Getting Ready for the Gala

Gus, Lucian, and Bryce, are deep in sartorial conversation, checking out the materials for their gala ensembles. 😄 I’m so excited for the #glamdollgala2023 this Saturday!! I can’t wait to see everyone’s awesome photos! 😃🎉✨

 

 

Moving Forward in a new Direction

News from the studio: It was not an easy decision, but I am officially closing the bespoke side of Tiny Apparel. I started making bespoke miniature menswear in 2019, but now my life has become much more busy. To minimize stress, I need to streamline the Tiny Apparel business to one main focus instead of juggling two. I look forward to continuing to expand the TA sewing pattern collection with new designs, and I will, of course, continue to share photos of what I create, here on IG. 📸😊

It’s been an amazing 4 years, of taking people’s miniature design ideas from concept to reality. Everything from a full 1:6 scale army dress uniform, to a tweed blazer for plush baby Yoda. A great big Thank You to all my wonderful bespoke clients, for your amazing support, encouragement, and generosity over the years. I am so grateful to have met all of you. 💙

P.S. If you need any assistance finding someone to sew a particular custom item, I am happy to help network within the doll community, to find someone who may be able to complete your order. 😊🔎

Best wishes!

 

 

Welcome Bryce!

Welcome, Big Bryce, to the Tiny Apparel crew! 🎉

Gus and Lucian met big Bryce, over at the gym, and they all hit it off immediately. At brunch, today, the cousins pitched bringing Bryce on board for an exciting new Tiny Apparel project: discovering which sewing pattern designs are best suited for big boys like Bryce!

Bryce enthusiastically signed on to help. He’s brand-new to modeling, and a little camera shy, but eager to try new things. We are all thrilled to have him on the team!

Welcome, Bryce! 🤝🎉

 

Back in the Tailoring Studio

Exciting updates from the tailoring studio: two bespoke suits are completed, and three more are in progress. 😀🧵🪡📍Gus is modeling a royal blue number with cream paisley lining, and he’s flipped the jacket of the 2nd suit insideout on the dress form, so you can see its metallic peacock lining. 🦚✨

Bespoke Suit City

This season, In addition to a few other projects, the Tiny Apparel Bespoke workshop is busy with not one, not two, but four wedding suits!

I always love delving into the world of classic tailoring, and making suits for such meaningful occasions is especially wonderful! Some of the suits are even inspired by clients’ real-life wedding attire. I sincerely hope I can make everything to all the grooms’ satisfaction.

Gus, here, is modeling bespoke braided side-tab trousers from one of the ensembles.

Lucian Helps Out

Lucian is used to being in front of the camera, working as a fashion model. However, he’s also fascinated with the production side of things! Today, Lucian’s working behind-the-scenes, helping to storyboard an upcoming editorial photo shoot for the September issue of #dollslifemagazine. 

Redecorating the Mini Design Studio

Welcome to the new Tiny Apparel Workshop! Gus has finished arranging all the bolts of fabric neatly, and now he’s flopped down in the corner chair, with a cup of tea.

I wanted to build a workshop that reflects the wonderful coziness of the comments and messages you all share; A place to talk patterns, menswear, and life, and perhaps enjoy a cup of tea, or coffee, and a cookie. 

Also, If you are one of my current bespoke clients, or have suggested a pattern, you may see one of your requests on the illustration wall.

 

Gus Helps Out

 I’ve been overhauling the mini tailoring workshop, and Gus here, is helping bring some bolts over to the newly redesigned space. Steady there, Gus! It’s alright to take a couple trips, you know. 😆 I’m excited to share the updated mini workshop with you all this weekend!

Bespoke Madras Shorts

 Last week I just completed another bespoke project! These Enterbay Action Figure madras shorts, imagined and requested by @carliekarl, are made with a one-of-a-kind custom textile. I started with a madras plaid cotton, hand embroidered more stripes onto it, to scale down the design, and then steeped the whole garment in Earl Grey tea, for a unique finish! 

A Fashion Survey

With autumn right around the corner, I asked Instagram followers what menswear sewing patterns they all would like to see in the Tiny Apparel Pattern Shop, going forwards! Gus, here, volunteered to play secretary, and take notes. i got some great responses, and I'm looking forward to making them available in the future!

