The Savvy Sewer Salon at Sawyer Brook

BEST: I thought the Twizzler girl, Jillian, got rooked myself! Her outfit was like Hansel and Gretel's house but in a dress, a real dress made of CANDY beautiful and edible! Her talent really shone through that outfit. She looked totally deflated when she did not win. Chris's 2 piece bandeau top outfit was amazing. That model looked hot! You couldn't have found a real fabric that replicated the shiny /matt striated design any place. I also really liked Rami's red shiny top. But as stylish as both of the guys dresses were, they were not detailed in actual candy, Jillian shoulda' won in my view!
WORST: Sweet P 's dress really needed something to jazz it up, I thought Tim Gunn was brutally honest when he said it looked like a big maxi pad! Ha! that was a riot! She was better off with broken crockery...
Sadly I think Elisa's dress was a very very sad brown dress...and the worst part were the hershey kiss puff sleevie things...but these are just my opinions....Lets hear yours!
Haven't seen Episode 7 yet. Did I miss something good?

I was disappointed for the first time in the winner

I thought Sweet P should have walked away with the title
Even though Kevin's was not the best I still think he should have stayed, I don't understand why Ricky is still around

What did you think about Christian's

I liked the assignment this week--way better than Hersey's! I think the project asked the designers to stretch as far as they could and then tame it down for "real people". This is a very real scenario for designers. I was disappointed that some didn't seem to get it. Overall I agreed with the assessments of the judges. I probably would have chosen Gillian and Victorya, but I get why Christian and Chris were given top honors. I loved Gillian's day dress even though she wasn't pleased with it. Oh to be able to design and produce in such a short time frame. I am definitely not cut out for that, but maybe in my next life!

Anybody else watch it?

Is anybody else still watching? I watched the last episode over the weekend. It was fun to see Rami come up with something out of his mold. I personally would have given Christian the win on this one. I know most of you didn't warm up to Victorya, but I think she does some interesting things. She fell off badly this week so it was her turn to go. Anybody else have opinions?

Okay, how about last night's episode? I mean, how does anyone decide between Christian's and Chris' outfit? I think they both nailed it for their divas. The only other one I liked at all was Gillian's - she did well with the spandex fabrics considering it's pretty far from her element. Rami's seemed to miss the mark almost as much as Sweet P and Ricky, but I can see why they kept him in. In my opinion, the judges could have sent either Sweet P or Ricky home for any number of reasons. I sure hope they get back to more "normal" garments next week!

I myself have noticed many new explorations into the art-to-wear theme. Our local mall, the Natick Collection, has 3 dresses currently on exhibit made from eggshells, water bottles, and rope. Barb came across an ad for QuickBooks featuring a designer pinning a dress made from overdue bills.

I just received an email yesterday with photos of gowns and costumes made form twisted balloons - think balloon animals gone crazy! Just fascinating.

I'm pretty much in agreement with Janee's assessment of this week's show. I loved Christian's lace and faux leather look. He consistently turns out "fierce" garment designs. I think both he and Chris deserved to win, but I'm glad they gave it to Chris, because I think Christian would do well to learn some humility! I'm happy for Chris, that he got a second chance in the show, and that he's producing some nice work. This competition was certainly right up his alley.
Rami was disappointingly off the mark this time. I think he paid too much attention to "the girl next door" aspect, and not enough to the naughty wrestler side of his client.
Ricky and Sweet P were both so far off the mark, it was sad. I'm thinking they just didn't understand the concept, or else, they were afraid to embrace it. A metallic muu-muu? And puffed sleeves, in a wrestling ring? . . .
I can only imagine how difficult it must be to design a winning look, with such a limited amount of time with the concept and the client. Negotiating with the client's wishes also complicates things. Chris, Christian, and Jillian did it, so why didn't the others?

My knowledge about what wrestling divas wear when they are in the ring is zero! Having said that, I think Christian's outfit was the best. I loved the lace/leather combo. Chris designed an outfit with his client's wishes in mind. His combination of the green leopard print (I didn't see green on my screen.) and the black sparkle lining the hoodie was just what his model wanted. Jillian's blue spandex design with all those intertwined straps was an engineering feat. Man! Those short shorts were really short!

Ok, this week's challenge was great! I love to see what the designers can do when invited to find their muse. I was definitely on board with the judge's choice of the winner. Wasn't it interesting to hear Roberto Cavalli's point of view?

