recent fun!

I can't remember what my friend called this, but something like 'saloon zombie bustle'? So, I was happy to oblige. She said she would add fake blood later :) I didn't make the corset, that she purchased. I just added some tattered lace, and made the bustle. I rarely use red for anything, but that is what she wanted.


mine will be slightly less gory, as I am opting for either Scarlett O'hara or Marie Antionette. The time consuming parts of both of those would be the dress of course, so I may be lazy and be a peasant or something!
also I have a new friend who is an amazing talent, and she is joining the craft mafia with us. Her name is Terri, and she's a designer transplanted from LA. Unbelievable creativity!

she makes clothing also, vintage inspired and reconstructed- hey, no wonder we became fast friends!!

aaaaaaaaand we're done.

omaha fashion week 2010




omaha fashion week 2010

it's crunch time people!!!

sorry for the sparse posts as of late ... but it's crunch time.
major dilemma about what I'm dressing myself in for omaha fashion week, no time really to make anything for me, and models are a lot easier to sew for. Less body issues.
I've been gazing at this lovely creation in my dreamland lately:

Butterfly dress by Luly Yang
so awesome.
well, I'm sure in a few days there will be major picture posts after the show and after I catch up on my sleep :)
wish me luck!

multi-tasking

managed to get this key necklace done in between games at Sasha's triple header softball tournament yesterday:

(I think it needs a few more keys...)
She made a sideways dive and caught a fly ball, and it was pretty awesome! She has several games a week right now, varsity softball in your senior year is no joke people. I'm incredibly proud of her, and no matter what is going on in my life (less than 2 weeks to go until fashion week), it is more important that I attend these games and be supportive. I fully believe that these things make a huge difference in your childs life. So even when schedules are crunched, we continue to be 'superwomen' or 'supermen' and do it all. Priorities, priorities, priorities. She's getting her senior pictures done by a local artist/photographer tomorrow, and it's going to be fun for me to be the stylist on the shoot!
Still have 4 or 5 dresses to finish for the show, including my own!!!

more dyeing

or is it dying? I think with the 'e' is right. anyway, you just can never go wrong with vintage pink undergarments hanging on a clothesline...

19 days and counting to the biggest fashion show I've ever been a part of!
300 feet of runway, over 6,000 people expected, I hope I get it all done!!

tattered princess dress

tattered princess dress
Originally uploaded by ♥ellene mcclay♥

another photo shoot

sorry dear readers... all I ever seem to post anymore are pictures from photo shoots or sneak peeks of omaha fashion week progress. such is the fabulous fast paced life of a fashion designer... le sigh.
I do love how the hair turned out, curled, teased, but still lovely.

I tied vintage ribbon bows at her ankles, and everyone thought they were part of her shoes. The word "adorable" was used a lot. And that's just fine with me :) I looooooooovvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeee adorable. Especially when you say it in a really high pitched voice! But they are adorable little dolls. The eye shadow was my own, and I brought it just in case the make up people didn't have anything bright enough, and I'm glad I did. For the actual show, the eyes will pop even more - aqua, green, purple, and pink eye shadow on all the models, depending on their eye color we will do something contrasting.

but seriously, this model is to die for. Such a sweetheart too, she even gave me a ride home :)

"hawt"

just a few pics from the hottest photo shoot I have ever been a part of. Hot as in temperature, I think I sweat gallons that day.
The model still managed to look gorgeous despite the heat. I think we all came home, showered, and passed out from exhaustion.
I of course was not the photographer, but these are a few I snapped.

more antiquity

new work for the september omaha fashion week-


I'm also working on some mother of pearl button accessories... no pics yet though.
This show is going to be such an unusual combination of victorian Marie Antoinette inspired feminine details and childish, whimsical doll stylings. Hopefully viewers will understand a bit of my vision... maybe?

alternative quilting

this is kind of like 'alternative music' I think...

I've never quilted anything before, but I think that's what this is.
I overlaid this shimmery bubble organza over cotton, and then used silver thread. This is an underbust corset (I call them casual corsets, because I don't really use all the coutil and traditional stuff. Just interfacing and flying by the seat of my pants.
But it's not like my models need a traditional corset, I just like the look :)

I'm liking it!