Thursday, May 2, 2013

Starry Garden Final Color Swatches & Progress

So the time has come the walrus said to speak of many things...

Or just give you an update on how things are going! ^o^ With only three weeks left till the FRILL fashion show, things have been basically non-stop sewing time in between finishing commission pieces as well as prepping and finishing all the runway garments, and of course working at my other job which has been crazy busy long hours. Really, I am trying to get less hours there so I can spend more time designing all the commissions you have been requesting of me! <3 (Thank you for those by the way! I never imagined so many people wanting me to design them things!)

The first set of yardage came in a couple weeks ago, and I was so nervous to take the plunge--
I bought 8 yards total, one of the lavender, and one of the slate blue.

Because what if something didn't line up? What if there was an error?! But what was I thinking? Flor is basically magic and everything lines up and looks PERFECT.

Colors Featured: Lavender & Slate Blue © Pop Princess// Annika Simmons & Flor Lopez 2013 
I personally am looooving the slate blue and the lavender so far. They turned out really beautifully, especially when printed on the Kona cotton fabric since that one has a really nice weave and is considered to be "premium" cotton of sorts.The next set of fabric arrived for my adorable plus sized model's design, in the navy, yesterday and this one is the all stars design at the top.
Colors Featured: Navy © Pop Princess// Annika Simmons & Flor Lopez 2013
Colors Featured: Navy © Pop Princess// Annika Simmons & Flor Lopez 2013
Colors L- R  Featured: Queen Bee, Sax, Pink, Black, Navy © Pop Princess// Annika Simmons & Flor Lopez 2013








I think the rest of the test swatches turned out really well and are true to color! The one on the far left, the Queen Bee, I had printed on a cotton silk and it has such a gorgeous sheen to it. I think if I do a second release of Starry Garden, perhaps I'll do a set number of skirts (JSKs?) in the silky one if anyone shows interest of course. ; 3
 © Pop Princess// Annika Simmons & Flor Lopez 2013
I was having trouble finding the chiffon fabrics that I wanted for the JSK and OP design, since originally my vision had the sleeves/accents in a darker color to set off the fabric. I decided for the lavender to go with a gorgeous light lilac chiffon from the David Tutera collection, and a pretty white chiffon for the slate blue. I should be able to mock up all the rest of the designs/colorways after the show!

And you will not believe how difficult it is to match the print/seams on this fabric!! It took me over 4 hours to cut out the skirt/bodice pattern pieces I had drafted out. >o< It's all those diamond criss cross-y patterns that make it so hard to make the print look continuous all the way around. I am learning, so one day I will get it perfect just like how I want. And all the lace will be dyed by hand so it might take a couple times to get the perfect vat of each color!

Here is a sneak peek of the lavender, just the bottom bodice so far. : 3 I think I will be able to finish a good majority of it today on my day off!

 © Pop Princess// Annika Simmons & Flor Lopez 2013
  It still looks like a June release date! So hope you're looking forward to the variety of cute colors to choose from for Starry Garden! <3 Which color is your favorite so far?

I have been doing sneak peeks of the other runway designs on my personal Facebook page, though I suspect I should probably make a Pop Princess fan page one, yes? Would you also like to see sneak peeks of designs in progress? <3 

xo
Annika 

ps: In case you missed the notice, hang out with Annika on Facebook! <3
Pop Princess Fan Page





16 comments:

  1. Aww, it came out great! I didn't notice it before, but now that I've looked closer, I adore the longing with which the winged bunny is looking at the shooting star... I wonder what does s/he wish for?
    Fingers crossed for the fashion show and the best of luck with this print! I strongly hope it becomes a big hit!

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    1. Oh Rosa, you are right! Little Hoppy is gazing at the falling stare with such intensity, this is certainly how I imagine her in heaven's garden, playing among the stars. I hope she is only wishing and thinking the happiest things. <3

      Thank you for the luck, and of course, you yourself for always being so encouraging! xo

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  2. Oh,God,too much beauty for my eyes QvQ
    The print in the fabric looks perfect!! And the fabric does also look very soft and confortable <3 <3
    Each color version is precious!! But my fave is the navy one *v*

    Good luck on the fashion show, Im sure you will do great!!

