Edith Head : Costume Designer Extraordinaire

You must have heard of her , if not then you would certainly have seen some of her marvelous creations.
She was born in 1897 and sadly left our presence in 1981.
She won 8 Academy Awards for Costume design and was actually nominated for 35 of them.
Never really having any formal training in art she was a teacher and offered to teach Art at Hollywood School for Girls and took night classes at Chouinard Art College where she met her first husband. She took a job at Paramount as a costume sketch artist in 1924 and started designing for silent movies. She divorced her husband in 1936 after a long separation and met her second husband and married him in 1944.
She worked at Paramount for 44 years and moved to Universal Pictures on March 27, 1967.

She designed beautiful clothing for some of America's most beautiful and famous leading ladies. My absolute favorite would be Grace Kelly. Never has there ever been another woman with her style.

 Grace Kelly above a sheer gown she wore in Rear Window with Jimmy Stewart

Great movie, great fashion. 1954.

Grace Kelly "To Catch a Thief" 1955 with Cary Grant 

Another one of my favorite actresses so full of style and charm and beauty was Audrey Hepburn and here is the beautiful gown she wore in "Sabrina" 1954 with Humphrey Bogart and William Holden.





Below we find the dress that Elizabeth Taylor wore in "A Place in the Sun" 1951 with Montgomery Clift.

The bustline was covered with fabric daisies and this style was what all the girls wanted for prom that year.

Look how stunning she is in this dress.

I love the suit below that Edith Head made for Lucille Ball in "The Facts of Life" with Bob Hope in 1960

Edith's illustrations are fabulous.

Below we have a very sombre looking Bette Davis in 1950's "All About Eve" she starred with George Sanders one of my favorite actors.

She did the costume design for Olivia Dehavilland in "The Heiress" (below).  Olivia won best actress that year for her portrayal of Catherine Sloper a painfully shy girl whose emotionally detached father doesn't hold back his disappointment in her.

And here she is "Edith Head" a very talented woman who paved the way for women costume designers in Hollywood.



Don't forget the Giveaway at Giveaway Blogdom....

Just a reminder to all of you to head on over to Giveaway Blogdom and enter the giveaway for my handmade clutch if you haven't already. Contest ends Tuesday night at 11:59pm and is open Worldwide! Just read through the contest entry rules and enter as often as you can.

Here is the clutch again!!

Hope you win!

Versatile Blogger and My bouquet of Flowers

The other day I rec'd a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my dearest friend because I have been sick for over 2 weeks. Wanted to share them with you plus the fact that I was given the Versatile Blogger award by Paige of Final Clothes out  ...Thanks Paige!
So I am supposed tell you 7 random facts about myself.



I have worked at the same company for 32 years (Publishing).

I love the smell of wet  pavement after it rains, I know it's weird.....lol.

I went back to school when I was 46 for Interior Decorating.

I have been sewing since I was six years old ( I would sit on my mom's knee) and I still use her old sewing machine that is an old Singer and it survived Hurricane Hazel in the 50's.

I have been married for 24 years and still live in the first house we bought 20 years ago ( something about not liking change...I sense a pattern here).

I have 3 cats all females 2 of which hate each other and we have to keep them separated at all times.

I absolutely hate to wash dishes , I would rather do anything else, anything!!

Now I need to give the award to 2 other bloggers.....

I would like to award New End Studio and T and C Bakery for all the wonderfullness I get to read on your blogs all the time.

And finally here are my flowers that cheered me up immensely...Thanks Liza (Lum)

Eiffel Towers?

Hi all, I hope you are having a wonderful day.. I am still not feeling that great (hence the lack of posts) but a few percentage points better every day. I would not wish this on anyone...Yes!! not even my worst enemy, although I hate to think I even have one...hmmm food for thought..!
I just wanted to post the cutest little Eiffel Towers that my daughter made for one of her classes. I am sure I have mentioned before that she is at University getting her Bachelor of Fine Arts, don't ask what class these were for, maybe something to do with form and function...anyway here they are.

All carefully made from cardboard

Something I Learned in School about Colour

I must apologize for no posts this week , I have been terribly sick and just starting to feel a little more normal the last two days.
A few years ago when I was taking courses for Interior Decorating at College (my daughter was in high school at the time and would laugh every time she told her friends her mom was in College) one of the courses I enjoyed very much and learned quite a bit from was Colour Theory. One of the most important things I learned to identify was "undertones". Undertones are just that, the tones underneath the colour that you see.

I will give you an example:



                                 Yellow Based Neutrals

                        
                            

                                 Red Based Neutrals


Visually you can see the differences right away. But take it to another level. Imagine you have a yellow based neutral on your floor. You have a beige carpet that has yellow undertones or a wood floor with yellow undertones, a beautiful honey oak. What do you think would happen if you put a neutral beige on the walls with a red undertone? Well, I will tell you. The walls would look pinker and the floor would look yellower causing a clash.
Many people mistake grey for green if there's a green undertone, or plum if the undertone is purple. To determine the undertone in a grey paint you are considering, compare it to a "true" grey paint chip, which has no colour. A true grey paint chip would be a combination of black and white.


     Say this is the beige you choose. In order to get a better idea loo at the next picture.
Sample number 2 is more yellow and number 3 has a bit of a green undertone. I hope you can see it. Sometimes its hard to see the colour on a computer screen.



These are all beiges but you can see they have differences when compared.

Check out these beautiful neutral rooms.

 

 

Any of these neutral rooms can have a punch of colour added at any time.

