Shiny Ponies

This video explains exactly how I feel about shoes. I love them. An amazing pair of shoes can turn around a boring outfit. They can brighten my mood and make me feel great and powerful. A shiny pony can always bring some light into my life and a pep in my step.

Messiah the Symphony

 

 

I have an earlier post about how to make this envelope clutch. 

 

Tonight I will be at the Utrecht Symphony. It has become a tradition for my husband and I to go to the symphony just before Christmas to see the The Messiah. This year I decided to design something special just for the event. So I went into my fabric closet and pulled out this fringe leather. 

The moment I saw this fabric at a fabric market the design I wanted to create with it flashed before my eyes. I even picked up the metallic lining that day. I wanted the  slit to open as I walked and the shimmer form the lining to surprise people. 

So I got to work. The pattern design was simple.  When it came to sewing it was a bit tricky because of the fringe. I had to be extremely careful when sewing every seam as not to sew part of the fringe into the seam. I was also worried that the invisible zipper would not work with this fabric. I was determined to try because I thought any other zipper would just not work with this design I had in mind. And It worked!

Top- American Apparel

Stockings- American Apparel

Skirt- My Design

Shoes- Chinese Laundry

Coat- Primark

Leather Gloves- Primark

Ruby Rings- family  heirloom/ engagement ring

Earrings- Monki

Cuf- ASOS

Necklace- Mango

 

THIS IS WHY I DESIGN

 

My dad always taught me that if you do what you love you never need to work a day in your life.  Work is no longer work it's play.

Favorite Fabric Vendor

After enjoying the pleasure of blocks and blocks of fabric selection in downtown LA for years I have come accustomed to a vast volume of fabric choices. This has left me with a very unique and demanding taste for fabrics.

When moving to Europe and discovering that the fabric selection was abysmal I made it my mission to uncover the hidden gems of the Dutch fabric market. For years I searched specialty fabric markets, shops and online. I even looked into the fabric store in Amsterdam used in the filming of the Dutch version of "Project Runway," only to find a store filled with a fabric selection only a drag queen could love.

I had come up empty handed. But that all changed when I went to Stoffen Spektakel at the Haarlemmermeer Expo center and fell upon who I now claim as the best fabric supplier in the country of the Netherlands, Sami. He holds the most beautiful selection of fabrics I have ever seen. My unique thirst for avant-garde fabrics had been quenched. If you are looking for beautiful prints, the highest quality silks, or just something unusual Sami will have it.

I picked up this leather fringe from Sami. The fabric spoke to me. I know exactly what I will do with it. 

http://www.samitex.nl/