204. Fall Inspiration

I thought I'd be blogging more, but I can't even think of posting without an original picture to share.  Right after the fashion show last month, I went to Carmel, CA for a super-short work trip, came home to celebrate my birthday, and got ready for school to begin.  I've got another week of calm before the storm until things get busy with work again, so I will try to photograph my recent projects and post them soon.

In the meantime, it's all about inspiration:

1. My husband and I recently got a sneak preview of a pretty super sculpture (@5 tons and many feet tall!) that I can't share with you till it's finished and debuted in a month.  It was great to talk with the artist about his inspiration, the themes that tend to guide his work, and his creative process.  
2. I've been working with my son on a photo project with his kaleidoscope (which I bought him for my birthday), and put together a cool little photo collage.  
3. And just last night I ran across a New York Magazine photo collection of fashion designers and their inspiration for Fall 2010, in one word or one picture.

More soon, and Happy Labor Day to my U.S. friends!

203. Austin Museum of Art Fashion Show

Or, How Lucky I Am.

I know, every day, how lucky I am.  Not everyone gets to do something they love for a living and do stuff they love for fun.  I know that.

These are two dresses I made for a fashion show this past Sunday, one from two pairs of men's black denim jeans, and one from two pairs of men's khaki pants:

runway photos courtesy of Sterling Images

202. In Mociun (knockoff #2) to Seattle

Or, my amazing and super-cool summer trip to Seattle, during which I wore my Mociun knockoff #2.  Why 2?  Read on to find out!

201. The World Needs Another Mociun Tie-Front Dress Knockoff!

I am telling you!  I had once upon a time thought about buying the actual Mociun dress (on sale).  But I changed my mind last winter and decided to buy The Boots That Changed My Life instead, which I have not yet shared with you but oh, their time in the blog spotlight is coming.


For now, back to the Mociun dress.  I liked the tie front and the deep v but with the rest of the neckline and decolletage generally concealed, and the version I'd considered buying had a band at the bottom, creating a real tulip effect.  I succumbed to the peer pressure after Cindy revealed her version during Week of Dresses and Meg posted hers the same week.  Turns out a gracefullady was kind enough to share some detailed notes of how she knocked off this dress (how she managed to eke it out of 2 yards of vintage 36" wide fabric, I'll never know) -- and the instructions were spot-on for me.  Behold, Another Mociun Knockoff: