School seriously takes so much out of you, but that isn't always a bad thing. It forces you to create something, and that's really what I need. It pushes you out there and gives you a deadline, gives you structure, pulls you thin and then just when you feel like you've been stretched too far, you're done, you've created something wonderful. Sometimes you don't even know where it came from, or what made you think of it.
I'm feeling grateful for the great creators, the ones that have mastered it all. They treat the art of fashion as a hybrid mix of meticulous sculpture, scrupulous fabric choices, and such technical perfection one could cry.
Enjoy this video of brilliant masterminds creating one of the most iconic pieces of our century.
As I've mentioned before, we are currently studying and making jackets and school right now. I have been so inspired scouring the web searching for beautiful and inspiring collars, pockets and details and developing my target customer. Clementine Poppywater is the name of my "client" and here is a mood board developed by what tastes I think she would have:
I think I would like Clementine Poppywater, what do you guys think?
First week of school is over (I surviiived!!) and I'm getting more and more excited about schooltime clothes that I don't really wear when I'm not at school. I absolutely love this owl dress and I have wanted a solid pair of hunters for years!
1. Owl Be Loving You (($109.99)Modcloth 2.Elbow Patch Schoolboy Blazer in Houndstooth (($268)) JCrew 3.Coloured Denim (($19))Joefresh 4.Lean & Mean Pant (($116))Obey 5.Morning Glow Open Knit Sweater Ruche ((46.99$)) Ruche 6. Authentic Lo Pro TC (($50))
Vans 7.Ecote Suede Loafer (($39.00))UrbanOutfitters 8.Original Tall Gloss Hunters (($139)) Hunter
What clothes have you excited for the new school year? -Bittybitzz XOX
And boy was it beautiful!! I'm still buzzing from all the happy highs.
There is just something about weddings: everybody is so happy and talking about love, there is good music and good friends. It really gives you the warm fuzzies.
Now that I'm done that dress, I can go back to being a slave to school. We're doing jackets right now. I never knew how many types of pockets and collars there were. One thing that's good about school? Browsing style.comis considered homework. 8)
Hey guys! I'm happy to present the first of a 4 part series on cool school swag that I'm currently coveting ..I mean, if we have to go back, we can at least make the transition pleasurable, right? ;)
There is just something so magical about the proper accessory.. the power they hold to transform entire outfits.. *ahhhhhh*
Au revoir summer. You were sweet and blissful and I learned so much from you. We grew and transformed together, and I am left with bittersweet anticipation for a new year of experience and learning about something that I love so much.
Cheers to a new school year and get your smart girl disguises on because it's gonna be a long ride. XO- Bitz <3
PS: I have some good things planned for this month ;)
Well it's coming down to it and I have entered full factory mode. With less than a week before I leave for Thailand, I have all the pieces of the dress cut and ready to go!
Today was a boring and stressful day, first doing millions of stitch tests on the slippery silk satin and then trying to find a trick to stop the thin slick liner silk from getting sucked in the bobbin hole of my machine. I eventually remembered a trick I read on the good ol' internets a few months ago that said to put a piece of tissue paper under the elusive fabric while stitching and just rip it off afterwards. Thank you internets!
Only one week left and I feel like I still have so much to do! On the dress, and to prepare for the three weeks I'm about to spend in South East Asia. So much excitement!
Hope you're having a wonderful day!
-Bittybitsss xxooxx
This song is a whopping 25 minutes long, and I love every second of it. Like 5 songs in one, it takes you on a journey of loving and learning, figuring out who you are and where you're going. I've listened to it easily 100 times and I still enjoy every second. Sufjan is a musical saint, creating masterpieces comprised of gritty guitar solos layered over classical instruments and synthesized blips and bloops. He is a gifted wordsmith, each of his songs lyrical poems speaking of all things from spiritual encounters to serial murderers and every detail in between. I hope you can enjoy this beauty. It's totally worth the time.
(1) Oh, woman, tell me what you want And I'll calm down without bleeding out With a broken heart that you stabbed for an hour Woman, I was freaking out because I want you to know My beloved, you are the lover of my impossible soul
Woman, too, promise me you'll stay and put off all your woes I was wigging out, too much worry I could not get you at all And you said what you want, you would laugh it off But I know you won't go, not for it at last Must you write it off for the impossible soul? And I was in a dream, I was gone away without you, but not too slow Lest I put it off, for I put it right for the impossible soul
And all I couldn't sing, I would say it all, my life, to you If I could get you at all Don't be a wreck, trying to be something that I wasn't at all
Seems I got it wrong, I was chasing after something that was gone To the black of night, now I know it's not what I wanted at all And you said something like, "All you want is all the world for yourself" But all I want is the perfect love Though I know it's small, I want love for us all
And all I couldn't sing, I would say it all, my life, to you If I could get you at all Trying to be something that I wasn't at all
(2) [Shara Worden] Do you want to be afraid? Do you want to be afraid? For life in the cage where courage's mate runs deep in the wake For the scariest things are not half as enslaved
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Do you want to be alone? Do you want to be alone? For life isn't stained of righteousness pain The seed and the hail, all impossible flights for an interesting light
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Do you want to love me more? Do you want to love me more? For love is the breath If water and wave is cursed by the same thing that nurtured its shame Is it worth all the work?
