Organisation / rationalisation / consolidation.....saving my brain!

Hello People!

Just to let you know that I'll be using my website blog for everything now - so although this blog looks very pretty, and I've been using it for a good old while, I have to try and save my brain by cutting down on all the different places that I put out information!!

"Blogger - it's been lovely, especially visiting  the fabulous peeling distressed hotel room you live in, but I have to keep space in my brain so many things, I can't come and visit very often now.  I feel bad, and just thought I should let you, (and anyone else reading this), know my whereabouts....."

New blog

New blog just up! Click on the link....

http://www.bobbiesroom.co.uk/blog/what-i-definitely-dont-docopies-of-chinese-frou-frou-extravaganzas-anything-in-polyester-and-anything-pronuptia-inspired

Tears of Joy......!

Hi Everyone,

I don't know many people who are quite as fabric freakish as me. (A total lover of beautiful fabric - luxurious wool / tec fabrics /  glistening cottons or shimmering silks). But I have a student who is - in fact maybe even more so.

When the fabric she'd chosen from one of my best suppliers, Abraham Moon arrived, she was literally in tears of joy. (The only other person I know who cries with laughter, as opposed to joy as such, is my husband, Jonny.) And I think if she could have wrapped herself up in it and driven home with it on, she would have....she was the happiest girl I've seen for a long, long time! (Concerning inanimate objects that is).

However, this tweed was not actually that inanimate, as it kept moving as you sewed it. But that movability, or malleability is a also a huge plus, as you can virtually get the fabric to do what you want. It is fabulously soft, and made from Merino wool.

If you sign up for a course, classes or a workshop with me, you too can have the added bonus of being able to buy fabulous fabric for your current project at wholesale prices, and that's not only tweeds, but also wools / silks / top quality cottons / lace / tec fabrics, in fact practically any type. The discounts vary, but half price is pretty average. 

Courses can be designed to accommodate whatever you want to do, so just contact me by phone, email or carrier pigeon, and  we can discuss! I also have gift vouchers available so please contact me for details of those too.

Bobbie 

Mmmmmmmm......tweed!!

The right question will get the right answer, says Mr. Google...!

Hi Everyone!

Just a quick post as I have just had a revelation in using this blog! And the revelation has come through the trick of asking exactly the right question of Mr. Google....

As I mentioned in the last post here, I tried really hard a couple of years ago to transfer this blog so that I wouldn't have to keep signing out of my usual google email account, and signing in agin to a different account, just to be able to write a post, which I found really irritating.... 
I read many very complicated sounding sets of instructions, and I decided in the end that as it was so fiendishly difficult, (not to say liable to total loss of it altogether, and messing up of my email and google account), it would be better to just not bother, and spend some hours of my life in more useful ways!

Well it turned out that I had been asking the wrong question. So instead of saying: how do I transfer my Blogger blog, I should have been asking 'How do I change the email login for my Blogger blog'. That was the key, although I don't know how I would have known (!), that's what I did yesterday by some fluke, even though I hadn't really been thinking about it, but I just thought that it might work. 

A little video came up - an Irish guy, speaking from 2009, but nevertheless it just worked....
(Here's the boring bit if you're interested: All you have to do is go to Settings, 'add an author', i.e. the email you want to use, go to your email and accept the invitation, (signing in and out as necessary!), go back to the settings and give the new 'author' i.e. you, under a different email address, all permissions to use the blog in the normal way, and then Hey Presto! You are in, under your normal email account, and don't have to do anything tricksy!)

Anyway, it was all so easy after countless hours of failure, and all down to just asking the right question.

Narrowing down the problem isn't always easy if you're trying so hard you don't see the wood for the trees. Sometimes my determination gets in my way :-/

Proves what I already know, which is that stress stops you thinking clearly. So just remember:

Also, please look at the right hand side of the blog at the top -under the green text,  'Pages', where you can either look at all the blog archives, OR see the 'Reviews / Testimonials' page. It's not that obvious, so thought I'd point it out. I'm planning on adding a photos page for people who happen upon the blog and not the website, so you can see the location and the lovely studio itself.

