Spring! March newsblog

Hi everyone,

Well it is officially the first day of spring today, and things are looking pretty good so far for Atelier wedding dresses, and the Atelier classes.

I have two commissions on at the moment, both very different, which is a fantastic position to be in, and one of these is a winter wedding, (December in Scotland!), which I have been yearning to do since I relaunched the business 18 months ago.
We are going for luxury woollen fabrics for this one, cashmere or wool venetian, and the dress, I'm very happy to say is incorporating some items and extracts from the woman's life in the design, that have significant personal meaning. So this fits into the 'Atelier Redolent' side of things. A historical, quite regal theme influences the design, so this will be really different, and very exciting for me to make.

My other commission is for a woman who's daughter is soon to be married. I hesitate to say 'Mother of the bride', as this has such bad connotations - somebody trussed up in shiny fabric, looking and feeling uncomfortable, and after the event, being glad that she will never have to wear that particular outfit again!
Well, this current commission will NOT be like that! Not wishing to give too much away, the fabrics are the softest British wool, soft and fluid silk tweed, combined with some fabric from the woman's own wedding dress.

Suffice to say that it's very busy at the moment (!), but I'm loving the challenges, working with the ladies concerned, and using such gorgeous fabrics.

Some quick updates:

• I was in last month's (February) 'Four Shires' magazine - local monthly glossy.
  
• Another 'daughter's wedding' outfit elicited this comment from the wearer: " I felt like a million dollars!"
• My artweeks exhibition for Atelier Redolent, more details to follow - happens in May (5th - 13th), and you are all invited to the private view, at the Dovecote Studio right next to the Atelier studio at OX17 1PF
• Preview of the above at the Jam Factory in Oxford city centre from the beginning of April, exact dates to follow
  
• My latest Atelier Redolent sample, a short black wedding dress , will be photographed soon, studio and location shots - so hugely looking forward to that.
• I am investing in a Fridja steamer! Sure they don't need me to advertise for them, but they look so cute, and I know will be extremely useful - hoping to avoid lugging a BIG wedding dress around the ironing board.
  
• Invitation/flyer for the Artweeks exhibition above.

August update

Hello Atelier people,

High time for an update - apologies for lack of a June and July blog - practical busy-ness, meant that the designing/making/teaching priorities had to take precedence, and my news and thoughts on fashion and style have had to take a back seat for a while.
However, a little breather now before a prospective new customer arrives...
Discussions yesterday with another future bride, and that 50's theme is still really popular, coupled with the shorter length, and lots of net petticoats. It's a flattering style for lots of different body shapes, unless you're very tiny, (could disappear in a sea of net!), in which case I would suggest the adorable chic 50's style a la Audrey Hepburn. To me, that look is one of the styles which represent the ultimate in femininity, understatement, and class. I also think that although the look is sophisticated, it's not serious, (think of the typical accessories - stilettos, patent handbags, cutsey little hats, corsages), and to my mind, a sense of humour in whatever you do makes life slip along nicely!!
Attempting to find the time to purchase some vintage fabric to make myself a dress that I can wear through the summer, but at this rate the summer will be gone!
Have found some amazing charity shop bargains in the last few weeks, but that's more of an Atelier classes subject, which I will write about soon on it's dedicated blog
Visited the Bath Museum of Fashion on Saturday, where they have a special exhibition of wedding dresses through history. This was interesting, though I thought that they were rather jammed in to the smallish exhibition space...quite inspirational however, and I loved the Alexander McQueen dress with hip padding, shorter at the front, and the greatest thing - a totally modern dress, made of antique lace.
Speak soon! Bobbie

Well, the man from Four Shires (regional glossy) magazine came a few days ago to interview and photograph me for Atelier (classic wedding dresses), and ecoEureko (the bespoke recycled alternative 'wedding and special' dress business).
All went very well (despite the snow), and I will have a nice big article with lots of photos in the in the wedding feature in the February issue. Phew! Well, yes, it's still not Vogue I know, but.....
Latest on the ecoEureko first sample, is that the finished pattern is now with my business partner for her 'ministrations', then we will consider what new fabric it needs as a compliment, and hey presto! (if only it was that simple), it will be finished.
We aim to make a small collection of 3 outfits, photograph them and then present to the world.