All posts by Tracey Vibert

I've been sewing since I was 12 and creating bridal gowns since 1987. Let's play!
Creative journeys, creativity abounds, Events

Percolating on a plan…

The juxtaposition of being a highly skilled couturiere

Lace covered shoes to match dress

with over 30 years of experience and on the job training, with the strong need to create whacky fun things, sometimes puts my marketing choices in a quandry.

Add to that the recent connections I have had with 2 local bridal salons, where they provided a direct line of brides to my studio space – whether it was under their roof or under my own, and I’ve been letting my own marketing slide a bit to the back burner.

 

It is now fall of 2018 and I’ve made it through the heavy bridal season, and have been doing some relaxing projects of a geeky and practical nature, and I am ready to look at my plans for January 2019 – I’ve signed up to have a space at the Capital Wedding Show at the Shaw Centre, January 12, 13, 2019.

 

 

Now I want to get creative and plan out what to present!

After listening to Robert Sawyer‘s talk at Can*Con on Sunday morning, interesting questions have been brought to the forefront of my thinking.  What is the theme*?  What is the message**? It was inspiring to formulate more cohesive thoughts regarding my own creative endeavours as I listened and percolated 🙂

What is the theme* of TAV Creations?

What is the message** of TAV Creations…?

In reference to practical marketing, how do I garner the interest of folks who want interesting and outside the box dresses, which still taking care of more traditional brides –  in custom designs, re-designs/ style modifications, and alterations ?

King and Queen – White chess pieces…photo by Jared Young

I want to make every client feel the most comfortable and confident in their outfit – whether it’s cosplaying a character from a well known comic series, being the Princess for a day, or King and Queen of the chess board…

 

What I love about custom work, is the collaboration – working with someone who has lovely ideas, a clear vision, or a fun concept and making it happen.  It might be a quick fix, or it might take multiple visits, but it is a journey together.

Practical ideas:   I want to make 2 new pieces, modify 2 existing pieces and I want to have live models assisting in my booth at the bridal show, wearing garments I have made/adjusted specifically for them.

I’ve already had a couple of great suggestions and I am looking at numbers and timing and realize I need to get the word out there.

Stay tuned, and I’ll get a proper game plan and indicators of the bodies I would like to have available for January 12/13 weekend within the next few days!

Definitions:
*Theme: noun: an idea that recurs in or pervades a work of art or literature: love and honour are the pivotal themes of the Hornblower books.
**Message: noun: a significant political, social, or moral point that is being conveyed by a film, speech, etc.: a campaign to get the message about home security across.

creativity abounds, Events

Artisan Bags for sale…

I’ve had a couple of inquiries about the bags and while I still plan to donate a few to the upcoming Witches’ Gathering Fundraiser, they won’t all go there.

If you are interested in one of the bags below, the prices are indicated, send me an email with your address and I can confirm the shipping amounts.

Email me: tracey@tav-creations.com

Creative journeys, creativity abounds

Funky bags finished!

My previous post focused on one bag- but I made 7 total – They are intended as donations for events, and I’m done now for the weekend!

We shall see if I decide to create more next week!

Creative journeys, creativity abounds

I’m a leaf on the wind – original bag by TAV Creations

 

The fall brings cooler temps, warmer colours and, for me, rich memories of organizing the Ottawa Browncoats fundraising events for about 6 years with an awesome crew.

Having retired from that a couple of years back, I now choose my volunteer efforts carefully and try to make sure they still touch my heart, without breaking my body!

This year, TAV Creations will be donating to two October events and I’m making artisan pieces with reclaimed textiles for these events.

One will be the 20th annual Witches Gathering, and the other will be the Vixens Victorious Back to the 80s dance party.

This is today’s bag- and as I took the photos it reminded me of that moment- if you are a Firefly/Serenity Fan, you know which one I mean….

Events

TAV Creations “Open house” -costumes-fabrics-supplies need new homes!

I’ve been blessed over the years to have folks leave fabric with me, give fabric to me, and I’ve made and carried a small variety of dance and other costumes and supplies that I would love to see in use kin the world, as opposed to sitting in my studio/ closet.

I also have just received a few boxes of costumes and supplies from the estate of Anjali, and hope that these well loved but in immaculate condition pieces can also find new life and want to give folks a chance to come take a look and see what calls to them.

