I had to buy more pencils!  That's how much I have been drafting and translating!  I even managed to get lost on the way back to the hotel and walked for over an hour and a half before finding someone to ask directions :)  A very nice woman gave me a lift back to the hotel which turned out to be around the corner....... 
I have been working so very hard to the point that so far I haven't even been in a store in large part because it seems they work only between breaks so when we are finished working the stores are closed so it's been only window shopping for me!  
I have so much to share with my classes both new and returning students will be learning so many new and improved methods it will make your head spin!  Have a good one I will update once I'm back in Canada!
Cheers

Hello the countdown is on to return home, it has been a trip let me tell you!  I have learned so much and continue to do so.  There is so much I am going to share with you when I return starting with how to make your own storage bags for the finished patterns using leftover paper!  And that is only the tip of the ice berg so to speak......  The school has simplified procedures to streamline work but make no mistake it is no less precise than before!  
My hours have been from 9 in the morning to 8 at night with a lunch and the usual afternoon breaks dictated by culture in the end I will have at least an extra 5 lbs of paper in my suitcase!
I hope you are all registering for the classes as they are going to start very soon.  Ciao 

Hello all I am hard at work in Italy with Antonia in the company of many other students.  So far I have used up a whole eraser and almost a whole pencil, its only day 2!
I have drafted jackets with a two piece bell sleeve, different cowl necklines, a portrait collar, princess lines, mock princess lines and so on!  This brings intensive to a whole new level and in my spare time I have been translating book 3!  
We get so caught up with work that we forget we must eat until we start making mistakes then its time to get some nourishment.  I am staying at a very nice small hotel with a great continental breakfast and we go out to various restaurants in the evening.  
Be prepared to learn a whole bunch of new things when school starts!
Arrivederci :)

Hello folks!  I have to say that the excitement is building for my upcoming trip to Italy!  I am looking forward to a lot of learning and bringing back a wealth of knowledge to pass on to my students.  Yup I'm taking one for the team :)  Making the trek all the way to Rome just to teach new things to my classes the sacrifices I have to make, have to keep making new clothes for myself to demonstrate how to complete the tasks, you know it's a hard life but someone has to do it!
Seriously I was told not to bring any nice clothes it will be all work all the time, can't wait no cooking, no cleaning and no laundry for 10 glorious days, like I said I'm taking one for the team!  I will try to keep my blog updated as much as I can if you don't hear from me during my trip believe me you will when I get back.  In the meantime be safe and don't forget to register for the courses that start in September.
Arrivederci ci vediamo a presto!!!

Hello ladies what a relaxing class last night!  Padstitching is almost therapeutic isn't it!
Your homework is to padstich the canvas on to the jacket front as you did last night, catchstitch the canvas at the shoulder incline to the fabric, finish the centre front as I described using the twill tape.  Do not make it shorter than the canvas on this part as you did on the roll line.  You are to baste it in place and then catch stitch it to the fabric remember this is the front of the jacket so the stitches must be completely invisible while holding the canvas in place, do not pull the thread tension tight to curl the cloth, it should not be loose either so make it just right :)
The other thing I asked you to do is to practice the buttonhole method of creating the welts for the front pockets.  Please don't give up try to understand the principles of how it's shown on page 62 of the book, you can use a contrasting fabric for the welt and interface the opening for the pocket (it's not shown in the book). 
Sew your back pieces together, have the lining cut as well, it may be sewn together too.  We only have 2 classes left before the start of book 2 so there is some work to be done especially on the sleeves! 
Have a great couple of weeks, see you when I get back.

It's that time of year again thinking of fall classes.  I am so excited my book 2 students are halfway through their studies and will be the very first in North America to graduate this program!  It is a very significant step for all concerned, the students will have a prestigious diploma along with all the necessary apprenticeship required to go into the bespoke tailoring business, the school will have North American graduates for the very first time and Georgian will have the bragging rights of being the only College in North America who has provided this unique opportunity to the people! 
The new courses starting are the skirts section allowing new students an opportunity to enter the program at the very beginning. 
The tops and blouses (sleeveless) or the bodice for the returning students who have already completed the skirts and pants.
The Modellist or book 2 program will continue with simple jackets, they have completed the dresses section that was divided into 4 modules and are now ready to expand their knowledge into outerwear in the fall and men's wear in the winter.  Exciting time ahead! 

Hello ladies great job last night!  For next Monday please have your fabric cut out everything but the sleeves, we have to address the issues that were encountered during the fitting before we do any cutting.  Make the necessary adjustments as we discussed in class.  I think the only real issue is the blazer should be drafted slightly larger than a dress pattern especially the armhole although you can't go too large or you will lose mobility so there is a fine line there to be aware of...... 
Also please have the canvas as well as the front stay cut out we will mark those pieces in class ready for the padstitching.  You will have plenty of time to complete this task while I'm away :) not to mention more cutting etc. 
Have a great week! 

Wonderful job ladies on the man's shirt!  You were successful in completing the man's shirt for yourselves that fits well and looks great!  We discussed a few ways on how to improve the fit/look of the shirt and you were diligent in taking copious notes in the process!  I realize the methods you learned kind of bent your mind a little doing things in ways so different to what you have been used to in the past but that is what learning is all about.  I am very proud of your accomplishments and how far you have come in a short period of time!
My recommendation is to immediately make another shirt for yourself and then find someone with different measurements and make one for them just to get the muscle memory to kick in, once that happens it will be so easy for you to draft and sew a shirt you will wonder what all the fuss was about. 
We also discussed mitered corners, pants adjustment and front fly zippers.  Whew I'm tired just thinking about it!  Guess I should get used to it with my own intensive weeks coming up soon!
Have a great day, see you soon!

WooHoo! Hooray! Yippeee!!! 
Going to Italy for some more learning and writing another exam!  To all my students be prepared to learn some more cool stuff when I come back!  I will be gone for 10 days of glorious learning in Latina with Antonia at the head office of the Le Grand Chic Italia!  
I am ordering some new book 2 if you  would like to purchase one please do so on the kits and class registration page.  I will mail it to you if you can't pick it up. 
Have a great day, I know I will :)