Happy Christmas!

Just to say a Very Happy Christmas to all my followers and friends.

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May the world be a better place in 2012!

Crowning glory!

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I just had to show you this, I think its magical and it has got my mind all in a spin...I must go and make something to compliment these wonderful colourful gems!

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Monday... I need inspiration, although I have had a productive day working on 2 gowns.

I thought this was just right and Oh so pretty, far too good to eat but a real treat to the eye!

Busy, Busy, Busy

It has been quite a while since I have done a blog.
I have been really busy with many projects.
For 2 whole weeks I have been making something different from usual for a lovely friend of mine.
Two huge pairs of silk French pleated interlined curtains. I kid you not it is easier making a Wedding dress.
 I have enjoyed the challenge and the amazing fabric that she chose, it makes all the difference.

Today I have been in my studio making a stunning gown in Ivory silk dupion with a polka dotted organza over skirt which fishtails out into a train.
I am looking forward to my Bride coming for her second  fitting, there is still quite a few hours of work left to do, including several metres of hems x4 layers of silk...I hope she likes it!

Autumn pinks!

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I just couldn't resit this photo.

The choice of flowers and their colours are so warming for an Autumn Wedding.

They work really well with the mink/grey dress, it brings it alive and adds depth to the overall feel.

It is very important to chose your colour scheme carefully, take good advice from the experts and try to be a bit daring from the conventional bouquet, it well worth it!

What do you think?

Hand beading

I have spent a satisfying week beading a stole for a very  lovely lady, who is off to a Wedding at the Weekend.

Beading is really rather a labour of love, but once you are into it, it is very addictive and wonderfully creative. 

I had the pleasure of using a gorgeous collection of beads that had sentimental value to my customer. This certainly made it an extra special task.

Using 2 needles and a circular hoop to hold the silk tight, away I went. My design was totally free and developed as I went along. I do hope she is delighted as I am!

My New Website!

Introducing my brand new website... 

CAROLINE FRICKER COUTURE.

Designed by my daughter Flora, please have a look!

Flower Inspiration

Today's  inspiration,

I'm thinking of a new design, subtle Autumn colours with a very romantic appeal.

I had better get drawing!.

Izy is back off to Bath University on Saturday for her final year, so we are looking forward to a trip to Bath.

Yesterday, I got a lovely order for a very beautiful gown from a very lovely lady!. I am very excited about it and can not wait to start.

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Back to the drawing board!

I have at last returned to my studio. I have spent a lovely day designing for a new customer this gorgeous gown in two beautiful silks. Ivory Dupion and a sparkling Organza. The bodice is rouched to the hip and falls away in a bias cut skirt. The detailing is handmade sparkly Organza flowers and feathers at the shoulder and side hip.

Term begins!

Monday the 5th of September

Today Flora starts college, she is studying a full time Art and Design Diploma. I am very excited for her as I know she will enjoy it and she will do so well. 

Alice is off to school, she is entering year 3 and is so excited. We have had a lovely summer holiday here in North Devon with are knew member to the Fricker family 'Salar' , and what a handful he is, he is also very very cute and cuddly.

I am back to the drawing board and full steam ahead, look out for tomorrows post!

New Website coming soon!

I am very excited here at the moment, My amazing daughter Flora is redesigning my website as I am writing this post. She has just finished my husbands  www.goldeneyeguides.co.uk

Yesterday, we spent the day photographing my dresses from different angles and showing more of  the detail, which was missed out from my current website.

 These photo show my Anna dress in all its glory. I do hope that you can see the quality and appreciate the detail of these close-ups.

This gown is all cut on the bias of the fabric . It is amazingly flattering to the body shape and looks stunning.
It is great for a hourglass figure.

Watch this space for the launch!

Design time!

There is one day left before the school holidays.....I slightly panicked and spent the day designing and ordering fabrics to add a few more dresses to my collection.
For me, this is a very exciting time as I love designing and looking through all my fabrics swatches. When I at last settle on the gown I am going to make I can hardly wait for the fabric to arrive....roll on tomorrow!

Elie Saab Autumn 2011

This collection is the inspiration of my day. I feel totally excited by the use of fabric, the cut and the exquisite embellishments. I do not think there is a designer out there at the moment who can equal an Elie Saab creation! Saab's use of colour is always so soft and sympathetic to his model, creating an air of pure femininity.

Do you feel inspired?

A night out at the Prom!

Here are a few photos from Flora's prom.

Rachel

Emma

Flora

These are just are just two dresses that I made for the occasion....

This stunning red gown for Rachel, is made of Silk Dupion lined and trimmed with black. As you can see it is for her hour glass figure and flares out from the knee. It has a pleated detail around the bodice and a stunning halter neck to finish off the look. Rachel was lovely to work with, she knew exactly what she wanted. I think red was a great colour for her beautiful tanned skin!

