Fashion Fix: Sleeveless shirt

This is a wonderfully simple fashion fix but can revive any unloved wintery tops and put them back in pole position for Summer. What could be simpler than removing sleeves?

Photo Amanda Thomas

1. Start by cutting the sleeves off your shirt
2. Sew bias binding along the colour, arm holes and pocket top. If your shirt has a pocket, you may want to unpick the top of the pocket and re-sew in place once the binding is on.
3. Change the shirt buttons to random colours which will compliment the colours in the binding.

If you want to make your own bias binding, follow my easy steps here

Shakespeare Unplugged

Photo Nick Spratling

Here is a wonderful collage of photos from the Production Photographer Nick Spratling, taken over the course of the Shakespeare Unplugged Festival at The Egg Theatre, Bath. I designed 'The Winter's Tale' for the festival, production shots to follow.

Fashion Fix: Ruffle skirt

photo Amanda Thomas

Inspired by Burberry's Autumn Winter collection from a few years back, the ruffle is a brilliant, feminine and flattering addition to any garment, breaking up harsh lines and adding a bit of romance.

You will need:

1. 1 metre peplum fabric
2. 1 metre lining fabric
3. dressmaking pins
4. dressmaking scissors
5. pattern paper
6. paper scissors
7. masking tape

How to do it:

1. Measure from the top of the side seam diagonally across to about 5” from the bottom of the skirt at the other side seam. 
2. Using pattern paper, cut out a rectangle this length and 6” wide. Slice along even 3cm and fan out onto another picec of pattern paper. Leaving 3cm gaps between each slice.
3. Draw round and cut out to create the pattern for your frill
4. Cut out one piece from your choosen fabric and one piece from your lining fabric.
5. Pin right sides facing and sew around the edge leaving one end open to pull through. Cut off the corners before pulling through
6. Pull through and press. Sew up the still opened end.
7. Pin the curved edge along the originally measured straight line.  This will cause the panel to ruffle. Sew in place.

Like my shirt? find out how to transform a big bulky sleeved shirt, into a chic sleeveless summer top, but neatly removing sleeves and binding the edges with a cool, contrasting colour...blog post coming soon!

Theatre Design: As You Like It production shots set details

I have just been looking through the beautiful photos taken by Mark Douet of the Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory production of 'As You Like It'.  Whereas the production company look for photos will engaging expressions and focus on the faces and movements of the actors, I am always looking for the images that show the finer details of set and costume.

Photo Mark Douet

Here, Dorothea Myer Bennett and Daisy May lie on a persian rug on the painted floor. I was keen to make a creative nod to the original tiles of the tobacco factory floor and faintly hint at them through the faded layers of plaster painted as an effect on the dance floor.

Photo Mark Douet

Paul Currier and Jack Wharrier lean against the infamous tobacco factory pillars. This time we wallpapered the pillars with beautiful textured wallpaper. The paper was covered in floral and pastoral imagery and then painted over by scenic artist Ria Wilcox with a dark greeny grey mix to darken them down and almost fade them out of consciousness.

Juno and Joy: Arnos Vale Wedding Shoot writeup

Photo Frances Taylor

A lovely blog post from Juno and Joy Wedding blog was written today about a shoot done by the very talented wedding stylist The Little Wedding Helper aka Kirsten Butler, which featured my wedding stationery designs!

Today I also got the sample prints back for my step sister Sally's invites...I'm really enjoying the stationery design process so far, and building up a store of templates ready to launch a full design service by the end of the year!

Totally Rad Blog Post

photo Amanda Thomas

We had a lovely post from Totally Rad about a shoot, which they refer to as 'the black light campaign' (love that title!)I did with Amanda Thomas, Jo Williams and Eva Lazarus just under a year ago, in the Bristol Old Vic's Basement using an installation I had designed for Mayfest's Cabaret Bar the Blind Tiger

Behind the Scenes: The Beautiful and the Damned Photo Shoot for Molly Mishi May Couture Collection

back in Autumn of 2013, our dear friend Molly was hatching a plan for a gloriously gothic and dramatic shoot, including some of her most breathtaking gowns. Here is the story of that day in pictures

After meeting with Molly to discuss themes and designs, I came up with this Pinterest board, Byzantine embellishment was kicking in on the Dolce and Gabbana catwalks and would soon filter out to the hughstreet, (we even managed to find some rocking earrings in Clare's Accessories of all places!)

Photo Amanda Thomas

As you'll see from the Pinterest board, I was rather keen to add a contemporary element to the rather 'overdone' debauched banqueting table shoot idea. I was really taken with the close parallels that Baz Lurhmann found in his R+J between the bright colours found catholic imagery and commercial neon signs. I was searching round for a neon Jesus for a while, but to no avail. Until I found out about a tiny shop on Muller Road in Bristol called PML signs. A lovely guy in there lent me a restaurant sign...a bit random you may think (so did I to be honest) but it ended up being a playful dimension to a rather rich and luxurious shoot. It also did no harm that the set up was of a dinner table when there was a glowing restaurant sign in the background!

Amanda, summoning up all her modelling experience

Molly has some beautiful friends and family who all featured in the shoot. Amanda Thomas was heading up the team as photographer, with Inma Azorina and Becky Simpson on Hair and Makeup. I was assisted by Rebecca Wood and Amber Hards, two very talented designers in their own right.

Becky, Amber and Amanda

The location for the shoot was All Saints Church in Easton, a beautiful church with a fantastic bunch of people who let us move a LOT of rather priceless artefacts around to get our debauched banqueting scene

photo Amanda Thomas

Photo Amanda Thomas




Creating the Look: we got our hands on numerous church candles, and ornate tableware from Charity shops and friends, teamed them with the red velvet curtains and crisp white linen table cloths. For set dressing we drenched every surface in abundant grapes, sparkling jewels and wine filled goblets.

As featured in New York magazine CREATIVE SUGAR

http://issuu.com/creativesugarmagazine/docs/creativesugar_issue_8

Team credits

Photographer: Amanda Thomas
Dress Designer: Molly Mishi May
Stylist: Harriet de Winton
Stylist Assistants: Amber Hards
Rebecca Wood
Make Up Artist: Inma Azorin
Make up Assistant & nail tech: Grace Kingsley
Hair Stylists: Inma Azorin
Rebecca Simpson

Models: Molly Lewis-Smith
Arabella Lewis-Smith
Rob Norbury
Emily Breeze
Becky Mercer
Adam Coombs
Louis Lewis-Smith