Speak soon! 

Bobbie 

Painting dresses, amongst other many things.....

Hi Everyone,

Just a little update....!

I originally set up this blog for anything sewing / pattern cutting / style / clothing / fashion related and  it was more directed towards the classes I teach in those subjects at my home studio, and teaching 'out' at universities and other places.

That was before my website was more organised and comprehensive, and before I had separate Facebook pages for Atelier classes and Atelier Wedding dresses and Natural History tweeds! (Life gets so complicated sometimes!!)

It was also set up before I had my Mailchimp contacts list email thing set up (where I can email lots of people at once without Google thinking its spam).

So to simplify and explain it's continuing existence:

 This blog was here in the early days, and I like the look of it, and there are some nice / interesting things if you scroll down the archives, so I didn't want to just delete it, and it's insanely difficult to transfer everything to another blog (I did look into that), so here it remains.

Also, not long ago I made another page for  the blog which is called 'Reviews / Recommendations / Testimonials!  and these relate to my teaching specifically, so it's nice to keep everything together. I couldn't wish for better testimonials, so I'm very lucky, please have a look :-)

So, my latest news is that:

• I have a Japanese Pattern cutting short course coming up at Ravensbourne, Greenwich, London in January
• A Masterclass in making a Japanese kimono from real, authentic Japanese print fabric next April at Warwick University Arts Centre
• Classes in pattern cutting currently running at the Mill Arts Centre in my local town, Banbury, Oxfordshire
• Classes, courses and workshops currently running at my lovely home studio just outside Banbury, in Cropredy, Oxon.,

not to mention bespoke commissions for (mainly) off the wall, unconventional wedding dresses, AND.......

my latest thing, which is painting wedding dresses. This is a new venture, still in development (as they say), but I will be launching this when the time is right, quite soon, presently, in due course, (choose whichever you prefer), meaning soon, but not quite yet! (I'm having to learn quite a lot of stuff as I go, due to using an unfamiliar medium, so that slows progress, but it's improving!)

Mine probably won't look like this, but I love it nevertheless: 

and this: 

By the way, if you'd like to be added to my Mailchimp periodical email list, please go to the homepage of my website, scroll down a little, and fill in the form on the lower left hand side, thank you!

Stuff

Hi Everyone!

You may think that I haven't been doing much as my last post on here was about 3 weeks ago, but in fact the opposite is true!

I am trying to use direct emails more, and have consequently set up a Mailchimp email system. They look nicer, include your name, and are a little more 'personal' rather than a general blog like this one, that anyone can happen upon. That in itself is good of course, and I think I have gained business in this way, but once you have connected with the blog - even if you just become a follower, and read a new blog I might put up - you might prefer being on my direct contacts list. 

This means that you get a personalised email every now and again (no pestering, promise!) which is just a way of staying in touch in case you, or anyone else you know needs one or other of my services - bespoke wedding dress or other clothing design, or classes in Pattern cutting and / or sewing. 

If you would like to be included on the list, and be the first to know of any events I may be putting on - workshops here at my home studio, accessory patterns added to the range, open studio etc., then please sign up here: 

atelier@bobbiesroom.co.uk or fill in the little box on the homepage of my website: www.bobbiesroom.co.uk

Look forward to hearing from you, and in the meantime here are some photos of the outside of the studio - a fab location, I'm sure you'd agree :-)

Bobbie 

PS Apologies for the strange appearance of the text and the background 'boxes', but something strange happens when you change the text to white!

                                         

SaveSave

Is there some special relationship between nursing and pattern cutting?!

Hi Everyone, 

Let me tell you about my students....I get such a fantastic variety:

From a trained draftsman who preferred working as a factory worker so that he could have ‘stories to tell my grandchildren’, an ex-forces train driver who’s Mama was a pattern cutter for a big well known company, to a statistician, a mathematician, an audiologist, a pharmacist, ex students of mine from National Diploma and University courses, GCSE students who want extra help, designers, artists and craftspeople of all kinds who want to use their specialist skills in a garment (Saori weaving, leather workers, soft sculptors),…… and nurses.

