Tag Archives: wedding dress alterations ottawa

Creative journeys, creativity abounds, TAV Studio News

#NewNormal for TAV Creations…

As Ontario looks at how to reopen businesses, I also am looking at how to safely conduct business in my  highly up-close and personal main operations.

I specialize in custom garments, making them with multiple appointments to ensure the look and fit are what my clientele wants in…

  • Bridal wear
  • Proms
  • Dance costumes

And even with these jobs I am often still looking at at least one fitting to ensure a good final result when providing…

  • Tailoring
  • bridal alterations
  • clothing repairs and renovations….

So what to do?

I have been making masks steadily since March 2020 , and I will continue to do so as demand exists, that will be one of the streams of income I will be dedicating time to. Curious? email me 

Be sure to use  #TAVMasketeer or #TAVMaskateer if you post a selfie in one I’ve made for you!

No-contact alterations will be available

 – you mark it, I sew it can work reasonably well for pant and sleeve hems, and likely straight skirts…contact me if you have projects like this to get finished!

This will also work for curtain hems, and repairs of clothing!

Resuming fittings with safety protocols in effect:

For my bridal clients and custom clientele who are looking at having their special garment made or altered/ tailored for a future event, I have been postponing fittings until we have a better flattening of the curve happening.  As we begin to open up, I will be looking at slowly setting up more appointments with the following protocols in place for my health and yours.

– both of us wearing masks -if you have your own cloth mask, cool, if not, let me know and I’ll make you one and will wash and  iron it to kill off germs right before you come.
–wearing disposable plastic gloves or washing hands immediately upon entering < if you prefer to bring your own soap, I won’t be insulted, or you can use our bar soap in the bathroom>
 
-personal items kept to a minimum and put on the removable sheet on the futon in the studio – it gets removed and laundered after every appointment.
– limit it to just 1 person coming in. We can set up a FaceTime or Skype over our internet with whoever wishes they could be here but cannot.
–more efficient fittings…Fittings presently are  limited to 20-30 minutes, and I hope to reduce that, depending on what needs to be discussed.
I also plan to offer variety of platforms for video chats in advance of even meeting – so let me know if you want to explore that option!
Above all, I want to keep sewing, contributing to the economy and helping others when I can with donations when possible.
I look forward to the new adventures in creativity we will go on together!
Creative journeys, creativity abounds, TAV Studio News

Couture Adventures 2020: Focus on: The Traveller

I am super grateful to the folks who joined me this fall/winter in being my models/co-creators/willing superheroes to showcase my skills as a designer.
This year, the nature of my “collection” is more “adventures”– #TAVCreationsAngels Assemble !
Each week I plan to focus on one of these amazing people and the character and creation we produced !

 

Today, let’s talk about The Traveller.

Travelling through time with flare, The Traveller once was a delicate maid, with a flowing dress and gentle smile. She has evolved into a fierce no-nonsense character, with her dress evolving as well into a sharply styled jacket, and worn here with an ivory gown remade into a walking skirt, along with a lovely sleeveless blouse for the times she needs to really move!

The Design:

The Traveller  was a bridesmaid in the lovely teal satin dress many years ago. And the dress waited for a new life.

As the Downton Abby High Tea approached, and costumes were on the minds of the attendees, we had some fun deciding to use her dress to make her outfit for the tea!  

Striking a pose
Bridesmaid gown REMADE into jacket

 

Remake of 2 dresses into Jacket and skirt :

Labour: $945

The wedding dress used to make the skirt was one of the many donated pieces found in the TAV Creations reclaimed textiles stashes and the ensemble came together!

Supplies:

    • Bridesmaid dress to remake into jacket
    • Wedding dress to remake into skirt

Blouse  – sleeveless shell with ruffle collar
Labour = $90

Supplies:

  • .75m cotton rayon blend
  • .5m lace for ruffle

 

 

 

White satin wide brim hat with blue accent and lace and satin roses
Labour $280

Supplies:

  • 1m buckram
  • 1m wire
  • Matching satin and accessory fabric accents
Those back details….
Creative journeys, creativity abounds

Couture Adventures 2020: Focus on: PheonixQueen

I am super grateful to the folks who joined me this fall/winter in being my models/co-creators/willing superheroes to showcase my skills as a designer.
This year, the nature of my “collection” is more “adventures”– #TAVCreationsAngels Assemble !
Each week I plan to focus on one of these amazing people and the character and creation we produced !

 

Today, let’s talk about The PheonixQueen !

Gold and red, textured silk and embroidered silk satin with elegant feathers, The PhoenixQueen rose to the occasion as a  TAV Creations Angel Superhero!

PhoenixQueen – getting casual – because…pants!
Dark and Dramatic – absolutely!

The Design

Custom evening ensemble:
Overdress Labour: $550
Pants: Labour $200

Venetia’s two-piece evening set features the comfort of a robe and pyjama pants in luxurious silk. We discussed many options as we were creating this original TAV Creations outfit, and were so pleased with the final look!

