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

ecoEureko progress

Proud to report that the first ecoEureko sample is about 50% complete, and though I say it myself, looking rather beautiful...

Just to explain, in case you haven't read anything about ecoEureko before on this blog or on my facebook, it is the name of a business collaboration I have set up with Rachel David, who is designer and maker from Leamington. She uses recycled fabrics - vintage and modern, and we are working together to produce what we think is a unique combination of old and new for bespoke wedding and 'event' dresses.

You can look at the embryonic website here, for information on 'who, where and what', but just to let you know that we aren't launching it big time until the first 3 samples are made, photographed/styled and ready to go.
However, I am so excited by the prospect of ecoEureko, that I'm putting some images up here as a little taster, and would like to explain how we work, and how it fits in with Atelier, in my case, and Skrunch, inRachel's case.

The idea is that we use at least 50% recycled fabrics in the designs, and this could sometimes be considerably more. The other fabric will be new, and this will be dictated by a) the design, and/or b) your preferences - ethical or otherwise when coming to us to design and make a magnificent bespoke dress.

So far, (and remember, this is a new collaboration), it is working thus: I design and pattern cut, then the pattern and toile (test garment to achieve the desired shape), goes to Rachel, who starts to assemble and decorate the dress using her collection of fabulous antique and modern fabrics, accessories and haberdashery. New fabric may then be incorporated according to the design, to result in a unique and 'extra'ordinary garment.

Other personal elements can be used in the fabric of the dress itself. Please see the 'What we do' page for an explanation.

Work on website development is ongoing, so if you cannot immediately access the site, it's because we're working on it, so please try again shortly afterwards!

Bobbie

Colsca

Hello People,

Well, Christmas Day has gone, and I am very much looking forward to the next year already! Loads to try and get done, (no time like the present), and today I finished this little thing, to be named a 'Colsca'. I had various word variations of a collar and scarf, for that is what these things are - scollar (too scholarly), scollarf, scarfolla....etc, but I think that Colsca sounds a bit eastern european, a bit Italian,(good in fashion terms) and snappy. So Colsca it is, and I am reasonably pleased - some amendments to be made to the shape and size, and general design, but the basic idea is working reasonably well.
These have developed from a) my annoyance with the practicality of scarves (look great when you first adorn yourself with one, but either work their way off/ fall down and off/ strangle you/ droop/ get in the way etc., etc...), and b) the realisation that if the draughts are effectively stopped from going down your neck and your extremities are warm, then I, at least, am a much happier person. If there's one thing I hate it's being cold!
ALSO, and this wasn't intentional,and is a slightly jokey suggestion, but you CAN wear them buttoned up as a hat!!!
There are more and different designs to come, and these grew from an idea about something to cover up exposed flesh if the weather is too cold for nothing over a dress, and where a jacket isn't appropriate, or where you just need something to go over a sweater if it's not freezing outside.
These are Christmas present versions actually, but I always had the intention to develop this idea anyway. If anyone would like to commission one, the price is £50, and they use 50% recycled fabrics/50% new, padded with terylene wadding, lined with acrylic or cotton fleece, and wherever possible using pure wool/wool mixture fabrics for the outer shell. So, warm as toast! Please specify colour combinations, i.e. blues, reds, naturals, monotones, yellows... Payment details on application.
Happy Christmas and New Year everyone!

Developments

Hi everyone,
Just a quick word to tell you about something exciting in the 'planning' department!

I have recently started a collaboration with Rachel David (of Skrunch) to design and make some fabulous pieces which use 'permacouture' as the starting point. Don't want to give too much away at the moment, as I haven't seen anything around so far which describes what we have in mind, and of course we want to be first.

This will form the basis of my parallel alternative line within Atelier to be called Gowns of Darkness, though this collaboration will have it's own name soon.

Just wanted to get this 'out there', and to let you know that I will of course post details and photos here, and on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=559546689)and myspace (http://www.myspace.com/bobbiewatsonbydesign) as soon as one is finished.

My original Atelier design thread continues of course, for people who are looking for a more classic feel.

Bobbie