. Filled with random colors I painted in, drawings and pictures. As you can tell, I really like color, which was my biggest disappointment in my final piece. I wish it could have had more color and life to it.

Unfortunately I didn't have that many fabrics choices to pick from, so I worked with what I had. FORTUNATELY, I had my leaves with me which made up my whole vision. As long as I had those I was fine. You might not be able to notice but the leaves are actually all real. I was very thankful they didn't die overnight, dry out and fall off.

I thought the assignment was a great opportunity, though I feel I took it differently than most people. I don't really like to waste time just "trying" things, especially when it's

for a 2-day assignment I have due. I did try a few different things surrounding the upper bodice, but aside from that I knew what I was going for and didn't get to caught up with each failure. When it comes to a collection of course I would have taken more advantage but that wasn't the case and I didn't feel the need, or comfortable experimenting and showing one big work of "mess" in front of everyone. 

Overall, I was pleased with my piece and hope to one day work off of it and make it into a real garment using leather for the leaves and of course, color! 

Come on people! Life is filled with colors, USE THEM!!!

Finally, "Rococco" Pictures!!!

Drum roll please.......

So how do you like it? It's different I thought. I was very happy with it. 

I used broken mirror pieces I found in my hallway and really wanted to change it up and modernize the image of "Rococco." I played of the Marie Antoinette picture in the middle and mixed it up with the Marilyn Monroe one. From there, I though of girly, pink, flowers and comfort. I liked Marie Antoinette's costumes, yet my favorite scene of the movie that was recently made was when they show her in her garden with her daughter, getting eggs from her little farm. She glowed through the fields of plants and really had a radiance about her with only a simple white dress on. 

That's what I wanted the essence of my theme board to be and I think I achieved it. I used raw materials from nature like the acorn's and transformed pieces of flowered chiffon's into little rosette's. 

The assignment to me was fairly simple and easy. I wish we would've gotten more criticism and feedback instead of everyone getting a pat on the back but I understand it was our first assignment. 

Either way I had fun with it :)

London Trip

Fabric Sourcing!!!

So our course took a trip to London and let me just start off by saying it was FREEZING walking to the bus stop at 8 in the morning! The bus ride was long, but fun with everyone from class there. 

It was meant to be just enough time for us to travel the street of London searching fabric shops for fabrics assigned to our groups as well as fabrics for our shirt project at the end of the term. 

The entire day was freezing and uncomfortable, and we had so much extra time that most of the day was spent walking into stores. 

Unfortunately, Natasha here, was broke that day and was just trailing behind her group as they bought shoes and such. Hell, I know.

Aside from that, the trip really helped me in getting to know the streets of London and especially the amazing fabric shops it has to offer.

Now, let's cross our fingers I win the jackpot in Vegas this New Years. Maybe then I'll be able to buy some sweet fabrics in London. And some clothes of course!

Help a Brother Out!