(Is there some special relationship between nursing and pattern cutting? If so, will someone please tell me what it is?! I'm intrigued, as I've had about 5 nurses come for classes now....)

 When you have been doing certain things for a LONG time as I have,  you kind of forget how amazing it is when you first learn to do something new, and it looks good.

I showed one of my students the other day how to do a hand sewn hem - sometimes the best and quickest way, depending on the fabric, and the finish you want. She was so pleased, and really enjoyed doing it. A little thing to me, but a big discovery to someone who’s never done it before!

When its a bit gloomy, we have to resort to this - the head torch :-) :
 

 

Yesterday, a friend dropped in and was impressed with the studio, especially my industrial steam iron, describing it as 'very vintage looking'! I never see it in an objective way, as it's part of the furniture, and every fashion department I've ever worked in have these, or a variation of...it was expensive but worth every penny - no horrible 'brown water' when you're least expecting it, and potential ruination of a precious garment. These machines are made in Italy, so maybe they follow the style of the Espresso makers - kind of vintage, but solid and classic and made to take a lot of use and to last!! I like it's shiny functionality.

Here it is:

 

Let me know what you think! This steam iron lives in the 'sewing room', as opposed to the 'pattern cutting room' (the main studio where I do the fittings, and teach), in case you were wondering. 

I made said friend a linen suit once - the sturdy Japanese crumpled look - not an immaculate, smooth and perfect thing (that's not how he wanted it!), and he used to be in our band - the one I joined when I first met my husband, Jonny. He's a VERY good musician, and played us some of his lovely stuff yesterday. Is there a special relationship between music / style / art / clothing? I would say in lots of cases, yes.

Again, let me know what you think....these emails I send may look kind of 'official', but you can reply to this just as you would any other email - give it go, oh g'wan, g'wan.........
Any comments on anything I send are always gratefully received, and a bit of discussion on fashion / clothing / style / pattern making / sewing is always good!

In other news (as they say), and in other parts of my life, (I do like a bit of variety!), we will soon be going to Barcelona as my husband and I (so regal!!) play with a band who are part of the PrimaVera festival there. Current 93 play on the Saturday - it's a very short visit, sadly...but hey, I'm not complaining, and we'll make another visit to Barc as soon as possible. They're such a brilliant bunch of people, and it's a massive festival with LOADS of big names, I'm sure we'll have a great time....

If you'd like to come here to learn how to make a perfect body fitting 'block' to your own measurements, become au fait with the methods and terminology, and go on to make patterns for your own designs whatever they may be, please either reply to this email here, or contact me through the website. Have a look at the 'Classes' tab for more details, and phone / email / whatsapp me, whatever!
And if you're needing something fabulous to wear for whatever occasion - marriage, being the belle of the ball, hiking across the heather moors of Scotland or the lowlands of Oxfordshire, headlining, please contact me here. I look forward to meeting you.

Speak soon,

Bobbie 

Getting to know me - setting out my stall....

 Hi Everyone,

If you already know me, whether personally or virtually, the following may still come as a surprise….

I know it’s a cliché to say so nowadays, (you see how ‘passionate’ every haulage company is emblazoned on the side of their lorries, (!) and of course we shouldn’t forget that they are ‘logistics’ companies now…), but I am passionate about what I do, and I am the kind of person that couldn’t do what I do if I wasn’t….well, I guess I could, but it would be uninspired and therefore, not half as good!

I am a bit choosy about the jobs I take on, as I have to feel some kind of affinity with the design idea and the fabric choices. Any design for any garment, whether it’s a wedding dress or a tweed outfit ( and yes, I do both!), needs both of these elements to be right, together with the skill of the making, to produce something really impressive.
My ideal customer is someone who has a bit of an open mind to suggestions, because very often people don’t know what’s available, or even possible, when it comes to fabrics and how they can be used for a specific design.

So, here’s an example of the kind of job that doesn’t go very far with me:
A lady phoned my yesterday, describing exactly what she wanted in precise detail, and asking what kind of estimate I could give for such a dress. The only other things she asked were whether I could do it in the time available (fair enough question), and as I mentioned, how much… Put on the spot like that I’m likely to over estimate, as I used to do the opposite, and regretted it so many times. But this was an example of someone wanting something very proscribed, without knowing of any other options, and ONLY wanting to buy on price.