Emma, had a very definite choice of dress. It had to be from' Dirty Dancing' fame. Emma loves to dance, so a double Crepe backed Satin with a silk Chiffon over skirt, pulled in at the waist with a Chiffon scarf and flower with a silver broach just finished it off. The choice of colour for Emma was perfect too.

I did not make Flora's dress, as she was very clever and thrifty. She found a stunning Black Lace little number. So, with a little bit of customising to the under bodice and neckline [which actually changed the original look] she was almost ready.We thought it needed a little bit of colour ... so I quickly made a statement clutch bag, from cerise pink Thai Silk, lined with black and trimmed with a huge black button to carry everything that one needs to these events.

Flora's fantastic make-up done by a dear friend Kylie Allin. Contact: Kylie27_10@live.co.uk  

I must admit I had a tear in my eye as off she went to the Prom!

if you would like to see more follow this link 

Its all go!

Its been full on in the Fricker family over these passed few weeks.

Izy starts and intern this morning with Clarissa Hulse in Islington London. Check out her wonderful interiors and prints www. clarissahulse.com

Harry has moved down to Falmouth and is opening a fish Cafe in Gunwollow, on the Lizard. He will be head chef and he isn't 20 until Wednesday!

Flora is off to her prom [photos to follow] and Alice is about to loose her front tooth.

Williams away for the week, and I am just about to order some amazing silk to make a gown for my collection.

And I forgot its Bumble and Bear's first Birthday today!

Prom dress photos to follow later today!

Foxgloves

I am helping Izy making this rather lovely wall hanging of Foxgloves in Silk Velvet, Duchess Satin, chiffon and beads on Linen....I should be getting on with all those prom dresses, but this took my eye,it has been very relaxing, you might see more later!

Handmade Organdy Roses.

Keep it handemade!
In this buissness I am always making roses to trim my gowns or to make as headpieces. These are so pretty and so much nicer than buying them, as they are all made it far away countries and look rather artificial!
They are rather fiddly and patience is needed . The best fabric to use is Cotton Organdy or fabrics that don't fray. Find some interesting stamens in a cake craft shop , cut the petal shape and you are away!
Leave a comment if you would like a step by step guide.

Flower bucket

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This bucket of flowers makes me feel really HAPPY!......What about you on this rainy Monday lunchtime?

Good Friends!

After none stop sewing of Prom dresses for friends of Flora's for there Prom on the 4th July.
Alice and I had a little rest and went over to my lovely friend Sarah, at Upcott Farm.
Here Alice played all day with 2 cute little puppies Tilly and Pip and of course here best friends Daisy and Milly.
Thank you Sarah xx

My Wedding Dress

Last week it was my 23rd Wedding Anniversary, which I find hard to believe, but I suppose given that I have 4 children ranging from 22years to 6 its possible! I have found this photo and thought it was a great one to blog about.

William and I got married in Gloucester Cathedral in 1988, we were very lucky as not that many people are so privileged to do so. We were allowed to be married there because my grandfather was a Vicar  in the Cathedral for many years.

I had been designing Wedding gowns for a little while when we got married and I was getting quite well known in the national magazine's with my gowns, so that when Brides Magazine asked if they could feature our Wedding, I knew this would be a fantastic chance to really get my name out there.The Wedding dress had to be a spectacle, I remember going to so many fabric shows to find the right silk for the gown. I knew immediately when I saw the fabric. It was a Thai silk  printed with a paisley pattern in white on the palest of pink, it was hand printed in Germany...I loved it, it cost a small fortune but I placed a order for 25 metres and I  have never regretted it! I still adore it to this day.

I always design my gowns looking and feeling the fabric, so with this beautiful Silk I was so inspired, that I made two gowns, as I could not decide. Brides magazine chose the gown that I was to wear on the day.

I love this gown with the fichu neckline and the tiny little pleated trim around the top edge. Just showing underneath of the fichu is a puffed sleeve trimmed with a cotton lace.And at the centre front of the gown a silk camellia finishes off the look. 

The gown was full skirted with an over skirt that was open at the front and pulled back as I walked up the Isle. The train was one and a half metres long. I had a mid length veil and a headdress that sat around the back and sides off my head, made of course by me!

This whole gown was so 80's but I loved it and still do today!

Never forgotten.

I'm am sorry I have been a bit slow with my blog this week. 

As usual I have been busy finishing off  lots of sewing jobs.

I have also been helping my daughter develop a range of handmade Cotton Organdy roses. They are quite amazing and something to blog about the making off very soon.

My dear stepmother died this week, so blogging has taken a back seat, while my family all rally round and try to come to terms with this sad loss.

I thought this photograph just sums up what I am feeling.

My Sewing box...

All day long I have been busy in my studio.

Tidy up time came together as a lovely exercise of eye catching little gems....Silks,ric-rac,ribbons,antique lace, buttons, pearls and thread all in pinks, aqua and ivory.

