Day 15- Thinking a lot

Today I wanted to go to see what kind of fabric stores London has to offer. I went to western London, stayed at the Sepherd's Bush underground station. First I found this huge shopping center, so decided to spend some time there also. If I would have bought everything I liked, I'd be so broke. :D Maybe you can figure, that I did not buy that much.

Westfield shopping centre

at the tube station

a view from the station

 When I got ''lost'' in the western London, I found the street where is a lot of different fabric stores. I was just amused how great selection they have fabrics (cannot compare to stores in Finland). All kind of materials, colors and qualities. The prices where lower in some fabrics, but the same price in fake fur and sequins, I think. I didn't even know what I was looking for, so I ended up buying nothing. At least now I know that if I have a design in my mind, I'm sure I'll find a fabric for that.

inside one of the many fabric stores

going home.. by underground

After the fabric stores and other shopping I went home earlier today, 'cause I've been feeling a little ill since last night. Hope I'll get better untill Monday. I have wanted to go to a club here in London. And it is definitely thing I must go for. So I think next weekend will suit just fine for a party!

When I have been alone here in London for a while now, I have a lot time for my own thoughts. I've been thinking how I want to continue my life in Finland when I go back home. I've been thinking about studies, work, my friends and who I want to spend time with and how.

I have a new kind of perspective for life. Its a lot wider and openminded. I also realize how much more opportunities I really have in life, and that anything can happen. And my dreams will come true if I put an effort in them 200%. But I have also learned to think that life shouldn't be taken so seriously. And I need to follow my gut, where ever it leads, I think it could be the right way.

Day 14- Fridayyy!

Friday... started with a nice rain, but it doesn't bother me, right? No. I went to work about 11 am today. I've been so glad that there has not been crazy traffic when I'm on my way to work. Although when I come home in the evening, the tube is totally packed up with people (seriously there is no room to move at all).

view from my window in the morning

cute/insane wolves at our studio..

 Today at our studio I made this sample lace top. It is just lace and lace trimming on the neckline. It's part of the Indie bride-collection, which is other Minna's bridal brands. All the seams in the top are french seams, so definitely got some training doing them. I don't have much experience in lace fabrics, so it was challenging in a good way to make this garment. 

Making the french seam:

1. sew (right side up) about 0,5 cm from the edge

2. turn around the seam and steam. Then sew again 0,5 cm from the edge

3. ready made seam, this is the side seam :)

about to add some lace trimming,,

almost ready. (just silk finishing needs to be added to the neckline)

front

back

neckline and separate lace trimming

 That's it about today. Tomorrow I planned to go to different fabric stores.. so I hope tomorrow will be very inspiring day for me. I have few design's in my head that I want to implement :) And what place would be better than London to find the perfect fabrics for them? I will let you know if I found the fabrics of my dreams.. 

Day 13- Photos and patterns

Today was a really lovely day. I went to work again at 10 o'clock and finished around 6 pm. I've been always happy going to work. I like the atmosphere at work and the people are so nice and the best thing may be that I learn something new everyday. 

Since I started working at Minna's studio last week's Monday, I've learned about different ways to make pattern, how to sew many types of details in accessories, dresses and skirts. Also it has been interesting to see how the company works; with the costumers, ordering the supplies, designing as a team and how they are used to sew garments in their own unique way.

view from the bus

so pretty lace sleeve!

This Thursday at work I started with steaming some of the sample dresses we try on to the clients. I also changed some of the labels from Minna-labels to Indiebride-labels (Minna's other collection of bridal dresses) and repaired some parts too (hems and stuff).

many dresses..

dress I'm about to adjust a little

head pieces, made by another intern

bird on our lamp :)

About lunch time I started to make new patterns for one of the Indiebride-labels top. The current patterns are too large for the medium-size clothing. So what I need to do is just make the patterns smaller and make a new sample about the top and later sew another for a customer with her own measurements.

pattern making about to start..

almost ready patterns for a crop top (editing needed)

the bust dart

starting to unpick this dress

pic from our studio/dressing room

where the fitting happens

In addition I started to unpick one of the dresses and later I'll make a new lining for the dress (also new patterns has to be made for the lining). Then I cleaned the studio, went to post office to send a few parcels and we also had photo shoot today because the new veil is here! Eliza veil :)

https://instagram.com/minna_hepburn/ Me and the new veil

I have now spent two weeks in London and it is hard to write here clearly about all the things I've experienced here. A lot is happening all the time around the city and I can say that this culture is much different than in Finland, but it has it's similarities too. 

 

One day I will definitely return to London whether it would be for a holiday, school or work. And I feel do good about speaking english all the time. The language seems to fit me well and I understand english better and better everyday and they seem to get me too (which is amazing :)). 

Untill tomorrow, bye!

 .

Day 12- Rainy Wednesday

It was quite rainy today, when I went to work and it rained for a while. But it was a nice day all in all. At work I finished one wedding dress, sewed invisible zip and sewed little things by hand. I don't have a long story for today. In fact I've been really tired today so I don't have energy to write anything so interesting today. 

Here's my workday in pictures:

sewing the Minna label on a dress

the wedding dress I finished today

still sewing the zip on the side seam

lace trimming

 Here is three pictures about how I sew the lace trimming to the edges of a zip:

phase 1: sew the other edge of the trim to the ''wrong side'' of the zip

lace is now between the lining fabric and the zip

flip the lace around and sew it close to the zip

the dress that I was repairing

ready invisible zip

Day 11- Just a typical Tuesday

Hello from London! 

The title says it was a typical Tuesday, well I guess in Brixton (the area a work in). There is always happening something in Brixton, I guess. Well today some man followed me when I was om my way to the local grocery store and later he tried to come in from the door, when I was going to work. A little disturbing I'd say. He was asking me if I was okay, and all kind of questions. Don't even want to think about what he was up to. 

At work I was still sewing together the top part of the new dress. Just working on the silk fabric to make it fit and look nice. Then I was attaching flowers to another skirt, packing a dress to send it for a customer and sewing just a little details in different garments. 

the skirt and flowers

Sending a dress to a customer 

sewing the top of the dress

Here you can see Minna's instagram pictures:

https://instagram.com/minna_hepburn/

I think this Tuesday went really fast like yesterday too. But I am enjoying my work definitely so it is nice to go to work every morning, though I've been suffering from headache today :/ But maybe I just need more sleep, so time to go to bed now. :)

Day 11- My second Monday at work

My second Monday at work went fine. I was first alone at the workshop (my workmate had an appointment at our studio) sewing the top piece for the dress I am making changes to. Then we continued working while listening 90's music from the radio. 

Today I also picked up the Anette dress (picture below) from the waistline, Then I made a waistband for it to change the dress to a skirt. It was kind of hard to work with the silk fabric, since I'm not familiar with the material. It is very light and it moves into every direction almost without even touching it. 

bust dart (silk fabric and interfacing together)

the shoulder seem of the dress I am altering

cute details at out studio

Anette dress

patterns for waistband

cutting silk

check list on our wall

attaching the waistband

After work I went shopping to Bond Street, but couldn't find anything interesting, except high heels, but I forbid myself from buying them :D. Then I intended to go buy food, but instead I got a little lost somewhere.. I found home. but I'll guess the grocery shopping has to be done tomorrow. 

walking home..