My Wee House

Tonight my wee house will be on TV, and its getting all excited!! My sister Linda is hosting a GIDC night in front of the telly...we will be glued to the box, and counting the times I say 'Like you know', 'Yer man the builder' and other Northern Irish phrases. 

My wee house is not a stranger to fame as 9 years ago, when I bought it, the previous owner Lesley had it featured in HOUSE BEAUTIFUL magazine, back in October 2005. 

I fell in love with the sleeper above the fire and the light that came in through the back window. Within 2 days it was sale agreed!  Lesley had 'done the place up great' and I didn't think I would change a thing.  But over time, every room has been changed, at least twice!!

Here are some photographs before I moved in.  Lesley believed if there was a surface to paint, it had to be painted.  I believe in the natural beauty of wood, stone, metal and so there was a lot of paint stripper bought!  Quite often I would be as high as a kite on the fumes of Nitromors.

3 up, 3 down.

Open plan living room into dining room.

View of the dining room and living room, and wine in the kitchen!

Kitchen and view from dining room into the kitchen.

The main bedroom

The bathroom and spare bedroom.

My dad is brilliant at DIY and he was always lining the walls, wallpapering, matching up the wallpapers, and teaching me how to get a straight line with a plumline.  He has been so amazing helping me out, building shelves for me, amongst many other things. 

My mum is very creative, and her talents are in knitting, crocheting, sewing, flower arranging and all together a great homemaker.  She has crocheted beautiful throws for the cold nights on the sofa.  Its from mum that I learnt about sewing and knitting.  I just haven't mastered the art of crochet yet! 

I think mum and dad deserve their own blog post!

My house has evolved so much over the 9 years, as I have.  At the start of 2014 I decided to do a lot of clearing out, selling 'things' and making space to breath.  It was all becoming very cluttered.  My spaces tend to change all the time, they all are 'living rooms'.  Its an evolving process.

Next July I will be in my house 10 years. I like to work in decades. I had said in January to my friends and family that I couldn't do any more to this house, that I needed a new project.  Then the call came for Great Interior Design Challenge.  Then came Achill, then came other adventures.  My friend Hilary then let me know that the number 9 is the number of completion and fulfilment.

I love the Beatles music, just maybe not this one. 

Back in 1995, I wrote some ideas and dreams for my 'Ideal House'.  I found this a few years ago and without realising it, a few of these ideas are what I had put in place.  Albeit in a red brick terrace in East Belfast and not in the West Coast of Ireland!

My dream house, interior and exterior.  That's the artist and textile studio to the right, which doubles as somewhere for my visiting friends and family to lay their heads.

Back to reality...

Here's some pictures of my house although it has changed again since these were taken!

A very cosy, if not slightly overcrowded living room, full of textures and cushions!  It is now a little less cluttered.

Dining room curtain is a parachute from 1965



Retro sideboard £25 Belfast charity shop.  The chairs have been removed from the wall and it now becomes a memory and inspiration wall.

The laminate flooring was ruined when I moved in as the stopcock hadn't been tightened when the previous washing machine was removed.

The quotes were painted on the wall way before the shelves were up.  The kitchen has since changed again!

Sisal carpet and then 9 layers of paint and varnish came off the staircase!

A very small space to be on your hands and knees making a mosaic!

My room, I always wanted a white room.  The last room to have the carpet lifted and I discovered painted white floorboards underneath which I sanded down.

The spare bedroom back in 2006.  Still with sisal flooring.

The spare bedroom became by dedicated sewing room in January.  The carpet was lifted and sanded and varnished.

I will post a detailed DIY and decoration for each room in a series of blog posts coming soon.  It never stops changing!

Till next time, Enjoy the GIDC show!! And remember...I forgot to add the orange cushions!!

Christine x

All a bit bonkers on the Great Interior Design Challenge!

 

Today's the day!  Back in May, I received a telephone call to be part of the Great Interior Design Challenge Series 2.  I was 40 in April and had made a promise to myself to make 2014 a memorable and adventurous one.  It hasn't failed to disappoint.  I paused for a moment, phoned a few friends and family and said yes, absolutely! I'm always up for a challenge and new experiences.

 

Here's the preview for tonight's show.  BBC2 7pm.  I love what Sophie has said about my room...I think she was spot on! Click on the image for the link to the video clip.




Richard, me and Luke awaiting our fate.

 

The GIDC was featured in November 2014 Ideal Home magazine.

 

 

Sophie and Daniel the fabulous judges

 

 

Sophie and I smoothing out the creases in my wallpaper.  Ideal Home called over to my building site on day 2 for a photoshoot.

 

Back in June my friend Martin Jordan, a freelance cameraman filmed my house and this was sent over to London as a selection process. Thank you Martin! I was in London that Friday to see the Italian Fashion exhibition at the V&A and couriered my SD card with precious footage to Holly of Studio Lambert, the production company. Within a few days, I had been given my selection process brief, I was chosen and it was all systems go!

