L.A. Garment District

Today I ask for help. 

It looks like I will head to the Garment District for some much needed creative buying.  It is funny how I can justify traveling for the sake of fabric and trims.  I will always be this way. 

The last time I was in L.A., my sister and I met there to hit the textile show.  Being the people we are, we decided to walk to the show.  So we exited our Korean Hotel (we were the only "English as first language" people there) and started walking to the "tall buildings" in the distance.  In our little experience, big cities have one area with tall buildings.  The first set of buildings turned out not to be our destination.  There were others in the far distance.  I guess we didn't see them due to the curvature of the earth.  Go figure.  We walked and walked and walked like the true pioneer stalk we are.  It was a very hot day, which was to our benefit, because come to find out, we were in a questionable part of town.  Lucky for us, on that hot hot day, no one had the energy to pester two girls walking where we shouldn't have.  We finally had to get a cab, because we were on the wrong side of a major freeway.  For the record, we almost made it there. 

Of course the rest of the trip was just as memorable as the walk.  My sister got to see the "other side" of me.  I guess I can be quite shrewed while dealing with fabric reps.  We dinned on beautiful food that night, found more fabric the next day, and flew out. 

So now I will be returning.  I don't know my way around the L.A. market.  NYC's Garment District is much more familiar to me.  Does anyone have a favorite place there?  Is there some breathtaking restaurant we need to try?  I imagine SOMEONE knows SOMETHING about the area.  I would love some input!  

Funny Face with Audrey Hepburn

Funny Face has got to be one of my favorite movies... for the costumes, cast, and overall wonderfulness of it.  Is that a word?  Probably not. 

I would love to talk about Audrey Hepburn, but she is such a legend, I really couldn't do her justice.  The woman behind these costumes is pretty legendary as well.  But only tonight did I put two and two together.  The designer of this movie and so many others, is Edith Head.  Who knew?  Well, I didn't. 

I feel like I haven't thrown around my respect the way I should.  I should KNOW who did this movie.  How terrible that I didn't.  I have watched it enough.  I know just what the wedding dress looks like as Audrey dances with Fred on the banks of the Seine.  Is that where they danced?  I know this image of Audrey going down the steps in the Louvre with this insanely breathtaking gown.  But I didn't know who was behind these creations.  Shame on me.  I now know what I will be reading up on in the next few days. 

This is where this post turns from Audrey and gowns to my random life.  

I just had a wonderful night with the boys.  We went to a perfect wedding lunch for Brittany.  Pictures will be posted later.  It was great to go to the event.  It is nice to see the dress on the day and I loved that I got to talk to a few previous brides and some moms.  I am lucky to work with such kind and happy people!  After that, we walked around SLC.  When it was time to go back to the car, Hank was quite sad about it and wanted to keep exploring.  I bribed him with the promise of a mango lassie at one of our Indian restaurants.  So the end of the night included watching Indian music videos, eating chicken Marsala, and sipping on our own mango lassies.  I don't know how it could get any better. 

Ali's gown

This is Ali.  She is a classic bride from Salt Lake City.  She wanted to stay simple and classic with some detail that made it her own.  Thus the tie-bow thing.  

This was not how we started.  She came to me with something completely different in mind.  We were going to figure out how to do texture on her sleeves.  This concept, I knew, would be hard to pull off.  Thankfully I warned her about my feelings.  Alas, I wasn't able to come through with that idea.  But, she was open and willing to try something new.  She did a bit of brainstorming, as did I, and we came back with ideas that meshed together to make this.  It is interesting to me to see the course each dress takes.  I can never predict how they will end up.  

This photo shoot was done by Miyo Strong with Busath.  I have seen her work in the past and love it.  She is classic.  I love her black and white photography the most!  I imagine you will agree. 

This lace also has a story.  I discovered it at Britex, in San Francisco.  For those who have been there, you understand.  I imagine it is one of the most beautiful fabric stores in the U.S.  The store is old school.  It has wood floors, seemingly original counters, shelving, and windows.  There are floors and floors of silks, linens, notions, laces, wools, and anything else you might be craving.  San Fransisco has a lot to offer, but for seamstresses, this store is the main event.  

This is a case of saving the best for last.  Do you love this image.  I do!  Thanks Miyo and Ali.