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Have you failed to feel delight? (No, I don't want to feel pain) Have you failed to feel delight? (No, I don't want to feel pain) Instead of the life, lived tired and lost, have you left it at last Where it floundered its death with the language of ghosts
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted Do you want to be afraid? (No, I don't want to feel pain) Do you want to be afraid? (No, I don't want to feel pain) For life in the cage where where courage's mate runs deep in the wake For the scariest things are not half as enslaved
Don't be distracted, don't be distracted
No . . . don't be distracted
(3) Stupid man in the window, I couldn't be at rest All my delight, all that mattered, I couldn't be at rest From what I liked, from what I gathered, I couldn't be at rest Stupid man in the window, I couldn't be at rest
And don't be shy in the window Come down and give your best Oh, delight in the window I couldn't be at rest Stupid man in the window, I couldn't be at rest From what I liked, from what I gathered, I couldn't give my best
Oh, I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to breathe at all Oh, I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to breathe at all Oh, I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to breathe at all Oh, I know it wasn't safe, it wasn't safe to speak at all
(4) Hold on, Suf Hold on, Suf Hold on, Sufjan
1, 2 3, 4!
It's a long life, better pinch yourself, Put your face together, better get it right It's a long life, better hit yourself Put your face together, better stand up straight It's a long life, only one last chance Couldn't get much better, do you wanna dance? It's a long life, better pinch yourself Get your face together, better stand up straight
Boy, we can do much more together (Better get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right) Boy, we can do much more together (Better give love, give love, give love, give love) Boy, we can do much more together, (better get it right, get it right get it right, get it right) Boy, we can do much more together it's not so impossible It's not so impossible
It's a long life, better pinch yourself Get your face together, better roll along It's a long life, better pinch yourself Put your face together, better stand up straight It's a long life only one last chance Couldn't get much better, do you wanna dance? It's a good life, better pinch yourself Is it impossible? Is it impossible? Boy, we can do much more together (Better get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right) Boy, we can do much more together (Better get a life, get a life, get a life, get a life) Boy, we can do much more together (Better get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right) Boy we can do much more together, it's not so impossible It's not so impossible
It's a long life, better pinch yourself Put your face together, better get it right It's a long life, better hit yourself Put your face together, better stand up straight In the wrong life, everything is chance Does it register? Do you wanna dance? In the right life, it's a miracle Possibility, do you wanna dance?
Boy, we can do much more together (Better get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right) Boy, we can do much more together (Better get a life, get a life, get a life, get a life) Boy, we can do much more together (Better get it right, get it right, get it right, get it right) Boy, we can do much more together It's not so impossible
Do you want to dance?
Boy, we can do much more together It's not so impossible
(5) I never meant to cause you pain My burden is the weight of a feather I never meant to lead you on I only meant to please me, however
And then you tell me, boy, we can do much more Boy, we can do much more Boy, we can do much more together Boy, we can do much more together
I'm nothing but a selfish man I'm nothing but a privileged peddler And did you think I'd stay the night? And did you think I'd love you forever? And then you tell me, boy, we can do much more
I got to tell you, girl, I want nothing less Girl, I want nothing less Girl, I want nothing less than pleasure Girl, I want nothing less than pleasure
I got to tell you, boy, we made such a mess Boy, we made such a mess Boy, we made such a mess together Boy, we made such a mess together --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Have a great weekend!! -bittyyyyyz
Maid of honourly duties called, and a bridal shower was planned. It was definite crunch time due to lack of time from my construction job (which I am all finished now!!) by day and wedding dress creation by night. But I pulled myself together and mustered all the inspiration I could get from around the interwebs and in the end, I feel like it was a success (thank goodness)..
We snacked and sipped tea. We played some games and laughed together. We blessed the bride to be by showering her with gifts and memories to carry with her into her new life as a loving and beautiful wife.
Although it is a lot of hard work, it is definitely an honour and I am so privileged to be given this responsibility. Now back to that dress...
