2010 2nd Place Winner of PDW@Home2

In 2010 I entered a second online doll fashion competitions that ran almost concurrently.

I won 2nd Place in both Project Dollway At Home 2 (PDW@Home2) and Couture Doll Design Competition (CDDC1).

My designs appeared again in Doll Reader Magazine (seen below) and FDQ (Fashion Doll Quarterly).

There were 6 challenges in PDW@Home 2. Only Tonner's Antoinette mannequin dolls could be used. Robert Tonner himselfjudged as well as this top designer, Joe Petrollese and head Art Director, Tom Courtney. I won 2nd place and was featured in Doll Reader Magazine along with the talented Jason Kramer, who won First Place.

Challenge 1- EveningWear

Challenge 2- DayWear

Challenge 3- SleepWear

Challenge 4- SportWear

Challenge 5- Funwear (This time we were allowed to repaint our blank face mannequin). I chose as my inspiration a "LeCirque-esque" tribute to Alexander McQueen, complete with McQueen's 2009 Runway booties.

Challenge 6- AnyWear

I continued with my "Circus" theme, with felt hat, red plastic veil, copper boots and accessories.

Challenges 5 & 6 were my favorite, where I was free to explore modern circus-inspired runway fashion. I loved creating the accessories, shoes and hats.

2009 First Place Winner of Project Dollway At Home!

In 2009, I entered a doll fashion competition "Project Dollway At Home". The Grand Prize winner of PDW@Home would be featured in Doll Reader Magazine in an article written by editor, Jill Jackson. Parameters were to choose one doll in one era that we would design for in twelve two-week challenges. I chose a diminuative model, Vintage Licca, and the era I chose was MOD. I won First Place and was featured in the November 2009 Doll Reader Magazine.



Montage of 12 designs: (Left to right)


1st Challenge: VINTAGE (MOD)
Design: Big print graphic hat & minidress, ruffled collar and contrasting silk tie.

2nd Challenge: PLEATS
3rd Challenge: DOLMAN
4th Challenge: LAYERED
5th Challenge: ZODIAC
7th Challenge: EMPIRE
6th Challenge: PEEKABOO
8th Challenge: ROCKIN
9th Challenge: REVERSIBLE

10th Challenge: FITTED
11th Challenge: DRAPED
12th Challenge: BRIDE

The Final Challenge of Project Dollway "Black & white & red all over"

The Final Challenge of the 1st Project Dollway 2008:

"Black & white & red all over"

We are at the end of Season One of project Dollway and it has been an amazing journey for me as a doll fashion designer, which I now refer to myself as. Having had the opportunity to design my own creations to satisfy challenge guidelines and parameters has been a dream come true for me. I am a graphic designer who collects dolls. I ventured into costume design and found that gratifying but combining my love of dolls and fashion has been the ultimate gift for me.
This challenge was named: Black and white and red all over.

Initially I wanted to create a black & white plaid skirt, white top and little flirty red coat with ruffled sleeves. After doing a preliminary drape I realized the skirt was too short for this doll. Having run out of fabric and not being able to find similiar plaid, I had to rethink.

My model was an ultra-curvy 16" Eve doll by Susan Wakeen with hair restyled and her lips repainted. She wears a tight fitting back crisscross strapped dress topped with a sheer black and white dotted bust. I created the purse with red suede and super thin crocodile printed black vinyl. Croc vinyl strappy shoes finish the ensemble. Click on the photo to see it larger.

Challenge 9- The Gabby "Collection Piece"

In this next to last challenge of Project Dollway, At Home Designers were to create a collection "outfit" that would represent a 12 piece clothing line. I chose Gene as my stand-in doll because of her casual red swept back hair that works well with the Ready-to-Wear outfit that features rich color and tones and mixed patterns and fabrics. The peplum top is made from thin, red, ultrasuede. It is supple and soft and drapes beautifully. It is topped with a pleated detail to mimic the longer flirty pleats at the bottom of the fully lined skirt and gathered in a three knotted belt made from the skirt fabric. (Click on photo to see a close-up).

I wanted to play with the juxtaposition of the tailored look of suede in the sleeveless top with the gauzy, woven cotton "bohemian" pattern of the skirt, (see close-up below). I am looking forward to creating ready-to-wear to eveningwear with these varied materials!

