Nuno DaCosta.

Vicky: What first drew you to illustration/design? Nuno: I have always loved drawing, I remember lying on the floor drawing whilst watching the fashion shows on TV when I was a kid. Vicky: Do you have any formal design training? Nuno: No not really, I did my A-level art but went on to study languages at Kings. I had a huge change of heart, put together a portfolio and haven't looked back since! Vicky: Describe your studio/view from your studio window? Nuno: There is a painting desk where I do all my hand painting, there is a computer desk where I do all the retouching. There is also a big shelf full of magazines and books. Oh, there is also a cabinet for all the boring business stuff. The view is Suburbia; My garden, my neighbours' gardens and roof tops. Vicky: Do you collect anything?Nuno: I collect Vogue magazine, UK , French, Spanish, Japanese and Italian. They take up a lot of space!! Vicky: Do you keep a scrapbook?Nuno: I used to at school, maybe I should take it up again!!


Vicky: What is the first record you bought? Nuno: It was the Goonies soundtrack. I love Cyndi Lauper. Vicky: Tell us about a favourite project you've recently completed. Nuno: Creating a nail design. It was called 'the Nuno Nail' and was based on my Caran D'Ache colouring pencils. That was pretty cool. Vicky: What would be your "dream job/commission"?Nuno: It would have to be working for John Galliano or Pat McGrath, his make up designer. I would love to contribute to their vision any way. Even if it was just sharpening pencils all day!! Vicky: Who is/are your art hero/oes? Nuno: I love the work of Jean-Paul Goude, Rene Gruau, Gustav Klimt, Egon Schielle and Jim Lee. Vicky: Who is/are your illustration hero/oes? Nuno: It has to be David Downton, he has proved that fashion illustration is not a dying art form. If I could ever be half as successful as him I would be very happy!! 

I found this interview with Nuno on THIS website.

I really like that he is partially self taught as he only did A level ART. When looking at his work you wouldn't be able to notice he hasn't had proper training or a degree.

When he said he collected British, Japanese, French, Spanish and Italian, Vogue I grew even fonder of DaCosta. I LOVE VOGUE! 

(Talking of Vogue my Mum ordered me a 10 month subscription yesterday! SO EXCITED!!!!!!)

His most inspiring works...

I love the texture effect Nuno has used on this skirt. I think it looks like fur or feathers.

Nuno created this painting for 'Top London Salon; Hari's Salon'.
'The image is based on his Caran D'Ache colouring box set, using a different colour for each nail, now known as the 'Nuno'.

I love his black and white drawings, they look so beautiful and feminine.

Nuno only works in two colour ways, colour or black and white. Little piece of information for you!

Let me know what you think!

XOXO

Did I hear you shout party dress?

Panelled Dress!
Patterning!

To start I drew around the dress block!

These are my back panels.

These are my front panels.

To create the four panels above, is as follows; 

Back

I drew design lines from the top of the dart into the shoulder, and then again from the bottom of the dart down into the side.

I elongated the neck line at the back to make it very pointed.

I then traced off my panels seperately and added a 1.5cm seam allowance.

Front

For the front I did the same as the back and drew design lines from the top of the dart into the shoulder and again from the bottom to the side.

I also elongated the neck on the front but not as low so it isn't too revealing.

Arm hole facing. 

Neck Facing.

To create the pattern pieces for my neck facing I had to use masking tape the piece the two front panels together at the shoulders. As mine is very straight I had to work out how far down to mark it. When I'd done this I drew a line, that was equal all the way round to ensure it was properly patterned.

For the arm hole facing I did the same but taped the two side pieces together at the shoulder and drew a line, equally around the curve as I did on the neck facing. (As you can see above. Sorry if this is confusing, I got confused when doing it. Ha. Ha.) 

Keep a look out for my dress manufacture!

I hope my steps are understandable! 

Let me know what you think!!

XOXO

Just a cute little dress...

So I originally made this for Valentines day as my boyfriend cooked me a meal and I wanted to look nice but had NOTHING to wear!

Here was my solution... Enjoy!

Using my maxi skirt pattern from a past post, I folded the  'tentacles'  so the skirt of my dress would be shorter.

My back skirt piece all folded and ready to be drawn around.

My beautiful burgundy, velour fabric!

My front skirt piece, with an added 1.5cm seam allowance.

My back skirt piece with the added 1.5cm seam allowance. 

My back skirt piece cut out!

My front skirt piece cut out!

This is my top back piece which along with my top front piece took a long time to figure out!

This is my front top piece. This was such a pain to pattern.

This is the two top pieces all sewn up!

This is all my pattern pieces except the top piece as I only needed on of those.

Sorry about the fabric looking purple it was the flash!
I hemmed the top of both top back pieces before adding my zip.

My second top back piece, hemmed ready for my zip!

In the back I inserted a zip and put this in like an invisible zip.

The first side of my zip.

Second side of my zip finished and the rest of my back pieces has been sewn underneath the zip.

My two front/back skirt pieces sewn together. 

My front/back skirt pieces; front view.

My two skirt pieces sewn together ready for hemming.

Hemming my skirt.

My skirt hem is pinned! This took me AGES!!!

This is where I had a little assistance from my Mum (who when I hopefully become a famous designer will be my seamstress! Ha!Ha!) . My Mum helped me to pin the top to the skirt as they weren't the same size, she helped me put a slight fold in the sides to even the fabric out.

My top and skirt piece all sewn up!

My Final outcome; all glammed  with a black belt and my Audrey Hepburn, watch necklace.

A more close up view of my dress!

I hope you like my dress!

I was really proud of it and found it REALLY comfy!!!

XOXO

Sweet Seventeen...

So this is a post to basically gloat and brag about my wonderful birthday and my fabulous pressies!

On the 25th March, 1995, I was born!

On this day in 2012 I turned 17!

I also gained many gifts and love from my family and friends!

___

On my birthday I have a little routine; I open my cards first and my presents second! Always has been this way and always will be!

I don't have a favourite gift or present as each one was as special as the next so here they are for you to choose which one you like the most...

From my Mummy and Daddy...

When my Mum was getting ready for my birthday meal she looked under her bed and found this hidden there! She had forgotten all about it! Ha!Ha!

My beautiful skirt!

Little Green Dress.

My Aunt got one of these a month or so before my birthday and I was so jealous and now I have my own! Happy, happy, happy!!!

Cath Kidston, enough said!!!

The little rose basket has needles inside...

My Smelly Little Sister...

My breaking dawn DVD!!!!

My Aunty Clare...

Cath Kidston! Enough said! 

My colourful threads! Some of them are multi coloured!

My bright, funky coloured fat quarters!

I absolutely love the pretty rose fabric! What do you think? 

Grandparents...

My cute coloured fat quarters!

I think for the first time ever I will have to read the instruction book!

My swanky sewing machine!!!

Sorry you can't see it very well but my sewing machine wrote my name and my sisters! It also does dogs, hearts and flowers!! Ha!Ha!

My Aunty Elaine...

My gorgeous dress! It is asymmetric although you can't see that on my picture!

My Gorgeous boyfriend...

I love my colourful converse!

Here's my gorgeous SHOE cake all made by my Mummy!!!

My Mum put a red sole on the shoe so it looked like a Christian Louboutin! 

Jonathan's lovely parents got me a fab card and money! For which I am eternally grateful!

I also got money from my Dad's friends!

All in all a very lovely birthday!!


Keep a look out for my post on what I spent my birthday money on!!!

Let me know which you liked most!

XOXO