Mask Making Class with Tutu.com

Aluniţă is her name :)

Here is the doll i made my niece for Christmas. Her name is pronounced (aluneetza), she's Romanian.

On one side a lovely pink princess, and the other a mysterious Victorian lady who has had one to many drinks. I owe a huge thanks also to my buddies Lavinia, Mio, Alejcia and my mother.

The doll is nearly the size of my 4 yr old niece, but she started out at only six and a half inches tall. The pic below is her early beginnings in clay and latex.

Once the pattern was created the body was stitched in a cotton sateen. Then i flat patterned the bodices, sleeves and skirts. With her clothes underway she took a trip to wigs and make up. Alejcia styled her duel hair dos, and my friend Mio painted the eyes and mouths.

Both of her dresses are made the same as real theatrical costumes, the only thing missing is the closures. The Victorian dress includes smocking , ruching, and even millinery. This project was a blast, i've already been doodling some other 2 sided dollies!

Coppelia Doll is DONE !!!

This is the "satin" doll i designed for this year IBC fashion show in Jackson Mississippi.... Very pleased with how it turned out. Way cuter than my usual taste, but was a blast to create.

Coppelia takes a dip - Ukraine style.

I'm gearing up for a summer of TUTU ! This is a coppelia design i did modeled after Ukrainian Eggs. I'm building it for several functions i'm involved with this summer :) I hope it reminds you all that SPRING will come :) My plan is to create a bodice, and top plate that has the sheen and texture of a dyed Easter egg. Of course there are none prettier than those done in the Ukrainian style, with layers of color and very detailed patterns. On top of my "shell" i will be layering multiple hand embroidery techniques, ribbon flowers, trapunto, and beading to give this doll a very folksy charm. I'm really looking forward to this one :)

Cinderella sneaks into the New York Times.

This lovely tutu was the creation of Myself, Marianne Marks, and Lavinia Morozan of the Joffrey Ballet Costume Studio. It was a fantastic "Design by Committee." With some twill scraps taking up space under my cutting table, gold beads, crystals, various sequins, trims, and some lace Lavinia found at discount fabric warehouse we created this wedding tutu for Cinderella in only 2 days. It was a fantastic surprise for the three of us to see our efforts in the New York Times. Working on this fairy tale production has been a blast, and designing for the leading lady Victoria Jiani was an honor.

FACEBOOK sightings !

Ok :) sometimes it's real work to get photos of the costumes i have designed .... But with a little hunting on facebook i found 2 from this season.. below are Aran Bell as Solar in La Bayadere, and Melody Herrera as a Sugar Plum Fairy.

By the Bay with the Beattles.

Below are a couple designs for the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago's school of dance. The first design is for the solo piece Baroque Beatles. It's inspired by Sgt. Peppers Band and will be a collage of different musical instruments, marching costumes, and Beatles imagery. The bottom design is for a piece called Bay Breeze, and there will be 16 girls in this. I will custom design the fabrics for each work. I will put photos up of the construction, and finished product.