Drawn to Fashion

2012-01-04T08:09:00.000-05:00

Some things I have worked on:

Costumes:

Portfolio: A New World

2010-06-08T00:43:00.005-04:00

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What New World is inspired from and the "ingredients" that make it special.

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For more information, slide your mouse over the collage images!
All designs are copyrighted Tamara L. Cullen, June 8th 2010. Contact me about producing one of the gowns, about having illustrations done, or about designing.
I hope you enjoy the looks presented!

Back to Fashion! Portfolio for 2010 on its way

2010-06-07T13:44:00.017-04:00

Today, I will be putting up my new portfolio. I will see you back here tonight! As a reminder of what is to come:

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Remember, its a little McQueen, a little Avatar, Some lights, Some nature, A lot of glamour and elegance and its going up tonight!

Happy Panini Day!

2010-06-06T13:37:00.008-04:00

Panini Heaven
So I am nuts about the panini. Have you had one? Do you know what it is?

What is a panini? Well, its is crisp, anything goes, super deliciouse, grilled cheese on steroids!

You need a press. The presses can be mechanical, electric grills, something like a George Foreman Grill, but definitely NOT a George Foreman Grill. (Sorry George, but, hey, there's an idea for you! ) Anyway, you get the idea. You pull the handle down, the preheated grills on top and bottom close like an alligator mouth on your sandwich, creating grill marks while heating up your sandwich and pressing it together. Presses also come as cast iron lids (remember, pot holders are our friends), and skilled bottoms. Don't panic! You will still get your grill marks. Just as with the electric press, you will still need to apply pressure to them.

Go to Panera and watch them use their panini press. You will see that you don't need to squash the sandwhich, unless you want to and not a lot of time is necessary for each sandwich.

There really is a range of presses to chose from. Visit http://www.paninihappy.com/ for great recipes and tips on presses and read enjoy her blog. Presses can be found anywhere. For exmple visit http://www.target.com/ and search up panin press. They have a nice selection of panini makers at reasonable prices that will get you started on your way to Panini Heaven!

I going to enjoy a panini and a strawberry dacquiri. You should enjoy a panini too. We will celebrate today, because its TODAY! Yayyyy!

For your 1st panini try this:
2 slices of Italian bread (PAM the outsides)

on bottom slice, layer up

shredded mozzerella

cleaned spinach leaves (slight handful-be neat)

pulled or cubed, grilled chicken (leftovers of any kind are ok, salmon is awesome)

dried cranberries

feta cheese

top with a little sprinkle of mozzerella

sprinkle on some strawberry vinegrette

Put the lid on your sandwich and grill it!
(30 seconds, 1 minute, you decide, just check it for grill marks and melted cheese)
So good. It fits with the Mediterranean theme that is hot in food right now.

or how about this one:
Any bread (PAM the outsides)
peanut butter
jelly
press it and eat it
Easy and Delicious!

You know,
You know, you could cut them into cubes or triangles and dust them with a hint of
Powdered suger mixed with a little cocoa powder and serve them with tea.
Pinkies up!
You see, even simple foods can be fashionable!

'Alice in Wonderland' Costume Designer Colleen Atwood Talks Dresses

2010-06-02T00:05:00.004-04:00

This is great! It's so way out there. True design taken to the outer limits.

'Alice in Wonderland' Costume Designer Colleen Atwood Talks Dresses

This is a nice article with a few sketches of Colleen Atwoods designs for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland (you know with Johnny Depp. You may remember Colleen Atwood also designed costumes for Sweeny Todd and one of my fave's, CHICAGO!

Chicago

Sweeney Todd

Read this great article and see her sketches in Instyle.com!

http://news.instyle.com/2010/06/01/alice-in-wonderlands-costume-inspirations/

Colleen Atwood is being recognized at the

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising

with a"one of a kind exhibit" as Emma Oldenkamp says in

Instyle.com

Happy Memorial Day

2010-05-31T15:39:00.004-04:00

Try to remember....

They thought about us, they cared about us, they wanted the best for us, they went to bat for us, they faught for us, some died for us. We have what we have, we can do what we want and when we want to, we can go where we like, we can say what we want, we can believe what we chose. This is freedom. It is NOT free.

Thank you, a NAVY BRAT.

A moment of silence....and thanks for everything.

My Own Runway

2010-05-23T22:53:00.006-04:00

This is one of my top fave sites. If you have not been here, again, you have not lived. I can barely get my work done, because I am looking at and studying the fashion shows shown at http://www.myownrunway.com/. I love it and I want you to love it too.

Do you have any idea how much I just learned? I want to stop EVERYTHING...and try each thing I just saw! See technique, learn new skill, translate how it can work for my own design...It is just HUGE. As a designer,
I have to learn all the time. The quest can never end. Search for the new, the fresh, all information to perfect my craft and keep abreast of what is happening. This site is great for that. They are at every show, they show trends, inform, and excite!

