Handmade Blog Feature: Kindred Dream Heart Part 2

Happy Easter or Spring break to everyone! Today i,m going to Post the 2nd part of Katrina's inspiring story and on Monday will be the turn of Robin Rizzart and her religious mixed media art. which I thought was very appropriate for Easter. (edit: yep it's now after Easter Sun/Mon  a trip to A&E to get my finger stitched up due to a massive gash/hole that just missed the tendon put paid to my blogging plans)

Without further ado, here's Katrina's Story Part2 (haha that rhymed!).

What's the process behind your intricate creations?
I always start with the fabric.I can sketch all day,but the fabric speaks to me. I may sketch one thing,get the fabric,then create something totally different. I normally sketch when I,m stuck on a concept or unsure about where to put a notion.
I prefer using the draping technique as opposed to the drafted pattern on muslin, so I rarely duplicate my designs.




White Leopard Faux Suede with Magenta Satin 2 tier hooded capelet available at http://www.kindreddreamheart.etsy.com/

What materials do you use in your fashions?
I,ve sewn with all types of fabrics , from upholstery to silk. My favourites are Sateen,Brocade,Faux fur and Wool. When it comes to print, I like whimsical designs.I have an uncanny ability to pick overlooked materials and try to make them appealing.
If it's a shade of purple,that's always a plus.
What's next for Kindred Dream heart?
Selling on Etsy is a big step for me and heartbreaking.It's always hard for me to part with my creations.My husband told me one day that if I just wanted to sew, just to frame my work, he would be supportive.
So the next avenue for Kindred Dream heart will be Menswear.

Who are your favourite etsians and why?
I,m still very new to Etsy, however there are so many wonderful etsians from the Etsy forums: and so many are note worthy.The first etsian I ever met who introduced me to the community and the Etsy website was Danielle Pierce HTTP ://www.etsy.com/people/DANALIAbyDP
She's my sister -in-law. I,ve bought from her shop in the past and her collections are great.
She's also helped me on numerous occasions  outside of Etsy in a collaboration fashion show,sewing tips,and overall encouragement and support.

Who are your design hero's?
There are so many designers I want to mention; however my design hero's would be Coleen Atwood and Tony Bowls.
Atwood is Amazing with a capital A; especially the costumes she created via collaboration with Tim Burton.
Bowls is a master of layers and I love how his designs still look formal and elegant in spite of the complex and elaborate construction.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of setting up/running your own label?
The most rewarding aspect of setting up/running my own label has been a new learning experience.I enjoy learning new things and gaining new experiences.
My childhood dream of being "everything" has not died out.

What has been the hardest aspect of setting up/running your own label?
The hardest part of settingup/runnig my own label has been trying to devote more time.Sometimes I wish the world still operated on a barter system.Perhaps then I could achieve my full potential as an artist without the 9 to 5 distraction.

What tips would you give other aspiring designers?
I would say " Stay Postitive" I've made long term friends in the industry and many doors have opened all because of a positive attitude.

Where else can we find you on the web?

http://www.kindreddreamheart.blogspot.com/

www.modelmayhem.com/2100750

www.facebook.com/pages/kindred-Dreamheart/16095291396378

http://www.kindreddreamheart.etsy.com/

HandMade Blog Feature: Kindred Dream Heart Part 1

Hand Made Blog Feature: Kindred DreamHeart "Sewing Dreams and Touching Hearts" Katrina Denise Pierce.

Today I want to share with you the inspirational story of Designer Katrina Pierce the owner and Founder of fashion label Kindred Dreamheart. She is literally a fighter, no really she was a soldier who has seen action in the Middle East and still fostered her creativity through opening a tailoring shop while on a tour of duty in Germany. I introduce to you the beautiful designs ,Philosophy and story of Kindred Dream Heart.

How did the inspiration to go from prom wear which you created whilst growing up in high school evolve years later into the label Kindred Dreamheart?

