Emmeline in the Emerald City

I may be just a little bit obsessed with this dress.  I love emerald green in general, and I'd been wanting to make the Emmeline in a gorgeous silk fabric...then along came Kate, who asked for exactly what I'd been wanting to make!

Kate is a girl who plans ahead--she commissioned this amazing dress to wear for holiday parties this year.  She even chose the fabrics herself--the dress is lined in the most adorable white lawn with tiny green polka dots!

As Kate said: "Too cha-cha-cha!"  I even did a little Hong Kong finish on the hem of the skirt to tie it in with the lining.  I think that if I get to make another one of these, I might add a double row of ruffles on the underskirt to be even MORE cha-cha-cha...

Wouldn't this be fabulous in cherry red?  Oh my gosh, I want one for myself.  When Kate sends me a picture or two, you can be sure I'll post them!

Indie rock star eco chic

I first met Heather almost a year ago via Alchemy on Etsy.  She was looking for a unique wedding gown--a dress that would incorporate both her taste for retro design and her desire to have a completely eco-friendly wedding.
The original conception for Heather's dress was a simple 1920's style gown with a dropped ruched waistband, wide v-neckline and softly draped chiffon overdress.  I found the most amazing source for organic, fairly traded and sustainable fabrics, NearSea Naturals, which has since become one of my favorite fabric suppliers.  We ordered a length of their absolutely gorgeous, luminous peace silk and a length of the feather-light, delicately sheer chiffon.  The fabrics arrived and they were just so beautiful, I was almost afraid to cut them!
Next came many months of design contemplation.  Heather and I traded ideas; I sketched out possibilities; then one day, Heather found THE dress (or at least, THE dress bodice): a Dessy design with a deep v-neckline and mirrored deep-v back, lovely double chiffon ruffles all along the bodice gently cascading over the shoulders, and ruching over the bust and waistline.

We initially planned to add a simple tea-length or ankle-length sheath style bias-cut skirt, but then inspiration struck again: Heather saw a gorgeous white dress with the most amazingly retro-modern-urban-chic pencil skirt.  Since the groom will be wearing a bespoke fitted suit and looking every inch the indie rock star, it was a must that Heather be just as stylin'! (Luckily I hadn't cut the skirt out yet!)  After some more tweaks to the bodice design to make it just right for Heather, this gorgeous dress was done.  I can't wait to see how it looks on the lovely bride!