Handcrafted with Love

Two Birds

 

A while back I heard about this fabulous brand of bridesmaid dresses called Two Birds Bridesmaid.  Created by one of those "always a bridesmaid" ladies, they're meant to be versatile and wearable, without breaking the bank.

Plus, don't you think they'd look great next to a LoveJune bride??

Tell me what you think.

Love,
Sara

Oh, Karl.

 

I know certain (ahem!) people that are going to get on my case about this, but I can't take it anymore:  I hate Karl Lagerfeld.

Maybe it's because of his hair?  Nah.  The truth is, I read an article about his eating habits a few years back, the guy is quite frankly the most ridiculous person on the planet.  Sure, he's a boy genius that's been designing since the age of, what, 14?  The man is a joke.

Imagine how happy I must have been to come across the following article online last week:

Chanel Farmer

The article's author starts out by saying: No serious student of fashion can consider their education to have been complete if they have not attended a runway show by Chanel, whose Spring 2010 collection presented Tuesday, Oct. 6, in Paris was a brilliant tour de force of style, presentation and proof that ecology can be not only politically correct, but cool.

Yeaaahhhhh.  Maybe I adore Coco Chanel, but I can see her history in a book.  As a serious student of fashion, I've chosen to think for myself, and not blindly follow the trends put forth by the forecasters and big names that create lines that all look the same.

I love this quote:

"It's Coco Ecolo, ecology can be chic. No? One can use natural fabrics and learn from nature," said Lagerfeld after the show.

Hey Karl!  Guess what!  You're like the VERY LAST person to think of this, and you didn't exactly do anything different.  Except something totally cheesy and so not chic.

Oopsie.

Love,
Sara

Cues from Calder

I've been drooling over this book about Alexander Calder's jewelry for quite a while.  Last night I logged into Amazon to review my (extensive!) wishlist and saw it once again, ready and waiting for a big splurge.  But alas, not in this economy!  Instead I read reviews of it on various websites and just ogled the excerpts and photos for a bit.  A quote from Calder caught my eye:

"Simplicity of equipment and an adventurous spirit in attacking the unfamiliar or unknown 

are apt to result in a primitive and vigorous art...I decided a long time ago that primitive art 

really is preferable to decadent art...So I've remained as primitive as possible."

Leave it to a master to put into words exactly what I've been trying to say about the line from LoveJune...I've talked it up and tried to explain the concept behind it, but there it is!  The idea of using whole pieces of fabric started partially because I was broke and didn't want to see my dollars thrown in the garbage, but was really solidified after reading about African cultures that use whole lengths of fabric so that in the future they may be taken apart and reworked without having to purchase new material.

Recently I went over my collection and did a little editing.  Some new styles had been spinning around in my head and I was getting a little tired of some of the first styles, so I removed them from the floor and decided to rework them.  I can take them apart, press them, and reuse those fabric lengths for totally new styles, and I can't wait to show you what I come up with!  A little early 20th century inspiration to get your wheels turning:

In the meantime, enjoy these last days of summer!

Love,
Sara

Projects: Mahea

I just shipped off a beautiful blue cornflower blue custom order from Etsy to my lovely Mahea in the Bay Area.  She came to me with a very clear vision of what she wanted, and we were lucky enough to be able to find the right material for her vision!

I can't wait to see the photos from her wedding, but here's some studio shots I took as a sneak peek!

So beautiful!  

Love,

Sara

Back in Black

Black is a hot color for fall, both in ready to wear and in bridal as an accent.  National makeup artist Katherine Sealy of Event Cosmetics came to me the other day requesting a black blouse for an event coming up, here's what we came up with:

 

Katherine's blouse is made out of a specialty raw silk, with some silk chiffon accent at the neckline for texture.  We used the theme from the Spring '10 Love June Boutique line- "Ruffles and Raw Edges"- as inspiration.  The blouse was made without producing a single fabric scrap, anything we cut was incorporated back into the blouse somehow.

Can't wait to see the photos from the photoshoot!

Love,
Sara

"Vintage Restyling" Basics

With the economy the way it is these days (ya know, in shambles), a lot of women are choosing to go a more economical route and purchase a sample gown that needs some work, borrow a friend's gown, use their mother's or grandmother's gown, or purchase a gown from a vintage shop and having it restyled to look a little more modern.  The cost of your gown from one of these methods is much less than making one from scratch, not to mention it has a lot more sentimental value and the potential to be much more meaningful when you reflect back on your big day.

If you're considering this option, here's some guidelines to see if the gown you're thinking of using is going to be as economical as you'd hoped, or if it's going to be more trouble than it's worth.

First, please try the gown on.  This may sound like a no-brainer, but many people think that it's going to be reworked anyway, so it'll fit no matter what.  Try the gown on, and see where it does and doesn't fit...you do want it to fit in one way or another, or else you may be looking at a very costly restyling.  Is it fine in the bodice, too tight through the hip?  Was the original wearer short waisted, something that you're not?  Is it too short?

