Spring/Summer Private Beginner Sewing Lessons in Montreal and Toronto

Hello all!

I am excited to start off the Spring/Summer season by offering a few special spots to you all for my Private one on one Sewing courses,read on for details:

Extra treats

-learn secret tricks and tips from an expert seamstress

-create patterns that can be transformed into multiple styles

-adapt to your style,your ideas,your flow

-receive up to date resources for fabric,patterns & sewing support groups

-in the comfort of your own home

-have all of my focused attention 

-working around your timeframes

To register or book in advance please send me a PM for more details or sign up here: http://bit.ly/231oOoR
*See the course outline below.

All the best,
Nikki Picard
@tailormademtl

Beginner Seamstress workshop No.1 (4 hours)= $190
Project: *See choices below(fabric included +will provide notions and tools)
Students #: 1 (*ask about 2 or more rates)

Course outline:
1) Brief intro of textiles,tools,& an intro to the Sewing machine.(Bonus: Secret stitch tips)
2) Design project & choose fabric,learn how to read patterns.(Bonus: Learn to craft basic quick patterns)
3) Practice sewing (basic stitches) & cut-out pattern.
4)Start sewing project & finishing with embellishments.

Fantastic Beginner project ideas to choose from: 
-DIY bag
-Infinity scarf(different styles)
-Hair accessories/Brooches
-Basic Skirt with Yoga style waistband 
*can send pics for examples!

#DIY Blog en francais/ Hello French side of my heritage.

J'aime le monde de la créativité

I am half French Canadian and a quarter Welsh and a dash of Irish mixed in.
Which explains my character and namesake,with all this being said
I found a delightful french (Pardon,Parisian not Quebecois) DIY Fashion Blog
to get your creative mind & sewing machine charged up.
Visit & make at MAKE MY LEMONADE



Follow my stories on:
Instagram: @misstailormademtl
Twitter: @tailormademtl

Local hand made feature: Quartier Mode (Blogger & Entrepreneuress, Tiffany Elton)

                                                     
                                                       TIFFANY ELTON of Quartier Mode

Quartier Mode video in collaboration with Carol Riberio

My mentee Tiffany has been in my creative world for a long time (5 years+),she is always and ever evolving in the fashion/diy/local scene starting as my employee(Fairyesque) and growing into a strong local blogger,creator and Entrepreneuress. She has collaborated and highlighted some of the finest,hottest Montreal designers,makers and creators.
We share the same purpose and passion, supporting local talented craftspeople from Fashion to art to decor. If it's handmade we are there cheering it all on.
This Newfoundland native will be heading back to her hometown for a little fresh air and inspiration, so follow her journey and thoughts at :

WEB: http://quartiermodeboutique.wordpress.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/quartiermode
TWITTER:https://twitter.com/quartiermode

Tailor made thoughts: Spark up your winter groove. Shine,sparkle and move forward.

"Whether it be boredom, fear, exhaustion or simply distraction, there are ways to shatter the walls that threaten to keep your ideas from developing. Here are a few exercises that can help in overcoming creative blockades, no matter what type of project you find yourself working on."

http://darlingmagazine.org/overcoming-creative-blockades/

In the midst of the winter tundra, I am often torn by the lack of sunlight & the frost hitting me at full force. Despite all the elements, I am strengthening and planning for the Spring months.
Filling my notebooks,making lists and re-organizing my mind to prepare for those BIG shiny new projects. 

To give you all some background, I have changed my surroundings and made the move to Toronto. 
This move bought a new twist in my journey introducing the costume world to my repertoire of experiences. 

I still undoubtedly support talented designers,aspiring seamstresses and creative newbies.
This will always be my bottom line.
(I am still offering online tutorials,consultations and mentoring.)

As I am exploring this part of my life, I welcome you all to write me and share your thoughts,ask advice and propose design collaborations,etc.

I will be sharing with you all from time to time, DIY ideas, inspirations, connections,stories of my students/mentees and thoughts of the creative world.

You can always find me here:

EMAIL :Tailor.mademtl@gmail.com

BLOG: www.tailormadestudio.ca

FB : www.facebook.com/TailorMadeStudio

TWITTER: www.twitter.com/Tailormademtl

Tailor Made Wintery contest: Win a copy of "Sew Retro" Vintage sewing book

Happy holidays Aspiring Tailors & Sewing curious!

