 |
| Feature Page |
| Welcome to 2007... Sorry its been so long between featured designers. I can't believe we are nearly through the first half of the year! Where does time go? Anyway I'm excited to let you all know that the first featured designer for 2007 is Paula Jeffers of Blarney House Designs. Paula has been designing Irish dance dresses for about five years and while she has designed several school costumes Paula specialises in creating custom designs. Paula is especially accommodating as she is willing to work with individuals, whether they be professional dressmakers or sew-at-home mums. Designs can be created for any level of dancer. "Blarneyhouse Designs" have created dresses that have been worn to the World Championships, All Irelands, North Americans, as well as other National level championships in New Zealand and Australia. For dressmakers, Paula can create a custom design for their client or create an "exclusive" line of designs specifically for the dressmaker to use as repeatable designs. |
| 1/6/07 |
|
| What made you first decide to design dresses? When my daughter was ready for her first solo dress and I heard about the cost, I decided to try and find a way to cut the cost. So I decided to give it a go with designing it myself and I approached my Aunt (Necia Amos) to see if she would be up to the challenge of constructing it. Necia did a beautiful job and we received so many compliments. I soon had others inquiring about designs. |
| When do you find time to design? That's a good question! Life can be so busy in this day and age, but I seem to be able to find bits of time here and there to sit down and draw. And I LOVE it! It's like quiet, creative time and almost like therapy for me at times. |
| How long does it take to draw a design? It can vary. Of course there are those times, when I have "designer block"! And then there are times when the ink just flows like mad. But on average, once I start a design, I can usually get it done in 3-5 days or so depending on my schedule at the time. |
| How does your design process work? I usually ask the client to give me any examples, descriptions, etc., to give me an idea of what "style" of design they are wanting. People have even sent me pictures of jewelry as an example. Once I have all of their input, I sit down with all my notes, go through them and then start doodling. I start with the front skirt panel(s). Once I am finished with the skirt, I e-mail it to the client for approval or changes. Once approved, then I finish up the design. If the client needs color placement, I will send them black and white copies as well as colored in copies of the design. |
| Do you have a routine for designing? I have an "L" shaped computer station, so I have my design "station" set up on the arm of the "L". It's nice to have everything there, so if I am working on a design and have a question for the client, I can just pop off an e-mail right then and there. As far as when, there is no routine... mainly it's just when I have some time! |
| What or who has been your inspiration? I don't think I have a specific designer that has been an inspiration. I do admire all of the different designers and over time it is neat to be able to recognize each of their unique design styles, just as I hope I have my own unique style. If anyone has been an inspiration, I would have to say my daughter! Just her pure love for Irish dance is an inspiration to create beautiful designs to suit each dancers' personality. I have designed all of my daughter's dresses and the designs always match her bubbly, fun personality! |
| Under what circumstances do you feel you create your best designs? That's a hard one! I don't think there are any specific circumstances. Sometimes like I mentioned before, the ink just flows! I love it when that happens! |
| What do you enjoy most about designing dresses? It is my creative outlet. I used to have a "crafts" business where I created dolls, ornaments, hand painted wood items, etc. I would go to many, many craft shows and sell my creations. I did that for about 10 years. After my girls got older, I got out of the craft business, as I just didn't have the time to devote to it anymore. The down side was, I lost my creative outlet! When I started designing, it gave me that much needed outlet. |
| Do you have any favourite designs? Usually my favorite designs are the ones I have made for my daughter. I always ask her for her ideas and input as I am working on them, so there is part of her in them as well. But sometimes, a design that I am working on for someone else, will just really strike me! And I always LOVE receiving pictures of the finished products, especially when they are on the dancer and the dancer has a huge smile on her face! |
| How many designs have you created (that have been used)? Oh gosh! I have no idea, but hundreds! |
| Do you use computer programs to help you draw? No, not for the drawing. I guess I'm too old fashioned and I draw everything freehand. Once I am done, however, I do scan the designs into the computer, crop them, resize them, and if they need color placement, I do that in Photoshop. |
| How do you find out what kind of designs your customer wants - how best can they relate that to you? As I mentioned before, I just ask them to show me examples of other dresses, written descriptions, other media - jewelry, etc., anything with "design" that will show me the "style" they are wanting. |
| What is the best way for people to contact you in regards to having a design drawn? The easiest way is through e-mail.... paula@blarneyhouse.com They can contact me directly through this e-mail or through my web site... www.blarneyhouse.com |
| Which country do you sell most designs to? Most of my designs are sold in the US and Canada, however, I have sold designs to clients in Australia and the UK as well. |
| How has designing dresses changed during the time you have been designing? Wow! It has changed so much...it's hard to keep up sometimes. I do get requests for the latest, most up to date designs, but I also get a lot of requests for the more "traditional" knotwork mixed in with the new modern styles. |
| "Designing has definitely given me the creative outlet that I need. I've have really enjoyed it. The clients that I deal with are always such lovely people! And it has provided a bit of extra income to help with the Irish dance expenses. Irish dancing in general has been such a blessing in my life. It is always such a joy to watch my daughter dance ... she truly loves it. Because of Irish dancing, we have done way more traveling than we would have without it, which has made so many fun family trips. It has taken us all over North America and overseas a few times. These are definitely times that will always be remembered. And the people we have met through Irish dancing are some of the nicest people I know!" ... Paula Jeffers |
| How do you enlarge a design from a small size eg A4 to the actual size? The clients enlarge the designs themselves. |
| Do you employ any staff? No, just me! |
| Besides a ruler and pencil, what one tool can't you do without when designing? My eraser! |
| Do you make dresses too? No, I haven't gotten into the constructing of the dresses. At this time, I only create the designs for them. |
| As a designer, is knowledge of fabrics important and how does it relate to designing? It certainly can be a factor. If clients have specific fabrics they are going to use, I keep that in mind when creating the design. So, yes, it is good to have some knowledge of the different fabrics. |
| Many thanks to Paula Jeffers of Blarney House Designs for donating such wonderful designs to Colleens' of Canberra. |
 |
 |
|
| Paula and daughter Kaleigh at the 2006 NANS in San Diego. |
 |
| This very up-to-the-minute design was put together by a very clever mum that has been buying designs from Paula from the very beginning! |
 |
 |
 |
| Designed by Paula and made by Necia Amos. Colleen says "While this dress is quite different in design to the modern day dresses in 2000 this 'Stained Glass' dress was the one dress which inspired me to have a go at making Irish dance dresses. I loved this dress so much that I even saved it on my computer's screen saver so I could stare at it all day long!" |
 |
| School dress design by Blarney House Designs |
 |
| These two wrap dresses are the same design but with different colours and different fabrics they look quite different. |
 |
| Gorgeous 4 panel dress |
 |
| Blarney House Designs have donated three gorgeous designs to Colleens' of Canberra including a beautiful four panel design. Thank you so much Paula! |
 |
 |
 |
 |