 

Gus' Comp Card

I’ve been really enjoying all the wonderful yearbook style photos people have been sharing here, for the Instagram #dollstagramyearbook2021 by @myfroggystuff ! So, I’m joining in, last minute, with Gus’ comp card pics, featuring a very academic main photo, inspired by some of my old school portrait experiences! 😆 A comp card is like a fashion model’s personal brochure or business card, usually with a portrait on one side, and a gallery with stats on the other. A whole collection of comp cards starts to look a lot like a school yearbook, so I thought this was a perfect opportunity to make one for Gus.

 

Bespoke for Barbie

 

 

Gus is in his tailor’s studio, helping test the drape of some fabric (for a project that is a bit outside my usual repertoire!) while his neighbor, George, waits to get her measurements taken. Miniature artist, @carliekarl, requested a bespoke Barbie-sized shirt dress, and Gus and I are doing our upmost to get it right. This project reminded me forcibly of two things, 1: the iconic photo of mid-century design genius, Jacques Fath, draping fabric in his studio, with his wife, Geneviève, and 2: @adrian.dollslife ‘s May photo theme for the #adriandollslifekenchallenge “Anything for you, Barbie!” Scroll down to see George modeling the finished dress, and the faux suede jacket that was requested along with it.

 

 

 

These pieces were inspired by the this jacket and shirt-dress from this past Autumn/Winter Polo Ralph Lauren ladies' collection. 

 

 

Updating that Pic

Here is Gus, with his portfolio, his cold water bottle, and his curls freshly groomed, ready to go to work in the studio. First on the list: posing for a long overdue update to the profile picture for the Tiny Apparel Patterns Instagram account! 

 

Crafting Floral Headgear

Gus is industriously cutting leaves and flowers to wear in his hair for the upcoming Glam Doll Gala on Friday! Colorful garlands are timeless accessories for special occasions across the globe, and gentlemen everywhere from Polynesia, to the Mediterranean islands, and the Persian Gulf, rock them with their formals. Gus wants to hop on the festive flower crown wagon, and make his own botanical headgear, to match his Alta Sartoria suit!

 

 

Below is some traditional floral inspiration from around the world!

A Bespoke Suede Jacket

Gus is wandering through the tailoring studio, and has stopped in front of his dress form.
Gus: “who’s tiny little jacket is that? There is absolutely no way I’m gonna fit in that thing!”               Don’t worry Gus, you don’t have to. 

 The petite faux suede safari jacket is a very special tailor-made request from @carliekarl. Gus’ neighbor, George, is just the right size for it, and she’s agreed to help model it, so Gus is off the hook. 

 

 

 

A #Dollstagram Sewing Challenge

Last month, @pikespeakdoll and @barbieblast59 announced the #repurposedclothesfordolls sewing challenge, to inspire people to find out just how many doll-sized items they could craft from one piece of full-scale clothing! So, back in February, I decided to give it a go, and see how many Tiny Apparel sewing patterns I could fit on the mate to the little sock that Gus is modeling here. I will be sharing the results tomorrow!

And, here is what I made for the #repurposedclothesfordolls sewing challenge, hosted by @pikespeakdoll and @barbieblast59 ! Gus’ beanie, long sleeve polo, and the trim and cuffs of the jacket are all made from one stripy sock! Fitting them in, was like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. The last pic shows how much material was left over at the end! The sewing patterns that I used as starting points for these projects can be found here. Thank you so much, @pikespeakdoll and @barbieblast59, for creating such a fun and inspiring sewing challenge!

Gus Suits up for the Ken Doll Photo Project

Here is my 2nd photo for the #adriandollslifekenchallenge, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Ken doll!! Ken was first introduced as the ideal boyfriend for Barbie. However, it takes a village to make a perfect boyfriend, and Gus, here, is ready to pitch in and give Ken an earful of advice, about what to wear on a romantic date with Barbie. As a model, Gus has had first hand experience with all sorts of outfits, and he’s got plenty to say, on the topic of style! The February #adriandollslifekenchallenge theme is “the perfect boyfriend.”

Vintage Pictures!

It’s Gus, as a 1960’s Ken! I got really inspired by the fabulous 1980s-style Barbie and Ken illustrations that people have been creating on Instagram, for the #sparemoonbarbiechallenge, so I decided to make a picture of Gus from my own personal favorite era of Barbie fashion illustration! I adore the early Barbie and Ken catalog illustrations and box art, where you can see the stylistic influence of the wonderful Rene Gruau! 

 

I couldn’t leave Lucian out of the vintage Ken project, so here is Gus’ albino cousin as 1960s Allan! 

 

I also reinterpreted a few more classic 1960s Ken fashion illustrations, with a couple of today’s awesome and inspiring miniature instagramers: @adrian.dollslife and @stovallthedoll