Fashionary

Hello strangers....how are you? So, it's been a fair while since I last posted. I've been trying to keep myself busy over the past few weeks, after splitting with my boyfriend. I won't go into details, but precious time has been spent with friends and family and lots of alcohol! I didn't realise quite how long it had been since my last post, but don't worry, The Starling is back ;)

Some good news - I found out I have sold my Samurai dress, on NJAL. The money I make from this dress is going to go towards my 'buy-me-a-K+L-mannequin' fund! I'm so excited...this means I'm going back to the sewing machine after a (too) long break. More designs and experimentation's coming your way soon, and who knows I may sell a few!

Whilst doing some 'research' at work today I came across the most brilliant idea on weheart. Something like this will genuinely benefit my day-to-day work and now I know about it, it seems like such an obvious invention (why didn't I think of this?). What am I talking about? Fashionary - the world's first fashion sketchbook, tailor made for designers!

Fashion/Graphic designer Peter Yip came up with this brilliantly unique idea after drawing out of proportion figures. There are barley visible figure templates on each page, allowing designers and students to draw quickly and easily whilst on the move. Like a moleskin, there are also amazing reference tools like body measurements, basic pattern samples, spec sheets, measurements tools and textile information.

You can buy them online here...and I'm buying mine right now...maybe 2...maybe 10!

FACEHUNTER: the book

I know, I know, another book - my addiction is getting out of control - I may need to seek professional help soon! Usually I go for large, coffee table tomes but the latest addition to me ever-growing fashion library is a perfectly man-bag sized gem from blogging royalty - Face Hunter. The Sartorialist had a book, and now does the Face Hunter...but if I had only enough space for one on my bowing bookcase, I'd have to opt for Yvan Rodic's sharp observations of innovative personal style;

'Face Hunter travels the globe in search of the most inventive, colourful, freaky, imaginative, gifted, graceful, exquisite, fascinating, unpredictable, gorgeous, refined, delicate, divine, facehuntable, fantabulous, bewitching, edgy, ravishing, chic, winning, alluring, wild, glamorous, voluptuous, radiant and classy.'

'I'm not a social scientist or a journalist...My pictures are not meant to document reality; they are meant to tell you short stories.' FaceHunter

I didn't even realise this image was from Face Hunter until I saw it in the book - one of my favourite images of both Roisin Murphy and this iconic Pugh dress (certainly looks better than when Beyonce tried to Pull-off-a-Pugh!).

Sonny Groo looking fierce as usual, contrasting against this luxurious tangerine drapery illustrate both extremes of my taste radar. Simply delicious.

This is my favourite shot. Or is it my favourite outfit? Or is the boy just cute? Who knows, but I love that freekin' jacket!

To launch his book Yvan Rodic (aka FaceHunter) is holding a book signing at Foyles, Charing Cross Road on 12th March, at 5pm. BE THERE.

Animal Markings

OK, I admit - I am addicted to books. I was out Christmas shopping again the other evening and I couldn't stop myself buying a further two books. But....these are the best coffee table books on the planet! Life in the Wild features an array of crystal clear, colourful and truly inspirational images from the wonders of the animal kingdom. Animal markings will continue to inspire and amaze me with the true beauty and variety of possibilities.

The Illustrated Body

I can't go shopping for presents without buying something for myself. I'm kinda selfish like that, but hey we all deserve the odd treat right? Anyways, I went Christmas shopping the other day and wandered into the sadly closing Borders, and came out with a half price book on the illustrated history of Human Anatomy. It is AMAzing. It's curiously gruesome, and I can't stop flicking through...kind of like when you drive past a car crash on the motorway and you know you shouldn't look, but you just can't stop looking! Anywho, I am fascinated by all the beautiful drawings of the inner-most workings of the human body.

Pattern Magic: my experiments

The Pattern Magic book arrived last week, and I took some time out this weekend to explore some ideas within it. I created these wonderful concertinaed semi-circle shapes, which I then pinned on the stand to experiment with how they would look on the body.

At the moment they are very 'avante-garde' - I still need to play around and figure out how I could translate these ideas into wearable forms. I'm not even really sure I want to, as they look so beautiful as they are, but it is definitely worth it if I want to create a sell-able garment which incorporates these aquatic forms.

What do you think? I'm thinking maybe on a smaller scale, in some kind of print. I really like they way they bend around the waist and hips, so perhaps they would work on a skirt, or some kind of body-con dress.

Pattern Magic: the book

I've been a bit naughty and ordered myself TWO new books, even though I am practically penniless at the moment. I could not help myself, and I am in no doubt that you will agree with me. They are volume 1 and volume 2 of 'Pattern Magic', a Japanese pattern cutting book. It talks you through different techniques and methods of creating the most beautiful shapes within clothing.

There is a Flickr group with the same title, and below are some images from the talented people who have already tried and tested this book. I'll be posting my attempts when it arrives, but until then, feast your eyes...

(source)