I made my first dress my sophomore year of high school shortly after I pledged to the junior sorority, Lady Diamonds.
One of the due requirements was to wear at least one dress per week.Being the only girl among four brothers, I didn't own any.Rather than take me on a shopping spree,my mother bought me a sewing machine.(An overdue gift requested in middle school long since forgotten and replaced with more material desires.)
None the less I accepted the gift and began sewing patternless on a budget,while recycling our "yard sale" labelled attic dwelling cast-aways.The other children immediately questioned the origins of my clothes mockingly.I endured this for about a month, before decided that summer I was going to do nothing but sew.Sew until my skill level rose and sew until I had a complete wardrobe for the next school year.
The next time a class mate saw my attire order requests followed.I got featured in 2002 in a city wide high school newspaper, Teen appeal,I gained so much confidence thereafter that I was determined I,d one day launch my own clothing label.


Design: Kindred Dreamheart
Model: Shaneice Birgs
Photography: Arekah Dunlap (Arekah the goddess photography)



In your website bio, it says while you set up your own little tailoring company while stationed in barracks in Germany, when you served in the army.How did that happen?

We affectionaltely called McCully barracks the "1 post straBe" there weren't many facilities and the one that was in the highest demand was the alterations shop which was NEVER open!The civilian that worked there observed all the German and American holidays.
I mentioned to a battle buddy that I could sew on his patch onto his Class A's to avoid the inconvenience of a negative counselling statement due to a uncontrollable situation. I initially worked for free but had to charge due to very high demand.

Model: Skye Cooper
Designer: Kindred Dreamheart
Photographer: Arekah Dunlap (Arekah the goddess photography)

Where did the name for your label come from?

When I started sewing back in high school my label was called K.D Hunter.I,ve since gotten married and felt obligated to change the name, yet I didn't want to use my name.
I wanted to use a name that defined me as a person.....something more symbolic.
I,ve always been ambitious with BIG goals and dreams.I wanted to be everything when I grew up.I,ve done alot so far but i,m not there yet and I,m not giving up.
Thats my defination of a "dreamheart" .Kindred means just that,akin or similar in quality or character.So my female line is dedicated to women like me..."a Kindred DreamHeart".
Maintaining my maiden initials wasn't a prerequisite during the deliberations but was a bonus in the end.

What are your Design Inspirations?

After high school I joined the U.S Army.During my first tour I was stationed in Wackernheim Germany. I was only a few hours from every other major european country of which I visited every chance I was granted a weekend pass.
I was inspired by the fashions overseas especially during the Fasching mainly because the youth there wore whatever they wanted without fear of social unacceptance. It was bold,beautiful and enlightening.From these accounts I began developing favorite styles.It wasn't until I took a fashion history course 3 years later that I began to recognise and name the styles I had witnessed.Edwardian,Victorian,Steampunk,Rockabilly,Rococo,Lolita Gothic and Cosplay.

Model: Jennifer Pearse
Fashion and Jewellery Designer: Kindred Dreamheart
Mua: Naomi Whitted
Photographer: Eric Hiltner

Come back next week for the rest of Katrina's inspiring story starting with what the process is behind her beautifully intricate creations and her plans for Kindred Dreamheart.

Good exposure and a big fat flop.

Evening all, it's been a little while since my last post. I,ve been creating some more pendants for my upcoming stall at The Old Spitalfields Jewellery Market on Tuesday December 20th from 9am - 5pm. If your in East London come to my stall and have a butchers and a nice rosie lee (in cockney rhyming slang, "butchers hook" means "Look" and "rosie lee" means "tea".)

You may have noticed a bit of change with the blog, a nice new font called "Pacifico" which is one of the webfonts that blogger offers for use in the design-advanced section. Decided to change it up to blend better with my in the works website. More about that when it's furthur along.

So whats the Good Exposure and Big Fat Flop, i,m referring to in the title for this post?
Well last post i did a giveaway. I managed to tweet about it and post about it on my facebook fanpage as well, but the thing i without a) big following (b) a softer poll/sell approach and (c) a facebook fan page badge how was anyone really going to know about it?
So i,ll do giveaways once i have some more of the above in place.

The good exposure..... I have a double page spread interview about both House of  SpiritFlower and House of ShadowFlower in Alt Fashion Magazine!!!!!! plus three articles I wrote on other  etsians http://www.studioleanne.etsy.com/ http://www.redribbons.etsy.com/ and a fantastic burlesque performer Gem de la Creme. Go to http://www.altfashionmagazine.co.uk/ to buy a copy (black and white and colour pictures) or a digital full colour version.

alt fashion magazine issue 20 http://www.altfashionmagazine.co.uk/

Coming later this week part 1 of my feature on the lovely label Kindred DreamHeart.