I agree completely as well - and I really feel they made the right choice in sending only Sweet P home. Both Rami and Chris have done amazing things throughout the contest, and deserve the right to continue. And to think Chris was almost out so much earlier!

The thing I kept thinking about watching this week's show was that the challenge the designers were presented is exactly what Threads magazine challenged PACC (the Professional Association of Custom Clothiers - now Association of Sewing and Design Professionals) to do last year. I simply couldn't come up with a piece of art to base a design on, with weeks to think about it, so I didn't enter the challenge. These guys had to do it on the fly, with 15 minutes in each gallery? They are so far beyond where I am - this is why I think of myself as an interpreter, rather than a designer, something I've had many arguments with a business coach about.

So, we have to wait another week to see the final 3 collections! If you haven't caught up on your episodes -stop reading here-(this means you, Barb)
Otherwise, what are your thoughts on the final 3?
I am really going to have to be convinced that Christian hasn't sprouted Big Bird's brother with the yellow feather leggings. Barb says it's runway fashion, but Im thinking it's street, as in Sesame...
I loved Jillian's idea of Joan of Arc theme, can not wait to see her stuff
To be honest, I wasnt crazy about Rami's 3 choices. the hip blossoms on the long dress, the blue coat was allover the place, and the draped cocktail dress itself was gorgeous, but on my screen it appeared he paired it with a frumpy tie cardigan. I thought Chris's open weave shawl would have been dynamite with Rami's cocktail dress.
I am going to miss Chris, I thought his idea of hair was extreme, but if he had chosen goat hair for instance, would it have made a difference? The look would have been chic but no shock factor, and he is all about the shock.
His talent is so amazing, He made a beaded dress with hairy skirt --and he pulled it off--the model looked good! The jacketing number was intense -all dark and goth. I loved his black gown with the open weave shawl best of all.
Til next week!
Colleen

OK, I watched it while on the elliptical this morning! I'm still in Rami's corner. I've been a fan since the beginning, but I did agree with the judges all along that he didn't venture outside his comfort zone. Finally, he did! I loved the garment they showed when Tim visited--the red blouse with black short cape--wonderful! I hope we see that on the Runway. I also love Jillian. She definitely has a spot in the fashion world. Actually, they all do, don't they? Always sorry to see someone go who was so close. Chris is endearing and has much talent to share. I think we'll hear about him more in the future.

So what do you think? Did you pick this one? I still really love Rami's vision. He is very kind to the female figure. It was interesting that both Michael and Nina criticized his choice of colors. He has a different sensibility for color combinations, but I don't find it offensive. The cape jacket with red blouse that I loved in the earlier show was not my favorite as it came down the runway. The high-waisted pants with all the detail seemed to take away from the elegance of the blouse. But I loved the idea.

Christian was almost over the top, but just shy of it. What a talent for his young age! I can definitely understand why he was chosen. His designs are not my taste, but I certainly can appreciate the artistry. Jillian's outfits were wonderful, but she was a bit out of her league in terms of experience and it showed. I think she has a great future in the industry. What fun for these three to have this opportunity. I hope we see them all in the future.

Anyone else want to jump in with a comment???

O.K. I'll jump in with a comment about the show last week. I was much amused at the look of horror displayed on the faces of Nina and Michael when Chris announced that the trim on one of his garments was indeed human hair! If he had used it on only one garment, it would have been more of a signature piece.

The use of hair, both human and animal, goes back centuries. Last Sunday, our local ASG group viewed several exhibits at the MFA in Boston. Fiber Artist, Ed Rossbach, had a wonderful display of his creations using all kinds of fibers. The one that reminded me of Chris was a crocheted cap with long, tiny human hair braids attached. The braids were not unlike the ones our sport celebrities wear these days, but much longer and finer.

One of the shoes exhibited in the display, "Walk This Way," was a moccasin from the Iroquois nation. It was constructed of dyed deer skin with porcupine quills, moosehair and deer hair tufts as decoration. It was quite the work of art.

The judges made the right decision in eliminating Chris. I think he should stick with what he does best - over the top costumes!

Now for the finale. I loved Jillian's jacket with all the detail. I wish I could have seen it up close. The trim reminded me of dovetailing in woodworking. Rami's two tone draped dress was my favorite. The front looked like it was braided. I'm sure it was an engineering feat! His collection seemed to have much of the same element - over-sized, exaggerated sleeves. I can see why Christian was selected as the winner, but he used a few too many feathers for my taste.