I got the impression that she simply couldn’t find what she wanted after popping up to the high street, and happened to see my name somewhere. That’s also fair enough, but I’m not here to produce something in a couple of weeks and say ‘there you go, that'll be £200, please!”. That’s not what I do, as I see no joy in that. No joy for the client OR me, so what’s the point? Its a bit like ‘how many cherries can I buy for 50p?’. So I suggested a couple of shops that she may not have tried, and wished her luck.
  
                                                    

******************

I do what I do partly to pay my bills of course, but there must be job satisfaction which includes some creative input, and pride in a good design with beautiful fabric. I’m not cheap, but then my skills have been in development from about the age of 10 - that’s when I made my first garment! (A square of pink polka dot cotton fabric described as a 'blouse' by my teacher :-/)

My skills development then continued through home experimentation as a teenager, a degree in Fashion and Textiles in my twenties, and then much of my own research, both in the V & A Museum's (London) library and stores, the Fashion & Textile Museum's (London)stores, Fashion Institute of Technology (New York) Museum's website, Tomoko Nakamichi's (Bunka School, Tokyo) Pattern Magic methods and my own extension and developments of those. Also the study of my own vintage pattern cutting books, my own surveys of my friends and clients, plus a huge love of designers Balenciaga, Chanel, Dior, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen….all shape changers, ‘architects’ and revolutionaries in fashion.

   
                                                   

******************



Anyway, I’ll be telling you other interesting bits of this and that concerning ‘Bobbiecorps’ (as my lovely husband calls my business!!), over the coming weeks and months… My pattern cutting students who come here to the studio for classes are a really interesting bunch too, and I’ll be telling you a little bit about them (no names mentioned of course!) and their achievements very soon.
Here’s the page on my website where you can see details of pattern cutting and fashion sewing classes and courses in my home studio.

Speak soon,
Bobbie

P.S. If the above resonates with you, and If you need something ’staggeringly, staggeringly gorgeous’ (as a hopefully future customer and admirable lady recently called my work), please stay tuned, and either reply here as if this was just an ordinary email, or please go to the contact page of my website,  or have a general look round the website and let me know if it works for you i.e. was it pleasing to look at, and could you find what you wanted easily? All feedback always welcome! There’s also a ‘Contact me’ box on the homepage, and my phone number, writ large! Thanks, and speak soon! Bobbie

Podcast stardom ;-)

Today, I was listening to a podcast by Vicky Fraser (marketing expert who's advice I am trying to use via her book , 'Business for Superheroes', and her daily emails), and whoahhhhhh, what a nice surprise I've just had!!
She had said a while ago that she would use a question I asked her as the basis for one of her podcasts / daily emails, the question being about testimonials and how to use them effectively.....
Well, she read out my question at the beginning of this weekly podcast, (not totally surprising), and then there was lots of toing and froing and discussion, (she does the podcasts with her husband), about testimonials generally, and right near the end she said some really fab things about the stuff I design and make, so thank you sooooo much Vicky!!!
And you can listen here:  http://vickyfraser.ontraport.com/…/6/z5/Qj/6qVgCW/UsOx8uIqsQ
It's all useful stuff if you're in business in any way, (and I've quickly realised that marketing is mostly psychology), but my starring part is about 2 minutes (ish - 23.28 min in fact) from the end where she mentions my work and is VERY complimentary " Staggeringly, staggeringly gorgeous" were her words. Phew!!! grin emoticon And this from someone who says that a spoken testimonial is worth a lot more than something written...thanks again Vicky Fraser.
Glad that she qualified my occupation from 'seamstress' to designer / maker at the end too....wink emoticon
Also, I do make wedding dresses from fabric other than tweed, but it was the tweed dress that has generated huge interest, and I'm very happy about that!
You can buy her book here, and I think it's damned good. So many ideas on any one page, I still haven't got to the end: http://www.businessforsuperheroes.com/inner-circle/

