Minus Sun

17 06 2012

Circus’s 2nd birthday

Last Friday, my stockist in Brixton Village, Circus, celebrated their second anniversary. Some of the artists who sell their works at Circus have created limited edition works for the occasion. I have used my leftover crowns and buntings from the Diamond Jubilee and used alphabet stamps to change them into Circus items. Also, I have designed/created a new version of the embroidered cuffs I do.

Here is the little section with my works.

This is Circus’s original item, 2nd anniversary jute bags.
I did the “circus” stamps in the shape of “2”, literally in the shop!

I think my buntings&crowns go really well with the jute bags and Circus itself.

And this is the new cuff celebrating their B-day.
It is embroidered “How old are you?” on one side and “Circus xx” on the other side.
I used a scrap of linen fabric I had which resembled cardboard(Circus is a shop made of cardboard) with the stripes and colour. I have made 10 of these, now sold in circus. Hope you like it.

12 06 2012

the Cultured Girl’s dress

Hello, here is my latest piece from “minus the sun, night all day” collection. It is a simple dress with breast darts and no shaping at the waist. Made with navy cotton drill, baby blue and orange cotton fabric with crocheted black silk yarn at the hem with gold beads. The concept for this dress is a double star. A double star is a star consisting of two stars which are close (it looks like a single star from far away) and linked by gravity making then orbit around the same centre. I have used a famous double star called Albireo as the motif of the pockets. It is famous because of the colour contrast of the two stars, orange and blue. It is very interesting to learn about stars… It will be nice to have an astronomy geek as a boy/girlfriend.

Close up of the neckline
There are two cut out circles, one each for front and back. They are linked with a hand stitched dashed line in grey. I tried to represent how two stars are related to each other in a double star.

Close up of the neckline showing the hand stitched facing in blanket stitch

The two flap pockets representing the stars of Albireo, the orange one is bigger than the blue one. They are hand embroidered with the star inspired pattern in the same colour thread as the fabric. When you lift the flaps the inside is embroidered as well and the shapes of the pockets become complete circles.

Close up of the hem with silk crocheted trimmings in black with gold beads. I like the contrast of gold against the dark fabric making it remind me of the night sky.

31 05 2012

vest and salwar pants set

I have made a cotton vest and pants set for my friend’s birthday. I have been wanting to make salwar pants for a while as I think they are very cute. Then I thought I also like the concept of jumpsuits but I don’t like the inconvenience of going to the loo and having to strip off. So I thought I should make a separate which would look like a jumpsuit.

This one is the sample version in calico I have made for myself. The vest has three panels at the front. The fabric used for the sides are lighter. The pants are elasticated at the waist and at the hem.

I have used an umbrella stamp I’ve bought from yellow owl workshop for the front side. They have nice stationery which I really like. I wanted to make use of this stamp somehow. It looks perfect!

The year is stamped on the back side.

And this is the final version of the vest for my friend in star patterned fabric in baby blue. The neckline and armholes are trimmed with cotton ribbon and the front side panels are in plain fabric. Two gold buttons stitched in the middle of neckline.

So here is the set. I think it has some feeling of a jumpsuit when you tuck in the vest, I hope? The elasticated waist section of the pants are in the same plain fabric as the one used in the vest top. The same cotton ribbon is used in the waist section as well. That’s it, Happy Birthday!

21 05 2012

crowns and buntings for the Diamond Jubilee

I will be doing a crown&bunting decorating workshop on Sunday 3rd June at Circus, Brixton Village. I heard there will be quite a few things happening on that day, stalls, performance, competition, etc. Come and visit if you are around. Here are the samples I’ve made as examples for the workshop. Both the crown and bunting are made of stiff calico and decorated with embroidery and fabric pen.

The bottom crown is not going to be used for the workshop as this was my first attempt at making a crown but sewing around all edges and turning it inside out took too much time. So, I’ve put my logo stamp all over to keep it as mine. The one on top with raw edges but with two layers to play with is the style I decided to go with for the workshop.

The above were my examples but these are for you to buy (and decorate if you like).
Plain but with red dashed line drawn on the crown and red/white stripy cotton string for the bunting.

13 05 2012

commissioned Smart Girl’s blouses

Here are the two blouses I’ve made for the same customer. They are made-to-order versions of the Smart Girl’s blouse in calico and in the final design.

This one is almost the same as the calico version but with added elbow patches and in a slightly stiffer calico. The stitch lines are drawn using a fabric pen, no actual embroidery.

