A new group is being created for Fall / Winter 2024. After finishing the last outfit in the Back to Black group, I felt that for the time being I need to part from that line and start something new. I started to explore a simpler line with adding geometric elements to it. I have decided that those elements need to be structural, yet soft enough to conform to the body shape. I settled on a thin compressed foam. It comes in sheets and is around 1/16" thick. I also wanted to be able to cut these foams on mu Cricut machine. I experimented with the cutting and was very pleased with the results. Th ..read more

As I promised at the last blog, here is the latest information about the Black Willow dress. I left the blog with cutting some extra silk dupioni pieces for the front. It looked good and I followed by cutting the lining using grey silk organza. I opted for grey to offset the front decoration. If I used black lining the design would not be visible enough. I attached the lining and tried the dress for the first time to see how it looks and how the fit works. It looked pretty good. The fit along the body was nice but I was not crazy about the front opening. I tried some pulling but it did not ..read more

The story of a dress can be a straightforward journey from a concept to a sketch to creation. The new dress I am working on, has a life of its own and it keeps taking me on an unknown journey. It started with an idea that I got from a photo on Pinterest. I love the look of the dress. Very detailed and dark. Morticia dress. I do not know if the design was made by AI or it's an actual design that was made. I was contemplating on how to go about making the embellishments on the dress. I have a Cricut machine and used it in the past to create some great embellishments for previous dresses. I look ..read more

When I worked on the white florals for the 16" dolls, I found myself slowly adding black accents and looking for more inspiration I found all kind of goth fashion that was done using AI. These designs are very elaborate and very much to my likings. So, I decided to create a new group of fashion inspired by these AI creations. The first dress is in gold silk dupioni decorated with intricate black flocked designs. The designs are created and cut on my Cricut machine. They are heat transferred to the dress. The dress is mermaid style and is very fitted at the bodice. In order to get the flounce ..read more

It's been almost three months since my last blog. not that I had nothing to share, it's just that at times I get too lazy to start putting it all together. I keep telling other artists that it takes as much time to put your work out there, as it is to create it. I put my work on social media almost on a daily basis, but writing is a different bowl game. It takes time and organizing, which at times I just don't feel like doing. Hence the large gap. So, what was I up to? As I was working on my Fall 2023 group I started veering to the dark side. I was inspired by gothic and Victorian outfits whic ..read more

Well, it's happening. I started by chance making some items in my Fall 2023 group with a Victorian flair and I got very excited about the results. From there it's a small skip to Goth and steampunk. Both trends that I like and did not explore in the past. So, there is no time like the present to continue with this trend. Black Dahlia started the trend with the high neck and puffy sleeves. Then the black florals followed. Black Tulip Black Iris Black Cala. More are coming. Look for tight waists, puffy sleeves, corsets and lots of tulle. And of course, most in black. Till later, Stay tuned ..read more

One would think that working on fashion for 12" dolls would be easier than the 16" or bigger dolls. WRONG. It's like doing everything the same but a lot smaller. Much smaller. When you design for the 16" dolls, there is more space for work, the fabric drapes in a certain way, there is more space to work with. When the scale is smaller, the same rules do not apply. If you use a pattern that was reduced from the 16" doll, there is a different way of putting it together. To start, a fabric with print that work for the 16" doll, will be too big for the 12". So, I choose to work with solids, or pri ..read more

I have been using this pattern of a blouse for years now. It is based on a Tonner Tyler blouse/bodysuit pattern that I acquired years ago. I used this pattern in various combination, with long sleeves, short sleeves, sleeveless. Various collars as well. It works. I made alteration to the pattern throughout the years to fit tighter in some areas. This time I thought of removing any access from the bodice and making it tight body fitting. This is the pattern that I used for the red blouse. I decided to make the front in two pieces and eliminate the dart. This allows me to get rid of access in ..read more

Just realized that it's been a while since my last blog. So, now that we started a new year, I am creating a new group for Fall 2023. It started with a jacket. I have a friend who used to work for a menswear company in Chicago. A few weeks ago, he posted a YouTube video from a company in Chicago that makes suits. I gather that it might be the company he worked for. Any way, they go into details on what goes into making a jacket. (16) How a Hart Schaffner Marx Suit is made - BrandmadeTV - YouTube I know that in the past I posted somewhere what goes into making an outfit, but here and now it's a ..read more

The Primavera group is fun to do. While I continue to work on multiple projects, I continue making outfits in the line. Now where do I go from here. I like the 50's style and still have lots of embroidered tulle that I can use in new outfits. I also found a bag of rose petals that I got who knows when, and I got an idea to use it as an embellishment to a dress. So, stay tuned. More is coming ..read more