Please click on the link here to see testimonials of my CLASSES in pattern cutting and sewing, and for testimonials of the BESPOKE WEDDING DRESSES please go to the 'Testimonials' page (surprisingly!) of my website here: http://sewingbobbiesroom.blogspot.co.uk/p/testimonials.html

It's been pretty much full on 'marketing self education'  (with a huge dollop of Vicky Fraser help) here at Atelier (or 'Bobbiecorps', as my husband calls it), along with my current projects: a pattern cutting masterclass at Warwick University Arts Centre in 2 weeks time (24th April), and a suede wedding dress on the go as we speak...! Cannot of course reveal any whole design images, but here's a little detail pic of the bodice: 

Speak soon!

Bobbie 

BIZNIZ.......touching base :-)

Hi Everyone,

A little story from my recent past: 

I am on the mailing list of a woman who is a seemingly successful copywriter, business owner, author of a book on how to be successful in business yourself, (yeah,  Ok, Ok, we've heard that before), but who seems to be a generally OK gal...:-) She loves the English language, as I do,  swears occasionally, as I do, and is totally straightforward and practical in her approach, which I like. I can't remember exactly how I got on her mailing list - I probably saw something about 'free business advice - sign up here', which I did, as why would you refuse something for free, if it might help improve your business? I could aways unsubscribe if I got sick of the emails....

Before last September, (for how long I'm not certain) and along the way from then to February this year there were a lot of emails, but I used to habitually delete most of them - didn't want my inbox filled up with 'unimportant' stuff. And occasionally, if I had a moment, I would read them, and I kind of liked the way she wrote.  So, I just had a check back, and still in my inbox, there is an email in Sept 2015, one in Dec, 5 across January and February, then from March onwards, there have been quite a few - about 16 in fact. The reason? Because when I tried my luck at replying to one or two, I got a response, so I knew that there was actually a real person there, sitting in front of their computer typing...and I engaged with her, as she seemed more like 'my kind of person' than a lot of those business types who seem to be full of nothing but jargon. 

She is obviously selling her business in her way, and I have been learning by example, and her brilliant book (well, I think it is), which you can buy here. No, I'm not working for her, or on commission (!), but I just thought that if you, or anyone else you know is trying to do the same as me, you might want to get it. It's more than worth the £20 selling price :-) I'm genuinely  finding it really useful, as there's so many ideas in there, I haven't managed to get past chapter 4...! 

********************************

As you might know, I am on a bit of a mission to improve my business, as I need more  than simply 'hand to mouth' earnings, and who doesn't?  I am pretty sick of that, and I know that I have skills which should be better rewarded. People are always VERY complimentary about my work, (thanks folks!), and I just need more of them and / or their friends to commission me for a wedding dress of your wild imaginings, or to sign up for pattern cutting or sewing classes with me, so that you can create your own wild imaginings.....

Anyway that's my missive for the day, and though I am loathe to impose myself, I just want to remind you every now and then that I am here, and that I do very good stuff !! :-D

Bobbie 

New kid on the block!

Just a quickie....I've just added a page to my blog.....yes! It shows reviews / testimonials / recommendations. Please have a look if you have a mo. I've had so many lately, which is brilliant - some asked for, some not. Asking for a review, and hoping it'll be OK is pretty scary...but luckily, they were fabulous - I'm very lucky :-) But then I'm hoping that if they really didn't like it, they'd be polite enough not to say! So....

I'm also PART way to conquering bl...**$£!!@+><:~%..y Mailchimp, so that I can directly email people on my list and it'll come up with their name in their inbox. They seem to get you to a certain point, and then the road signs just disappear.....:-/ I've emailed 'em... I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth all the time it's taken so far.

Anyway, I AM making a determined effort to be proactive on the marketing side, and I know I AM worth it, it's just the juggling of time that's hard. But I am determined...

