A Year of Pretty - February 28, 2014

Today's Pretty Post is this delicate pink canvas painting. I don't know who the artist is, which is a shame. The photo is from Pinterest, with the source being simply a defunct flickr account. Sad.

But the painting itself is lovely. It reminds me of ballerinas somehow. Or maybe pink champagne.

My home doesn't have a pink room, but if it did, I would want something like this hanging in it.

A Year of Pretty - February 27, 2014

These dresses.....like soft chiffon ice cream.
I want to live in these dresses.
These dresses......to run along the shore with toes in the sand.
The dreams that will come true in these dresses.

A Year of Pretty - February 26, 2014

Today is the last day of preparation for the Great Gatsby Inspired Fashion Show I'm participating in tomorrow night. Most of the work is done, but there are a couple things that still need attention before everything gets packed up at moved to the venue. Minor things like stitching in company labels and pressing, plus matching the shoes and accessories for each look. I will be dressing my model myself, so at least I will have control over the look and can give it a once over before it heads out on the runway.

Last week, I was able to get in a photo shoot with a few of the pieces that will be going down the runway. We spent most of the day at the shoot, and my model Jen Ryley was fantastic (and oh-so-patient). Jenny Ruth of JennyV Make Up and Hair styled the model for the shoot. I think she did a beautiful job. 

Photography was done by Wesley Allen Shaw in his own studio.

I was super lucky that the garments fit Jen perfectly. Which means no size adjustments to the garments for tomorrow night. So happy about this. It also means Jen, who is modelling for me in the show, will already be familiar with each of the looks.

It was a fun shoot, and I've included not only some serious shots of the garments, but some goofy ones as well when Jen was in between takes.

So Today's Pretty Post is about my own label de volk & gosche. First, a little history:

My maternal grandmother's (my Oma) maiden name is Volk. My paternal grandmother's maiden name was gosche. "Volk" means "people", "Gosche" means "cheeky, or left of center". So the two names together become "For People Cheeky or Left of Center". It also sounds sophisticated and European.....like Dolce and Gabbana. 

The fabrics I've used here are silks and yoryu satin, which are produced by Telio. I also bought some great trims online through Etsy. Check out PrettyLaceShop for their great selection of trims and lace details.

The looks all came together relatively easy. Okay, okay . . there were some frustrations when trying to get my ideas from paper to fabric; but in the end I am extremely please with the results and can't wait to see them on the runway.

Anyway, I hope you like them as well.

 

A Year of Pretty - February 25, 2014

One Great Gatsby inspired fashion show down, one to go......

As a designer, there are additional items needed for when a model walks down the runway in order to complete the look. These include shoes and accessories. This could mean a snazzy hand bag, a smart looking hat, or a glittering pair of earrings.

The trick is to not let the accessories take over the look, unless of course that is the look you are going for (think Chanel and the multitudes of long pearl necklaces). 

So I came across these gorgeous earrings as inspiration for jewellery for my garments. The earrings are big enough to be seen on the runway, but are refined and sophisticated so as not to out shine the clothing.

They are both modern and art deco, with their combination of square and oval shapes, as well as the smooth upper bezel and the prong-set lower tear drop bezel. 

The original source for these baubles has been lost. When I clicked on the photo, it took me to a new web page that stated "You are lost. Please go back." That's pretty much as clear as you can get. So unfortunately I can't direct you on where to pick up these beauties for your own collection.

However, rose gold seems to be making a big appearance in both costume and authentic jewellery. This is mainly (I think) due to the excitement over the new Royal marriage, in which HRH Prince William gave his beloved a ring made from Welsh pink gold, as is tradition. In any event, you should be able to find something similar at your local accessories store and more than likely for a whole lot less than the price of the these.

Enjoy; both the photo and your day.

A Year of Pretty - February 24, 2014

A Year of Pretty - February 23, 2014

Today's Pretty Post is another example of mixing mediums when it comes to floral displays. Yesterday's post was with lemons, today's is with limes. This one is done in softer tones, so the overall look is more elegant. I could see this working very well for a dinner party, especially if there were two or three lined up down the center of the dining table with pillar candles of various heights scattered between them, or tea lights in little glass votives as shown here.

A Year of Pretty - February 22, 2014

Today's Pretty Post is this cheerful flower arrangement with a fun idea for hiding the stems.

To make this arrangement you will need a couple things. You will need a glass water pitcher as shown, and a smaller cylinder (or even a tall, skinny drinking glass) to place inside the pitcher. You will need about two lemons cut into thin, round slices. And you will need your flowers. And water. Flowers like water. Maybe some floral keeper.

Place your cylinder / drinking glass in the center of the glass pitcher. Arrange the lemon slices around the pitcher, sticking them to the inside wall of the pitcher. Make sure they are close and snug together so that you can't see the cylinder behind the slices. If you need to add a couple clear marbles or decorator's stones to hold the lemons in place, you could carefully place those in between the lemon slices and the cylinder.

Move your glass pitcher to where you want to display it. Add your floral keeper to the water if you are going you use any. Add the water to only the cylinder / drinking glass. Add your bouquet of flowers into the water.

And done. Sit back and enjoy your lovely display or present to a friend or loved one. Perfect to cheer someone up on a cold February day.

You could switch up the fruit and use limes, oranges. I like to use lemons, but then add in some cranberries for colour. Or you could skip the fruit all together and use other fun things like gum balls, M&M's, smarties (though that would take a lot whole bunch of smarties). I've used wrapped Werther's toffees or colourful hard candies. Just be sure if you are using food items that they stay dry from the water in the center container.

I also find it easier if I wrap a couple elastic bands around the flowers before I plunk them in the water. This ensures that the flowers all stay in one place as well as makes it easier to remove them if I need to re-cut the stems or change the water or the fruit.

This arrangement makes a big impact and is fairly easy to do in a short amount of time. While I like greenery, I find hiding the stems makes the arrangement more interesting.

Enjoy your fresh flowers and have a wonderful day.