To bring in the New year with Tailor Made Studio (Nicole Picard), I thought a perfect way to set the tone for your brand new creative adventures and to give some goodies to my supporters is to offer a free copy of 

"Sew Retro" by Judi Ketteler. This book has simple vintage inspired sewing projects for the new seamstresses. It also has included a series of 7-8 patterns that match each tutorial.

History,#vintage and a daily project to send you on your way.

All you need to do is answer the following questions:

Who or what influences your style?

Wishing you a warm & fuzzy (preferably with layers of cashmere/wool)!

Happy tailoring.

All the best,

Nicole

The Costume life

Tailor Made update: 
This Fall I had the pleasure of working with Lee Kinoshita-Bevington on CBC Televisions Battle of the Blades.So officially,I am now in the TV #costume/wardrobe world if you would like advice or perhaps book a #sewing course (Toronto only!) 
Feel free to message me at tailor.mademtl@gmail.com
*Holiday Gift certificates available.

Montreal D.I.Y Sewing workshop (2 days only -July 12th & 13th)

I am in my hometown Montreal hosting 

2 D.I.Y packed sewing workshops on July 12th(1-4pm) & 13th(12-3pm). 

Cost of each workshop is $65 each (if you book for the 2 days it will be $100 total)

In the spirit of summer and my abundance of creative energy, I have designed a 3 hour session that will give you 4 AMAZING patterns in one(four 4 one)

Only because I love versatility, layers and transformational outfits(like a butterfly!)

To reserve your spot & discover the location send me a message at Tailor.mademtl@gmail.com

.

*I think it started when I was little, I always wanted a unique style every day so a found a way to make that one favorite piece look different in every ensemble.   It's so much fun fooling your friends & family into believing you never wear anything twice!

Little do they know that your favorite piece is in almost every outfit.

D.I.Y Capelets for the Summer Evening chill...Brrrrr

Quick & Slick D.I.Y Fashion project

Hot! hot! weather Caplet with bedazzled details

If I had free reign I would make one in bold intricate "green as fresh grass" lace to top off

a 50's whirly circle skirt

Need Advice? Contact tailor.mademtl@gmail.com

Spring inspirations close to the heart

It's been a life long passion of mine to teach others to sew,make & create for themselves,I started mixing and matching patterns & projects and recycling old to new clothing when I was 14 years old and ever since then it's been the main source of my daily inspiration. I have been so lucky to help my students find their focus,skill, motivation and creative self.
-Nicole

My radiant student Orla https://twitter.com/OrlaJohannes

Gift Certificates available for Private Fashion Sewing Courses

Private Beginner Sewing course 
Gift Certificates 
available now for the aspiring Seamstress!

*I started sewing when I was 12 years old and I haven't looked back since.
I can't imagine my life without this, the ability to shape,stitch,re-d

o & create textiles & clothes.

There is no better time to start than the present, I may have been doing it ...for a very long time but I never stop learning & discovering new aspects about sewing.
Anyone can do this, you just have to at least try it once to understand the work behind everything you wear.

-Nicole
fairyesque.studio@gmail.com

The "Fancy Dress" Sewing/design Course

What is it about this dress that makes me want to make it & wear it?
Thinking of sewing your own party dress, Take a crash course with me to get the tailored details.
PS. If there's an event soon, I want to be wearing this!

~Tailor Made Studio

Sheerness & the lake

Adjective:

Nothing other than; unmitigated (used for emphasis): "she giggled with sheer delight". There's something riveting & revealing about wearing sheer fabrics. For me I love the drama of  all the tails of fabric flying behind me. I was talking to a student of mine Jas about the new fixation with this style, We talked about how it suited any body type or character, it's like we didn't have to hide behind layers of heavy fabric but to be free flowing.  I brought up the bubble skirt/dress phenomenon, her being almost 15 years younger hadn't really experienced the longevity of the voluminous fabric bubbles. I remembered feeling like a walking tomato.  I've never had a sleek figure, it leans towards the curvy side. So I am drawn to the sheerness & the elegance of it. This Summer in honor of sheerness, I made a Off the shoulder Floral dress with a matching strapless slip for a summer event and I have been making dress after dress of pure lightness. .................................................... Il ya quelque chose rivetiing et révélant au sujet du port tissus transparents. Pour moi, j'aime le drame de toutes les queues de tissu de vol derrière moi. Je parlais à un étudiant de Jas la mine sur la fixation du nouveau avec ce style, Nous avons parlé de la façon dont il convient tout type de corps ou de caractère, c'est comme si nous n'avons pas eu à se cacher derrière des couches de tissu lourd, mais pour s'écouler librement. J'ai fait monter la bulle jupe / robe phénomène, son être près de 15 ans plus jeune n'avait pas vraiment connu la longévité des bulles de tissu volumineux. Je me suis souvenu se sentir comme une tomate à pied.   Je n'ai jamais eu un chiffre élégant, il se penche vers le côté sinueux. Donc, je suis attiré par la verticalité et l'élégance de celui-ci. Cet été, en l'honneur de la verticalité, j'ai fait un arrêt de la robe épaule floral avec un bordereau de correspondance bustier pour un événement estival et j'ai été prise robe après robe de pure légèreté.

DIY COUTURE COACH FOR The SWAP Team

SWAPPing is the new shopping this Saturday & Sunday July 28th & 29th at Place Des Arts

I've been involved with the SWAP team for the past 5 years & some, I've always been on the design side of the swap so it was only natural for me to transform into their official DIY Couture Coach, the go-to person for all things, sewing,tailoring & upcycling.
 What does that mean?
You can contact me by email at nicole@theswapteam.org for any suggestions or questions regarding Upcycling,altering or re-styling your newly SWAPPED clothes.
It means you have direct contact with an experienced Fashion Designer(13 years) & Professional Seamstress/Tailor (23 years) to ask all of those questions to.
It's all about taking collaborative exchange & always making it stronger & more connected.
I will have a table at the next event on Saturday 28th (only), so after you've swapped all you precious pieces come by & chat with me.
........................................................


J'ai été impliqué avec l'équipe de SWAP pour les 5 dernières années et certains, j'ai toujours été du côté de conception de l'échange et il était donc naturel pour moi de traduire dans leur entraîneur officiel de bricolage Couture, le go-to personne pour toutes choses, la couture, la confection et upcycling.
  Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire?
Vous pouvez me contacter par courriel à nicole@theswapteam.org pour toutes suggestions ou des questions concernant Upcycling, modifier ou re-styling vos vêtements nouvellement échangés.
Cela signifie que vous avez un contact direct avec un créateur de mode expérimenté (13 ans) & Professional Couturière / Tailleur (23 ans) de demander à toutes ces questions à.
C'est une question de la prise d'échanges collaboratifs et toujours le rendant plus fort et plus connecté.
Je vais avoir une table lors du prochain événement le samedi 28 (seulement), donc après que vous avez échangé tous les morceaux que vous venez en précieux et chatter avec moi.

Is it possible that you make that yourself?

Images: http://nanciemwai.com & http://www.streetglamourtoday.com

Can I make all my clothes head to toe? Yes.
Do I always make all my clothes? Sometimes, when I'm inspired & have amazing fabrics.
Do I want to be uniquely MY style? Of course, who doesn't?
Can I find my size,colour and look in any store? Not usually, I usually have to alter the garment to my size(I think I am a commercial size 10 it always changes though) or the fabric isn't strong enough, it usually falls apart after a week.


Ask yourself the same questions, I always do.
It's what convinces me to make my own clothes more & more, I resist going to the store to find yet another piece of clothing that wasn't made for me and my body.
Even if the garment is low in cost, I still regret that I could have just bought some amazing fabric & sewn it myself.Surprisingly, you can buy fabric beginning at $2 a metre (a metre can make a midi skirt).

So this week, with my new obsession in the sheer garment trend (skirts,tops,dresses)
I decided to make a midi sheer tangerine skirt (just a little above the knee), it's the perfect length for a women of 5'2(or any height) and any lady who is curvy or petite.
I love the way the sheer shows the silhouette but leaves some mystery, it doesn't feel like your wearing a sack.
 I tend to layer it over a fitted dress or skirt/top underneath in any colour to complete the look.
After I made it I realized that I love the way it looks & how I feel.
but the best part is when I hop on my bike, I have my skirt fluttering behind me like a bird.

