My technique.

Prepare yourself. I made a dress and I'm absolutely in love with it. Shocker!

I struggled this week to come up with something for this challenge. As I watched the new episode, the designers were discussing their many techniques and what their signatures are; pintucking, ruffles, structure, corsetry and more. Honestly, it made me want to learn how to do some of these techniques. I've worked with boning before, so maybe corsetry might not be too difficult to start with.

Since I don't have a signature technique, really, I am good at mixing prints and some of my go-to for prints are florals. This is what I consider my signature. I love to try and push boundaries to what looks good and with what someone would never consider.

             

Iris Apfel is someone I really admire and who doesn't care what others think of what she's wearing. She wears what she loves and if you don't like it, there's no sweat off her back. She'll mix prints, wear monster jewelry and oversize glasses.

 

 My aesthetic is girlie, floral, pretty, so mixing floral prints is easy for me. I chose 2 prints that have a similar color story/background that looked nice together. These prints are easy to wear and not to loud. This has easily become my favorite challenge, I might have even won the challenge if I were on the show!

Show me the color!

This past week on Project Runway All Stars the challenge was to create a look with color. Isaac Mizrahi gave the designers each a color that he hand picked for them and they had to match it with a complementary color. I love color so I was ready to take this challenge head-on.

Since I didn't have Mr. Mizrahi choosing a color for me, I decided to select a color that I thought would really speak to me. Ever since I was little, my grandma would tell me stories about how I was purple when I was born and how my favorite color was purple for the longest time. My main color choice for this challenge was purple. I complemented it by adding some green too. It's been a few years since my grandma passed away but I think she would be proud of this look.

I love the ease of this dress and how comfortable it feels. This dress will be great for spring and I can't wait to make others with this design. A LBD? Mixing prints? I can't wait! What do you want to see with this big collar?

I've decided that when this challenge is over, I'll be recreating any challenges that I was not happy with or wanted to redo, but didn't have enough time. I'm looking forward to then when I can really put some more creative ideas into the challenges.

Wowsa!

Avant garde. I've never created wearable art that I really thought I could pull off wearing in public. It seemed intimidating and too hard to make something so extreme. Until now.

This week's Project Runway challenge was to create an avant garde piece inspired by the constellations and heavenly bodies. The designers watched a planetarium show and saw several different groups of stars, including the sun. I drew my inspiration from the sun and the colors that surrounded it.

When I went shopping at Joann's, I went looking for an orange/red color that really resembled the sun and it's warmth. I found a silky burnt orange fabric that stood out to me and felt really expensive (even though it was one of the cheaper bolts I found). I sketched and used a fitted dress pattern with a flare on the side collar that I enhanced and exaggerated, because it was an avant garde challenge.

I struggled with designing the back and which zipper to use. In the end, I decided to keep it simple and use the orange zipper so that it didn't take away from the exaggerated drape in the front. I could just hear Ann Fullenwider and Georgina Chapman saying, 'Less is more' and 'Don't make it have too many ideas.'

I really loved how this look turned out and I can't wait to wear it out on the town. It will be perfect for a warm summer night on a rooftop restaurant or patio - whenever summer decides to show up. Only a few more challenges left and it's got me thinking, what should I create when I make the final mini-collection. I need to start thinking (and saving) for that now. It will be spring by that time, I can't wait to bring some florals and color into the collection.

Skip a week - Go USA!

I'm a couple days behind when I usually post, but since I haven't started the new Project Runway challenge yet, I think I'm still good.

Last week PR took off a week, I assume for the Olympics. So I decided to work on something inspired by the Olympics. You can never have too many shoes, purses or make up bags. Why not add a new make up/brush bag to my collection. I added the red, white and blue accent to this one to give it that Team USA feel.

Honestly, I'm kind of in love with this blue ribbon I found on clearance at Joann's. The blue tie-dye almost has a floral type look, I will have to add this as an accent to another piece I create. Maybe on the cuff of a blouse or across the center back?