The Heidi Dress

This photo shoot just jumped out of the computer and smacked me upside the head.  I am still recovering from it.  You will understand after you browse through these __________ photos.  There are no words.  They are too good for words.  Yep, I keep trying to describe them, and I just keep deleting.  No words. 

If you would like to see more of this wonderful moment, check out Amelia Lyon's blog.  I am sure you will be blown away along with everyone else that visits there. 

The few thoughts I would like to share.  Heidi was so great to work with, she suffered from a bit of over share on my part.  She is the type of person you want to tell all to.... which I probably did.  She knows way too many of my quirks.  She even knows my political ideals, not something I tell many people, seeing as I live in Utah. 

I am excited to find out what happens to this couple, you know they will end up involved in something completely glamorous.

Cute candid moment... I love how she framed this image.  I am into the mid century modern motif found on the temple wall.  I wonder what I would have thought of it ten years ago?  

Who has been watching the Masterpiece Classics?  I am currently regretting that Downton Park is already over with, sigh.  Doesn't this look like an image of that type of movie? 

Again, another movie sequence... right.... don't you think?

This one of Heidi is my favorite.  I love the abstract quality.  It is so painterly.  (Is that a word and did I spell it correctly?)  

Yes, that made me tear up as well.  So sweet. 

Okay, so the couple looking at Heidi and Jeff is Malorie and her Husband (as of this summer).  I made Malorie's dress, so I am so curious about what they are looking at.  What do you think?  Hopefully Malorie will leave a comment and enlighten us all.  

Thank you Heidi and Jeff for being so photogenic, and thank you Amelia for capturing them so artistically!

Fanciful Designs Blog

Are these not just the most beautiful flowers you have ever seen? 

Whenever I check this blog, I feel so overwhelmed because of the things she can create.  

 

This will sound weird, but this is a testament to great materials.  Just like a beautiful gown needing the best silk or French lace to make it right, these flowers also need a hefty and archival paper.  A paper with weight and character.  Only a paper with those qualities could make such a breathtaking flower.  This woman is truly an artisan.  Check out all of her beautiful things at fanciful-fanciful.blogspot.com.

Lauren and Crismon

    

I was so excited to see Lindsey's post at greenapplephotography.blogspot.com!  This dress was so much fun to work on.... and the bride and mom are just way to cool. 

Okay, here is the story.  Julie Prince did the flowers for Caitlin's wedding a year ago.  I loved what she did with her wedding, so I was excited to work on a dress for her daughter, Lauren.  They were both so creative and so very happy.  I do believe that the better the brides energy, the better the dress. 

We ended up doing an asymmetrical pleated ruffled thing around the neck.  Nice description, huh?  I do enjoy organic design, so this one made me happy.  We also put the same motif around the hem.  Dang, I always seem to do that.  I do like the heft that it gives the hem, though.  

I delivered the dress and was able to see the beautiful yard this talented mom had done.  I just love meeting great people that open my eyes to how a garden could look.... or a beautiful home, etc.  It inspires me to "think" I will do more with mine. 

I hope you enjoy these photos and encourage you to check out green apple photography where there are many more beautiful photos of the wedding.  You can see the amazing work of Julie Prince there, or check out julieprinceflowers.com.

Random thoughts on snow and kids

Jack gives you an idea of the snow levels.  It would bury him whole, but his belly is keeping him afloat.  Jack is a good dog.  Someone dropped him off years ago at our gate.  We think the action was unthinkable, but are so grateful that he is ours. 

A beautiful and sunny day.  Isn't everything relative.  It wasn't more than 4 degrees out, but I was happy because it was at least sunny! 

This Christmas vacation was marked by 6 full days of constant down pouring rain or crazy amounts of snowfall.  Enough to drive me a bit crazy.  Oh, we even had enough snow to break a 4 by 4 in half, the board that holds the power lines apart a top of a power poll.  The break caused a bright light out our window and loud buzzing noise.  Enough to wake us in the middle of the night.  Now I know what happens at the source when the power to go off.  A bit unnerving. 

Another random note.  I noticed that the boys footprints are not that of toddlers anymore.  Their prints in the snow are not much smaller than mine.  To be fair, they did have their boots on, and I my normal shoes, but still, they keep surprising me with what they are capable of and that they are changing into big kids.  How did it happen?

  

Slade is eating snow.  He just plops his head in the snow and goes for it.  He can sit there for ten minutes eating snow with his head buried.