A trip down memory lane....

In the last couple of days i have been looking through my old sketches and pictures and found loads of good (and not so good) stuff. Its fun looking through and to see how i develop and change my style over the years. Coming from a very creative family, i think the need to create things is in my blood and my strongest memories from my childhood is sitting in my grandfather`s studio and showroom, watching him cut patterns and create the most amazing coats. He was a tailor and one of the best in his field - I remember trying on the coats, wearing the tape measure round my neck and the pin pad on my arm, pretending i was creating too. I think this was definitely (although unaware at the time) the pivotal point in my creative life :) Anyway, i digress - I started making clothes for my dolls, then tops and t-shirts for myself and eventually started getting some sewing lessons from my equally creative mum and attempted dresses and coats as well. I stopped for a few years but after having children, i started again and last night i found a picture of the very first commissioned dress i had. Looking at it now, i have no idea what i was thinking but it was a success and very appreciated. Take a look ;)

I can hear wedding bells....

After what feels like a lifetime, i have in the last few months been working on another wedding dress and bridesmaids dress. I am really loving these challenges and it really is an absolute honor being given the trust to source fabrics, design the dress and then to make it. But i have been lucky this time too - She is the loveliest bride and so happy with her dress - She did look a dream on her big day! This time we took inspiration from a 50s rockabilly dress but went more 20s with the lace. The main dress is in a beautiful oyster colored silk fabric and the top layer is a heavily beaded net fabric. All the tiny glass bead flowers on the bustier top has been handstitched by my very clever embroidery expert and assistant. I dont know what id do without her :) Picture of the happy couple

The bride and the maid of honor, also in a Hennie M dress

The bridesmaid in a LITTLE MISS SOFIE dress

Details on the MoH dress

Nip, Tuck...Violetta..

Picked up a half finished project earlier today, nearly done now but needs a few finishing touches here and there and then we're... This dress is a complete mix of old patterns, new patterns, trial and error-patterns and a lot of elastics and last but not least, patience! The lilac silk is the fabric i dyed a few months back which i thought would look cute with a white pencil skirt. I could picture this dress on no problem but i did struggled to think of shoes to wear with it so i decided black killer heels would do it and that's how the black straps were born :-) I will upload a few pics later (a few pounds later...)wearing it ;)

For something similar, email me for details and price x

SAGE love....

Here's the latest addition..It took me a while to make something from the sage silk i dyed i few months ago but hopefully worth the wait. This design keeps coming up in my portfolio but i just love it. It's so easy to wear, summer as winter and for sure from day to evening.

I can make this to order but please keep in mind that color and patterns may not be identical as it is all hand dyed but i will do my best to make it as similar as possible.:)

Price on order : £135

A Beautiful Day.....

Spring is definately here...at least for today and it is making me very productive. My dyeing has been done and the making of the next dress has well and truly started -Thanks to bright blue skies, my Orla Kiely notebook and beautiful silks, i didn't have to put an awful lot of effort in to think of what type of dress to make.. here's a little preview of what is in the making =)

Have a stunning day X

S.P.R.I.N.G is here...(nearly)

So, it is definitaly time to be creative again and make some pretty dresses ready for the new season.. Like always, i go mad with the dye and have done three different colours now - My plan is to make the same dress but in three color varities...Watch this space :) I have cut the patterns now and hoping to start on the first dress tonight but for now, here's a little taster of the colors :)
Have a lovely rest of the day :)

Latest project...

After the newspaper dress, i felt i had to continue taking advantage of my creativity so i decided to start dyeing some of my silks.
This was a plain white sandwashed silk fabric and this is the result of three stage dyeing with black, grey and aubergine.
It is a simple knee length dress with a circle skirt, tie belt and a gunmetal Peter Pan collar (quite heavy)
'Whaddya think?

For orders: Please note that garments in handyed silks will vary in patterns and colors.
The Peter Pan collar is a limited Edition so will not be available after stock ends.

This dress as seen : £155

Sunday papers...