That is why I LOVE this website. Please visit them.

Be sure to follow them on Twitter : @fashionweekNYC

Aussie Couture: Fashion Slideshow

2010-05-22T23:10:00.000-04:00

Fashion Slideshow

496 by Avíne Peruccí by St. Pucchi - Avíne Peruccí by St. Pucchi Wedding Dresses - Avíne Peruccí by St. Pucchi Wedding Dress

2010-05-21T19:39:00.002-04:00

496 by Avíne Peruccí by St. Pucchi - Avíne Peruccí by St. Pucchi Wedding Dresses - Avíne Peruccí by St. Pucchi Wedding Dress

O M G!!! I just love the styling, the detailing, the the the everything. Look at the fabrics, and how they are handled. I can't breathe! I love the colors. You really have to see these.

Be sure to stop by www.stpucchi.com for more.

Doreen Leaf Design

2010-05-16T09:47:00.004-04:00

She is one of the most influential women in my life. She trained me. This is quite a gift. Her skills, her dedication to craft, her taste, her constant search for knowledge, her business acumen. I made darn sure that I "picked up what she was putting down." EVERYTIME!

If I didn't know how to do something, fine, figure it out. No one knows everything. She would teach me or turn me in the right direction so that I could figure it out. So now I have a zeal for learning. I don't panic about not knowing how to do something. I tell my clients, "don't worry. I will figure it out. We'll make it work." My clients have never left to find someone more knowledgeable. They appreciated my confidence. You know, its scary saying that! But telling the truth is SO much better than hiding under the weight of deception and a huge lack of self confidence. I learned that kind of courage from her.

I am so excited today, because I am going out to lunch with my mentor, DOREEN LEAF!
Owner/designer at Doreen Leaf Designs. Go there for bridal and evening wear and accessories. If you have not been there you have not lived!

Visit her blog: http://doreenleaf.wordpress.com/

This is the website to her store: http://www.doreenleafdesigns.com/

Go visit her. Tell her Tammy sent you!

Drawn to Fashion: OMG! Lady Dior in Shanghai!

2010-05-14T22:19:00.001-04:00

Drawn to Fashion: OMG! Lady Dior in Shanghai!

OMG! Lady Dior in Shanghai!

2010-05-14T22:15:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow, I will be glued to the computer for this!!! I cannot wait!

portfolio glimpse

2010-05-10T01:33:00.002-04:00

Working on all new designs.....

Jean Paul Gaultier - Haute Couture Spring Summer 2010 Full Fashion Show ...

2010-05-09T17:08:00.001-04:00

This is great! Toreadors, leather straps, sombreros, palm fronds,I think he enjoyed this trip to Mexico don't you! Beaded braids...very Avatar! Love how the shimmery blue Aztec Armor dress moved. I like the juxtaposition of the leather/war edgy against the soft, fluid,feminine. The palm frond dress was awesome. Like a Avatar/ Inca version of Dior's New Look era gowns. Love!

More illustrations! Some tech sketches for factory contracts showing tag placement.

2010-05-07T21:36:00.008-04:00

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Boy, am I glad that I am out of the star dusted phase! Good grief! I think the work looks good, though.

Designing sexy High Heel Shoes

2010-05-07T17:03:00.000-04:00

Wow. So this is how they do it!

Michael Kors - Fall Winter 2010/2011 Full Fashion Show Part 2

2010-05-05T23:46:00.001-04:00

Michael Kors - Fall Winter 2010/2011 Full Fashion Show Part 1

2010-05-05T23:41:00.000-04:00

fashiontv | FTV.com - FIRST LOOK MILAN WINTER 2010 - 11 ROBERTO CAVALLI ...

2010-05-05T23:32:00.000-04:00

Stylecareers Career Fair

2010-05-01T14:21:00.004-04:00

We all met in New York City at the Metropolitan Pavillion on Thursday for the big career fair. Me and hundreds of other fashionistas all vying for positions, freelance or permanent, with in several highly successful companies.

Stylecareers.com and et.al holds this fair twice a year, one on the East coast, one on the West coast, California. It was a great experience, although it was crowded and the lines to see anyone were long. But it was worth it.

Homage to Alexander McQueen

2010-04-28T01:54:00.001-04:00

orange dress

Black Velvet and Iridescent Green Tissue Taffeta

2010-04-28T01:48:00.001-04:00

green dress

Inspirations

2010-04-25T17:54:00.005-04:00

In my new portfolio, my designs were inspired by these things. The colors, nature, textures, the illuminous and clean quality, organic shapes, the contrasts in hard to soft and rigid to flowing, the artistry in the painting... all played a part in creating fashions for "a new world." A big thank you to High Fashion Fabrics, The Knot and Google images for the images. (See the links on this page to visit them.)