Here's a nice little drawing / illustration / logo for you that I found by chance :-D     Bobbie xxx

AllWoundUp.............. a new sewing / pattern cutting helpline for when you get stuck, and just need to ask a question -

Probably me when I was a kid -determined :-)

Whatever your enthusiasm re. sewing / pattern cutting / style / fashion / craft techniques, do you sometimes get stuck and spend ages trawling through youtube videos and books without much success? I know this happens to you out there, so I am trying to fill the gap between coming for classes (time or finances or distance may not allow), and just giving up altogether! 

Here's AllWoundUp - think of it as a kind of sewing help line, where you could just email, skype or phone, with your problem area, and I could give you speedy help, so that you can get on with your current project.

Of course, it’s not always easy to describe a practical problem in words, which is where Skype comes in, along with photos…​

To access this new service of mine, please email at first, with a basic description of your problem, any good quality photos, tell me the kind of fabric you are using, and details of any haberdashery that’s involved. I will then arrange either a Skype call with you, or a time for an email response, or a phone call. Details of charges below:

Remember that some seeming ‘problems’ are just down to practice - sewing a straight line for instance (!), but some problems are down to knowhow, tips and tricks - putting in a set in sleeve, shoulder pads, interfacing techniques, collars, revers, pockets and even how to place and pin / mark your pattern on the fabric. 
I can help you with all these, and I can support the advice with instructions and  illustrations that I will share afterwards, and these would be like you’d find on a commercial pattern, but better and more detailed!

Anyone from absolute total beginners to very experienced can use this service, and I aim to make our conversations informative (of course!), friendly and where possible, fun too.....

I have a LOT of experience, not only in sewing / pattern cutting / toiling / fitting / bespoke designing and making, but also in teaching (in colleges and universities) the skills of pattern cutting and production - that’s making up, for those that aren’t familiar! My CV is available on request, and a short biography can be seen on my website: www.bobbiesroom.co.uk/biography

Please email me on atelier@bobbiesroom.co.uk or text me on 07941 619992, or reply here for charges - these are to be confirmed as this is my first promo email about this, and I am currently looking at the pro and cons of different methods, from 'pay what you think it’s worth', to standard ‘so much’ per hour, to so much per item….. 

Look forward to your thoughts on this - please let me know if you think it would be good / worthwhile / something you might use.


Thank you!​

Bobbie

'BUYING FABRIC ONLINE: How do you know what you're getting, and how do you get what you want?'

A very useful Fabric Workshop is up and coming at my studio here - date to be confirmed, but late Feb probably - please state your preference re dates and I will organise accordingly.  smile emoticon
Here's the text for the ad: 

Hi Everyone,
I am a designer / maker / teacher of pattern cutting / sewing / bespoke garments, and would like to tell you about an upcoming Fabric Workshop which will be happening here in my spacious studio on the edge of Cropredy at Prescote Manor. (See the map on my contact page below for the location: www.bobbiesroom.co.uk/contact)
Cost will be around £20 for a 2 hr workshop, and you will go away with:
A LIST OF FABRIC SHOPS AND SUPPLIERS, including Harris tweed suppliers direct from the Scottish Islands, silk tweed from the suppliers who Coco Chanel first used for her jackets (yes, it was British!), Yorkshire tweed suppliers, luxurious ex designer fabric suppliers, tech and sports fabrics AND some small SWATCHES OF SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITES smile emoticon

I'm aiming to encourage creativity, enthusiasm, knowledge of course, and successful making as a result. If you know what the fabric can do, you can design and make accordingly, AND be inspired - just knowing what you can get, gives you ideas.
Please email me on atelier@bobbiesroom.co.uk, or just reply here on this post or message me, to let me know if you are interested in principle, and I will organise accordingly. Thank you!

SEE DETAILS of what will be covered below:

'If you're thinking of buying fabric online (and we do that a lot more these days for many different reasons), I’ve realised that a lot of people just don’t know what’s out there, and what they might go for in making any kind of garment, let alone what they might choose for a really special occasion - a wedding dress or outfit.
So I’m putting together a workshop where we can look at:

• HOW TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING WHEN YOU BUY ONLINE!
• Sample swatches of actual fabric: types, varieties within a type, what's suitable for what use,
properties of different fabrics, how to tell what a fabric is if it's not labelled, (you might need to
know for washing / ironing / dry cleaning / dyeing etc).
• What questions to ask the supplier when you contact them, so that both you and they are saving
time and wasted swatches being sent.
• Technical stuff - thread count / strength and resilience / types of prints / names of weaves /
construction ...and what that all means!
• Histories and background of fabric production in different areas of the UK, and the world.
Did you know for instance that Banbury (my nearest town), used to be the centre of the production of a fabric known as ‘Plush’ ?

