I came across this 'sewing advice' on my travels to a National Trust house earlier. It was laid next to an old Singer sewing machine and it did make me chuckle. Although I can relate to 'never approach sewing with a sigh or lackadaisically'!

I took an afternoon out from the studio last week and popped to London to visit the Christian Dior exhibition currently showing at the Victoria & Albert museum.
It was beyond spectacular.
Some of the dresses on show I have only ever drooled over in fashion books, to actually see them in the flesh was magical. This is the V&A's most popular exhibition of all time and I can see why. But hurry as it closes it's doors on September 1st (I might even go again! ).

Thanks So GLos for a great night at the SGGLA awards at Gloucester cathedral. Obviously gutted not to win but happy to have been nominated and to enjoy such a lovely evening. 
P.S. amazing goodie bag! 

At the end of last year, I had the pleasure of working with a student who was in her final year at Birmingham City University studying on the BA Fashion degree. For her final year project she needed to collaborate with a company in the industry and she chose me!
 
​The project required her to create two full outfits from designs taken from my collection. The objective being to take these 2 garments through the manufacturing process, from initial sketches to fully finished pieces.
 
The project ran from January through to May, and during that time she made various studio visits for fittings and manufacturing advice (and tea)!
 
Since finishing her degree in the summer she has started her first job as a design assistant’s at a manufactures, well done Sade! x

I snapped up these little beauties the other week on my travels (got to love a charity shop bargain)! They both needed a little nip and tuck to make them fit-here are the results of my alterations...

Enjoying the fine line between art and fashion at Paris Fashion Week with my former student; the super talented Micol Ragni 

Earlier in the summer my cape-sleeved wedding dress 'Poppy' was lucky enough to be chosen for this gorgeous wedding shoot. Taking place at 'Dryhill Farm'; a brand new cotswold wedding venue, it was the perfect setting to celebrate the English county side.
'Rob Tarren' was in charge of the lens, 'The Flower Girls' for the props and flowers, 'Wedding Paint' for the make-up, Wave Marie Baldwin was the model and yours truly for the frock! (As featured on Whimsical Wonderland Weddings)

A couple of couture techniques that I picked up (with Jon Moore) when ​attaching the collar canvas to the bottom collar.
 

​Jon Moore is a couturier with over 30 years experience. As former Couture Director at Hardy Aimes, Jon had the privilege of designing and fitting for Her Majesty the Queen and worked alongside some of the most talented couture fitters, seamstresses and tailors in the country.

JON MOORE LTD was established in 2002 - allowing clients from around the World the chance to directly commission Jon to personally create, by-hand, one-off couture garments to exacting specification.
 
More recently, Jon has started advanced sewing courses at Gaddens Sewing School in the New Forest, Hampshire - and I was thrilled to be asked to work alongside him, assisting our 10 students on the differences between a Cross Stitch and a Whip Stitch! Jon’s astonishing skill and knowledge is something I’ve admired greatly, since becoming friends over 15 years ago and I look forward to learning more from a true master of his craft.