30 Days to go

So I have 30 days before a go to NY, so its one month. I’ll be in NY officially for a month working at Anna Sui. Right now I want this month to fly by, but my intern month to last forever.  Is a month long enough to establish a new life? I know your life can change in a moment from a trauma, or meeting your soul mate etc.

In my month of preparation what should I do?

Pray  -  Yes yes , I’m doing that!

Pack - Yes yes, I am preparing the
all in important wardrobe,
I’ve made a fantastic winter coat (more later)

Do Administration - Yes Yes I’m making
sure all paperwork and bills are paid

Anything else?

I’ll google ‘30 days’ and see what I get?

30 Days is a reality television show on the FX cable network in the United States, created and hosted by Morgan Spurlock. In each episode, Spurlock, or some other person or group of people, spend 30 days immersing themselves in a particular lifestyle with which they are unfamiliar (e.g. working for minimum wage, being in prison, a Christian living as a Muslim etc.), while discussing related social issues. As in Spurlock's film, Super Size Me, there are a number of rules unique to each situation, which must be followed during each such experiment. At least one episode each season has featured Spurlock as the person spending the month in the particular lifestyle.

 Or......

Matt Cutts  - Change your life? Do it 
in 30 days by starting today

http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/type/30-days/

Just who is Cutts? He joined Google as a software engineer in January 2000 and currently the head of Google’s Webspam team. He has his own blog encouraging the likes of you and me

He asks : ‘Do you want to be in good health? Do you want to be more successful? Do you want more love? Now you can! Start today with 1 challenge for the next 30 days. Take a small step everyday to create a new habit.’

http://30daysofcreativity.com/

On a creative note:

30 DAYS OF CREATIVITY

30 Days of Creativity is a global social initiative encouraging people to create stuff (anything) every day for 30 days in June. 2012 is our 3rd year. We hope to make it a big one.

Which lead me to this

Your brain is like a muscle. When you exercise it, it gets stronger.

Finally I came across this website:

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/12/22/design-something-every-day/

Jad Limcaco runs a freelance web and graphic design business called Jad Graphics in Long Beach, CA. He also owns Heart Directed. His website Is http://jadlimcaco.com/

Jad calls us to - Design Something Every Day!

Jad wrote:

As designers, we’re all trying to get better at what we do. We surf the Web daily for hours trying to find useful tips and tricks to enhance our design skills. But what if we spent less time surfing the Web looking for inspiration and more time creating and designing things?'

The Challenge

Someone once said, “Practice makes perfect“. While that statement might not be completely true, I do believe that practice makes you better. That is why in this blog post, I would like to propose something to every designer: Why not try to design something every day for one year? – or atleast for 30 days!

Actors rehearse their lines until they learn them perfectly. Musicians practice their songs until every note is just right. Athletes practice their particular sport so they can excel. As designers, why can’t we do the same? Ask any successful designer in the community about how they have succeeded and they will attribute much of their success to practice. I challenge you today to design something daily. Take fifteen to twenty minutes that you would normally use to surf the Web today and devote it to designing something.

Most of you are probably thinking that I am out of my mind for proposing this. How can you, as a designer working either for a company or for yourself, find the time to design something daily?

I like this challenge, so from tonight I shall design something new  each day before I arrive at Anna Sui’s

Here's No 1

Looking forward to practising the illustration side of things!

New York New York

The other day, I was covering a pastoral lesson for a Year 8 class, the subject was ‘self talk’. I spontaneously gave my story of self-talk and delighted in telling the students about New york. So I’m going to tell you all through this blog of mine, about my trip to New York.

I’m going to be a 40 something intern at Anna Sui in January. After 20 years of self-talk that ‘Dreams don’t come true’ I’ve stepped out of this lie to believe they do. I asked myself ‘what does your heart want Alex? I want to go to New York, but not as a tourist, wouldn’t it be wonderful to use my summer vacation here in Melbourne to see the world of fashion again. So I sent a presentation to Anna Sui and they said YES.

Now I have that all-important visa I’m more relaxed in talking about it. So over the next couple of months of preparation, I’m going to share the journey. I hope as I had a clap of applause from a class of 14 year olds that whoever reads this blog will be encouraged to change your self-talk and live in a world where dreams do come true.

So Who is Anna Sui and why her?

Fall 2012

"Everyone’s favorite Detroit-born dollybird, Sui’s always been boho to the bone, but in a way that’s more glam than granola. Think Biba-era London, rock-and-roll Victoriana, floppy hats, Empire-line flou, and peacock feathers—all atop the perfect pair of tough-chick boots. Sui started out in the eighties and debuted on the runway in 1991. Today, her patchwork-boudoir aesthetic is instantly recognizable in her clothing, her store design, even in her beauty packaging. It’s a true lifestyle brand, and business continues to boom: She’s got a Soho flagship, 32 boutiques, international cult status (particularly in Asia), a successful beauty line, and the pièce de resistance: the Anna Sui BoHo Barbie®."

While a fashion student, I would religiously purchase Vogue, Elle and Marie Claire every month. On  reviewing the collections I remember musing to my self "wow I love that wow the pattern, the embellishment the look." 

I remember reading that the designers was someone called, Anna Sui and that she was a New york Designer. I was asked at an interview for an Masters at the Royal College of Art, which designers I admired and where I wanted to go with my career. I could easily answer that I liked American Designers, (particularly Anna Sui). But as for what direction I wanted to go in I couldn’t clearly answer. It was this indecision that I was told was why the RCA felt I needed to go out and work first. 

As it happened I did, and twenty years later I’m a teacher of textiles – At the moment. 
Remember As I said at the beginning, since the age of 19, I’d told myself that dreams didn’t come true. What I should have said to the RCA was I want to work as a designer; I have a head full of ideas that I need to get out there. I’m not regretting the last 20 years, particularly the last 10, primarily in teaching because they made me the person I am today. I am a woman who believes in the impossible. A woman who believes that she has a destiny, and is now living it. I don’t know what my time at Anna Sui will bring, but it has brought me one thing already. The reality of believing I can knock on a door and that door can and has opened.

So over the next few months come and follow my preparation
 & adventures in New York.

Thank you everyone part 3

My final shoot took place on a hot Sunny Melbourne spring day. This year has been a year of manufacturing samples. I still had a few of garments not yet worn. What was I to do?

On a ‘ladies who lunch date’ with my wonderful kooky actress friend, Irene Kao

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Irene-K/191951937493540?ref=hl

https://www.facebook.com/TheLanguageofVision

 I spontaneously looked across and decided Irene modelling my Jewel collection would be ‘cool’ Irene has such a beautifully unique look and style. In fact around her neck as I looked at her she had flamboyantly swaged a vibrant blue silk flag around her neck as a scarf. It worked by the way!

Irene has a photographer friend, June Yen Tan, 

who’d, offered to photograph Irene, so we combined the two events .

Make-up was done by the quietly professional Shirlaine Tse – Thanks once again

http://shirlaineportfolio.wordpress.com/

I have worked with Shirlain a few times now,  I had the honour of having my makeup done  by her for my own personal shoot for the website by John E.

On the day it was the day that the electrics stopped working on centre-link!


So again I was late to the shoot due to the Burnley Tunnel traffic jam. Next shoot I will be on time LOL

We must work again

So off we went to Central park, Malvern on a very hot spring day in Melbourne.

June – thank you. You caught the vibrancy of Irene and the detail l so much love in my designs.

June was fantastic, ensuring a frill or bow was positioned sat right, that eye for detail was such a blessing

Thank you Irene, June and Shirlaine

So now, with all these fabulous images created through so many talented people I have been able to prepare great marketing materials for New York.

My next series for the blog is going to be my next season in the story of Alexandra Zvi designed by God to design.

In 45 days I’m off to New York to live out a 20-year dream of being a fashion intern at Anna Sui

More will be revealed….

Thankyou Everyone part 2

My second shoot was like entering my favourite room, familiar and comfortable, John Englezos’ work always brings out something else that showcases who I am, whether it’s a publicity shot of me, or my designs, his lighting and ability to put the model at ease shows through the shots.

The Jewel collection modelled by 'moi'

Check out John's work -

https://www.facebook.com/pages/John-E-Photography/98026138795 

We shot in the middle of Melbourne at the wonderfully chic apartment of my friend Lynn Gazal, Thanks Lynn you are such a hostess. 

John brought out the beauty and elegance of the chiffon batwings tops and that of the model, Brea. 

https://www.facebook.com/breanna.wmodel?fref=ts

Jodies elegant hair &makeup

It was also lovely to work again with Jodie Porter, an accomplished makeup artist (& hair, thank goodness) from MAC. Particularly, as I was at the US Consulate waiting in line for my visa (watch this space for an up and coming blog) I was confident that Jodie could interprete elegance and glamour for the shoot. And she did:

Then, we legged it to the grounds of St Patrick’s cathedral to take advantage of a wonderful blossom tree.

 I love spring:)

 This outfit was produced as an extension of the Jewel collection, to showcase my tailoring. Incidentally, did I say I’m related to Whitechapel tailors? I always smile when I think of that one. No wander I’m happiest with a tape measure around my neck and needle in hand.

Did you also know, that Zvi is Hebrew for gazel?

Much to my delight, I’ve had amazing feed back on theses garments. So much so I’ve just ordered the 20 Yards of the black and white chiffon in faith of some orders for the Tops. Take a look at this:

 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/110406654/black-and-white-printed-silk-chiffon

This top is made of beautiful 100% silk chiffon. The print is an abstract crowd scene design which has been effectively used to create a voluminous batwing sleeved top. It is fastened at the hip with black coloured silk satin ties while the 3/4 length sleeves have been carefully bound with the same fabric.

Made to order.It is available in S/M (Au 8 – 12) and M/L (Au14 – 18). Please allow a 4-6 week order period for as the garment to be made just for you.

So here’s to my second round of heartfelt Thank yous:

John  - Thanks for your time and expertise behind the lens.

Jodie - Thanks for being available and complimenting my work with your makeup artistry

Breanna – Thanks for your beauty and grace in posing in my work.

Next time - Thank you part 3 - The last shoot of  my 5day 3 shoot Marathon!