On to next week! Spoiler alert - it's an Avant Garde challenge! Which means, I'll have to work extra hard on it and get some wearable art made. Wish me luck!

xx,
Kari

Under the weather, over it all.

This week tested me. I wanted to give up and be over this challenge. I still have so many to create.

I watched this last week's Project Runway episode on Friday and threw around some ideas in my head. I didn't sketch anything down yet, which, looking back may have been a mistake. This week's challenge was for Betty Boop and to make a sexy and chic look that she could pull off. I have been meaning to use some vintage inspired fabric for awhile so I thought this was the perfect challenge. Then Saturday hit and I started feeling sick, Sunday I was completely laid up in bed all day. The flu hit our house hard and most everyone has some sort of sickness. I started getting better by Monday evening, but still hadn't started sketching or sewing anything.

Finally last night I bunkered down and banged out a dress. This wasn't my best work because I was so tired and still so drained from the flu. I decided to make this dress that somewhat resembles a nightgown. Looking back, I would've made it longer and more flowy for that effortless feel. I finished this challenge in time, but I may decide to rework it in the future.

I know, I know. I said last week that I would be better this week, but who can predict when they'll catch the plague? Fingers (and toes) crossed that this week is my week. I plan on buying new fabric, a new pattern and really winning this challenge! I wonder if I could convince the hubs to give me a prize?! Something to work towards?

What's your superhero power?

The last 2 challenges, could've landed me on the bottom or even worse went home if I were on the show. I didn't put my all into these last two, they could've been better. I'm hoping the next challenge really brings my mojo back. This week is a fresh start!

This challenge was to create a superhero look. I saw some red/black print fabric at Joann's that I really loved awhile ago. I didn't even notice that it had a black Ant-Man print on it. So, instead of getting new fabric - again, the Project Runway and my budget are not the same - I decided to use the Ant-Man fabric and just paint it so that it didn't appear to look like Ant-Man. The black paint didn't take as well as I wanted and it didn't cover the print very well, but it wasn't horrible.

I may not be wearing this cape like top on my next date night, but these pants. Are. Amazing. I love them, they fit great and the shiny fabric gives a leather type feel. These are now hanging in my closet waiting to be worn on the next 40 degree day. Since they are a little thinner fabric, they aren't going to keep me warm when it's -9 like today. How many days til spring?

If you had a superhero power, what would it be? I'd love to be in 2 places at once. Being a mom, stylist, friend, sister, wife, it's hard to please everyone. I like to be a people pleaser, so being in more than one place, I could get things done! Can you just imagine? More than one Kari? 

Challenged.

I knew it was coming, I just didn't know what it would be. I feared it and didn't want it to happen this quickly. Would I be able to get the materials? Could I make something so outside my comfort zone. I would be tested, challenged and pushed to the limits.

The unconventional challenge.

The designers were challenged to make a modern take on a ball gown. But, they had to use balls to create the ball gown. I knew I couldn't get a bunch of balls to cut apart and my boys wouldn't let me cut apart their basketballs and footballs, so I put the 'oon' in ball....balloons.

Something that stuck with me while I was sketching and creating the piece was what Ann Fullenwider said. She said that the modern day princess who wears a ballgown could be going anywhere; a ball, an after party, or a rave, so it didn't have to be the stereotypical floor length dress.

When I went to Party City to pick up balloons, I thought about going with the traditional classic colors; gold, silver, white, but I decided to step outside my comfort zone and choose teal. When I went back to pick up more balloons, I had taken all of the larger teal ones and had to get a darker shade of teal. So I created an ombre type train.

Honestly, I'm proud that I created something that doesn't resemble a condom. That was my biggest concern. I don't think I'll be wearing this or selling it to a client anytime soon, unless someone wants to rock the new Britney Spears red jumpsuit.... yeah, no.