On a personal note: the red and gold silks came from a prolific Ottawa performer and teacher, Anjali < Anne-Marie Gaston> who passed away in 2018, after dedicating her life to bringing her love of Odissi and Bharatnyam style dance to Ottawa and beyond. These fabrics would have been used by her for back drops, for future costume pieces, etc. so it was bittersweet to have the opportunity to collect many of her fabrics and give them new life. #phoenix #usewhatyougot

NOTE: Pockets in the side seams of the overdress – yes! 

And the Chinese silk collar, made from a small remnant piece of fabric collected years ago,  brings colour and softness to the neckline!

Overdress
Supplies:

  • Gold silk 4m
  • Red Chinese silk .75m
  • Button 

Pants
Supplies:

  • Red thai silk 2 m
  • Elastic 

Matching headband $40

  • Red silk remnants that match
  • Elastic 
Gold and red silk wrap gown over pants – with pockets!!!

 

 

Creative journeys, creativity abounds

Couture Adventures 2020: Focus on Zombie Dragon Girl!

I am super grateful to the folks who joined me this fall/winter in being my models/co-creators/willing superheroes to showcase my skills as a designer.

This year, the nature of my “collection” is more “adventures”– #TAVCreationsAngels I am super grateful to the folks who joined me this fall/winter in being my models/co-creators/willing superheroes to showcase my skills as a designer.

This year, the nature of my “collection” is more “adventures”– #TAVCreationsAngels Assemble !

Each week I plan to focus on one of these amazing people and the character and creation we produced !

 

Today, let’s talk about Zombie Dragon Girl!!  The juxtaposition of this superhero: a Darkness that gives Light in creativity and movement.

Zombie Dragon Girl in elegant Darkness she shines..

Zombie Dragon Girl had a clear vision of what her gown could be and the pieces all came together -from two separate donated gowns, a TAV Creations purse created in the 90’s, a sample veil that worked perfectly to enhance her distinct hair style!

 

TAV Creations sketch from ideas discussed!

Starting from a sketch that gave me the direction to head in, I had assembled the elements for our first meeting, and we kept just raving at how it could all work together!

The Design:

RE-Design and melding of Wedding gowns

Labour: $450

Two dresses, a sash, purse and veil from different sources all came together in the TAV Creations studio!

Zombie Dragon Girl’s Regency inspired silk gown was created by taking 2 wedding gowns , resizing, redesigning and reassembling to create this new piece. 

 

 

 

The original silk gown, shown here,  had full length set in sleeves, a “v” neckline in front and a lower waist line.

It was recut to remove any unsightly stains, the sleeves made into a new fun style, the skirt regathered into a more back waist emphasis. The train was reshaped to match the lace overskirt that was added.  

 The lace overskirt also offered up some appliqués to add to the donated veil to make it a fun matching headpiece 

Supplies:

  • Donated silk dress
  • Donated lace on tulle overskirt

Veil redesign – 

Labour $30 

  • Donated veil
Using lace from the overskirt, I was able to create a bun wrap shape that kept the veil long and flowing.

 

Regency Hybrid gown
Zombie Dragon Girl “Regency Hybrid gown” – back view

 

The bonus of working with this TAV Creations Angel/ superhero, was that she came with a sidekick – The White-icorn! 🙂

 

creativity abounds, Events

Capital Wedding Show 2019 – what a weekend!

Thanks to all of you!

Thank you to my friends who helped me prepare for this weekend! Weeks of fittings, the photo shoots, the working the booth- every part helped create a space that was unique and fun for the brides and their crews coming through! And special note to Michelle, my bride from last year wearing her most amazing co-creation and sparkling personality – you rock!

Thank you to the brides who came with their people and stopped to chat, get more information and ask questions- there is a lot to figure out as you are planning your event, so I hope we were able to provide a bit of reassurance that yes, your dream dress is possible!

Thank you to the other vendors and businesses who were great to connect with and are open to creating a supportive system in the Ottawa area for bridal parties and beyond!

Thank you to Shelagh Mills and Steve Mills  of the Capital Wedding Show and all of their staff, as well as the Freeman staff – you folks ran a lovely show from a vendor perspective and all of your assistance and engagement along the way is amazing!

Thank you to my husband of almost 21 years for his support in the weeks leading up to and the few days in advance of it  all- his photography and tech skills help everything look amazing!

Tomorrow I will take some time to process the admin from this weekend as well as take some time to relax before starting back at it this week! Already time to get meeting new clients and get things rolling for an amazing 2019!

 

creativity abounds

And we’re back!

Already fully booked this week, I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things and seeing what pretty garments I’ll be able to play with this season!

I’m off to the Sewing Machine Hospital to pick up my babies – they also had their holiday time!

Fall weddings can be lovely, as can winter weddings so keep me in mind if you are looking for help creating your dream gown or just need some work done on your nearly there dream gown!

And Halloween cometh!  Already fielding costume requests, so get your emails to me asap < or use the contact form> to book some time for me to create something funtabulous for ya!

And sewing lessons – learn some of those basic skills yourself!

 

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