Oh how time flies! I’m officially back in London and my 15 week intensive costume course is complete. I feel like I learned a lot of new techniques and am proud of the body of work I’ve produced. I would say the most challenging (and also rewarding) part of the course was the tailoring.
I can often be quoted as saying “sewing doesn’t lie”. If something is stitched poorly you’ll see it; there is no hiding ill construction. With that in mind, tailoring requires that every step is done to perfection in order for the next step to go smoothly. Making welt pockets? You’d better snip it open to precision or it literally will not sit flat or be made weak at the joints. Every hand stitch must be done delicately; pulling too tightly will warp the garment and sewing too loosely could leave the garment to come undone. There is a reason it takes years and years to be regarded as a master tailor. While I may not be a master yet, I am very content with the work I’ve produced and have no doubt that this will beget many more interesting projects.
Without any further ado I would like to present my final project showcase in the video below. If you aren’t already following, please follow me on instagram @madewithjjoy for more content. I will be doing my best to post more timelapse videos documenting the creative process of the costumes featured in this video.
Here we are at the end of quarter one, twenty twenty one. I am writing from the comfort of my sofa in a new room in a new city. It’s a grey and windy day in York and I am happily tucked away in a thick jumper behind closed windows. The city is teaming with colour slowly emerging from the ground up; tulips, daffodils and cherry blossoms are growing bigger by the day. I love a UK spring!
I am about to start week 3 of my historical costume making course and am enjoying it immensely. The college itself is bright and beautiful, located in the center of town just steps away from the Shambles market (the inspo for Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley). In my short time I have already completed a set of drawers, a chemise, a corset circa 1844 and a corded petticoat. Next week I will start on my second petticoat and afterwards my gown. All in all I feel like I am learning new techniques and have a new appreciation for embellishment; more is MORE. To think only a couple hundred years ago women were wearing multiple petticoats and being held together with steel boning…
Here are some photos of York, my work at the college and some shots from Cat & the Queen’s new video. I will do my best to keep showing off my progress as the weeks move foward.
What a wild ride of a year. One of my housemates fell ill with Covid over Christmas and our house has been in lockdown since. Like everyone else around the world, NYE celebrations were conducted safely over facetime. My boyfriend and I shared toasts and live radio to keep us feeling connected. While it wasn’t ideal we made the best of the situation we’re in.
I’ll be honest I’ve been far from motivated these last weeks as we close off one of the most disruptive years in recent history. Finally enjoying a break after a busy couple months of working two freelance gigs; window dressing, sewing up display pieces, and various side projects for colleagues. It goes without saying that I’m grateful to have managed consistent work in a foreign country during these times. Of course, this short pause won’t last long as I’ll be embarking on an intensive historical costume making course in a couple weeks time. I’ll be moving North to study contemporary and period menswear, as well as, period womenswear. Coming from a fashion background, developing myself in this niche arena will be quite fun. Trust that there will be photos of the journey!
I’m using this time in self-isolation to contemplate my goals for ‘21. More graditude, more embracing the unknown future and accepting that I cannot figure it all out in one go. I’m making “consistency” my mantra for the year. Whatever goal you’re working towards doesn’t have to be perfect, you just need to show up regularly.
Not much else to report so I’ll let the photos do the talking. Here’s a selection of images that sum up the final months of 2020. Happy New Year to everyone! Here’s to our collective health in 2021.
