Flat Patterning without Measurements
As you know, I am making this shrug for my cousin Jill at a great distance. One of the biggest challenges I had to try to overcome is the measurements process. Normally for a dress, I take about 40 measurements. I insist that I personally take these measurements. I know exactly where I place the […]
Sketches
I worked up a couple of sketches for Jill to see based on all our previous conversations, questionnaire and swatches. I snail mailed her samples of three choices for the main jacket fabric, a beaded overlay fabric, and two trim choices that I thought she would like. I labeled each of her swatches with a […]
Fabric Swatching
Jill and I decided that it would be perfect if I used shades of purple in the jacket, rather than the traditional all-white bride (not to mention that it will look incredible with her red hair!). She also really loves lace, beaded overlays, and beautiful textured silks. Mixing these elements together could create something really […]
Setting the Scene
Let me tell you a little bit more about Jill’s wedding to help set the scene for the design we are trying to capture. Jill and Chris will marry at the American Rose Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. It will be an afternoon wedding outdoors in their butterfly garden early this spring. Jill has always loved […]
Creative Consultation
Jill’s dress is a strapless dress. Jill also has many beautiful tattoos. Some of Jill’s family members (that she really loves and respects) do not currently know about her tattoos. Her wedding day is not the day she wants to spring this information on them. Instead, she’s got a cousin in North Carolina (me!) who […]
Jacket and Jill
Jill is my cousin. Our moms are sisters. I have known her since she was born. In our extended family, she and I are the only girls of our generation (we have brothers and all our other cousins are boys), so I guess that makes Jill and I as close to sisters as it gets. […]
The Wedding Day!
The wedding was perfect. I really mean it. I think this is why I have been putting off this blog entry for 2 weeks. I really don’t know how to express how perfect this wedding was. I guess since this is the dressmakers blog, I will tell the wedding story from the dressmaker’s perspective. It […]
The Box
One thing I learned in graduate school was that a dress is never finished until you have a way to hang it, (meaning: don’t forget the hanger tapes). In Leah’s case, we needed more than just a way to hang it, but a way to safely transport it all the way from Hillsborough, North Carolina […]
Photography Session
Since each Brooks Ann Camper Bridal Couture dress is one-of-a-kind and the bride keeps it as an heirloom, it is often impossible to show clients a variety of actual garments. Most of the time the potential client must view my past work via photographs. I am not a photographer. Though I’d love nothing more than […]