Introducing .... Tinsel and Tiara Collection Lookbook

The Black Tulle 'Raven' Dress with the Black Lace Lilia Capelet

The 'Beaux' Dress in white silk with black hand sewn paillette sequin dots

'Mrs Martini' palest mint green asymmetric silk dress with silver sequined dots 

The 'Titania' layered tulle skirt and 'Tilly' glitter bodice

The fabulous 'Gloria' polkadot tulle dress

And finally the Silver sequined 'Mia' t-shirt and 'Anya' silk pencil skirt

Here is the look book for Winter 2012. It's party ready and most definitely providing plenty of sparkle for twinkling under the fairy lights. All available in the shop, just click on the link on the right. So much fun to twirl around in, my favourite for today is the Gloria polkadot tulle dress. x

Debutant Debby on Horseback

This incredible photograph arrived in my inbox today and all I can say is WOW!!!! My tulle prom dress looks rather splendid up there modelled by the beautiful Bella and this has to be my favourite image of one of my dresses so far.
I really wish all of the dresses could be worn on horseback or in adventurous places, they are to be enjoyed and played in, not to be too precious about :) Go have fun in your gowns, please!

Pink Elephant Dress at Millie Moon

 Millie Moon is this amazing fabric shop run by Rachel and Becki which has just opened in Wells. This is their second shop, the flagship is in Frome where they also have a sewing school  and a massive following. This may seem like a major suck up to this shop, but for me when something it really good I like to shout about it and it really is genuinely brilliant.

Each time I have visited the shop, not only does my mind turn to mush over all the gorgeous fabrics, trimmings, sewing treats galore but I'm always so happy to see it packed full of people wanting to sew. I'm always at the back of a big queue which in this case is wonderful.
They stock very carefully selected and beautifully presented fabrics by Amy Butler, Liberty, Michael Miller (my favourite at the moment) and many more along with quilting supplies, gifts for sewing enthusiasts, great quality trimmings and little exciting sewing bit and bobs. And it's all wonderful quality.
Here is their website so you can buy online and feed your addiction! 

This dress is one of the first dresses I have made from their fabric and it is a dream to sew, it has a slight stretch which is great when it comes to fit and a lovely medium weight which has just the right balance between drape and structure.
We chose a Pink Drunken Elephant print for the shop dress by Michael Miller, It reminds me a little of Dumbo and how can you resist pink elephants on the dark charcoal grey?

This design is another fifties inspired silhouette with a slight off the shoulder neckline, boned bodice and a fine pleated, very full skirt. Trimmed with satin piping and trim at the waist in olive green to match the juggling bottles.
This fabric has been very popular so we may be able to make just one more of this dress if anyone would like to order, it makes a fabulous party dress!

Even just looking on the website, I just can't help myself!!!  They have a blog too here with lost of sewing inspirations and ideas.  A huge thank you to Millie Moon just for being here in Somerset and inspiring designs. x

Brides and Debs

The new bridal / debutant prom dresses and the updated, refined Debutant Debby dress. 

The prom dress is now built onto a silk corseted bodice instead of the bought in bodices I used before, This keeps it looking beautiful inside and also gives a lovely smooth back with no stretch. There is still the option for cups too if you like.

The new Ivory Betty and Betty's Big day asymmetric dresses in the lightest silk dupion which gives the full skirts a gorgeous ballet like float. Great to add detailing too in the form of veils, gloves, etc Audrey style.

And the new silk organza 'Candy' dress taken from our candy stripe floral collection with the colours de-saturated and a fuller pleated skirt added to take this design to a slightly more special level. I love the poppy late fifties feel of this dress with the strong outlines in the satin. I used to get told off for outlining everything in art class but outlines are good and I like to add definition.

The ever popular short wedding dress is a way of adding a second dress if you are having a big, big wedding or just feel the need for a costume change works especially well if you have chosen to have a dramatic full length gown with train for the main ceremony.
They also make a super chic option as your main dress and get amazingly pretty pictures too. You get to stay comfortable all day, can dance as madly as you like and depending on what you are looking for, they can be fantastic when you are on a modest budget. And there are so many things you can do to make yours unique.
A simple dress like our Betty dress  can be trimmed to the max with ribbons, vintage brooches and corsages, it's a great blank canvas. The simplicity and great cut also allows you to play around with veil options and go all out on the shoes. Then after the wedding you can take out your nets, add a leather belt and don some ballet pumps and off you go. I know there is a certain treasured feeling you get about your dress after the day but wouldn't it be awesome to just go out and wear these dresses whenever we liked?

For my own wedding I had a full length tulle number which looked fabulous in the photos but me not being used to wearing full length gowns and being a little scared of being a 'bride' on the day, I changed to a candy stripe tulle prom dress for the evening and danced away into the night very happily not feeling in slightest but wifely.
Being able to make the dresses myself did give me quite an advantage though like a kid in a candy store!

Winters Here ...... Finally!

Rhinestone Studded Princess Hood

Blue velvet Princess coat

Black lace Illusion dress

Blue silk velvet princess dress with rhinestone studded trim

Silk organza sheer illusion dress

The 'Debutant Debby' updated tulle prom dress for the Princess collection

Silk tartan Halter dress

Blue silk tartan princess dress

Herringbone tweed princess coat

Soft tweed shift dress

Wool tartan full circle skirt

Saffron pink silk cocktail dress

Silk asymmetric debutant Princess dress

So here they are, the new dresses for this season. All ready and waiting to be hand made to your specific requirements and worn out on show for the world to see. I have lots more pictures and details of each dress to follow and in the meantime, have a peruse through our shop. Each garment takes up to two weeks to make to order and you can choose any tartan you like, quite exciting if you are lucky enough to have Scottish roots and your own pattern.

Model: Nicole Handley
Accessories: Janine Basil and Alexandra King

More photos have just arrived from another bride! Daisy, based in the USA ordered her dress late last year and it makes me so happy when I see the pictures, these are really, really awesome images and doesn't she look incredible, perfectly fifties!
The wedding took place at Boston's New England Aquarium which looks really exciting as a venue, grand and fun in one place.
The photographer who took these super gorgeous wedding images is Suzanne Camarata and you can check out all her other work here along with her stunning portrait work. 
The beautiful flowers which include daisies for Daisy are just the right amount and style for the dress and so pretty. The florist is Sarah's Garden based in Massachusetts's. Daisy's hair was fixed suitably vintage style by Daleen Scott at Pyara Aveda in Harvard Square, Cambridge, USA  and she did her own make up which is perfect and most often the best way.

 This was a lovely commission for the prom dress but this time in a very soft tulle and in a blush blue colour made from layering pale blues and creams together. It looks like Daisy had a wonderful wedding day in the dress and it has been worn just how I would have wanted. Huge thanks to Daisy!