pink cushion

My Sewing Studio

2010-02-09T08:40:00.001-08:00

Well it would have been impossible to finish all those dresses without my small sewing studio, uhmm it is not actually a studio, it is just a corner in our lower bedroom. This is where I convert my idea into reality. It is my haven in my chaotic world. I love everything in this corner. I love my sewing /embroidery machine, thanks to my sister who sent it to me from Boston because this model is not yet available in my country. I love my Singer Edger, a birthday gift from my supportive hubby. I love my gold boxes, my sewing books and of course my collection of fabrics. If I can stay in one place for a day without getting bored, I think this is where you will find me.

My First Entourage

2010-02-09T08:19:00.001-08:00

These gowns were very special to me not only because these were my first entourage gowns but also because I made these gowns for my dearest friend, Grace. She got married last April 2009 to a very handsome and loving man, Em. Their wedding was held at General Santos City. Unfortunately I was not able to attend her wedding but my gowns were there to represent me.

The hard thing about making these gowns was that I never met the girls in person. They just sent me their measurements via email. Good thing the gowns fit them perfectly. Truly a labor of love for my college bff Gracie:) I miss you and hope to see you soon.

Panel Dress

2010-02-07T07:34:00.000-08:00

Dressing up my friends is becoming a habit now. Above you will see my friend Trina wearing a panel dress I specifically designed for her. The combination of red and black cotton span fabrics created an illusion of a slim silhouette. A style that is suitable for a voluptuous body.

Blue Version Beaded Dress

2010-02-07T07:27:00.000-08:00

You must have seen the red version of this gown from my previous post. Well my friend loved that dress so much that she wanted me to make one for her. Unfortunately the red fabric was no longer available so we opted to use the blue counter part. And as expected the blue turned out to be a very elegant and very sophisticated gown perfect for my friend's personality.

Chiffon Dress with Beaded Neckline

2010-02-07T07:08:00.000-08:00

I have always been excited every time I get an invite to a formal event. This gives me a reason to dress up and showcase my talent. Above is my orange chiffon dress with beaded neckline and matching beaded belt. Believe it or not I made this dress in less than 24 hours. The skirt is a double layer circle style while the bodice is a typical shoulder princess cut. The belt is a pre-beaded ribbon sewn to a brown taffeta fabric and a beaded neck piece, available in a local fabric shop called Carolina's, was attached to the neckline.

I just saw this picture last week,March 2011. I was surprised when I saw Eva's gown because the turquoise and orange combination of the gown was very similar to my gown above.

Elegant Tube Dress

2010-02-07T06:56:00.000-08:00

A very good friend of mine wearing one of my creations. I made her a tube dress using a dull satin champagne hue fabric. And as for the belt, I used a pre-beaded turquoise taffeta fabric. She looked stunning with her matching bag and elegant pair of stilettos.

Avant Garde Red Dress

2010-02-07T06:48:00.001-08:00

I made this dress two Christmases ago for a dinner party with my college friends. I love the super size sleeves and the neckline detail.

Frill dress

2010-02-07T06:19:00.000-08:00

My husband and I were malling one time when we came across with this very exquisite dress.
It was a Marc Jacob and yes it was very expensive. It inspired me to create my own version of this dress and I came up with my masterpiece above. I always get a compliment every time I wear this dress, in fact this is my favorite creation so far.

QUORUM JACKET

2010-02-07T05:58:00.000-08:00

A sorority of soon-to-be lawyers asked me to create a jacket appropriate to their image - intelligent yet fashionable. I think the end product suited them well.

My Gown for Lora's Wedding

2008-11-23T05:25:00.000-08:00

This is my latest and most expensive project yet! Pre-beaded embroidered fabric is really quite expensive, but definitely worth it since the wow factor comes even before a single stitch is made :-) I chose a pleated cowl neckline for the front and a cowl neckline for the back. Tapered bodice, up to below the knee. Underneath is a separate bustier dress with straps. This gown started totally different, but I'll just save that design for my next big occassion.

headless knockout

2008-11-09T04:49:00.000-08:00

I loved the blue bustier evening dress I made (my 3rd paid job) that I decided to make a black version of it for myself. I'm headless in the photo though because I didn't consider myself camera-ready at the time but I just had to take the photo after I was finished on the last stitch :-) But I included my body in the photo. Does that mean I consider my body camera-ready??? Hehe :P

my 3rd paid job

2008-11-09T03:31:00.000-08:00

This gown is another order from another friend of a good friend. She needed a fabulous outfit for attending a strictly formal familly event. This also ended up not needing any adjustments, and she loved how backless it was. And how un-store-bought it looked on her. I love the fabric and the color. I priced this very low because I loved the idea of having someone want to pay real money for something I made. The design by the way was a collaboration of mine with my fashion savvy client.