All these things aren't necessarily a death wish for the gown, but these are things we're going to talk about during our first consultation, and some may be able to be reworked fairly easily, while others will be more of a challenge.

Next, think about what kind of look you're going for:  do you want to stick primarily with the vintage look you've already got, or do you want to make it a little more modern?  Are you going for something simple, or are you going to dress it up with jewelry and accessories?  Getting an idea of your look as a whole will help us focus on the most important parts of the project, and help us decide which ones to fudge.  

Even though we won't be creating a dress from scratch for you, it's good to bring photos of gowns you've found yourself eyeing over the course of your wedding planning.  This will give us an idea of what you may be thinking of, although you may be finding it hard to translate at this point.  For example, when we had our first consultation, Leah (below) brought images of dresses that she liked elements of and wanted to incorporate into her gown:  an angled armscye, the flare of the skirt, the back neckline.  Even though our final dress was merely an inspiration of many different looks, we were able to incorporate all of these elements that she loved to create something truly unique and beautiful.

Before we begin cutting, however, I'll always ask what your gown's original wearer thinks.  I won't ask to interview them, but I want you to keep in mind that this was once loved by someone else, and they may still feel very attached to it.  If they don't want it to change drastically, we could be very limited in what we do, and you may even want to go a different route.  Most people offer up their gowns and relinquish all rights, but we want to be sure so we don't start down a path that we can't finish.

Lastly, I always suggest having a picture of the original wearer in the gown as it once was displayed at the wedding, to pay homage to the history of the dress.  Of course, if you found your treasure at a vintage boutique you may not know it's history, but I think it's nice to give a little nod to the past.

As far as budgeting goes, it's important to have one in mind when you approach a seamstress to take on your project.  High or low, doesn't matter, but it will (as always) give us an idea of where to get creative, and where to simply get the work done.  

Hope this helps!

Love

Sara

Drew: Success!

I'm overwhelmed!  I just unveiled the newest style from the boutique line 2 days ago on Etsy, and already I've had such an amazing response!  1688 views in less than 48 hours, and a pile of emails!  Wow!

Thanks to everyone for the complements...I love "Drew" too!

        

Photo courtesy of Green Door Photography.

Love,

Sara

Going Green: Methods

There are a lot of ways to be green in the methods and practices that are used to produce garments.  Specifically I speak of apparel, I'll let someone else discuss the methods in other disciplines.  :)

- recycling every last scrap

- reusing every last scrap

- reducing the amount of scrap

- using sustainable materials

- using recycled materials

- using materials processed or dyed naturally

- offering limited color choices

- offering limited fabric choices

- manufacturing on limited runs

- manufacturing to order

- custom production

- fair trade manufacture

- community manufacture

- local manufacture

- vertically integrated production

- energy efficient production

- closed loop production

How we do our part:  small runs to ensure we're not reaping more than we sow, local production to help out local artisans and local economy, focusing on a handful of color and fabric options so we don't waste any thread or textile, saving what scraps we make to repurpose them and keep them out of the landfill, and modifying our patternmaking and cutting methods to ensure there is as little textile waste produced as possible.  Every day our ideas grow, and we think up new ways to improve.  Dang, that feels good.

Love,

Sara

                        

Going Green: Fabric

I've had a lot of inquiries lately about what exactly makes a fabric "green."  Here are a few ideas:

- the fibers are natural: silk, hemp, cotton, bamboo, etc.  

- the natural fibers are grown organically, or with sustainable practices

- the natural fibers are not processed with chemicals

- in the case of silk, fibers that are harvested without harm to the animals that make them (peace silk)

- the textiles may be fairly produced and traded, meaning the workers in the supply chain are paid a fair living wage

- the textiles may be made in short runs, which would leave them in limited supply, but also make sure that the natural resources in that region would not be depleted

- the fabric may have been recycled/reused from a vintage garment or from waste fabric

- the fabric may be recycle-able, like polyester, and is intended for recycling

There are lots of ways to "be green" and to "buy green."  I think the most important thing is to figure out what matters most to you, then start there in your search.  Whether it's for your bridal gown or a pair of jeans, there are a lot of ways different designers and manufacturers are trying to be green.  Luckily, there's not too many out there that aren't talking about it.  Do your homework, ask questions, and always search for something meaningful.  You'll never be disappointed.

Love, 

Sara

                  

Shout Out from Green and Gorgeous

                                            

Special thanks to our friends of the show Green and Gorgeous on BlogTalkRadio for the shout out on this week's episode "Here Comes the Eco-Bride: What to Wear."  We're so excited to have the recognition, and to be along side other designers across the nation trying to make a difference in their designs.  To listen to the episode and download it to iTunes, click here.

Listening to this radio show has inspired me to compose a few posts about the green movement and how you can incorporate your ideals into shopping for your wedding attire.  Stay tuned!

Love,

Sara