Hannah and Bella

Utility Fashion in Wartime Study Day on 20th April

There is a great study day being held by The Costume Society this Saturday.

Tickets available on the door....hope to see you there!

http://costumesociety.org.uk/events/details/utility-fashion-in-wartime

The Fashion Gallery, Snibston Discovery Museum

Saturday 20 April 2013, 10.30 - 16.00

Marking the 70th anniversary of the Board of Trade Collection, this exhibition at the Snibston Discovery Museum features over 100 garments from the museum's collections and loans from other museums and private collections. The exhibition also includes concept fashion created by the fashion students of De Montfort University, who have used the museum's collection of utility and other wartime fashion as the inspiration for their work. The study day will include four speakers who will explore different aspects of wartime fashion and the wider utility scheme, viewing time for the exhibition, and the opportunity to study further items from the museum's colection and Janet Godfrey's collection.

This weekend....

Summertime Sewing Newsletter

Here is the link to my newsletter. If you want to be added to my mailing list please put you details in the side bar and next time you will get this in you email in box!

http://makehay.createsend.com/t/ViewEmailArchive/r/A94F911816BACA01/C67FD2F38AC4859C/

 

Fashion Exhibition.....(and I made some of the arms for the mannequins so it has to be good!)

Part of my volunteering for Leicestershire Costume collection I have had the delight of helping install the new exhibition 'Utility Clothing 1942-1949' at Snibston Discovery Museum, Leicestershire.

It shows some exquisite examples of Utility wear showing the journey from the glamorous 1930s to post war Briton. There is also a collection of contemporary designs from the students of DeMontford University inspired by the utility collection at the costume collection.

If you are a vintage 'nut' then this exhibition is really a must to go and see and is on until May 2013. It is also free to visit on Wednesday afternoons. Summer is here so go and take a look for yourself.

 

MA Expo....come and see

 
Photographer: Assuna Del Buono (2011)

Hello all,

The reason from my absence in blogging at late is that I have been finishing my MA in Fashion and Textiles which I finish next week. Here is a sample of my work which will be in the MA Expo show which opens this Friday and is showcasing lots of talented students work.

It is open Friday 15-23rd (closed Sundays) 11am -4pm, admission is free.

The School of Art and Design, Nottingham Trent University, Bonnington building, Dryden Street, Nottingham, NG1 4GG

Click here for more details

Hope you can make it!

Visit to the 'Horrockses Fashions' Exbibition

Last week I ventured down to London to see the 'Horrockes Fashions' Exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum.

It is a really lovely exhibition and supports the recent publication the book 'Horrockes Fashions Of-the- Peg Style in the 40s and 50s' by Christine Boydell.

The exhibition really celebrates 'off the peg' womenswear of the 1950's and the link between print and fashion during this period.

It is a great retrospective of one company which caught the post war market need for fun, wearable feminine fashion propelled into fashion by Doir's New Look in 1948.

 

I would thoroughly recommend this, its a delightful enbibition and is on until the end of the month.

I also went to a talk given by Pat Albeck, a textile designer who worked for Horrockes in 1950s, who was nothing but inspiring. The picture above shows some of her prints.

The amazing National Wool Museum in Wales

 

I have just come back from a really lovely holiday in Cardigan, Wales.

If you have ever been to this part of the world you will know how very beautiful and green it is and the most delicious colours they paint their houses (I really wanted a lilac one) and the truly beautiful coastline and beaches.

While we were there we stumbled on the 'National Wool Museum', which was amazing.

I have never really shown much interest in the process of making wool cloth, even though friends around me have spun and weaved around me. This trip was both historically fascinating and really made me think about the long process that goes into the construction of cloth I work with it blew my mind! Thinking back to the years when things were not always made overseas, to see the time that went into creating just the yarn and then to dye it and then weave it makes me understand how valuable fabric was to people and treasured.

So far removed form the throw away fashion of today.

The colours of the cloths and weaves are beautiful. I bought a piece of cloth form the fabric shop attached to the museum and it is so soft, more like a blanket...but for me it is destined to be my 'holiday skirt'.

Sherwood Christmas Craft Market

I have a stall at the Sherwood Contemporary Craft Market. There will be loads of great makers selling their wears and just in time for christmas so do pop in and have a look of you can x

Gres and her beautiful Dresses

Madame Alix Gres Pink Silk Jersey Dress 1955 

I have been doing some research as part of my course and have been really blown away by the exquisitely beautiful fluid dresses made by Madame Gres. I have never really worked in jersey but the way if falls makes her designs timeless.

I am really excited that i will be going to Paris in December to see the current Vionnet Exhibition currently showing at  Les Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Travel in the name of fashion is always good!

KiosKiosk

A bit of a rainy start to the day but i had such a great view of tower bridge...

but the sun did come out and i got to have my very own shop for the day

 

 

 

I also have my first press release which is so exciting with Invest in Nottingham