I am so happy when I design and make with beautiful things.It gave me so much pleasure putting this little story board  together.

I hope you enjoy it too!

Headdress...

Today I have been making a pretty little headdress.

It is made from Cotton Organdy ribbon and a very delicate Cotton Organdy rose that I have handmade petal by petal and finshed off in the middle with a little trim of antique lace. It all sits on two ivory feathers fastened to a Alice band.

I have made it to go with a 1950's gown.

Time out!

It been such a hectic week. Prom dresses, Curtains and Bridal alterations. I have also been writing quite a big article for a well known U.K Wedding blog [more about that later]
It was Alice's 7th Birthday on wednesday, so we took time out and had some amazing Fish and Chips on the beach at Combsgate, Woolacombe..
 It was fantastic watching the surfers and the sunset go down!

Through the looking glass!

I am very excited about tomorrow.....
I am meeting up with some lovely folk from Devon who are all involved in Weddings. We are being lead by  videographer and film editor, Peter Cox, who is going to make a  short quirky Vintage film showing off all our talents....it looks like I'll be the Dress Designer!

Royal Gown.

Back to work tomorrow after an amazing weekend.
I still have to keep on taking a look at Princess Catherine. I have read everything in the papers and re watched the Royal Wedding 3 times.
I think I'm now an expert on the Wedding Dress. I am totally inspired and committed to creating even better gowns for my clients.
Roll on Tuesday, there's exciting things in store!

Catherine's Wedding Dress!

Oh what an amazing day yesterday. I was blown away by the stunning spectacle of The Royal Wedding.

For me, Catherine's Wedding gown was just incredible, it was everything I had expected and more.

The cut and design was exquisite, along with the choice of Silk and Lace.I do hope it will make potential brides look again at what they are buying and how gowns are made. So much is mass produced today, and still they come with a hefty price tag.

Couture garments  ooze style and finish, they are how I make my gowns, and I do hope there will be a revival of handmade Bridal Gowns, they do not have to be pricey, they are just made with love and incredible attention to detail, and certainly do not belong to the throw away fashion of today.

Long live Couture and the Happy marriage of William and Catherine.
Thank you for a perfect day!

What do you think?

Boho Bride

A British based wedding blog, offering creative ideas and inspiration for free-thinking brides of all budgets and tastes; from someone who is utterly passionate about colour, design, composition…music, flavours…and pretty much everything else involved in creating beautiful and evocative events!


A big Thank you to Sarah at Boho Brides for writing a great piece about me today and featuring my gowns. Do go and check out this very pretty blog and be inspired!

The Famous Beauties Ball in London.

I have been looking through the web and came upon this photo from 1931. It is a scene that I have not seen for many years. It was however very influential to my life, as I was so inspired by it. I remember at the time I just wanted to make all these gowns [I was about 16years old] 5 years later I went on to design and make a collection of ballgowns for my degree show, sponsored by Laura Ashley....and now I'm making Wedding Gowns....Funny old life!

1931, London, England, UK - The Famous Beauties Ball in London: Miss Baba Beaton (second from left) surrounded by Jess Chattock, Nancy Mitford, and Carol Prickard in enormous pageant dresses before background painting. 

Happy Easter Everyone!

We had lots of fun today in my studio.Instead of making Bridal Gowns, My daughters and I covered big pebbles from the beach in amazing colours of tin foil and lacquered them with PVA glue [about 6 layers] most important to let every layer of glue dry before adding the next one etc. When they are finished cut out a shaped bottom in a colourful felt and stick to the base.

I have been collecting tin foil for years, I now have quite a colourful collection.Why not start collecting all your wrappers from your eggs, its amazing how useful it can be, I use it on all sorts of projects.These pebbles are used in my studio as paperweights to stop my fine silks slipping when I cut out. They can be used for many things!

Alice and I made the bluebird too,and sat him in a twisted nest of twigs.

I hope you all enjoy your Easter!

Handmade headdress

 

At work this afternoon on a rather pretty headdress  Helped by my daughter Alice with the finishing touches!

White Anemones

Inspiration for Friday.....I just love this photo of white anemones with tones of lilac and grey. I may just have to delve deep into my box of silk and make something gorgeous!

Vote for Flora

My daughter Flora has entered a competition and she needs your VOTES, if you like what you see, please follow this link....all you have to do to vote is write "Flora - Flora Fricker" in the comment box at the bottom of the page, so get voting!

Bridal Photography....

I have just been sent some amazing images by a photographer by the name of Seb Chandler. I love his photos and fresh stlying, he just caputures the moment perfectly.

Why not take a look, he has worked for people like Stuart Parvin and Diane Hassall, maybe it should be Caroline Fricker Couture too, although my husband might get a bit fedup!

Union Jack Wedding Gown!

With the Royal Wedding fast approaching, how patriotic is this gown. Designed by Jasper Conran to raise money for Help the Heros. I love it. Do you think anyone would actually wear it?