Brighton Fashion Week Market

Tags

accessories, BFW, blogging, Brighton, Brighton Fashion Week, designers, Fashion, Fashion Market, jewellery, market, Mia Mai, small businesses, The Open Market

Back in October of last year I was asked to take part in the Brighton Fashion Week Fashion Market.

The variety of the stalls was amazing, obviously with all things like this I was drawn to certain stalls and felt others just didn’t really grab me… But the ones that did catch my eye was amazing.

BFW Described the event as such – ”

A curated buzzing pop up Fashion market offering you the chance to pick up one-of a kind original pieces ranging from handmade bowlers to hand-sewn frocks plus the opportunity to buy directly from up to 40 talented designers and artists across a range of disciplines.

Set in the Historic Open Market’s newly covered square offering a laid back festival vibe: expect live music, live installations, prints, art, up-cycled delights, cafe’s, and an eclectic hand picked mix of makers offering affordable wears. “

I snapped a few shots along the way of some of my favourite stalls, Mia Mai included too obviously… Other designers are: Luminessence Boutique, Fancier Feather, De Mouilpied, Animalesque by Sara Lowes, Laa Woof, Chrysalis Couture, Organik Mechanik, Love From Hetty & Dave

Pillow Fight

Tags

blogging, Competition, cushions, Mia Mai, Ohh Deer, Pillow fight

You must have heard of Ohh Deer??? If not, get over there right away and check them out… making art, selling pretty things and sharing some incredibly talented artists and illustrators along the way!!

In their own words…

“Ohh Deer was founded in 2011 by Mark Callaby and Jamie Mitchell, it’s original intention was to rid them of some spare time and overflowing creativity.

It evolved before the brand launched online, they designed collections of products with about 10 Illustrators and since then the brand’s core objective is to support creative talent and make work by their contributors accessible, spreading their work far and wide (geographically and through the internet-machine).

Each Illustrator gets a big percentage of the profit from everything they sell. Ohh Deer use recycled materials where possible and everything Ohh Deer produces is made in the UK.

Ohh Deer has work on sale with the Tate galleries, Urban Outfitters, ASOS, Paperchase, Topshop, Scribbler and lots more, including international expansion.

Mark and Jamie’s objective is to make ohhdeer.com the place to go to find a quirky illustrated gift.” 

They have just launched round three of the almighty ‘pillow fight’ and Mia Mai (which is my business if you didn’t know) is getting involved…

I have 4 designs in the competition, the more popular my designs are, the more chance I have of becoming a winner!!!

…and some individual shots below…

The way the competition works is that pillows get rated higher ranking if they receive more exposure… You can support Mia Mai and your favourite designs by clicking on the photos and then following the ‘support/share links’ on the individual pages. Liking on Facebook, tweeting the designs and sharing on Pinterest!

Any support you can give me will be much appreciated as I would love to start working with Ohh Deer!!

Style Me Vintage – Accessories

Tags

blogging, Book, Naomi Thompson, Published art, SMV Accessories, Style Me Vintage

So, my beautiful and clever friend Naomi Thompson (along with her friend Liz Tregenza) have just released their new book – Style Me Vintage – Accessories. The book is essentially a guide to collectable hats, gloves, bags, shoes, costume jewellery and more…

“This essential addition to the hugely popular Style Me Vintage series will help you finish off your vintage look to perfection. It’s the accessories and smaller details that help create the final polished look, whether it’s a homage to the 1920s or the 1980s or everything in between, and it’s oh so easy to get those details wrong and ruin the effect. Here to help you through the minefield are vintage experts Naomi Thompson and Liz Tregenza, offering invaluable advice on how to correctly identify, source and wear vintage jewellery, sunglasses, hats, gloves, scarves, bags and shoes. With informative and beautiful photography and no-nonsense tips, this is every vintage fan’s ideal go-to guide.”

Sound’s good right!? Naomi released her first book, ‘Style Me Vintage – Clothes’ a little while back and it sits proudly on my book shelf, so if that’s anything to go by, this is going to be worth getting your vintage be-gloved mitts on!

Now, this book is not only getting a shout out because it’s a friend and because it deserves it, it’s also getting a shout out because I had a tiny part involved…

Naomi asked me a while ago to create some artwork for the book… you may remember these sneak peeks….

   

 

 

 

 

Well now that’s it’s officially released and all that jazz I feel I can share with you some pics…

The book was reviewed a little while ago by the rightfully named Queens of Vintage and theyreviewed the book, and took this amazing shot of the artwork I created…

 

What do you think? I think it looks fab, it’s also nice to see a few of my brooches making their debut!

So…. Now you’ve seen a sneak peek, I insist you all go any buy a copy! You can buy the book from Amazon using this link.

Enjoy!… and well done my friend, you are an inspiration! x

 

ps, this blog post is copied from my Mia Mai blog, which if you don’t already, you can follow here.

Tis the season

Tags

baulbles, blogging, Christmas, Christmas Cosmo, Christmas inspiration, craft, festive, Homemade Christmas, Nigella, Wreaths

Such a busy time of year, but I blooming love it… Are you a fan of the festivities?? I sure am!

I have been busy crafting and making things and wrapping away.

