magdamagda design studio

My Summer in the City Shirt has a sister! Just as red and pretty as her but with other measurements and detailing - you know, a lil different, just like sisters... and now I have to be the one to separate them!:(  I'm feeling less guilty coz they don't seem to mind... they look at each other in a way that says "one in this room is enough" ....clothes... will they ever change?!

       No, I haven't picked up guitar lessons:P I'm just shamelessly using this beautiful guitar to accessorize my brand new necklace:D I thought the colours match so... nevermind if it's not even plugged in, I look like I know what I'm doing:)) I must have been working at this necklace at least 4 consecutive days... The silk is interfaced and entirely hand-painted in yellow, orange, magenta, pearl metallic red and gold. The pattern is the same as the one I used for the Queen of Hearts Necklace . The sun and moon have zardozi metal embroidery. The moon has the same kind of metal beads on both sides while the sun has 2 different kinds of metal wire. Can be worn eclipsed or with just one medallion:         I was totally absorbed by the painting and the embroidery work and the novelty of all this for me... I am glad I found the patience and glad it's done! It's an ancient art that has been intensely u...

                   A new necklace that follows in the "neck"steps of my Exuberance Necklace ! Introducing new shapes, fabric painting, zardozi metal embroidery and beads!        Lots of creative ways in which it can be worn! Featuring: little embroidered scallops pink-on-pink pearl olive painted edges a pattern that melts curves and corners 4 different types of metal chains that are traditionally used for a special type of embroidery called zardozi stitched and glued olive beads the heart which has the same design mirrored on both faces And 2 pictures from the making of:           I hope you like it, I definitely enjoyed working on this and experimenting with all the new elements!         Painting the edges was quite challenging, I had to take many breaks and let the paint dry before ...

Scallops have been in the spotlight lately and quite blogged about - so it's a good time to add my own tips! I use a cartboard stencil to draw my scallops on the wrong side of the fabric with a washable pen. I choose a small machine step to stitch along the contour(2). When I reach the corners I make one horizontal step between circles - it helps to get a nice shape once the scallops are cut and turned to the other side.  I cut 3 mms from the edge, but the corners need to be clipped closer to the stitch. For that I use a seam ripper , I thrust it close to the stitch but facing the opposite direction and push.  Washing a scalloped piece of clothing can make scallops lose their shape - to prevent that I use a zig zag stitch along their edge - it makes "maintenance" so much easier! Any other tips you thought about or came across? Please share~ Update Monday, May 23rd Practice makes it better, so after practising some more I returned t...

                     Want to make a rose like the one I made for my sundress? It's simple if you know how! Or it's simple anyways, you might figure it out quickly like I had!          For those who would like to know how, as well as for future me, as I don't want to have to figure it out again, here's a little "how to" or more like  a "what" I did - feel free to experiment with other dimensions of fabric! I took a strip of 72/12 cms, folded it in two in length, wrong side on the inside, straight stitched half a cm from the edge, turned it inside out, pressed the strip. At each end I pushed half a cm inside and stitched. I took one end and rolled it a bit, fixed it with thread at one end (I used green thread to demonstrate). As the strip goes to the right, I turned it downwards and stitched in the straight angle corner. Fix...

        While I'm working on something I'm always eager to finish, because I get so many enticing ideas for other projects!... Once I finish, it's again hard to decide where to start... I recheck my fabric stash, I browse my sketch book again.. and I'm stuck. The pressure of a new beginning! Burning to start something but all the ideas I had seem "old" and I'm brainstorming for something new! That's just the trap that I'm used to.           So I just had a look at my supplies and notions and decided to put the elastic thread to good use, the time is just as good as any! (I must say I had bought some elastic thread many years ago and I did use it in a resembling manner - I zig-zagged over it. I did not know then that you can wind it on the sewing machine bobbin and run with it! But I so savoured this late discovery now! And enjoyed the coziness and relaxation of a simple technique on a floral pin...

Today about the collar - as I said before I wanted something dramatic, but not overwhelming. A natural extension of the dress, the  way flowers grow on the stem:). So the fabric spoke to me after all (I let it take its time...gave it a few days...) I tested the idea and being pleased with the result I went for it!          I did not know how much fabric I need, so rather than approximate this time and cut, I preferred to stitch along the edge of the bulk fabric and cut only after I got enough to roll it around the neckline. That was fun! I straight stitched together 2 consecutive blue stripes, the golden stripe between them forming a taller rib. Then stitched the next 2 blue stripes and got the next golden rib. The length of the stitches varies between 9-5 cms, but for a natural look I didn't measure anything while stitching, I just went like "ok, now shorter and shorter stitches...now we make them longer and longer again..." I n...

French darts - can you resist them? There's something so refined about them! In my dress I love how the bodice darts meet the skirt ones on the sides- and I love even more that I turned the back skirt dart into a continuous semicircular one! Some tips: - place the tip of the dart one inch lower than the bust line - reinforce the seam to prevent stretching Also check out this blog post for more helpful info! http://thesewingdivas.wordpress.com/2007/06/18/sewing-a-french-dart/            The skirt's waist line will be more curved because of moving its dart in French dart position, so more prone to stretching. It is going to be attached to a straight grain piece - the waistband, so after stitching them together the seam won't stretch like in the case of French darts where both sides that go into the seam are non-straight grain. But the skirt's upper line can stretch before or while attaching the waistband so it's better to tak...

        Oh yes! Finishing a dress that I've been postponing for a month now - what a great feeling! The shape went through a lot of changes from idea to reality- the buttoned closure and length are the few things they have in common. I chose French darts for fitting and kept them for the bodice and the front skirt while the back skirt darts turned into an unique semicircular dart!           I couldn't have anticipated I'd be choosing yellow and silver buttons for this golden-turquoise print but I don't regret it at all! After the buttons, the yellow trim came natural as a choice, but it's yellow and golden! First of all, I haven't been a fan of gold or golden before coming to India. So I'm sure my frequent choices of golden fabrics are somehow culturally influenced. Then combining golden and silver- no way- I thought! And here I am gladly breaking that rule without thinking twice:)) Buttoned...

        Oh yes, the fabric necklace! As I said before, I am fascinated with the small worlds and lives of accessories... I don't plan them, but I let them happen when they ask me to ... The first one of these I made a few days ago and for the second one I perfected the technique and the results were really pleasing: less time spent, better manipulation of fabrics, a well thought compact construction for the pattern! For more avant-garde charm I added some tinkling golden bells! It can be worn with any of the 2 sides on top around the neck and the sides can twirl around each other at any point giving more possibilities! Also on Etsy:

       So far my closest claim to minimalism! The glittering plastic ring makes the perfect closing trick for this scarf - so perfect to go with its colour that it didn't ask for more. Coz only when you know what lil is, you can do more. And then you compare and decide that less is more. Tricky indeed. Like the golden fog of sunset covering like a blanket what's soon to be covered by a second blanket of darkness. Good night over a smile. The glittering feeling of feeling good when warm and cozy. Embraced by a whisper. Melted in a creamy cat's purrrr. Mocha. For being awake or pleasantly sleepy.              I love how you can play with a scarf - a world of possibilities opens! With spring as an inspiration - the ways to tie it just multiply! This one is made out of brown ribbed chiffon with golden reflexes - a delicate touch of grace! I happen to fall in love with the thin...