Sew Crafy

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Go!! Go!! Go!!


..........but let's be challenged!!


The clue was given promptly at midnight PST September 6th as promised, and the designers were off and running...........at least those who were awake, and those that even understood the clue. It seems there was a bit of rumbling concerning this first clue! You mean it isn't easy to come up with a concept for this first challenge, as stated below???

The Challenge: Make Mine Mod - Jason Wu designed the Inaugural ballgown for Michelle Obama. Our guest judge (David Buttry) this week is from Integrity Toys too, but his designs favour a mod theme. Let's jump back 40 years and imagine that Austin Powers is the President of the US. Design an Inagural Ballgown for HIS first lady.

Hum.......methinks this is EXACTLY what the coordinator and the judges had in mind! No, I don't think Larraine actually sits around eating bon bons and thinking up methods to torture designers!!! Rather, she wants designers to create! She WANTS to CHALLENGE -- it's the concept of this competition -- and, hopefully, the reason one would sign up at all! But, considering this was the first clue - and the fact that some are still even quizzical about the direction our beloved Project Runway is taking this year, I guess a little trepidation is understandable at CDDC.

Towards a better understanding of this competition's concept, perhaps we can take some advise from the words of Amanda Hull regarding Project Runway on


You see, it seems Amanda isn't quite clear why straight sewing is the only thing introduced in the challenges on Project Runway so far! Where's the car parts, supermarket faire, and other unpredictable items designers have been told to use in the past, she asks?? She also says, "I want something that’s actually a challenge, that shows resourcefulness and creativity and the willingness to take a risk. So far, the only people to take risks have been kicked off. Bo-ring." It's that boring part I want to address here in this CDDC blog!!

The only way you can create, is to explore all your possibilites. Research, go into that wonderful brain of yours, and mine out some possibilities!! YOU CAN DO IT!! Also, consider the additional clues YOU got - do they ever give additional clues on PR?? I think not!!

However, in an attempt to clarify CDDC's current challenge, Larraine introduced more information about it on the CDDC Yahoo Chat Group. She told us you don't have to stick to a ballgown even! In fact, you can do a jumpsuit or mni dress!! Wow, that makes it easier - right? Well, yes and no. Your creation still has to be something appropriate for Mrs. Austin Powers to wear to an inaugural ball - ALWAYS keep that in mind. Hum......... and therein lies the kicker........and the creativity!

If you can make a jumpsuit or mini dress that will satisfy the judges - do it! But if you favor the original concept of the ballgown - do that! There IS NOT a simple solution to this challenge! Hooray!! - that's what makes it a REAL challenge. Hopefully they are all as interesting and challenging as this one! Now, let's stop the rumbling and get with it - time's a'wasting!!! I just know we all want to design something scrumptilicious any time we get a chance!!! Progress reports anyone??

Now with all that behind us, we begin a presentation of another kind. Over the next few weeks, we'll be introducing you to our Coordinator, our judges, and even our sponsors. All of these people are working towards you having a fun, rewarding experience! Our first to be presented is one of our resident judges, Judith Markich.


JUDITH MARKICH

AWARDS:

BAFTA (British Academy Award) Nomination for Costume Design - PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK

AFI (Australian Filrm Institute) Award for Costume Design - PICTURE SHOW MAN

SAMMY (TV WEEK Award) Award for Costume Design - CADDIE

Judith Markich has been involved in the fashion world for many years. How lucky was the doll world when she decided to change her focus from film and theatre design to our diminutive friends?

Story lines and adaptations fuel her doll couture passion, as well as her collection of vintage silks, laces, and other items collected during her period of designing for films and plays. She admits to some straight designing, but usually prefers to draw inspiration from themes; and even the doll’s own personality.

Judith's constructive analysis of the entries will be viewed with a knowing eye, because she has already been through what the contestants of CDDC are now experiencing. Being one of the twelve designers in the original Project Dollway competition, she rocked the runway, and ultimately achieved 2nd place - indeed no simple task!

Today she continues to wow us with her entries for charity events, and in smaller competitions. You can find her designs on her website at:

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