high waisted skirt with removable 'suspenders'

2008-11-09T03:12:00.000-08:00

This skirt i made for a paying customer--a friend of a good friend . A very nice law student actually. And she loved it. It looked amazing on her. No adjustments necessary. However, before I ended up with this product, I made a mistake on its pattern, making nearly all the measurements wrong. That first version ended up as an entirely different dress, so no fabric was wasted in the making of this skirt :-)

Monique Lhuillier Spanish Lace Gown

2008-10-16T05:42:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted anything in SO LONG! Ironically I've done the most number of projects on this non-blogging period than I did before. I guess I'm being more efficient in my planning and sewing. This gown I made is my best yet. I wore it to my friend's very grand wedding :) Inspired by a Monique Lhuillier gown in black, I chose a color in the motif of the wedding I was to attend with my husband Robert. Here's a picture of it, worn by arguably my prettiest model.

Attorney Gallardo, in Not-so-Courtroom Colors

2008-05-24T23:00:00.000-07:00

This client, (my sister in spirit) Iya, wanted a creation inspired by a Chloe Sevigny dress, with touches of Breakfast at Tiffany's and 80's flair. This is the result, which she was very happy with, for attending a grand June wedding. She's family, so I'm most happy to create for her. You look great, future Attorney at Law Valdeavilla-Gallardo! Stay fabulous!

Lady in Red

2008-05-24T22:55:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to me! just turned 28, and was just so happy to debut my lovely red dress. Who doesn't look good in RED?!?

Fancy Print and Beadwork Detail

2008-05-24T22:48:00.000-07:00

This dress is the third product from the Barbie dress (check it out, in one of my past entries) pattern that I just love. It flatters my shape and is really wearable. This time it's in a japanese cotton print with black hearts. To add more detail, I experimented with top stitching, something I don't usually do, and I used beading on the neckline to make it less simple. Perfect for a night out.

Cowl neckline dress with bow sleeves

2008-05-13T01:25:00.001-07:00

This is the dress version of the grecian blouse I made before, but I made the bodice a bit body-conscious and more serious. I had the idea of using two big bows on each shoulder instead of real sleeves for a bit of fun. I love this fabric! It's actually a different color of the pink one I used for the grecian blouse. It's likewise a sheer material with a subtle metallic sheen, so I had to wear a tube dress underneath for coverage. I just love how this turned out! A bit too dressy for the mall, but definitely becoming and appropriate for an intimate dinner with a very appreciative hubby :)

Dr. Co's Pantsuit

2008-05-13T01:15:00.000-07:00

This is the formal pantsuit gown I made a prototype for (see below)... I used Italian Silky Duchess Satin, and it featured a heavily hand-beaded halter collar and a custom shrug in a cotton stretch print. It turned out quite well I think, and my client and her family seemed very happy with the result. She happens to be one of my close friends so it was a pleasure doing this for her, even at slightly short lead time. We agreed on this shrug for coverup (and color) but she ended up braver than she thought she was, and went bare-shouldered for her school event : ) Congratulations to the new Dr. Co!

First Pantsuit -- Prototype for a Special Client's Order

2008-05-13T01:01:00.000-07:00

This is the prototype I had to do for a pantsuit gown order that I got. In order to make sure I was using the right cut for the look, and the most flattering style, I tried it out on myself first. I wore this to the beach on a family outing on my hubby's birthday. It features no cut on the waist like other styles of pantsuit, thereby reducing tummy bulges and unflattering ripples on the fabric. I used boning for the bust line to further improve the shape of, and the hold at the chest. I love this Amy Butler fabric! It's a lot of fun!

my caramel gown for a friend's wedding

2007-10-18T03:30:00.000-07:00

This is the second gown I've ever made. The first that I've made for myself... I'm so proud of this and I'll post more pictures with me as the model as soon as I get the chance to upload more recent photos.

out with the girls in one of my creations

2007-10-18T03:13:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I feel silly that I tried so hard to finish this dress in 8 hours to wear it to a dinner with my closest friends. Come to think of it I don't, because now I know that a dress is do-able in a day. My timetable used to be 2 and a half days for a full dress. Three hours in the morning for drawing and cutting patterns, an hour for cutting and tracing fabric, and about two hours for pinning and sewing. Of course the addition of handmade touches take a while longer, like in this case. But it was totally worth it! I can't wait to wear this again!

The first dress I ever made

2007-09-29T01:38:00.000-07:00

Because of the previous post of mine showing the first GOWN I ever made, I remembered that I haven't posted the first DRESS I ever made!!! This little black dress is literally the first dress I ever made, and I'm proud to say that it fit like a glove, and I received rave reviews at the formal family lunch I wore it to. The detail at the hem and armhole are stringed glass beads, while the belt is a sequined tulle ribbon with glass beads buckle. I didn't think of this at the time, but it was QUITE A DRESS! For a beginner it was QUITE A DRESS INDEED!

