Matryoshka Tutus by Pamela Martin

Fri-yay! It rained yesterday afternoon so I could sneak back inside for a bit of sewing. I’m trialing my new bodice with added straps. I used making this to teach a small group how to move that strap from the edge of the shoulder to more mid-clavicle which allows full range motion of that joint. I’m thrilled with this and am excited to get the back done and get that bronze piping added. I just used an already made chemise to see how I would like this bodice with one added (I do!) so will go ahead adding the mock lacing up the front and soft little voile stripe sleeves. I love stripes and florals and yes pattern matching

I started work on the strap version of my 19th century inspired bodice. I did have to do some alterations of strap placement and a little tweak of the back but am fairly pleased thus far. I like to pin my pattern pieces as I finish them in the form so it acts as inspiration as I continue. Roll pinning, flat lining and serging over and over can get a bit old when you are super excited to get to constructing it and adding the fun embellishments. I’m keen on the stripe voile... I will use for sleeves and centre front. So many things I want to try and just so little time - story of my life

Nice memory from 2019 from Tess’s Ig post. I am happy I also kept photo snippets of her costume build too. This is one of my favourite costumes to make. I have been wondering what variation to try my new strap bodice pattern on and this popping up on IG made that decision easier. Super excited to have a ready to wear Esmeralda available for the fall using my pattern exclusive to Matryoshka Tutu clients only. Now I know I have a fabulous burnt orange scarf around somewhere - you know in the very safe place - so safe I can’t find it What is everyone up to this week?

Sweet Kera as Giselle . I didn’t get a chance to see many of my dancers this season but so love Yagp has been great at posting them on their page. This was a lovely project creating this for Kera using a design her mum requested. While it was inspired by my Prix Giselle, they were very keen on ombré. I enjoyed using a few different type dyes and colour blues to achieve the variegated ombré. I also pushed to have a full skirt as I don’t like wishy-washy skirts that look ...like there was a tulle shortage While I won’t be offering ombré in the future, this was a nice way to finish this fad for me. Heading to more historical based work and ombré is not HA This week is a quiet one getting some leos done and finalizing a strap version of my little bodice. It’s fun to have a few minutes here and there to play between clay and garden and puppy!!!

Happy I am ahead of all my work projects so I could just play yesterday! This little shot silk pretty shows off my new pattern quite well. I love the soft curve reminiscent of mid 19th ball gowns which is one of my favourite clothing periods. I used my child’s small chemise but added this little flounce to keep to the off the shoulder look of that period. I love off the shoulder. It is more sophisticated than a full sleeve and really accentuates the neck. Happy this sho...uld be on a dancer during photos next weekend then the actual costume will be up for sale. The pattern itself will go up for sale as well but now taking time to create instructions which will include fitting, lengthen/shorten the back length, sewing tips and, as always, a lot of photos for those that are like me - visual learners. And check in tomorrow when a how-to to recreate this chemise will be shared because I really do think there never can be enough sharing and lovely things in a world that is not always so

Well I tossed that pattern yesterday. Yup chucked it right into the fire. My hubby thought I was crazy but then I explained derivative copyright and grabbed my patterning paper. By drafting this bodice, this allows me to sell the pattern without worrying about infringing on copyright - something that I’m not going to get into a huge discussion over except it should be taken seriously Luckily I was able to save some of the fabric I had started with the old kids remake and ...use it for my new one. I did get a sketch of what I’m making and today will make up the new pattern and using my girls chemise pattern with an added flounce. Hopefully the bodice will be done for the weekend but I am getting distracted by bee tiles

Taking an old kids pattern and cleaning it up to make a more modern silhouette. I happened to have a dancer over yesterday who was picking up her pretties and tried this on. A little tweak around the side front then she just walked into it. Today I have a few minutes to play before back to work so now cutting this all up, truing up some lines then recreating it out of fashion and lining. I think what I like most about this line is it reminds me of mid 19th century gowns (...maybe I was watching a period drama when remaking this....). I also like it offers girls some shape as so many of my dancers are younger teens who are very petite but do not want that box bodice look that suits pixie sized dancers. It is a more mature line that I think will be lovely for girls that are moving from kiddos to young women. Now to decide on variation to make this for...I’m thinking Graduation Ball (Pigtail Girl so pink!). I have this sleeve that wont leave my head I’d love to try! And delicious pink underskirts with a top layer of white english tulle. Beautiful shot pink silk bodice. But then I have Swanilda in my head and Lise and and and... I may just make it for the sake of making it and bring out stripes. The local shop was selling silk for pennies so of course I had to buy some! It would go perfectly with my smokey aqua silk off cuts. Ughhh...too many choices! I’m going to yoga and will try not to sew in my head during class. Who has fun things in their design brain that just wont leave them alone? ***edit - as assumed, find the lace and the design comes together ***

#tututuesday with Lina and Evanysphotography This is one of a few lilac fairies I made this season and I have one more to go. For someone that isn’t keen on purple, every request for a lilac fairy had me think twice about taking it. This season I had to get to the bottom of why I don’t like purple and there is no reason. Rather like how I don’t like mushrooms or cheese. It is what it is. While I’m not going to force myself to eat cheese, I’m also not going to force myself to make something I don’t want to make. But then I realized wait - I like cheese on pizza but only a bit. Maybe I like purple but only a bit. Enter lilac. I like lilac Are there any colours you don’t love to work with?

Snow As you can see in one of the photos, this vile stuff is still here. Happily it’s raining so hopefully it’s gone by tomorrow. All of the weekend’s picks up were cancelled due to road conditions so we are trying again this week While I enjoyed snow, pottery and family time this weekend, I decided to tackle adding a set in sleeve strap to the back of my bodice pattern. I struggle with the back too wide which gapes during back flexion or straps crossing the deltoid w...hich I have anxiety over slipping off. Unsure if this is the magic bullet but we’ll soon find out during fittings Thursday as a toile for the actually dancer arrives Toronto then. It’s a holiday here - family day We enjoyed snow time yesterday so today it’s a work day but mid day vinyasa for a change. Nice to begin the week a little slower