I added a slouchy bag that wasn't too casual but could be dressed up as the collection unveils. The purse is made from a pre-gathered stretchy sheer tie-dyed cotton, usually used for hippie-styled blouses and skirts. I have been asked for a tutorial on creating the bag. Close-up of slouchy bag can be seen below.

Challenge 8- Helen Kish/Erté Design

The challenge is to select one or more Erté or Poiret fashion illustrations and create a fantasy gown for a woman of today, but clearly inspired by either artist of the ART DECO style. I chose two black and white illustrations that captivated me in their grace and movement. One was of a woman's head and arms only covered in fine chains with dangling tassles like marionettes on each end. The other, a dramatic styilized rendering of a woman in a striped coat, the arms alternating between wide black and white stripes and the entire garment flowing and arching as only Erté the master can do. I searched fabric stores for the perfect inspiration but found nothing. I had in my mind the type of crochetted lace I wanted, had seen and was not ready to cut a piece out of...yet. It was one of many garments I used as costume for a Biblical play I had done last winter. I draped the fabric on my stand-in doll, Tyler. It looked perfect. I cut. She stayed draped for days while I nursed an angry flu. All I needed was an undergarment of fitted black knit. I decided on a simple tube dress because the fabric needed only just that. No large stripes for this delicate fabric of ivory and pewter. I wanted a graceful wrap with hints of Erté's beautiful drawing. It is a fantasy gown. It would have to be tied at each juncture of the arm for it not to cascade down, but who would care? The effect is all we need.

Challenge 7- Fashion Royalty's "Moonlight" WINNER!

Challenge 7 posed if we were Fashion Royalty designers creating a new collection titled "Joie de vivre" (joy of living), what would the centerpiece ensemble look like? This centerpiece set will be called "Clair de lune" or Moonlight. We were free to interpret these two phrases. I chose "Moonlight Blue" for my 1st design. Moonlight often casts a beautiful blue light through open windows. I placed my Black As Night Kyori Sato just in this room of light. She and her romantic beau have just arrived in a five star hotel in Paris. They have danced and dined at the most luxurious of places on the Seine and now they are quiet. The moon shines through tall windows and Kyori's heart is still like the Spring night air. It is at this moment seeing her beauty that her beau thinks this moment only is the true joy of life.

I shopped for the perfect steel blue fabric for the dance dress I had in mind but I wanted something that would show lightness yet intense color as well. When I spotted the various hues of fine blue tulle I knew I had found what I was looking for. I bought three different tulles, pale blue for the two panels in front, a medium blue and a midnight blue for the sides and back. I ended up not using the medium blue on the sides because the effect was reached without piling on the fabric. This was judge Alexandra Cooper and Ted Menten's comment: "Now I am completely envious of this little plastic vixen. This dress is just breathtaking and I mean it will take the breath out of any man she meets. This is pure sexual elegance in the best possible sense. In the real world this would work because the structured bodice would support the delicate, unsupported bust itself. This is a thoughtful and provocative dress that hits all the right notes. I don't know if it will be the lady or her escort that will be celebrating the "joy of life" more."I won this challenge to my delight!

Challenge 7- Fashion Royalty's "Moonlight Eclipse" Design 2

Now I was on a roll. I was happy with what I created for Moonlight Blue but also had time to think about doing another idea that had been brewing in my mind's eye. I loved the idea of Moon light interrupted: the light from an Eclipse! Or rather, what the lunar surface looks like to us from Earth when the earth's shadow reflects on the moon. Black & White.

So I hunted for something that was the opposite of harsh, and found a wonderful "furried" fabric in those very two colors. I had some glittery stretchy knits at home I wanted to use but I also wanted to offset all that softness with an edgier trim. I found what I was looking for at a Home decor shop - an unconventional pleated trim. The stretch fabric was perfect for the buxom blonde Intergrity line Eve Kitten. And I love blondes in both white and black so she was perfect.

The bent arm gave me the idea of using the black and white skirt as an interchangeable wrap, coat or full length skirt. I embellished the pleats with a pretty black jeweled trim found in the wedding section of a fabric store. The review for the overall design was well received but our judge, Alexandra Cooper, felt the pleats were too contrasting. This was what they said: "An interesting concept beautifully executed. It is elegant and imaginative with all the necessary elements. However, I personally find the pleated treatment at the top of the bodice to be a bit tailored for the rest of the concept. It is a harsh 'note' in the design. I prefer the version without it." Click on any photo to see a large sized version.