This design has cotton crocheted collars and a breast pocket in the shape of the Great Square of Pegasus with dots representing stars and dashed lines joining them. Handmade square resin buttons go with the square theme.

This part is the different from my original. Added elbow patches with lines representing graduation for direction. This design is coming from the Controlling Girl’s shirt dress.

This is the other blouse made in middle weight grey cotton.

The cotton crocheted collar is the same but the buttons are round and smaller.

There are no running stitch on the pocket or at the hem but stars are hand embroidered with sequins and French knots. There is a embroidered girl peeking from the pocket.

close up of the girl

28 04 2012

crocheted snood

This was another personal project for my friend who wanted a chunky crocheted snood. The wool she gave me was chunky so I used my finger to crochet instead of a crochet needle. It is knitted in a Mobius Strip so it has a single twist. This gives a nice volume when worn.

Wrapped twice around the neck

Hung on the neck, you can see the twist

close up of the loosely crocheted snood

22 04 2012

baby bib

This was my last night’s project for my friend’s baby girl.
It was received with joy today and she is on her way to become the best dressed baby girl.

Made with chambray cotton fabric in pale blue with hand crocheted cotton trimmings and soft cotton herringbone ribbon to tie at the back of the neck. It has her initial “B” embroidered with French knots at the front and my personal label with the date at the back.

The form of this bib with angles is inspired by vintage designs.

the embroidered initial in red

my label at the back, stamped on a vintage ribbon and hand stitched onto the bib

12 04 2012

the Smart Girl’s blouse

This is the final version of the Smart Girl’s blouse for my “minus the sun, night all day” collection. The calico version is here. I have made the hem and sleeves slightly longer and the cuffs narrower to make it look “smarter”.
I have used a textured stripe cotton fabric in pale blue for the main part and plain pale blue fabric for the breast pocket and cuffs.

The special buttons made for this blouse. Sequins and beads in pale blue are inside the resin. The number of gold sequins inside each button matches the position of each. For example, the second button from the top on the blouse will have two gold sequins. The Smart Girl likes to count, you see. The square shape is perfect to go with the breast pocket’s story mentioned below.

I wore it with my pleated skirt of my high school uniform here but I am planning to make my own pleated skirt to go with the blouse soon.

a close up of the cotton crocheted collar
The ladder lace section matches the running stitch on the breast pocket and the hem.

a close up of the back showing the collar and the inverted pleat below the yoke

The breast pocket is in the shape of the Great Square of Pegasus. There is a sequin and French knots around it at each corner representing the stars. Like the actual stars that makes the square, three of the stars shine in white/blue and one shines in red. Running stitch joins the stars to create the imaginary lines in the night sky. You can see the hand stitched buttonholes in this image as well.

The cuff’s fabric matches the breast pocket.

Hard to notice, but there is a sequin and French knots representing a star at the hem of the left front bodice (opposite to the breast pocket side). The hem is hand finished with running stitch representing the movement of this star.

06 04 2012

the Controlling Girl’s shirt dress

This is the final version of the Controlling Girl’s shirt dress of “minus the sun, night all day” collection. It is made of navy cotton drill. Threads used for embroidery and stitching are yellow and light grey. I would like to wear it as a dress but it can be worn like a jacket as it is quite tough and oversized. It has a different feel from the light calico version which looks like loungewear.

First of all, have a look at the special buttons I’ve made just for this shirt.
There are 6 buttons for the shirt opening and 2 buttons for the cuffs.
Embroidery, beads, and sequins are applied to calico and then cut out in circles.
Each represents a different planet.
from the left, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn
top two are Uranus and Neptune from the left

the finished buttons, the above pieces trapped inside resin

And here they are on the finished shirt dress

I really like how the hem curves at the sides.

breast pocket with embroidery showing the waxing of the moon

flap pocket with star motif embroidery
This pattern is used for the collar and cuffs as well.

layered pocket

the hem finished with blanket stitch

circular elbow patch with stitching representing graduation for direction

the cuffs with green Uranus and blue Neptune buttons
You can see the hand stitched button hole as well.

03 04 2012

Selvedge Spring Fair 2012

I have exhibited at the Selvedge Spring Fair last Saturday. Thank you very much to those who came and are checking my blog now! For those who couldn’t make it to the fair, here are some photos I’ve taken.

This is my stall with jewellery and cards on the shelves, accessories and lingerie on the table, and garments on the clothing rail.