I posted this, and then erased it by accident.. and was so frustrated that I did nothing about it.
So here it is again.
I feel compelled to share this beautiful and fresh duo with you. Siblings is a quirky acoustic-folk duo specializing in harmonies... for now. A brother and sister project, you can feel the connection through their beautiful sound, their voices bouncing off of each other perfectly, leaving us with a sweet taste in our mouths yearning for more.
As a new artist, it is exciting to see where they will go with their refreshing poetic lyrics and tasteful harmonies.
Okay, maybe not of the century, but this dress is turning out rather beautifully. The toile, or muslin version of the dress is about finished and I am getting soo stoked to delve into the silk satin and chiffon *swwooooon*. There have been many adventures already, (like boning, which is easier than you think!) and I am so incredibly grateful to have been given this opportunity!
Happy sewing! Also, if you have any tips or know of any sites that help with sewing wedding gowns, etc, feel free to share :)
Thanks for reading! -Bittttybitz
Life is just happening right before my eyes and I'm having a hard time keeping up, especially on here. I've began working construction by day (yes I am the only girl and yes it is hard, but somehow satisfying) and creating a wedding dress by night (which is almost harder, although I've recently acquired the skills to draft on the computer.. which is absolutely amazing). I'm also working on invitations for the wedding. It just keeps happening.
I'll try to make a better effort to post.
On a side note, I'm getting really excited to go to Thailand and Europe this summer.... seriously, I try not to think about it because it's so hard to keep my excitement contained.
But alas, I have to go to sleep now... construction workers wake up at 5:30 and it's absolutely crazy.
So excited to announce that my bestest friend is engaged!! It happened last week and I have been keeping my mouth shut so that she could tell people before I plastered it all over the internet (aren't I thoughtful :P). I'm ever so excited for her to embark on such a beautiful journey, and I will be there along side to help wherever I am needed. I am so incredibly grateful to have a friend like her, and even more grateful that she could find such an amazing partner for life! Congratulations Cady and DJ! I love you both so much and this is going to be somuchfun!!!
What does this mean for you? Expect countless DIY wedding crafts and constant updates on her dress... which she has ASKED ME TO MAKE! yes. You heard correctly. shit's 'bout to get real. I am shaking in excitement just thinking about it :D
Hot sand on toes, cold sand in sleeping bags, I've come to know that memories Were the best things you ever had The summer shone beat down on bony backs So far from home where the ocean stood Down dust and pine cone tracks
We slept like dogs down by the fire side Awoke to the fog where all around us The bloom of summertime
We stood Steady as the stars in the woods So happy-hearted And the warmth rang true inside these bones As the old pine fell we sang Just to bless the morning.
Hot sand on toes, cold sand in sleeping bags, I've come to know the friends around you Are all you'll always have Smoke in my lungs, or the echoed stone Careless and young, free as the birds that fly With weightless souls now.
We stood Steady as the stars in the woods So happy-hearted And the warmth rang true inside these bones We stood Steady as the stars in the woods So happy-hearted And the warmth rang true inside these bones As the old pine fell we sang Just to bless the morning.
We grow, grow, steady as the morning We grow, grow, older still We grow, grow, happy as a new dawn We grow, grow, older still We grow, grow, steady as the flowers We grow, grow, older still We grow, grow, happy as a new dawn We grow, grow, older still
Why?
It's the lyrical imagery that gets me with this one, making it so perfect for warm summer days and cool summer nights ("hot sand in toes, cold sand in sleeping bags") I can't wait to listen to this song playing along side a cool and calm summer night roasting marshmallows in the middle of the woods with a few good friends. This one is definitely a keeper. He also does a cover of Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.. which is interesting and worth checking out.
Thank you so much babe, for four years of complete and utter blissfulness. Four years ago you swept me off my feet and haven't touched back down since. Thank you for silently putting up with my ridiculous rants and speaking the honest truth when I need to hear it. But most of all, thank you for loving me unconditionally. You have been an amazing inspiration in my life and I look forward to where our lives will take us. You're the best babe! <3 <3 <3
So many exciting things to tell you, but I can't yet. Just know I'm excited... and it has to do with love (not mine, but still exciting.. dontcha just love love?!) <3 <3
Also, E and I are making a doll together, more details to come!