There will be loads of beautiful fabrics for you to look at in the studio, for inspiration and information -
• Harris and Yorkshire and Irish tweeds,
• Cottons: (fine shirtings/lawn/muslin/satins/prints/woven Madras checks/denims/honeycomb
weaves, oil cloth),
• Silks of all descriptions from silk tweed to taffeta, organza, georgette and satins,
• Wools, from fine suitings to pilot cloth (used for duffle coats), to jacquards, cashmere and all in
between.
• Many different types of lace.
• Tech fabrics- vinyls and polyester microfibres, neoprene, nets and mesh for sportswear and
accessories.

Email me on atelier@bobbiesroom.co.uk, or comment here, or message me for confirmed dates and all other details you might need smile emoticon

Thanks!
Bobbie


• 
  How to find Atelier
• 
  How to find Atelier
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  See more at BOBBIESROOM.CO.UK

For all FABRIC freaks: Fabric and style, and a vintage wedding dress design discovered in an attic!

A wedding dress design drawing dating from 1937 was discovered in a woman's attic, and we will use it to base her own upcoming wedding design upon :-) Beautiful, drapey, silk satin / georgette / lace will be the fabrics, and a real 30's vibe - no huge petticoats here!

                                            

                                            

Woven stripe silk taffeta

ALSO: I'm thinking of doing a workshop about fabrics, as it's been suggested to me more than once... 

I’ve realised that a lot of people just don’t know what’s out there in terms of fabric, and what they might like for making any kind of garment, let alone what they might choose for a wedding dress. 

‘Fings ain’t wot they used to be’, regarding your Mum being at home and making clothes, as times have changed, and most women work now, like it or not. When you’re a kid, you pick things up without even realising it, and I didn’t realise how much I learned just being around my Mum who was making clothes for me and herself, and going into the fabric shop with her. 

I, and several of my students for pattern cutting and sewing agree that it’s the fabric that makes a thing, and of course that pleases me a lot!

So……I thought I could pass on a bit of what I know and maybe encourage creativity, enthusiasm and successful making as a result. Personally, it’s always the fabric that tells me what and how to design and make. If you know what the fabric can do, you can design and make accordingly. :-) 

I’m going to put together a workshop where we can look at:

• Sample swatches, types, varieties within a type, what's suitable for what use, properties of different fabrics, how to tell what a fabric is if it's not labelled, (you might need to know for washing / ironing / dry cleaning / dyeing etc), and, very important:
• How to know what you are getting if you buy online.
• Technical stuff - thread count / strength and resilience / types of prints / names of weaves / construction ...
• Histories and background of fabric production in different areas of the UK, and the world. 

Did you know for instance that Banbury (my nearest town), used to be the centre of the production of a fabric known as ‘Plush’ ?!

There will be loads of beautiful fabrics for you to look at in the studio, for inspiration and information.

Please email me here if you’d like to be included on my updates. Just put ‘Fabric workshop’ in to subject line, and I’ll let you know dates. First or second week of Feb looks promising, but please email me if you have any preferred days / times. There's no obligation, of course, just would like to let you know :-)

It'll be here in my spacious studio on the edge of Cropredy on the second floor of Prescote Manor. Cost will be around £25, and you will go away with a list of fabric shops,and suppliers including Harris tweed suppliers direct from the Scottish Islands, silk tweed from the suppliers who Coco Chanel first used for her jackets (yes, it was British!), Yorkshire tweed suppliers, luxurious ex designer fabric suppliers, tech and sports fabrics AND some small swatches of some of your favourites. 

Any other comments always VERY welcome - I love to know what you think :-D Email me on atelier@bobbiesroom.co.uk

Bobbie