J. R. Ramirez

Chanta Patton and James Phillips

During Week 2, we shot scenes with the fabulous Adrienne Bailon of The Cheetah Girls! She is much tinier than she looks on tv and in print. It was like dressing a doll!

Terrell Suggs and my FANTASTIC assistant Natalia.

A few cast members and the crew!

Getting her zipped after her microphone pack was put on.

Always on the go!

The HILARIOUS Jackée Harry!

The handsome Eddie Goines!

The beautiful and talented Nadine Ellis!

The drop dead gorgeous Denyce Lawton!

Eddie and Denyce.

The fabulous Nicole Garza and the handsome Sant'e Andrews!

The gorgeous Ingrid Clay!

We've been shooting at some of the most STUNNING locations around the Phoenix area. My favorite so far has been The Sanctuary Spa on Camelback Mountain. It was divine!

My posting for the next month will be pretty limited. I'll be in "The Valley of the Sun" on the set working on a new film from Team Sizzle Films - "The Coalition" as wardrobe supervisor until June 14th. I'm so excited! This is an amazing opportunity and a fabulous learning experience! The cast is beautiful and hopefully the wardrobe will do their characters justice!

Wish me well!

OR will be probably making in the near future! Yes, I'm jumping aboard the Vogue 1250 bandwagon. The cowl neck bug has bitten me as well.

• "Couture Sewing Techniques, Revised & Updated"
• 
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Taunton Press; Second Edition edition (May 24, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600853358
• ISBN-13: 978-1600853357

Description:

The world of haute couture is a place where only a privileged few can ever hope to reside, right? Wrong. Fashion historian Claire B. Shaeffer opened the door to this exclusive realm in her authoritative guide to the techniques that define couture sewing. And now, the industry bible, Couture Sewing Techniques, has been revised and updated throughout — with new photos and a chapter on specialty fabrics. No one can unravel couture garment construction the way Schaeffer can, from the art of hand sewing to mastering edge finishes, from classic closures to shaping a garment for a perfect fit. Readers learn all the basics — and more importantly: how to apply the techniques — on skirts and sleeves, pockets and jackets, evening gowns, and more. Gorgeous photos, clear illustrations, and concise language combine to make this the most complete couture-sewing course available.

I thought about doing a comprehensive "review" of this book. But I don't think that's necessary. We ALL know that Claire B. Shaeffer's original "Couture Sewing Techniques" book is the go to source for REAL couture sewing! Not neat RTW finishing effects, but actual couture! So this book has just been re-vamp and it is a MUST HAVE for those of us that like to keep our sewing game "stepped up".

This book is divided into two parts:

Part One - "The Basics of Couture Sewing"

• Chapter 1 - Inside the World of Haute Couture
• Chapter 2 - The Art of Hand Sewing
• Chapter 3 - Shaping the Garment
• Chapter 4 - Edge Finishes
• Chapter 5 - Closures

Part Two - "Applying Couture Techniques"

• Chapter 6 - Skirts & Pants
• Chapter 7 - Blouses & Dresses
• Chapter 8 - Sleeves
• Chapter 9 - Pockets
• Chapter 10 - Jackets & Coats
• Chapter 11 - Designing with Fabric
• Chapter 12 - Special Occasions

I also purchased her DVD:

I think Princess Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's dress was absolutely RESPLENDENT! It was simple, elegant and will look absolutely timeless in photographs for years to come. Her dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. It has a sweetheart corseted bodice with a French Chantilly lace overlay and a full skirt. The dress is made from ivory and white satin gazar with a train measuring 2 meters and 70 centimeters. LOVELY!

The dress was obviously inspired by Princess of Monaco - Grace Kelly's iconic gown.

And you too can have one! Here is a great starting point - Vogue 2979!

What did you think of the her dress?

What did you think of the maid of honor, her sister Pippa wearing a white/ivory dress? I don't think this would happen often in the USA.

Pattern alterations or any design changes you made? Not a lot. I lengthened it by only an inch and like I said previously, I had to do some nipping and tucking. Also, I tacked the shoulder strap down to the bodice. IMO, having it all act as one-piece keeps everything in place. And trust, I wore this top to a park and played with the family and it stayed in place.

Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I wouldn't sew this view, but I may sew one of the others. And I do recommend it!

I'm asked quite OFTEN about "what I'm wearing underneath" garments I make. So I thought I do a post to discuss my favorite underpinnings. As we know, the WRONG undergarments can ruin the look of an outfit -- no matter how well it's sewn or how much you paid for it. And looking "lumpy and bumpy" is just not how I want to present myself to the world. I'm a firm believer in investing "good" money in well-fitting undergarments. Here are some of my favorites:

So, it seems the "hot" discussion in the sewing streets seem to be "Jumpsuits: Yea or Nay"? This is my 3rd one I've made in the last year! So it's no guessing on my stance.