My elevator pitch used to be: ” I sew, I dance; I teach both.”
I have retired from performing and teaching dance< Belly and Bollywood>, but I still am lucky enough to be able to keep up the creativity with my sewing work.
Every once in a while, I am lucky enough to be able to assist another sewist in the completion of their projects that may have gotten away from them, their lives have become too busy, or whatever the reason…
Here’s the latest – and I love it – I want one for me now ! I don’t need one though… sigh…
TADA~ and yes, it will look better with a body inside and a bit of aging from laundering..
Click on the first thumbnail and hit the right arrow to go along for the journey!
The pieces – a cut out apron, extra denim and some leatherette!
and checking the size at the “waist”
Adjust the curve to even things out
and determine the length and add hem -make sure it’s squared off too!
Small pockets – using the grid to make them square
serged all the edges and folded them back to create the finished openings with topstitching
openings finished and the sides and bottoms folded back and pinned
the same treatment on the apron itself – and two rows using the foot as a guide.
making sure it’s all even – fold it in half.
pocket placement is centred along the centre front fold.
and the lower pockets are checked …
ruler helps to again ensure they are straight and even
and they get sewn in place with more topstitching – again using the foot as a guide for consistency
making the straps in leatherette – measuring and making straight strips
folded in thirds and using paper underneath to ensure a smooth ride through the machine
when you pull away the paper, some bits will stick between the threads – I find a slight rubbing with a stiff brush gets more of it out.
see…
Conchos and Grommets for details!
The straps were stitched so that they can be slipped out to launder the apron and criss cross in the back similar to a Japanese apron style.
and yes, there are the original chalk lines – which my client will wash out, but ignoring them… I LOVE IT!
So pleased with how the conchos worked out – even though I did hammer my finger
and even though they are different colours, with the straps, it blends beautifully!
TADA~ and yes, it will look better with a body inside and a bit of aging from laundering..
So…. yes!
If you need help finishing a project, let me know and let’s co-create something amazing!
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 poseBridesmaid 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
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!!!
PhoenixQueen and Zombie Dragon Girl
Elegance on a floral throne!
Is that.. yes.. Sweet Sarcasm and PhoneixQueen – cut from the same cloth!
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 iridescentblue 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
Dark..
Light…
Teen…
*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!
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.
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 some Sweet Sarcasm…
This sassy character will keep you guessing about her true intent, as she can be so gentle and sweet one second, then swoosh, you’ve be sliced with the sword of sarcasm she keeps hidden behind that smile…
#alliterationmuch?
With an evening gown to show her elegance…And on a lighter happier note…
The design…
How amazing is this ? A totally reversible silk jacket that has a pocket accessible in both directions?!
Sweet Sarcasm had a vision of the jacket and we could not decide which silk would work better – so we chose both!!
Worn with an evening gown or a casual matching skirt or pants, this jacket will be a staple!
Custom Reversible jacket in silk:
Labour $495
Supplies:
3m Gold silk
3m burgundy silk
Two fabulous buttons
We also had some fun at the Capital Wedding Show…
Sweet Sarcasm being Sassy!Sweet Sarcasm being …Smirky<?>
One more fun thing that we were able to enjoy at this year’s Capital Wedding Show was meeting and participating in 3DAvatar‘s booth:
You walk into their time machine and are immortalized instantly!
This is the first year for Queersphere LGBTQ+ Expo!
And I am very pleased to be taking a quick break in my bridal season sewing to be there, in booth 304, to let folks know that I am here, happy to sew for you!
I just want to make beautiful things with my clients, and I want to know you are a creative soul, and that’s it!
If you are interested in meeting amazing business owners who are members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community here in Ottawa, come stop by!
And if you would like to get a 20% discount on your tickets < Trade Show and AfterParty>, use this code:
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:
The fabric laid out for me to percolate
closeup of those lovely beads and sequins
the pieces and beads after I had to do the final internal trimming
the join from the body into the upper straps – as seamless and smooth of a transition as possible!
And then I finished it, after 5 fittings, many small and large adjustments in the process…
Boning on the interlining helps add structure to the inner layers
Soooo many beads…
the inner works…
– 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?
Checking the visual on the strap width while making the dress
Yes, there’s a TAV Creations label in there!
Looking pretty good on the table!
And I had to use a single flap zipper, with added hooks to keep it secure and and smooth.
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!Back viewAn 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!
Specializing in Custom Designed Garments since 1988
Fascinator:
