ELLE's Shopgirl to Stylist

ELLE has launched a nationwide search for talented shop girls and boys who have what it takes to become international stylists. ELLE has always supported fashion talent on the British high street and retail teams play a huge role in its success, so ELLE plans to recognise the talented shop girls and boys who style the UK every day. ELLE Shop Girl to Stylist is a six-month nationwide talent search to discover a shop girl or boy who has what it takes to make it as a fashion stylist. The winner will get the chance to style an ELLE shoot, plus a magazine internship and expert mentoring from ELLE’s fashion director, Anne-Marie Curtis. Entrants will register at elleuk.com/shopgirltostylist where they are required to complete an online questionnaire demonstrating their styling credentials and provide a reference from their retail employer. ELLE will support the campaign throughout the six months in the magazine and online at ELLEuk.com, capturing the various stages as the competition progresses – culminating in an X Factor-style final in London later in the year. The winner will be announced in the October 25th-anniversary issue of ELLE.

Illustration Friday ~ BRAVE

This week at Illustration Friday the prompt is BRAVE. Living your life on your own terms, in your own way, sometimes requires bravery.

This collage, entitled "Live Your Life," was made with an original vintage high school graduation photo. I found this photo, and many others, at a shop for used books in a basket marked "collage fodder." I knew I needed to "rescue" these discarded images and give them new life. So, the photos of Doris and her classmates have been used in many collages, each given a story of their own.

I'm sure these ladies, from the Class of 1927, lived their lives with class, grace and bravery.

Collage available in my Etsy shop.

© Nancy Lefko

Flat Bindings

Getting the binding of a quilt sewn down is a "hurrah" moment.  Usually this is the last task to finishing the construction of a quilt.  However, there's one more thing that I like to add to make the binding look the best it can be.  In this photo, the left half has just had the stitching completed while the right half has been taken one step further and flattened. 

The first step to getting the binding flat is dampen the fabric with a shot of steam from the iron.  Do not touch the fabric with iron.  Just hover over it and "shoot".

The second step is to place a Taylor Clapper over that area and press down firmly for about 30 seconds.

Any piece of smooth wood will accomplish the same as a purchased clapper.  I just happen to have one from back when I sewed suits and coats.

This flattening process makes a big difference in the appearance of the corners.  The extra fabric that's folded into it creates bulges (top picture) that distorts the corner.  That distortion disappears with a bit of steam and a press with the clapper (bottom picture).

All of my art quilts that are finished with a binding get this treatment.  Utility quilts that are gifts, plus those that are entered into a show get this treatment, too.  The difference in the appearance can be seen between the unpressed corner that's overlapped on top and the one that's been flattened on the bottom.

The thing I like about this method of flattening is that the edge of the quilt is not stretched out of shape as it would be if it were "ironed".  The dimension of that outside measurement is not affected.

PS:  This post is listed along with other tutorials I've posted throughout the years.  Click here to go to the Blogger Page to see all.

PPS:  Another kind of clapper that I just became aware of can be found on I Have A Notion blog.  It's 24" long, one side is flat and  the other is rounded, and it can be hung on the wall for storage.

Cosmetics à la Carte has partnered with Dr Rita Rakus

Cosmetics à la Carte has partnered with Dr Rita Rakus. With over 15 years of aesthetic experience, Dr Rakus provides expertise in non-surgical facial rejuvenation by way of facial line reduction and lip enhancement using injectables. Cosmetics à la Carte make-up artists will provide a ‘pop up’ cosmetics studio within Dr Rakus’ clinic each Friday. Clients will receive personally tailored, expert make-up consultations. All signature Cosmetics à la Carte services will be provided including custom-blend foundation. Three Cosmetics à la Carte products, ideal for post-cosmetic lip procedures, have been hand selected by Dr Rakus and will feature ‘Dr Rita Lip Queen’ accredited pink, lip-shaped stickers on the packaging, while also being available for sale at her clinic. The three Dr Rakus-approved products are: Plump and Prime, priced at £18.00, helps smooth fine lines, add volume, maintain lip colour stay in place for longer; ‘Dr Rita’ Lipstick, priced at £18.00, a classic rich red pigment in a single sweep application; ‘Candy’ Lipstain, priced at £18.00, originally created by Dannii Minogue for a charity Breast Cancer campaign, Candy is a glossy pink lip stain with SPF protection it will protect lips from UV rays and the environment. Dr Rita Rakus clinic is based at 4 Hans Road, London SW1.

Cosmopolitan Fashion Awards

The Cosmopolitan Fashion Awards took place today at The Roof Gardens in Kensington. Judged by Cosmopolitan’s readers and fashion experts, the awards celebrate the very best in fashion retailing. Representing every element of fashion, from partywear to heels, to the most ethical retailer and the online retailer of the year, the winners for 2010 are:

Hottest Partywear – Karen Millen
Best Workwear – Dorothy Perkins
Sexiest Lingerie – La Senza
Most Ethical Retailer – People Tree
Sexiest Heels – Faith
Best for Bags – New Look
Best for Jewellery – Accessorize
Loves Your Curves – Evans
To-Die-For Denim – River Island
Sexiest Must-Flaunt Sportswear – Nike
Best for Bargains – Boohoo
Lust-Have Designer – D&G
Best for One-Stop Shopping – Next
Best for Watches - Guess
Online Retailer of the Year – Asos

Highly commended were also awarded to:
Hottest Partywear – Warehouse
Best Workwear – Oasis
Sexiest Lingerie – Ann Summers
Most Ethical Retailer – M&S
Sexiest Heels – Aldo
Best for Bags – Debenhams
Best for Jewellery – H Samuel
Loves Your Curves – New Look
To-Die-For Denim – Diesel
Sexiest Must-Flaunt Sportswear – Adidas
Best for Bargains – New Look
Lust-Have Designer – Guess
Best for One-Stop Shopping – House of Fraser
Best for Watches – Swatch
Online Retailer of the Year – Topshop

The winners will feature in the April issue of Cosmopolitan (on sale 8 March). Further details and footage of the event can also be viewed at www.cosmopolitan.co.uk

Journal My HeART Out

It has been too long since I allowed myself the time to journal. I really don't know WHAT has occupied so much of my time...just the business of being a mom, I guess.

It really felt good today to take some time for myself and the art that I love. Hopefully this weekend I will make it into the studio to quiet the muse that has been prodding my imagination for some time.

Image © Nancy Lefko

A New "Interpret This" Challenge Photo

This intriguing photo is the one selected by Kay.  Go to her blog, Out of the Basement to read the story behind it.

Dolls!  I love dolls!  I'm excited about exploring the elements in this one ... to choosing and translating some of them into my own vision.

If you haven't seen all ten of the art pieces interpreting last month's photograph, click on the "Interpret This" icon in my sidebar to do so.  The humor and slightly skewed points of view and personal connections brought to each resulting piece of art by my fellow participants will make the "trip" over there worth it.