    One more time, congratulations to you and Flor for this awesome work. This is absolutely one of my dram dresses *Q*

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    1. *3* Hehehe, awweeee Hotaru you are too much! Too cute, too cute! <3 Thank you SO incredibly much for the luck and congratulations, and I hope I am doing a great job to make you so happy and excited!

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  3. Uwaaaaahhhhh!!!! ☆*:.。. o(≧▽≦)o .。.:*☆ So beautiful, Annika! <3 I love all of the colorways! And that was a great idea for the Queen Bee - it gave it a brilliant shine! Eeeee - this is so exciting! I can't wait to see how they look once finished!
    Awwww I wish I could see your teasers on your FB page! T^T But definitely make a fan page! :3
    Good luck dear! <3
    Kieli~♥

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    1. Kieli, my darling girl, I absolutely looove that emoticon!!! I feel that is a perfect expression. :> I can't wait to show you the finals, so far the lavender one is turning out good. ;3 I will make a fan page then, because if no one else, I will be able to talk to you. <3 xo

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    2. Awww hee hee~ I find all of my emotes from http://www.japaneseemoticons.net/ (there are so many cute ones!) Omg, I can't wait to see the lavender! This is making my decision so much harder on which color to get xD; Awwww that makes me so happy!<3 But I am positive you will get a lot of fans! You are a brilliant artist! And I can't wait to own my first piece from you~
      Kieli~♥

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    3. :immediately clicks to go see all emotes: Iiiii could basically look at those for hours. (ノ´ヮ´)ノ*:・゚✧ You are just the best! <3 Right, right?! So many color choices! I mean, I'm the designer, and I still can't decide between slate blue and lavender. Bahahaha. I can't wait to make you one especially, and I'll even embroider your initials or something on it somewhere to make it special. :bouncing happily: You just make me smile so! xo ♪♪♪

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    4. Lol! So can I! Awwww you are too! \(*T▽T*)/ Ha ha! Well I hope we can see photos of all of the colors! Like a rainbow! ^-^ Ahhhh that would be too awesome! <3 I wish I could model/wear one now! xD I'm glad I can do that! You make me feel all floaty! X3
      Kieli~♥

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    5. ^o^ Oh yes please! <3 Perhaps you can model for me in a show one day! I would like that very much. Or we can have you in your very own photo shoot! Hahaha, a rainbow. I will remember this and make sure to take a photo sometime. :3 This is a very clever idea! xo

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    6. That would be an honor and a dream come true!!!!<3<3<3 Yay! I can't wait! A bunny rainbow! X3
      Kieli~♥

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  4. I also can't wait to see one of the dresses or skirts finished. I'm sure they will look adorable beautiful and cute *_____* I like the lavendar and navy version the most. Seems Like it already became one of my dream dresses ^^ <3

    Congratulations to you and thank you for your wonderful work <3
    A fan page on facebook would be great and of course sneak peeks of the designs in progress too ^^

    Good luck and the best wishes for the awesome project ^____^

    Kimi

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  5. OMG... this fabric is so beautiful *__________* if the price wasn't too high I'd like to buy a jsk so much *______________________*

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    1. Darling Hope, thank you so much for the wonderful compliment. Did you see the finished JSK? :3 I am doing my best to keep prices reasonable! It means a lot of playing in my Excel sheets!

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  6. Oh my goodness this is gorgeous. (And I saw it as a skirt first--I just lurked in here through Tumblr and immediately went "wow I hope there's a JSK" and tHERE is a JSK.) It's also really cool you're doing stuff in plus sizes because I'm someone who's always thought sweet lolita was really great and wanted to get into that side, but it's hard to find things that fit me. :( So all of this is just djka;lfjdla;!!!!!! really exciting, and even if I couldn't wear it it's soooooooooo cute.

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    1. :blush: Aw, thank you for your sweet comments, Gabi! <3 o^^o That makes me super pleased that you found me on Tumblr and are liking the designs! I am always so happy to hear that.

      Plus sizes has always been something I've wanted to do! I want girls of every shape and size to be pretty pretty princesses, without feeling like they can't wear things or they have to settle. That's just silly!

      Since I didn't learn at uni, I have been trying to teach myself how to grade patterns (i.e. make them bigger, smaller) so if all goes well, I should be able to offer a good range of sizes from 0-12, to 14-24!

      The release next month will be just kind of a trial run, since it's my first collection release! :3 But I'm planning on doing a second one in August that will offer all the sizes.

      I'm happy you're looking forward to it! <3

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