Happy Thursday!
Hope your planning your creative projects for the holiday weekend!

~Nicole

Whether it rains or not, I will be creative.

This morning, I am looking at my day as a chance to shape it into a full blown creative & constructive day.
Every morning is like this for me as an independent business owner/entrepreneur, I have no idea what to expect or what changes may happen in a moments notice but I always know I have put all my energy in the each day,week,month & year to be in this place.
Despite the multiple projects I do, it always comes down to one thing.
I am still learning.
So to shake up your week & hide from the rain, try this fun 50's style dress as a evening/after work project.
It's wonderfully ladylike and elegant (all the things I adore) from "Elegant Musings"

.If you have any questions, don't be shy send me a message at fairyesque.studio@gmail.com and ask me any questions you'd like!
I always love to hear from you.

Happy & Lively Monday!

~Nicole

Men Like Sewing.

Is it true, MEN LIKE SEWING TOO?

I came to this realization the other day when I did the Fringe Eco-Fair and the majority of the people I taught there were Men (typically I have women,girls,kids).

Men like sewing in a specific way, it's usually about straight up technique.
How can I fix a hole or hem my pants or sew on a button?
They also asked me to teach them more complex stitches like it was a game challenge.
And if you can believe it, it was all hand stitching so no machines were involved in the process.
Although it's not a major surprise, men have been solid tailors since the beginning of the suit.
but I do feel it was a lost skill to the man when they believed that women only sew.
I think that sewing is not only creative but it has that technical side much like anything we build (cars,houses,computers..).
It just comes down to raw workmanship we used to know and having the guts to learn it again.
SO I just wanted to say that if your a man & you honed in on your mad sewing skills, I am seriously impressed by you!

Fringe Eco Fair Wednesday June 20th

   For all the Eco lovers, this is the kind of event you have to be at :
 I'll be playing host to my upcycling "Jeans to accessories" workshop as well as answering any burning  questions about your love of sewing & fashion.
I will be joined by other eco/sustainable people & organizations promoting their dedication to the environment & green living practices.
Where? at Parc des Ameriques (corner of St.Laurent & Rachel) at the Fringe Fest.

The Love of Skirts (and dresses too!)

Years ago I decided that skirts & dresses suited me & my body and this began my love of anything skirt/dress- like.
One of the easiest and non-fussy pieces to sew and create is a Circle Skirt, I believe it fits everywhere but more importantly in my daily life & business. It adds that little extra swish to my walk and compliments my array of accessories and tops.
So I found this amazing tutorial when I was doing my usual digging one day and I wanted to share it. I really wanted to inspire you to start your first project or at least your absolute favourite piece of the summer. The best thing about skirts is that as soon as you change the top and any detail around it, it becomes a whole new look. So nobody will find out that you actually have only one! (that's a trick of mine!).
* you can try this in jersey or woven fabric, play with fun prints & textures.
If you are really struggling with it, don't hesitate to ask me questions (see above on the right!).
I will be sure to answer it!
~Nicole Picard
www.fairyesque.ca


via http://makingthings.andreatung.com

In honour of my friend Amanda's Orange Peplum dress

With the love of the flirty peplums this season, my dear friend Amanda sported one for her bachelorette girly party.
I have the perfect DIY tutorial to add a little flip to your walk~
A pair & a spare blog : PEPLUM

Have a Couture inspired week and sew a stitch!
~Nicole

My student, Jessica's stunning skirt

Thanks to Ian Woo, I have these magical & alluring photos of my student Jessica. 
This was an impromptu shoot at the SWAP HQ/living quarters (Aleece Germano) with the famous library & vintage furniture...dare I say velvety royal-like loveseats...Let's not forget the camel coloured skirt creation by Jessica herself! Such a strong collaboration between the model/student & photographer!
I'd also like to add that Jessica, by day works for McGill & in the past was a journalist. She took these classes to try to make her own wardrobe.Being a first timer at sewing & design she was determined to see this project through and picked up the techniques with such a calmness & ease.