Last weeks tune of the week got ignored as I was too busy enjoying Valtari hour, when Sigur Ros streamed their new album to be released May 28 (the day before Regina annnd the day that marks four years with the most amazing boy in the world-- the music Gods must really be looking out for me!!) for one hour at seven o'clock around the world. It was both breathtaking and fantastic, but I'll have to wait for it to be released to share it with you. They are also currently hosting a video competition on their website, the valtari mystery film experiment where 12 filmmakers were given the same budget and the task of creating a video for what came to mind whilst listening to the album. It's really interesting and inspiring and I definitely recommend checking it out! http://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/
On to this week.... I really do create a summer soundtrack you know, I even put it on disk. My best friend and I have a tradition of creating summer CDs for each other and so it stays on my mind for the rest of the year. As you know from my last post, I spent the past weekend sleeping in a tent. We were in the middle of nowhere, deep in the forest of Canada and so you can imagine how beautiful the stars were. As we stared up into the beautiful night sky, I couldn't help but think of this amazing beauty and how perfect it will be on the summer disk! (even if it is over a year old now.. :p)
Why in the night sky are the lights hung?
Why is the earth moving 'round the sun?
Floating in the vacuum with no purpose, not a one
Why in the night sky are the lights hung?
Why is life made only for to end?
Why do I do all this waiting then?
Why this frightened part of me that's fated to pretend?
Why is life made only for to end?
In the city only for a while
Here to face the fortune in the bile
I heard you on the radio, I couldn't help but smile
In the city only for a while
Why in the night sky are the lights hung?
Why is the earth moving 'round the sun?
Floating in the vacuum with no purpose, not one
Why in the night sky are the lights hung?
Thank you Palio for all the good times. I remember the first day we got you, I was seven and you were so tiny, the runt of the litter. We originally got you to sell, but fell in love at first sight. You were there for me when the Spice Girls broke up, I remember crying into your fur while you jumped around trying to lick my arms off. Then we moved into town and you came with, your back yard dominion shrinking from 6 acres to 1, but you never complained.. you still loved life and all that came with it. One time you tried to jump on a female dog down the road, you accidentally scratched her and caused mom to pay an $800 medical fee and we had to give you away for a while. It was one of the saddest moments ever, watching you drive away in the back of our friends truck back to the country. But you weren't gone forever, you came back and we were better friends than ever. I took you for a walk one time in platform shoes and you saw a little dog up the road that you wanted to say hi to, so you ran up the road, dragging me along behind. I never knew you were so strong haha. Then I entered high school and things got crazy. We moved again, this time with an even smaller back yard, but you didn't care, and took to sleeping in my bed every night. Those were some of the best days of my life.. even if my bed did have fleas in it sometimes :|. I went to Hawaii for a week on vacation and when I returned you were the happiest I've ever seen you, you wouldn't leave me alone for weeks! You were always following us around, wanting us to pet you, and wanting to lick every square inch of our arms. When things were tough with boys and friends, I always had you Pal, you never judged me or dissed me. Thanks for everything buddy, I don't think I could have done it without you.
As I've mentioned before, I'm going to Thailand this summer to visit and help out some of my favorite kids. What I haven't mentioned is that afterwords we are heading over to Malaga, Spain to go to one of my best friends weddings! I thought I couldn't be more excited, until I started booking the flight from Bangkok to Malaga. As it is such a long distance, almost all the flights have layovers and some for long enough to jump out and take a looky-look! Certain layover cities have been catching my eye, namely Moscow and Helsinki. I'm now researching both to find out which is cooler. Finland has good posters, but Russia has matryoshka dolls!
On another note, have you seen Paloma Picasso's collection for Tiffany's? She's the youngest daughter to the famous Pablo Picasso, who I also just learned was born in Malaga. I hear they have two Picasso originals in the art gallery a city over from me, I must check that out. Weird how you can learn something new and then it constantly pops up in your life, I guess you just notice it more.
We have been working on a garden. And not just any garden... a vegetable garden. All the seeds are 100% organic and we aren't using any types of pesticides or insecticides.
We started some of the seeds inside and made seedlings before planting them outside (as seen here with the snap peas and lettuce in the little cardboard planters to be transplanted). We are learning a lot and it is both a very humbling and a very exciting experience.
Did I mention I had E helping me out? I love this girl. She has recently adopted a likeness to assuming this position when posing for a camera. I brought her to class at the end of the semester to model my children's clothes for my final presentation, and she was just eating up the attention with this pose.
She's just so darn cute. And one of the best little artists ever. I applied some of her custom art onto the pocket of the a-line dress I made.. now it's hanging in the display window at my university. That means she has her art displayed in a university! At four! Go E!
We still have a few things to transplant, including the hilly vegetables like pumpkin and squash... but it's exciting to actually start seeing things in the ground! I'll be sure to keep you posted.
Hope you're all having a good week! Go outside to see what's growing where you live.. plants are amazing!