Darling!

I'm absolutely addicted to Downton abbey at the moment. I'm so pleased it's back in my life!
I saw some of the costumes at an exhibition in York over the summer - very exciting. But I was shocked by the dress making sills!You would think that professional costume/dress makers would be able to sew a seam straight.

Pictures of Costume worn by Maggie Smith.

The fabrics and Trimmings on this dress were all very beautiful. It's such a shame that it had wonky seams in this skirt.

Saying that, I doubt anyone noticed (I didn't) And the amount of costumes they must have to make is phenomenal!

Susannah Buxton (Costume designer) has created some wonderful costumes! I love all the beautiful Tailoring worn by Lady Mary...

...and the amazing lacy gowns of Lady Violet

For anyone as obsessed with Downton as I am, here's a fab article! (to satisfy the geek within you)

http://news1.ghananation.com/femail-stuff/212090-downton-abbey-special-is-there-anything-more-thrilling-than-a-new-frock-the-magnificent-outfits-that-are-the-show-s-other-big-stars.html

Blitz!

After just 3 days of working backstage, I've completely run out of black clothes!!! 

I've been helping out with an amateur production of Lionel Bart's Blitz. Building set, Moving 14ft tower set pieces around the stage in ridiculously quick changes and dancing and singing backstage. By the end of this week I'll have muscles like Popeye!

Four more performances to go!!!

Getting there...

Ok, well yesterday I told you of how I was setting up a little business to make and sell things...
And today, I have set up an Etsy account. So I now have somewhere I can sell things online!!!

All I need Now if for someone to actually buy them...

http://www.etsy.com/shop/quackcrafts?ref=top_trail

I've only managed to put a couple of things up right now but hopefully in the near future there will be quite a selection of pretty treats!

One of my hand painted pencil pots !

I have a summer fayre stall coming up soon and I'm hoping to set everything out in a tea party style way, with lace table clothes and paper doilies... Hopefully that might attract people to my stall. I think the presentation of a stall has sooo much to do with its success!!

Right, back to the workroom!!

One small step at a time...

So excited,
 http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4523025/
I'm on IMDb... That's one small step towards my dream. Small, but a step all the same.

Gosh! I've been so busy recently. I decided that I needed to do something for a little income over the summer... So I've made up a little business, called Quack. And I've started making lots of little bits and bobs to sell.
Things like lavender bags, beaded bracelets and printed canvas bags.
I'm hoping to get round some local summer fayres, and look for somewhere online that I could sell things.

On top of all this, I've just seen the trailer for Spielberg's new film War horse. I read the book by Michael Morpurgo when I was younger and have been desperate to see the West end performance. It looks amazing, I just hope its as good as it looks.

The Water's edge Preview

During February and March this year, I was lucky enough to be asked to do costumes for a 3rd year Graduation film.
The Film was 'The water's edge'. An alternative present sci-fi/thriller. I designed and made costumes for the character Robert Stenuit, a man who struggles to survive alone on a mountainside, facing apocalyptic conditions.
I looked at films like batman begins and The road for inspiration.

So after my research I did some designs and some costume sourcing.

As this was a budget costume I had to find the cheapest way of making my design. 

I found all of the garments from charity shops, which I then broke down to look old and worn.

Here are some stills from the filming, showing the finished costume.

Moulin Rouge

Well, it's been a while!
I've just finished a project working with designer Frances Tempest (Costume Designer for the 2006 BBC series of Robin Hood)
As part of my end of year project, Frances designed costumes for Moulin Rouge girls from the1900's. Her inspiration came from the paintings of Henri Toulouse Lautrec.

The Character given to me was lily. I had the challenge of constructing the costume to Frances vision. 

And here's my finished costume!!!

I'm really pleased with the finished shape. My model has such a fabulous figure!!! 

Short and sweet...

I've finally got myself sorted and set up a blog!!

And about time too! I've been wanting to start up a blog for some time now. In September I started a degree course in Costume with performance design and I've had such an amazing time and done so many fabulous things. I thought it would be a good idea to start documenting my work...

As well as my course I've been doing costumes for some small student run Film projects (very exciting) which I'd like to write more about in the near future. I guess we'll see how It goes...

Watch this space...