I’m looking forward to making this recipe from the gorgous Nigella for handmade pressies. After going to and sampling a Christmas Cosmo Cocktail at the festival of Christmas at the Historic Dockyard, I discovered this recipe and can’t wait to make up a batch on Christmas Eve along with some of our own recipe rum lace hot cider punch! Mmmm

Here’s some images (with image links to their original sources) that have been helping to get me inspired! I will do a big Christmas Inspiration post soon!!

Serenas medium rare

BBC Recipe

From Fab

Bakerlady

paperiaarre

I have also been getting crafty round the house… I’ve been making little star and word garlands from old book pages and made a wreath to hang on the door…

I also adore wrapping pressies, It’s really one of my favourite things about this time of year (along with being able to sing along, very loud and out of tune to ‘Mariah Carey’s – All I want for Christmas is youuuuuu’) and decorating the tree…. who doesnt love this…. here’s a few festive pics I’ve taken recently…

Make: cotton picking names

A new range of things I’ve been making… These are super fun to make and I’m hoping they’ll be loved hung on a wall in a child’s room for years to come!!

What do you think?! You like???

South Coast Fashion Week Preview Night

I am in talks with the lovely team at South Coast Fashion Week about Mia Mai featuring on the catwalk next year!! We were invited to a preview night at the Grosvenor Casino in Gunwalf last week!

Mia Mai at Victorious Festival

Stall all set up at Victorious Festival… just a few last minute additions tomorrow!! If you’re coming down, we’re on the main stretch leading to the acoustic stage opposite Ian Parmitter’s H Van and almighty stack of vintage cases!! Come say go!

Preparing for #victoriousfestival #miamai

Ok so this is my first attempt at videofy me… Slowly working through my to-do list for Victorious Festival!!!

Passion

Tags

craft, Jack Daly, Jack Daly Photographer, Mia Mai, Passion, People with passions, photography project, portrait

I got to take part in a wonderful project today. The very talented Jack Daly, Second year photography student at the University of Portsmouth is working on an ongoing project called People with Passions.

I heard about the project and expressed an interest. Very soon after I received a email from Jack asking about a shoot. I of course said yes! A tad nervous of getting my picture taken, but the chance to be involved with such a fun project overruled the unsureness i felt about sitting infront of the camera.

I tidied up my room/studio this morning then got out a few of my creations, Jack turned up, a charming young man we chatted about the project and other Southsea people he had already worked with and planned to. A cup of tea later and with a few adjustments to my room we were ready to go…jack took about 20 pictures if that and said he’d got it! Easy peasy!

and this is the final image…

What do you think? I’m always criticial of pictures of myself so would be great to get peoples opinions.

There is talk of an exhibition and a book and I’m excited to see how the project grows and evolves and wish Jack every success with this project! Please check out his website and if you wanna get involved let him know!

 

Southsea Fashion Week

Tags

Backstage, Catwalk, Fashion, Fashion Week, Keith Woodland, lingerie, Mia Mai, Models, SFW, Southsea Fashion Week, The Corner Shop, Tori Clarkson, Underwear design

So…. I know I mentioned this before, but I never got round to actually finishing my post on it, but here I sit, on a chilly December day, 4 months after SFW and i thought… I’d actually get this post up.

SFW was a first, I helped organise the event and it was hard work! haha, but such fun! Here’s the official website

As well as being on the management team I was also a designer… I know I posted some sneaky peeks in the run up, but incase you missed them, I designed a lingerie collection inspired by and incorporating vintage fabrics and and lots of lace and saucy sheer fabrics.

I have somehow managed to loose all my photos from the event?! Don’t ask me how, but I will share a few with you from other talented photographers. Firstly a few backstage shots taken by the incredibly talented Tori Clarkson

My collection was inspired by the backstage of a burlesque show, dressing room glamour if you will… I wanted the garments to have an old look to them so incorporated a lot of vintage fabrics and upcycled old garments. I also hand customised some existing lingerie to give it a Mia Mai look. Here are a few shots from the catwalk, images by Tori again and also the equally talented Keith Woodland

  

I am waiting to get a few more pics, and am also in the process of organising a proper photoshoot of the collection…. mor on that later, but I’m sure the images above give you a great idea of what the collection was like! Do you like?

And to geive you a real feel for the event…. A film made by The Cornershop

Southsea Fashion Week from The Cornershop on Vimeo.

Amazingly the collection got really good reviews and SFW received a lot of coverage on the net… here are a few links to some other blogs who covered/wrote about the event!

http://www.stepford-wife.com/2012/08/southsea-fashion-week-backstage.html

http://leopardinleather.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/southsea-fashion-week-take-1.html

http://www.strong-island.co.uk/2012/08/29/southsea-fashion-week-2012-2/

http://bellsfashion.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/southsea-fashion-week-day-one.html

http://www.headhuntressinhampshire.com/2012/08/southsea-fashion-week.html

http://www.velvet-daisy.com/2012/08/southsea-fashion-week-part-2.html

Lastly, I just wanna say thank you to all the beautiful models, the hair stylists and MUA’s, the photographers and basically everyone that helped with SFW… it was something I won’t forget!