Early July, Zoe my freelance camerawoman flew to Belfast to film my wee house and my street was all buzz and biz with the goings on. Zoe made me feel completely at ease and I was delighted to hear that she would be my camerawoman for the actual show.

I was the only contestant from Northern Ireland and flew over on the Tuesday evening from Aldergrove to Luton. The flight was delayed by 2 hours and I didn't get to bed in the hotel until 3.20am with a 8am start the next day. I could really have done with a hug at this stage! But, the show must go on and the adrenalin was kicking in!

 

 

 

Welwyn Garden City Centre

 

 It was good to be back in WGC, I had worked for Adria Charnos Hosiery back in the late 90's as a children's hosiery and sock designer and one of our customers was Tesco. Their head office is in WGC so we flew over to present the new designs. It had been 15 years, this view was welcoming.

 

A quick check in at the hotel in Welwyn Garden City and it was off to meet the homeowners!

 

 

I can't say much more on the show in this post, but I will be posting after the show airs this evening. 

 

Till tonight, little bit of Madness...its all a bit bonkers really!!

 

 

 

 

Christine x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Dining Room Dilemma

An eating space that always ended up being a workspace.  It became a stressful room and meant that as my living space is open plan, I could never fully get away from work.  It became less a place to eat, and more a space to sew.  Something had to give.

In a small space you always need to think creatively.  By hanging chairs on the wall this kept the floor area much clearer.  However the length of the table blocked the feng shui flow out to the back yarden.  It was time for a change...

In January I moved my big dining room table upstairs into the 'spare room' and it became my cutting table for sewing and making patterns.  I asked the builders across the way to give me a hand up the stairs with a oak table. 

This left me with a gap of where to eat in the dining room. Large scale dinner parties were out of the question unless they became 'TV dinner parties', but I don't have a TV. 

I did manage to think around the lack of a 'big table' by throwing a party with 3 smaller tables, it ended up very Parisian, with white table cloths, roses and tea lights.

Margaret, Colin, Shan and Patrick enjoying an evening in Paris / Belfast in September.

 Inspiration struck last week when I was clearing out cupboards and discovered the 2 end extensions to the already 'big table'.  These have only been used about twice in the last 9 years, and I needed the space they were taking up inside the cupboard so I set to work taking them apart and remaking them.

A girls best friend, my trusty drill/screwdriver combo.  Taking off all the wooden batons. 

All off and thankfully clearly marked, if I am ever reversing the process.

Carrying down the cast iron base of the Singer machine that belonged to my Great Granny McFadden.  Very heavy!!

Great Granny McFadden in her apple orchard in County Armagh. 

Taking off the table top.

Fixing the batons in the opposite direction, joining the 2 extensions together to give support.

Measuring and marking out the drill holes to attach to the base.

Hey presto! One hour later and a new table to sit 4 (6 at a push).

Somewhere to hide if thunder and lightening strike!

Solid oak top and cast iron base means that this table will not be going anywhere...(maybe) 

Time for another dinner party!

Till next time, happy creating and recreating

Christine x

Life is a Cabaret Part 2

Its now 3 weeks since the end of Cabaret run at the Mac, and that means its well overdue for Part 2 of Cabaret costume blog.  The tidy up is over, and all costumes have been returned to the hire company's or stored away for a possible revival.

 

This time its all about the Emcee, who was wonderfully played by Patrick J. O'Reilly.  Patrick had shared a personal story of his during a photo shoot that he had always dreamed about playing the role.  I believe the role was made for him.

 

Emcee had quite a few costumes, some consisting of more fabric and coverage than others.  P.J was up for adventurous costumes and always gave his very welcomed thoughts on his costume. 

 

Costume sketch for the opening number 'Wilkommen'

Photography by Neil Harrison Photography.

 

Perfect leather jacket find in Oxfam. Superbly lit by James McFetridge and set against Stuart Marshall's broken down set.

 

 

 

Costume sketch for Emcee

 

 

Turned into reality for the photoshoot.

 

 

Lit up stage.

 

 

A little less costuming required for this scene! 

 

 

Sketch for 'Two ladies'

 

 

Lederhosen from The Rusty Zip. Hat from my collection, kilt socks from Edinburgh, Irish dancing shoes from the internet.

 

The final scene involved a new make.  It was possible to buy striped pjamas on the High Street, but the stripes were too fine and the fabric too lightweight to have any substance and impact on stage. 

 

 

Stencils and felt patches recreate the disturbing uniform of the concentration camps.

 

 

It was important that the striped pjamas looked used and this called for them to be 'broken down'.  My sister Kathryn works in the Breakdown department at Game of Thrones so I employed her expertise.  This gives the garment more effect and impact on stage.  This costume in the final scene caused the audience to gasp, and consider the impact of the production.

 

For more fantastic images of Cabaret at the Mac, click on this link: http://neilharrisonphotography.com/wp/cabaret/

 

 

Till next time, on with the show!