The plan:

  • RSVP and the address will be provided.
  • Choose the date that works for you, email or message me on the Facebook event<s>, and grab a tote bag and come on over.
  • Items will be in 3 categories:
    1. as priced < payment options will be visa/ MasterCard / e-transfer/ cash>
    2. by cash -pay what you can- into the “Karma Pig” – I won’t ask how much you are giving, so there’s no pressure!
    3. for Anjali estate items – cash donation of your choice to culturalhorizons.ca  < I’ll have a separate donation box for this that I will then deliver to Tony Gaston for the charity

Dates:

Friday, September 14th from 4 pm to 9 pm

Sunday September 23th  from 1 pm to 5 pm

If those dates/ times do not work for you, you can message me to set up a private viewing appointment of the items.

Creative journeys, creativity abounds

Prom – Oh my…

I had the pleasure of helping two young ladies feel their best this prom – and that is fine.

Altering one dress to give it more support – there are a LOT of knit lined dresses out there, which is a mixed blessing – there is some flexibility provided by the knit linings and thin boning, but the support is just not the same as a woven inner structure.

Adding extra boning, take in the dress to follow the curves more closely and she’s a statuesque goddess ready to take on the night!

 

And then there’s the custom dress I began while working with Norde Bridal. Thanks to Meg who found the beautiful beaded fabric for this lucky young woman!

I’ve been posting teaser shots over the past few months:

 

And then I finished it, after 5 fittings, many small and large adjustments in the process…

– how wide should the straps be?

-how deep can the neckline be and still provide a secure fit?

-how much interlining and boning will give the right support without feeling too constricting?

And then I waited until her prom was over – and her mom started sending me shots right away – which was amazing!

close up of back view – fitting her curves!
Yyes - there was an issue with the weight of the beads and the back slit. And it hurts my ego to post this, but I choose to acknowledge the imperfection and constant need to keep working towards the perfect fit and line...
Back view
An amazing young woman on her way in the world!

And then she sent me these lovely shots the night of her prom!!

I love  the energy and spirit of this woman who came through my studio with such clear ideas of what she wanted! She’ll go far, no matter what she chooses to do!

 

 

Creative journeys, creativity abounds, On a more personal note

Costume styling- a fun change of pace!

Costume styling is also one of my things – or even just inflicting my costume visions upon friends and having them be talented enough to do their parts!

And TAV Creations helped dress everyone – with assistance from a few awesome sources and the members of Meowvellous themselves!

All of the members assisted in personalizing the pieces they wore, with 2 dresses from the now closed Norde bridal, my own corset having been made by my student/ friend Letitia; embellishments added and the skirt made by TAV Creations < me> and the crinoline from the now closed Luxe bridal salon.

Some causal clothing from my personal closet topped things off for our sexy dude, along with her own fabulous pieces!

And…drum roll please….  I give you…

2nd place winners of the 3rd annual Pete’s Lip-Sync Battle on May 5th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE – VIDEO of the performance!!:

Creative journeys, creativity abounds

Back home it is…

Life is a circular trip around the sun, through the universe and Around and Around…


Yesterday Erin helped me move things…

And today, I returned the key to the adorable little bridal store on Cumberland  AKA Norde bridal, Formerly the Handmade Bride, as the owner’s own journey is taking her focus to her ArrohandBow business < congrats and all the best to you Meg!>

In the den of my wonderful apartment are 3 garment racks.

Filled with costumes that I am transitioning through as I retire from teaching belly dance classes after this spring session, the realization that some of my Bollywood costumes will never fit me unless I work really hard and give up certain foods I really like < still deciding on that>, and an assortment of TAV Creations original clientele pieces and previously Norde, now TAV Creations client pieces.

In my studio is another 72 inch high rack that has this week’s dresses  on, and the calendar is filling up.

I am super grateful to have met and worked with Meg, Erin, Tegan and Victoria, as well as the original crew that were at the Handmade bride when I started with them back in December of 2016 – Jenna, Chelsea, Amalia, and Kessia < am I forgetting anyone?>.

It has been a pleasure and an adventure, and I have worked with some amazing brides, and look forward to continuing on the journey with this still in progress and those I am to meet in the future.

So, this weekend being a very powerful one for folks of religious persuasion, it also marks a wonderful transition for me.

You need some work done? Head over to my contact page then drop me an email!

Happy Chocolate Consuming weekend – I’ve got dresses to go sort, and fabrics to store!

 

creativity abounds

TAV Creations Designing with Norde – a gorgeous completed project!

I have been redesigning/ designing toppers and boleros/ and doing major alterations throughout  the past  year and a few months working with Norde < formerly The Handmade Bride>  and starting this year with the following gorgeous piece was a full on adventure that ended beautifully!

BACK VIEW:
To see this gorgeous coat in action – go here!

Thanks to the bride for permission to share!