Madagascar: Carnet de Voyage

I saw this animated short film at IFC Center New York City.  It was in "2011 Academy Award Nominated Animated Short Film" event. Even though this film didn't win the Oscars, it is my favorite.  It gives you such as sincere feeling of the diary voyage.  The artwork is so beautiful and comes in many different medium. It is so uniquely creative. See it yourself.


IFC Center Showtime


MADAGASCAR, CARNET DE VOYAGE – This film is a journey diary that redraws the trip of a European traveller confronted with Famadihana customs. As pages of a diary turn, colorful pencil sketches come to life, revealing the majestic rolling landscapes of Madagascar, and acquainting the audience to the people of the Malagasy culture. (French, 15 min., Director: Bastien Dubois)

ALL THE BUILDINGS IN NEW YORK - James Gulliver Hancock

I love this awesome graphic illustrator "James Gulliver Hancock" !!
His drawing is so uniquely amazing.  Very childlike, whimsical, dark, sophisticated and fun at the same time.  He drew some iconic things of each city such as "all the rain in London", "all the bicycles in Berlin"  and here "all the buildings in New York"

Last heard, he attempts to draw all the buildings in New York. LOL awesome man!

  Check out his blog here  http://www.allthebuildingsinnewyork.blogspot.com/

 I find it very inspiring and fun to look at.  He is a husband of my favorite singer/songer writer Lenka.  He produces artwork for Lenka's albums too.  More of his artwork please check out at his official website  James Gulliver Hancock

Vintage Notions: A book that inspires:

This week, I was strolling around Barnes and Noble bookstore to find some book that would inspire me.  I found this beautiful book, Vintage Notions: an inspirational guide to needlework, cooking, sewing, fashion and fun.  It is filled with inspiring projects from the past.  The book refers to women interests in 1920s-1930s circa.

It has a lot of wonderful ideas, tricks and thoughts through out the book seasonally.  From January through December, there are projects, plans, manners, recipes, how to take care of things... do it the lady's ways...

It makes me feel so feminine :)

I could make some simples dresses, aprons, and home docor items with this vintage inspired book.

Mini dress form

I decided to get a mini dress form for my design development uses.  It is a half size dress form (size 6) from  PGM Pro.  I shopped around from stores in Garment District who offered $150 for one dress form.  I finally found it from PGM company eBay store for $116 plus you get some extra patternmaking kit and free shipping and no tax (except CA).

So today I started basic draping to get a basic bodice, torso, and skirt slopers for future design development.   It is harder than I thought it should be to drape this half size.  Keep in mind, this is a half size but it "feels" smaller actual half size.

The advantages of using half size is that you save materials, space and time.  It is quicker to help you visualize your design in muslin or real fabric.  The proportion is very realistic.  Great for design development process.  The disadvantage is that you won't be able to fit on a person.  You will need to enlarge it later. You will have some trouble using normal size trims such as buttons.

 I love the dress form.  After all it is like having a new doll... very useful, professional one :)

When You Grow Up

Last month, there was an album cover design contest "When You Grow Up" by the singer/song writer Priscilla Ahn. She is Korean/American. I love her music so much. So I thought I should design the album cover for her just for fun, why not... :) It was quite a challenge to come up with the design. It could be anything involving your childhood memory, love and fantasy.  So here is what I did:

The girl is Priscilla Ahn.  I got the inspiration image from her Youtube video when she was having her longhair cut short.  This reminded me of the hair style I had when I was young.  Most girls I know had this hair style. It was a very moving and lovely video.  The prince is crowning Priscilla, she is about to become a princess.  I'm sure all girls wanted to be a princess.... But when you grow up, looking back to your childhood time was something fun and sad at the same time.  You did not know what you were about to become.  You had dreams, fantasy and private treasures.  Those things sometimes are forgotten by your present lifestyle.  It is good to bring them back from time to time, the same child inside you. Here is a lovely song "When You Grow Up" which is due in May 2011.

I did not win the contest but having seen all the entries was such a treat! If you are interested in this sort of creative contests, you should definitely check this out.  http://www.creativeallies.com/

Welcome you and myself to my new workshop

Hey everyone...

So.. ummm this is my first ever blog! What I wanted to do is to keep posted my creative and fun projects here.  I'm an independent fashion designer.  I live in New York City but will be moving back to my home country Thailand soon.  I will have my own boutique there one day.

"Atelier Citronnade" or so call it "Lemonade Workshop" is pretty much part of my scrapbook of who I am and what I love. So this will be a kind of place that I'm figuring out what my boutique will be like in the future.

Stop by anytime... I'll try to post new stuffs as often as I can. Feel free to leave comments and questions.

Nhoo