Japan

                                                  http://www.forjapanwithlove.com/

3 Wonderful Artisans from Etsy !

I can't believe the number of talented people out there. When I look around these blogs, Etsy, Artfire and more I am so smitten with peoples craftsmanship, imagination and determination. The internet has allowed all of us to bring our craft to a huge audience. Millions and millions of people have the ability to see into our homes , into our studios and really get to know us and what it is that we are so passionate about. Consumers have a choice to make. They can buy mass market products that everyone has or they can buy from Artists beautiful items, often one of a kind and help an artist in their journey to be seen. Here are three Etsy sellers and artisans that I particularily love the work of.
I would like to make this a regular post maybe once a month on my blog so I can showcase some of their talents.

First up we have Ox Original Art Jewelry

http://www.etsy.com/shop/OxOriginalArtJewelry

She handcrafts original enamel and fine silver jewelry with emphasis on unique design and color. Earrings, necklaces and bracelets are created with kiln fired enamels, fine silver, bronze and copper.
Her colours are brilliant and designs devine.

Here is what she says about herself.

For years I labored at my easel to capture the essence of our arid environment in paint. From the moment I fashioned my first piece of art using wire and beads - a simple bookmark - I knew that my artistic hunger had found a new dimension. Using precious materials I would be able to offer my artistic expressions to others in ways that painters could not. Making the common uncommon; creating the unusual from the usual. This is my artform.


Not to mention that when you order from her each order is sent in a gift box tied with beautiful gold and burgundy ribbon.

Visit her blog as well http://www.artsyplace.blogspot.com/

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Next we have Lady Q's Designs (Cuffs, Handbags and Whatnots...)

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/kimiq

She creates handmade cuffs and purses from odds and ends that nobody else needs and she gives it new life in a original piece that she likes to call "Arm Adornment". Her creation's sometimes start out with a vintage or antique piece of cloth or lace and finish with antique "jewels" and brooches. The prices vary relative to the cost of the fabrics and brooches she purchases. She finds most of her goods at estate sales and sometimes buys new and buys quality product. She sells cuffs, purses, pillows and more.
She donates a portion of each purchase to a local woman's shelter.

Here is what she says.

I hope you enjoy the fun and original cuffs and handbags I'm creating and selling. The what nots in my name would be anything else I'm inspired to create. I like to find pieces of fabric that might be neglected as too old and then bringing them back to "Life". Sometimes I use mink or chinchilla and then add a flash from the past in the way of antique brooches or pearls... at times all on the same piece. I love to create art that is timeless and can be passed on for generations to come. I sew 90 percent of my work by hand (Thank you Lord for the thimble) and each piece is original. Very few of my cuffs or purses can be duplicated so you are really purchasing a one-of-a-kind jewel for your arm. I use only vintage fur collars, nothing farmed.

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Last but certainly not least we have Everybody Else.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/EverybodyElse

Everybody Else sells her original artwork.

Her bright, whimsical illustrations are available as prints, cards and ACEOs (Art Cards, Editions & Orginals)

She says this.

By day I'm a 27 year old graphic designer and illustrator for a tiny publishing company in the heart of Amish-land.

By night I'm a coffee addicted illustrator, drawing the stories I see in my head and printing them on kromekote for your enjoyment.

You can also check out her blog at

http://www.everybodyillustrated.blogspot.com/



Thanks for tuning in go and check out these lovely ladies on Etsy.

Featured and a Giveway on "Giveaway Blogdom"

Happy Sunday to everyone. I feel very lucky today to have been interviewed and featured with a giveaway of the above party clutch/pouch, one of my own creations. Try to win!!

Check out the link here http://giveawayblogdom.blogspot.com/2011/03/meet-etsy-owner-dressedtothe9s-and.html

I would like to thank Brandy over at Giveaway Blogdom for all her hard work.

Thanks Brandy.

Connie

Dressed to the Nines

Dressed to the Nines by comisam featuring peep toe heels
A soft feminine collection.

If you haven't visited Polyvore.com you should. If you love collage, fashion, design, colour then check it out. When I feel like I am at a dead end with my creativity I just go there and look around.

Tutorial: Baby's Flyaway Jacket

I bought a book a few weeks ago, I posted about it, it was called "One Yard Wonders" http://dressedtothe9sconnie.blogspot.com/2011/02/add-another-book-to-collection.html


Great book full of patterns and lots of inspiration. There was this little pattern for a baby's "Flyaway Jacket". The jacket is not fitted and would be beautiful over a little outfit of similar colours add a bonnet and you're all set.

My idea was to used some of my many decorators fabric books and create a selection of like fabrics that compliment each other.

I found some beautiful fabrics that looked lovely together and tore the fabric book apart , washed the pieces and pressed them. I took the four pieces and sewed them together.

Seams pressed I folded the fabric in half and laid the pattern piece on top of it and pinned it down.
This pattern piece as you can see gets put on the fold at one part and not on a fold at the other end.
Cut fabric along lines of pattern piece.

Do the same for a piece of flannel. I pre-washed the flanned to allow shrinkage and I thought the crisp white would make a nice contrast.

Pin pieces together and sew leaving opening along bottom of back about 5 inches.

After trimming and clipping seams turn right side out a press very well.  Turn seams in on opening at back and close up the 5 inch opening.

I sewed up the sides and sleeves on the outside and left a small opening about a 1/2 to 1 inch at both ends, I just thought it looked nice.
Add a decorative ribbon and a snap and you are all finished.

Fairly easy right?

This pattern said that it fits a newborn but I have to say it is probably more like 2-6 months depending on the size of the baby.
It was fun to make and will make some more for my Etsy shop, I already have 2 more in the works.

Hope you enjoyed that.