Tag Archives: custom prom dress

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

Couture Adventures 2020: Focus on: The Whine-icorn!

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 Whine-icorn !

This TAV Creations Angel Superhero combines the powers of the teen and the unicorn in a tall talented soul!  

 

Let the teen be comfortable – bridesmaid or prom!

The Design

Prom dress/ Ball gown/ Bridesmaid dress

Labour $600

Original sketch brought to TAV Creations

Designed with the assistance of a school mate and then *organically created* in the TAV Creations Studio, this iridescent  blue textured gown is light and flows with a grounded feel.

It has the elegance of a ball gown with the flexibility to be dressed up, down or sideways with accessories and attitude.

Supplies:

  • Blue crinkle satin 6m
  • Interlining 1m
  • Boning 1m 

Crinoline- single layer:
Labour $45
Supplies:

  • pregathered/reclaimed crinoline 
  • 1.5m broadcloth

Fascinator:
Labour $45
Supplies:

  • comb, 
  • horsehair, 
  • applique, 
  • satin from dress
The Whine-icorn corset back gown by TAV Creations

 

 

*organically created*: This is the way of things in my studio…  we start at an inspired point and then the creation takes on a life of its own. The client has full input throughout the process and we decide together what changes may occur from the original idea to create a highly personalized finished piece! 

 

And a reminder that The Whine-icorn and Zombie Dragon Girl came as a team!

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!