Project Runway Episode 1 RECAP! Here goes the Dream Team!

So the premier episode of Project Runway  Season 11, complete with Zac Pozen, has concluded and I am going to recap the shit out of it!  A bit late, but the flu has attacked my wit and wisdom and I am now feeling well enough to hash the goods without upchucking the goods.

After watching a couple of times I realized that I had a tendency to come off a bit snarky, and my sideways glances had a bit of the devil in them, when in all actuality could have been just nerves or gas bubbles caused by nerves.  It’s the first challenge for god’s sake!

I said things like: “I don’t think I am going to help Emily.” Well, I did, as did Cindy and Samantha.  Frantically with what time was left.  I also helped Ben, as did Matt and Samantha, get his dress together.  It was a team of helping. And for the most part we really got along.

I also said that I had seen Daniel’s garment like 30 years ago.  I wasn’t the only one.  Zac Posen mentioned he had just seen it on the Paris runway.  So yea, when I was 4 I saw it in the future.  Because I am psychic.

As for the team names… they were weak.  However, there was little time… like a breath to come up with them.  In hindsight the Dream Team should have been “Born of Satin’s Breath” or “Sissors of the Underworld” or something really metal and terrifying.

Let’s chat dress shall we?

My first dress was inspired by the rebuilding of the World trade center, the scaffolding in particular.  I purchased some pretty industrial fabric, waxed denim and wool Melton (one of my favorite fabrics of all time), and a plethora of notions to make side bag/harness piece to recreate the scaffolding.

Here is what the blogs said:

“Overdone. Desperately in need of editing.” – Tom and Lorenzo http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/2013/01/pr-s11e1-neverending-story.html

 

Over at Rate the Runway on Lifetime:

http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway/season-11/rate-the-runway/episode-1#disqus_thread

I received a vote of 2.49 out of 5 by 2244 viewers.  Here is what a few of them said:

“I may be flying solo here, but this was my favorite look of the night. Urban Commando. The fabric, proportion, para-military element and surprise backless feature all worked.”

“Just when Mayor Bloomberg announced the lowest murder rate in NY for many years, along comes a terrorist….”

“Is she going camping?”

At Tirare Le Fila:

http://tirarelefila.blogspot.com/2013/01/project-runway-season-11-episode-1-team.html

“The dress gorgeous, however, the purse contraption, while clever as hell, belonged on a much simpler dress. The purse contraption is very New York, if you think about how practical New Yorkers must be. Over a sheath dress or pants, this would have been inspired street chic. The fact that this was a good design on the team that failed meant that she didn't get the criticism she needed to improve in the next challenge.”

And then there is The Democracy Diva’s thoughts:

http://democracydiva.com/2013/01/26/project-runway-recap-season-11-premiere/

“The back is pretty, but I can’t like a dress with a built-in fanny pack. I just can’t do it.”

Overall, pretty funny. I wouldn’t do a damn thing differently.  I have learned that black doesn’t show very well on the runway, all the minute details were lost.  But I still think it is a kick ass dress.  And I think my model, Miss Brandi rocked it!

Oh and those who know me know that my idea of camping is called a hotel.

So what do you think?

View from my seat

Slowly building my velvet painting museum.

Oh Batum, you help me find inspiration!

Clicked my heels & I’m still here!

The past few days have been incredibly rewarding.  My clothing is now being carried in two locations: 

Anne Bocci Boutique: 7824 Southwest Capitol Highway Portland, OR 97219

Garnish Apparel: 404 NW 12th Ave, Portland, Oregon 97209

 

AND I was featured in an article in the Oregonian as an upcoming designer to watch!

It has been a rocky year, a Rocky Mountain kind of year, with lots of ups and lots of craggy, sharp-edged downs.  These past few days have helped raise my boot straps and keep me going. CHEERS to hard work, dedication and the loved ones that keep you going.

 

Clink!

Hump day, Jack-o-Lanterns & mini Reindeer antlers! OH MY!

Halloween ended up being a glorious day.  With 5 hours of sleep and two jolts of coffee I brought this season’s new inventory of rain jackets to Anne Bocci of Anne Bocci Boutique.

hang in there jackets, you'll find a forever home!

I met Anne a year ago while participating in Portland Fashion Week and she has been a supporter ever since.  In fact, her boutique (located at 7824 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219) carries a lot of local designers, such as Ms Wood, Seth Aaron and Au Clothing.  Au Clothing is me bitches!

cropped orange and long toffee rain jacket

As a solo, struggling designer it is like a big hug or a full size candy bar given on Halloween to have such support.  On my way to total fashion domination it is people like Anne who help me mortar the bricks and make me realize I am not building a shit house but a fashion mega dome! She not only carries my work, but has helped me tweek sizing and given me invaluable advice.

 So let’s put on our rainwear, raise a glass to Anne!   XOXO.

this is how it all started

had to buy these earring while i was there!

I love working with leather.  I love the smell of it.  I love the varying textures of it.  I love its durability as well as its rich, luxe quality.  Leather just says LUXE. 

 Leather has been used since the dawn of man.  Leather is the skin from birds, reptiles or animals with the hair or fiber removed. It must be treated first to not rot over the course of time.  Leather is often the byproduct from the food industry, so where there is prime rib, there is leather.

Before the skins, known as hides, become leather they must be processed.  First they are cured to prevent the skins from rotting.  During the curing process the hair and flesh is removed from the skins and they are dried.  After the skins are cured they are tanned.  The main reason for the hides to be tanned is to prevent them from rotting, and keep them from becoming hard and eventually cracking.  The tanning process can take anywhere from a few hours to up to a year depending on the process and thickness of the hide.

Splitting, coloring, and finishing follow the tanning process, AND this my friend is the point of this blog post.  PATENT leather.

 Patent leather goes through the same treatment above but is then finished with successive coats of polyurethane, the end result being a high shine, high luster finish that is very durable.  I just nabbed me some high-shine, high-gloss patent leather.  It is so glass like, I just want to put it in my mouth.  Perhaps I will make something from it instead!  My inclination for this shiny ass hide is to turn it into jewelry.  Or a bag.

Sewing with patent leather can be a bitch.  I recommend using a machine with a walking foot and a Teflon foot.  Always use polyester thread.  Use scraps first to set correct tension, and go SLOW.  Once you perforate the hide with the needle, you are forever left with a hole.

Off to play in patent leather land… I hope I see a patent unicorn there!

i feel like a gherkin...

 

…sweet, salty and a touch of sourness.  Yes, I feel like a gherkin.  Perhaps less sweet than sour, I really could use a bit of venting right now.  Or a good old fist fight.  Or a night in jail.  Or, maybe, just maybe, a nap. 

Perhaps a fist fight that lands me in jail where I can take a nap.  PERFECT!

creatively sleeping

I have a nasty habit of closing my eyes and having design come to me.  I don't know if it is the blank canvas that is the back of my lids?  Or the turning off of distractions around me?  But I inevitably wake up at a devilishly dark hour with a stroke of brilliance. 

This morning it was 3:41.  
I finally gave in and rose at 4:40. 
Tea in hand I type. 
1/2 a tea in hand I sketch.

At least my brain wakes me up so I don't miss these moments. I just wish they happened when my eyes were already functioning.