 

Christine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life is a Cabaret Part 1

I was first asked by Bruiser Theatre Company to be Costume Designer and Supervisor on their production of 'Cabaret' back in May.  It was to be my first experience designing for theatre, working with director Lisa May.  I had celebrated a big 40th birthday in April, and I am always up for new adventures and challenges.

The celluloid story of Cabaret is famously told by Liza Minelli as Sally Bowles, in Bob Fosse's 1972 direction.  Leading us underground and into a seedy, sexy world of broken down colourful characters, its where many of us get our first introduction into the sights and songs of the show.

 

Joel Grey sings 'Willkommen'

 

 

This blog is all about the Cabaret costume journey, and will be in 3 parts, due to the immense number of styles that were designed and produced.  I will also be posting lots of other photos from the journey on my facebook site https://www.facebook.com/ColourandCloth.  Give me a LIKE when you are there to get lots of updates!

If you see a photograph not credited, please email me with the details and I will give credit where it is due.

 

As early as May there were promotional marketing posters to be photographed.  These demanded being very creative with time, money and resources.  Turned out, 99% of the costume supplied for the photo shoot came from my own closet! Perhaps there is a little of Sally Bowles in me..

 

 

I teach Level 3 BTEC Costume at Belfast Metropolitan College BMET and my students had just completed their 32 week course.  The timing of this show gave them a great opportunity to be involved and increase their skills and make contacts within the industry.  From the course we had Janine, Julie-Ann, Lisa and Alex.  With Erica, Marc, Sophie and Claire contacting me directly via fairs, facebook and website.  Nuala came on board from Bruiser, she works at the best vintage and retro store in town The Rusty Zip, and conquered her fear of the sewing machine.  Each intern has their own costume story to tell and are the costume crew of the future.

 

Its all about networking!

 

 

First week in July saw the move in to the MAC Theatre, Belfast.  This was to become home from home until mid September.

 

 

The wardrobe room in the MAC transformed into a design and making studio.

 

Kerri Quinn a local actress from Belfast was cast as Sally Bowles.  It was great fun designing her costumes as the show allowed a lot of freedom.

 

This design was for Sallys's introduction into the show.  I wanted her first appearance to be strong, wild and spectacular.  The fringed dress was a 'find' and the headpiece was made by my costume student Eileen Curran and was featured in a lot of online and printed press. 

 

Sally maintains strong colours and sparkly fabrics with movement at the start of Act 1, but as she meets Cliff,  her colours soften, and her vunerability begins to reveal.

 

 

 

Costume sketch for 'Don't Tell Mama'. 

 

 

Claire meticulously hand sews on 10 metres of pink marabou trim.  The cream tutu was from Hell Bunny, I dressed it on the mannequin from the bust instead of the waist and it instantly took shape.  A pink sequinned shawl was added to the top for colour, movement and sparkle.

 

 Kerri in full swing in the 'Don't Tell Mama' number.

 

Image : Neil Harrison Photography

 

 

 

 

 

My design sketch for 'Mein Herr'.  There are always a few changes to be made from the sketch to the final costume.  Black hose with a red back seam, and shoes soled in red all were essential design details. The top hat was original silk 1930's, but later was replaced with a bowler.

 

 

 

The bodice for Sally's Mein Herr costume started life as a sparkly dress with a centre frilly section.  Once the frills were removed we had to join the bodice and skirt back again.  It was then fitted on Kerri and the pant shape drawn in, cut and sewn.  Because the dress was already boned and lined, this was the best way to produce this design. 

 

A large percentage of the costumes had been sourced from vintage and charity stores and then customised.  This involves a lot of creative thinking, to see a garment for what it could become, rather than how it already exists. 

Kerri looking perfectly marvellous as Sally Bowles in Mein Herr.
 

 

 

Kerri had a lot of costumes and they all had stories to be told.  Choreographer Sarah Johnson had Kerri jumping off tables, climbing over chairs, lying on the ground all within one scene to the dancing piano keys of musical director Matthew Reeve.  Costume has to react to all of this.

 

Costume sketch for 'Cabaret'

 

 

 

£20 mans tuxedo jacket from British Heart Foundation.  I went out that lunchtime, wanting to find this jacket, and I found it! It was exactly the style I needed to work on.

 

 

 

Front view of the waistcoat. Looking a lot more feminine.

 

 

Side view of the waistcoat.  Sides bound in satin.

 

 

Backless waistcoat, completed with suspender strap.

 

 

£8 Skirt from Oxfam Vintage cut into a pair of trousers. 

 

'Cabaret' .  A turban with brooch completes the costume.
 Image Neil Harrison photography.

 

 

In full swing at Cabaret Costume HQ with Gemma and my right hand, left handed woman, Claire Lilley, who deserves a round of applause!

 

 

Read a review...  by clicking on the link.  Feel Willkommen to leave a comment below if you enjoyed the show!

 

Till Act 2, and on with the show.

 

Christine