Something in the Water?!!

So, fast forward several months and I am pregnant! planned? yes. excited? kinda, glowing? no not really, so here are my gripes, get a cuppa, a pack of biscuits and put your feet up (they're probably swollen!)

Maternity Clothes? - aka a way of further humiliating pregnant women during a low point in their strength, when they can't fight back. Jeans yuck, hello anyone heard of skinny jeans in this pregnant parallel universe? after one trip in the dreaded preggers clothes stores I am sworn off them, now luckily I can make my own but not everyone has my skills at their disposal, and for that I think they deserve a kind thought, or maybe a minute silence........ 9 minutes seems apt, a minute for each month they'll be wearing God awful threads and looking like a tent.

At the moment I'm at the in between stage, some clothes too tight, some cut off my circulation, some bare my bra (a lovely thick strapped white number last seen on Marilyn Monroes pregnant mother) and thankfully things that I bought in a baggier fit actually fit, although not quite so baggy!!

I only have a tiny bump but let me tell you, don't underestimate the power of the bump, for a stylish British hipster, this little baby paunch has vetoed 90% of my wardrobe choices and has me gasping at the mere thought of non natural fibres, literally my body starts melting.... I think it's actually trying to escape synthetic fibres one bead of sweat at a time.

As per usual, I cannot cut a long story short, so I'll save some of my grumbles (you say grumble, I say literary expression of angst) until the next maternity meltdowns..... mmmmh idea for a new blog methinks.

Smell ya later fellow fatties
xx

Ruby Murray - London Calling Fall 08

Designs from Fall 08 shown during Edmonton Fashion Week

The day of judgement cometh, formerly entitled Tears, Tantrums and the case of the stolen portfolio

So the fashion show came and went, and a wave of peace and tranquility has been washing over me ever since, after 9 months of planning, designing, sewing and general hair pulling, the show went without a hitch...... at least for me anyway.

Top 3 grumbles overheard back stage at Edmonton Fashion Week Fall/Winter 08 (Grad show)

1. Why has this model dieted after I have altered the garment to fit her?
2. Why does my garment rack keep collapsing everytime I turn my back? (ok this was me)
3. Why did I make a garment for myself which is completely see through? (but only in the butt area) this one's for you Lacey K.

Ok.... despite all of this, a stolen portfolio and an abundance of hissy fits, tears and diva tantrums it went well.

The models were awesome and considering we stalked most of them around town until they gave in and said they'd do it they 'worked it out' (said in a drag queen screech complete with finger waving and body swerve) on the run way.

Names to watch out for in Edmonton/Canada/the world......

Ruby Murray - Military, Euro style with beautifully tailored silhouettes featuring unique zipper detailing.

Sleeping Buddha - Organic, earth friendly fabrics transformed into fashion forward separates.

Gin & Tea - Bringing vintage inspired Sunday best frocks and smart casual menswear to every day wear.

Neihya - Inspired by beautiful fabrics from far and wide, detailed clothing in flattering fits with amazing attention to detail and bold use of colour.

Photos didn't turn out as good as they could have so not a huge amount to choose from but a whole lot better than the professional photographer that took 95% of shots side on and clearly had no experience in fashion photography (ho hum!!)

Catch ya later buds and check back for the photos, not to be missed.

Fashion show countdown

So only 5 days until Edmonton Fashion week and my first show, exciting? yes, terrifying? pretty much! After sewing 8 outfits (15 pieces in all) I now have to decide on THE most important decision possibly of my life (certainly of my life so far).............. (cue the pensive Eastenders cliffhanger drum beat) what to wear.

We have approximately 1 minute of face time with the audience at the end of the show when we walk out with the models to show off the whole collection together and obviously I have to look damn good and represent my style. So what do I wear? (roots through wardrobe, fabric stash and sketch book simultaneously) it has to be something I've made or at least some of it should be really.

So I've realised I probably should not be sat on my butt blogging, damn you Blogspot (shakes fists vehemently to the heavens) you have lured me away from another critical project!!

..... and on that note I will leave you in suspenders (lol) and get on with a staggeringly fabtastic outfit, ok so fabtastic started off as a typo but now I am committing to bringing this word first into Canadian vocabulary, (shouldn't be hard they are lapping up the UK accent!!) and secondly into the Oxford English Dictionary (again I can't foresee many difficulties since Football managers can get the word bouncebackability in their I can see I am on to a winner already)

(Sings in a creepy Sound of Music style) Adieu, Adieu to yeu and yeu and yeu

Smell ya later

Ruby xxxx

Working 9 to 5

So, I am now in the big wide world of work, yeah ok it's not for the first time but a whole year off? sheesh!!

So far I am on my second day of my practicum with Edmonton based fashion magazine Parlour and I have got to say I am enjoying it immensely, possibly due to the fact that I've worked a grand total of 5 hours in two days. I am definitely in the right industry!

Today I had the whole day off, and so I spent it serging up a storm whipping up a dress and 4 tops out of some wicked vintage fabric), it was like being on summer holidays as a kid, I stayed in my dressing gown till 4 o'clock and only got dressed when my bud came to visit!! I resisted the temptation to eat cereal all day, although I did gorge myself on beetroot and squishy cheese triangles, oh and chocolate!! mmmmmmmhh chocolate!

My buddy has been staying with us for a bit and she's moved out which is sad, although no more feelings of awkwardness about walking to the toilet naked, that is a plus side I guess, although naked russian roulette at 4 am after way too much tea did have a charm all of its own!

Anyway, I am back in my dressing gown drinking tea and sewing so all in all a pretty productive day.

Thought for the day: Tomorrow must make a concerted effort to get a job that pays REAL money, no magic beans

It's all about the BLOG

So here I am, I thought it was about time I join the rest of the civilised world and started blogging, after all when you're Auntie is emailing (probably from her Blackberry!) telling you to check out her blog, it's probably a sign you are getting left behind by:

a. civilisation
b. your considerably older relatives

neither of which is cool, and besides I have my debut collection of military styled Womenswear due next week in time for Fashion Week and so what better time than to introduce another outlet by which I can procrastinate, now that the shine has worn off Facebook.
I currently have over 200 invitations to groups, events and weird Werewolf applications that I have absolutely no intention of accepting, neither do I have the time or inclination to delete them, but in Facebook terms, I think I've officially 'made it' like 'having my own stalker' is to Celebrity.

I will leave with a thought for the day: Facebook......... is it an essential networking tool, or just a very large photo album of ugly people (cue the frantic uploading of desperately photoshopped profile images!)