The first gown I EVER made

2007-09-29T01:23:00.000-07:00

I'm proud to post today the picture of the first gown I ever made. Above is my beloved aunt, for whom I created this column gown, with matching scarf-style poncho in the destination wedding's color motif. The attachment points for the front and back of the 'poncho' are accented very simply with biggish Swarovski crystals. The dress features a left leg slit, to which my beloved 'client' added dainty details. A cute personal touch from one of my first customers, hehehe : ) In the next week I shall be posting the first gown I ever made for myself. Finished it just today and I can't wait to show the world!! It's in a caramel rust color Indian woven silk, with crystal and semi-precious stone beaded halter detail. PLUS I'm currently making the matching jacket in the same fabric, so I can't wait to show THAT to everyone as well.

wedding dress?

2007-09-24T23:17:00.000-07:00

I know I am years away from creating a gown as grand and flowy and perfect as this one from Reem Acra but dreaming is free, right? As a challenge to myself, I declare: I AM ONE YEAR AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO CREATE A GOWN OF THIS CALIBRE.

puff sleeves in military green

2007-09-24T23:08:00.000-07:00

The military green blouse at top right is what I LOVE about this collection of greats from Style Hive. I love the length of the puff sleeves and the neckline with biggish collar. But I have a minidress version in mind.

custom stripes

2007-09-23T07:03:00.000-07:00

This dress is another good example of how sewing together different fabrics can create a new 'fabric' for a truly custom project. In this case bands of four related colors, all from one's personal preference, create an effect no ONE FABRIC can achieve (and NO ONE else can own exactly the same piece). The buttons where the side zippers would be also lend a non-store-bought feel to this dress by Trina Turk.

'custom' fabric dress

2007-09-23T06:24:00.000-07:00

This dress is a representation of one of my next projects -- patchwork in direct terms, but CUSTOM in COUTURE terms : ) The point in making it patchwork is uniqueness and custom-designed impact. This way the particular dress of mine could never be seen in exactly the same fabric as some random department store find. This is by Ashish Gupta from the London Fashion Week [picture, through Style Hive].

reem acra girly dress

2007-09-14T01:27:00.001-07:00

This dress by Reem Acra is exactly what I wanted to make for myself (the skirt part only) in the form also of a dress. My interpretation of something like this resulted in the blue MONKEY CHEF dress I made (a pattern from the net... September 2007). Got this from Style Hive.

2007-09-14T00:38:00.000-07:00

Where do I get eyelet lace lilke this?! It's been a long search and none have tickled my fancy. I've seen ready to wear stuff for sure, but fabric is a different story. Most of what's available are not as stylish as I'd like... Oh well, the search continues. The dress above is by Trina Turk.

2007-09-13T04:10:00.000-07:00

This is where I've been practicing my sewing machine operating skills on! Curtains, duvet covers, and bedskirts! I recently finished this labor of love, and it proved to be so rewarding! It's amazing how yards of affordable fabric, a little measuring, cutting, and sewing can transform a room into a cocoon into which one can retreat. This is my mom's room, and I think it couldn't have turned out better! She said she feels like she's in a soothing garden while in her newly coordinated suite!

PINk cushion

2007-09-13T04:02:00.000-07:00

I came accross this thing of beauty while looking for an appropriate logo for my blog... Isn't it just perfectly literal?! It's pink; it's a cushion (a cushioned seat, alright!); and it's a PIN cushion. It's amazing how a little google-ing can find you a picture of almost anything you want to see (or don't want to see, for that matter)!

grecian blouse

2007-09-13T03:57:00.000-07:00

I finished this blouse recently, and I love the way it draped on my torso. Draping is currently my dream thing to master, so I'm so glad this turned out so well. My husband got me the fabric knowing I'd love it, and I did! It's amazing how expensive something can look after a little effort from the heart : )

my husband Robert and his garden

2007-09-13T01:49:00.000-07:00

This is my lovely husband Robert, displaying one of the fruits of HIS passion -- GARDENING!!! He loves how this garden turned out-- the simplicity of it, as well as its understated grandness. Isn't he a cutie!?!

I say this is one of his gardens because he has designed and executed several, for his family and mine. This pictured here is actually a second-floor-concrete-porch- turned-garden-oasis!!!

