Heather's Fine Couture Sewing Blog

Heather's Fine Couture designs and creates custom costumes of all types, specicalizing in ballet costumes.
This blog is intended to share my thoughts, inspiration, and progress on my past, current, and future projects.



Friday, December 24, 2010

Dress fabrics and design!



Above are the fabrics I have chosen for the Auto Show Charity Event, and at right you see the design I have come up with.  Not pictured is the black lace I will be using.  I dyed that today and it is drying.  I can hardly wait to get started!!!!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Another new project-- FOR ME!!!!


My husband informed me yesterday that he received two tickets to go to the North American International Auto Show charity preview.  This is an exclusive black tie event, and I've never even been to the auto show.  I am so excited.  It is about three weeks away, but I have decided to design and make a dress for it.  I want something truly original with a vintage flair.

I have 3-4 different designs in mind, and I am trying to narrow it down.  All my ideas have a feeling of the 50's, and I want something in a light blue with black accents.  I know I want the skirt to be large and long like a ball gown, most likely out of tulle.  The bodice is where I am having trouble deciding.  It is between a classic 50's style halter, either with machine embroidery or lace on the top, a ballet-styled corset bodice, or a more modern styled corset.  I think I have most of the fabric already, which is nice when I can use something from my stash.

I also plan on adding some rhinestones or beads for some sparkle.....  I have to keep it simple enough to get it done, but complex enough to be very original.....

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

I wish I had more time to work....

I know I've said it many many times, but I wish I had more time to work.  It's hard because I have so many ideas and so much inspiration, but just a lack of time to execute.  Life just gets in the way.  Perhaps after the holidays....

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

My new project!

     I am very excited about my latest project.  It is not only a costume project but a dance venture as well.  The studio owner where I teach ballet suggested we create another ballet for next spring as we have done in years past.  I came up with the idea for an "Alice in Wonderland" production.  It has since evolved into including all the classes at the studio, not just ballet.  So it will be one big studio-wide-hip hop-tap-jazz-acro-music-theatre-ballet extravaganza.  I can't tell you how excited we all are.  We as teachers will be playing the main characters, and I have offered to make our costumes.  I have an ultimate goal in my business of creating a rental inventory, so I will make our lead characters' costumes and keep them for future rentals.  I think I will also be helping with some of the students' costumes, but we need class head counts and such.
     There are four of us that are teachers plus two assistants.  I will be playing Alice, which I am super excited about.  The owner will be the White Rabbit, the two other teachers will be the Red Queen and the Mad Hatter, and our assistants will be the White Queen and the Cheshire Cat.  I know that leaves the Caterpillar, but I think we will have more than one.  Our goal in making us the lead characters is to avoid rehearsal time outside of classes.
     I am getting my inspiration for these costumes in so many places.  I am taking aspects of the most recent Alice movie and combining them with how the characters feel to me.  I also take into consideration what style of dance we will be performing.  My Alice costume, for example will be a dress, but with a definite ballet style to it.  One of the aspects of Alice's costume in the new movie I really like was the use of black details on the blue dress.  My plan at this point is to use machine embroidery along the edges.  Once I come up with a rendering I will post it.
    For the Red Queen, I see her as very Elizabethan.  The dancer for this role wants her hair and makeup like the Queen in the new movie.  I will be using red, black and gold, and I have found the perfect sceptor!

I will be continuing this at a later time, I must be off to bed....

Monday, December 6, 2010

My First Blog

So here it is, my first attempt at a blog.  My plan is to share my inspiration, thoughts, project progression, frustrations, and the like.  Hopefully I will find some followers!