Its portfolio update time

2010-04-25T15:41:00.001-04:00

I am going through my portfolio and am moving out the old and bringing in the new. Creating a new mood and new direction. Be sure to see some "works in progress." Stay tuned for Portfolio: A New World; a touch of history, and a nod to (one of my favorites)...Alexander McQueen.

http://www.alexandermcqueen.com/

What's been going on?

2010-04-16T10:46:00.004-04:00

Wow! It has been a LONG time. I have been busy doing so much I lost touch.

Let's see what's been going on:

**I had the greatest of pleasure working for VERA WANG LUXE. I really miss it. I love bridal design and I need to find a "home" where I can do that.

These are just a few gowns that I worked on at Vera Wang Luxe.

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**JMARCO Women's Catalog was a fun experience in the world of technical design, creating fashions for an online catalog of upscale fashions.

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TAMARA LYNN COUTURE
**My own bridal/special occasion design and image transformation business.

Designing wedding gowns and working with clients on improving their personal image/brands and creating special occasion wear is what my business is all about, transformations in beauty, bringing out and showing the real and wonderful "you."

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**Giving to the kids.

**I have spent time promoting the Reflections Art Contest. It exposes kids to the world of art and the possibilities of careers in the art world. It is a fun and special project of mine. These are really good examples of the kind of work the kids can do. The left is from a 5th grader, the right was done by a high school student. Their futures hold some promise for the art world!

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**I have been playing "Project Runway" and adding my own ideas to the challenges they present the contestants with. Just a little fun. Below are 2 challenges.

Maternity evening gown and Swimsuit to poolside coctail ensemble

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Found something new to really get behind!

**I have really gotten interested in social media marketing and am reading all I can on it. I need to get back on the ball with my own blog!!!!

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com

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**OMG! You have got to get a panini maker. I love it I found a great blog on it. I believe its called PANINI HAPPY. Believe me, I AM!

http://paninihappy.com/

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**I have discovered belly dance, fun costumes, great music, awesome workout and really interesting culture. I am about to go to my 2nd Hafla and I cannot wait. Hundreds of people shakin' it...with bells on!

Hip hop Zumba, Belly Zumba!

http://www.worldofdances.com/

**You have to do this! It is an energetic fun workout to great music that gets the heart rate up and tones and trims. No joke it is a must! Ya gotta do this!

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**It was really great doing some work for the theater industry and working with a mentor on mascot building and costume design.

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Whew... thats just the tip of the ice berg...just to catch up. I will put up some pics. So, what have you been up to?

My work

2008-05-26T12:46:00.001-04:00

A peek into my "look" book

2008-05-09T18:58:00.003-04:00

I just keep my eyes open for inspiration and draw, draw, draw. I try to think of how this will wear, how it will move and fit.

Portfolio 4

2008-05-07T08:37:00.003-04:00

You have to communicate as much information as possible about the garments you design. Illustrations speak to vendors and industry personnel of many languages.

Portfolio 3

2008-05-07T08:36:00.002-04:00

I love shoes! Don't you?

Portfolio 2

2008-05-07T08:30:00.004-04:00

Reflections

2008-05-05T01:34:00.005-04:00

These are just a couple of the PTA Reflections art contest entries. I had the privilege of being Reflections Chairperson for Bolich Middle School. The contest promotes the arts and the celebration of expressing creativity in illustration, photography, film and drama, dance, music, and literature. We try to bring out the creativity and excitement in each child who enters.

Someone introduced me to the joys of art when I was a child. It was my turn to do the same. The contest theme was: I Can Make a Difference By...

"Painting" the world beautiful with art

Living Every Moment to its Fullest

Our only photo entry! Nice!

Good job!

Next Year's theme is: WOW!!!!

I wonder what they will do with that. What would you do?

A Peek into My Portfolio- 1

2008-05-05T01:06:00.003-04:00

Silver Pinstripes on satin, lace, a belt and bling!

On Broadway! Swarovsky crystals, beaded fringe

Until next time....

Bridal Whimsy

2008-05-05T00:53:00.005-04:00

I like rendering on tissue paper. It seems to come alive.

Illuminata

2008-05-05T00:21:00.006-04:00

The image within, the beauty within.

This is Fredrick Hart's amazing sculpture Illuminata. It really speaks to me. It is what I am about. It is what I search for...the diamonds in the rough.

We are a little rough on the edges, but beautiful inside.

True beauty comes from within.

We just have to look for it and bring it out.

That is what my job is as a fashion designer/illustrator. I like to build self esteem and through clothing, help to bring out confidence and beauty. Sometimes a girl just wants to feel good and feel good about herself. Looking good and feeling good tend to go hand in hand. Sometimes it is as simple as that.