Carolina Herrera gowns

2007-09-13T01:34:00.000-07:00

Carolina Herrera's runway shows always fascinate and entertain me. Her designs seem so simple and wearable
that they actually run the risk of being nothing new (in my humble, novice opinion)! But upon closer inspection her choice of fabrics, cuts, detailing, and combinations thereof, are indeed genius, and new : )

2007-09-11T19:08:00.000-07:00

The picture of this dress has been on my inspiration board for the last two months. I haven't gotten around to turning it into a project but as soon as I do, I'll be sure to post it here : )

a pattern from the net is a gift from God

2007-09-11T04:23:00.000-07:00

This pattern is truly a gift! I've been trying to form in my head how to make a balloon skirt like all the lady-like women are wearing. And one day I struck gold with a free pattern from a website. I printed all 35 pages, taped them together, and started making this one in size SMALL. However, I have to take pure credit for the mini-box-pleats detailing at the sleeves. It took me 6 hours to make all of those by hand! Plus, I love how big sleeves mean smaller looking arms, hahaha! The pattern, however, gave me a few problems, since the chest portion did not fit me at all. I guess their small size is not small enough. But after a few minor alterations, and addition of another dart from chest to shoulder, it finally fit perfectly! I love how this print always gives people a reason to smile. Who doesn't love monkeys -- monkey chefs for that matter?!?

Puff-sleeves eyelet dress with buttons and collar

2007-09-11T01:27:00.000-07:00

This dress I am particularly proud of, because it turned out beautifully, in my humble opinion! The fit (on me) was superb, and my application of newly-learned collar and puff sleeves techniques was a success. My husband and I agreed on the perfect buttons for this project, after a lengthy consideration of choices of our ten finalist would-be buttons. I guess my obsessive compulsive attention to detail and to overall look, paid off in this case, as I received many compliments while shopping at the mall. It's a bit dressy, I know, but I was feeling like a million bucks that day, so I wanted to dress like a million bucks as well, hahaha : )

eyelet bubble hem dress

2007-09-11T01:25:00.000-07:00

This (third picture from the top) is my first and only attempt at a bubble hem dress, so it took a lot of trial and error on my part, to get this to turn into something close to what I originally wanted. The original inspiration was by Sass & Bide (shown above in stripe black and white), but the lacey black (eyelet) fabric was inspired by a Monique Lhuillier number of similar shape (shown second from the top). It doesn't show in the picture too clearly but this is lined in shocking orange, matching the glass beads ring buckle. I wanted to keep it young and fun, as black lace is too serious and safe on its own. The bow at the back was removable with the belt for versatility.

standing collar summer dress

2007-09-10T23:12:00.000-07:00

Again a first attempt. This time at a 60's style standing collar! I love this fabric-- the color, the pattern, and the texture. For this project, the most noteworthy thing I think is my braided belt. I think it brings a sense of handmade-ness to the rather straightforward dress.

scarf blouses

2007-09-10T22:24:00.001-07:00

This yellow scarf blouse is one of my earliest projects while this blue one is one of my latest. The yellow one was finished without an overlocking edger, and without me having any skills at properly forming gathers (I used a garter to gather the sides, instead!). But I love this blouse, and I don't think anyone notices the very simple techniques I applied as a beginner : ) The Swarovski baguette-shaped crystals I sewed to four points really gave it a finished haute couture look! I have since learned the techniques necessary for making professional looking gathered fabric blouses. So, this time, for the blue one, I used this lovely pattern, also in sheer drape-y fabric. I love it when animal prints are mixed with flowers, especially roses! The electric blue certainly makes it less mother-ly, and more pop divalicious!

'Barbie' dress with pockets and Swarovski belt

2007-09-10T22:16:00.001-07:00

This pattern is a hit for kids and adults alike! And the pockets always get me compliments from friends and strangers. The crystal detail and great fit don't hurt me either. But bragging aside, this dress is really a good representation of my sense of style-- not too safe and not too playful. For a party I was to attend, I beaded the top front portion with Swarovski beads (silver, rainbow, and yellow, in different sizes), thereby upping its wow factor (back to bragging, hahaha).

floral cocktail dress

2007-09-10T22:15:00.001-07:00

This is one of my early projects, and I made it for a graduation ceremony I was invited to. The fabric was stretch-y and shiny, so it was perfect material for a pencil cut at the hem. To not make it too body-conscious, I designed it to hang away from the body from below the breast. For that purpose, I had to experiment with ruching for the first time. The ruched portion was to be body-hugging, while the rest of the top was more relaxed and flattering to my petite frame. The result: a pencil cut empire dress that was very me!

dress with pockets, RELOADED

2007-09-10T20:37:00.000-07:00

I loved the result of the dress with pockets ('Barbie' dress) that I decided to make another one using the exact same pattern. Prints are my passion rightnow, so I used this flora and fauna patchwork print, which is a lot of fun. It's actually just up close that one can see that elephants and giraffes mingle with flowers and trees in this great pattern. The colors also make it a dress that can brighten up the darkest of days. Again I used a crystal buckle (The dress comes with a custom belt in an exactly matching green) to up the wow factor and downplay the kindergarten-y theme in the material.