It's been a while since i've posted on the blog but i am back into my creative routine now and sewing full time.
This morning i entered the Design a Dress competition for Vogue and Matches where we had to make a dress from paper and the designs that gets the most votes, will have their design made up and sold at Matchesfashion.com - BRILLIANT!!

So, from 1st - 7th of December, i need as many votes as possible. please please pretty please :)

Anyway, the competition hasn't gone live yet but here are a few pics of the dress and i will add the link so you can vote closer to the date :)

Starburst...

Here are another two T-Shirts..very different from any other colours and textures i normally use but still fun.
T-Shirt itself is made from good quality black jersey fabric and made from a size 8-10 tee pattern. They are both hand dyed (bleached) and one has got a dyed pattern all over, the other has only got the pattern on the shoulders plus a hand dyed black silk flower.

They're both for sale so email if you want one :)

Hand dyed Tees as seen : £25

Mrs H's Big Day dress...

Just finished Mrs H's dress - another dress i was commissioned to make for a wedding.
Graphic print, satin, assymetric dress.

She will look lovely :)

Draped in flowers......

I love draped skirts (and dresses) and been wanting to make a skirt for ages but i think the overwhelming thought of it has held me back.
I have gathered some images for inspiration and i have a 50s floral fabric i'd like to use so as soon as i can have some alone-time, i will start draping and pinning on Mathilda (my mannequin).. We'll see how it goes :)

(Images from top:

Burberry Prorsum
Alexander Wang
Anarchy Street
Fabric i'd like to use

Three top images borrowed from Google images)

Sunshine...

Just made another dress in the gorgeous coral chiffon fabric i had for a the maxi dress back in May.
This is more a sundress but can easily be worn for evening too :)

Calf length skirt, lined, twisted straps, elasticated back and slouchy pocket.

In size M

For Sale!

Email me if you are interested.

X

Sunshine dress sold as seen : £155
- SOLD -

Cushion yourself...

Bitten by the summer bug...
Ok ok, the majority of our summer days are rainy but that doesn't mean you can't surround yourself with summer things to brighten up your day..
These gorgeous handmade cushions will definately cheer up a gloomy mood :)

They come in two sizes:
40 x 40 cms
35 x 45 cms
and have 100% down filling, plain backside, wool tapestry flowers and zip.

£47
(or £30 without cushion.)

I only have four (two in each size) so email me fast if you would like one (or two, or three...)
henniemarman@googlemail.com

Great as presents or just a summer treat for yourself.

Payments via Paypal or Etsy as usual :)

X

A couple of extras....

I have two tops left for sale..one black Tee with silk flowers on one shoulder, size M (uk10-12) and one Liberty print shirred babydoll top, also size M (uk10)

Email me if you are interested.
Sales go through Paypal or Etsy, whichever one you prefer :)

X

A beautiful day...!

I had my great friend Hanne's wedding this weekend and had to make a dress for the big event.
Dusky pinks, light blues and beige are colours women tend to go for so my thought was to put a stop to this tradition and opted for a long coral number.
Can't go wrong with a maxi!

To Hanne & Vidar: Enjoy NY and l'chaim !

Also available to order: £190

NO LONGER AVAILABLE

I dyed and went to heaven...

I love dyeing fabrics, especially silks..you never know what will come out.
This time i chose i beige silk chiffon fabric and used a Burlesque red for some interesting effects. Wow, i loved it!
I couldn't leave the fabric there so had to make something straight away. Got a big do in a few weeks and this dress will be perfect for it :)

If i had wings....

I fell head over heels in love with this fabric and couldn't wait to make something from it.
Really soft but heavy chiffon fabric with great drape - covered in owl wings.

This is a waterfall kimono style top with trumpet sleeves.
THIS ONE'S MINE!! :)but i have enough fabric left to make another so if you want it, email me. I can make it in any size.

Summer! Summer, summer, summer...

I've had so many emails and orders for the Liberty peacock dress, i thought it was about time i made something a bit different to the dress but in the same fabric...The result is this pretty babydoll summer top.
Cross-over bust and shirred back.

I have it in size 8-10 and 10-12 but it can be ordered in other sizes (subject to fabric availability)
Email me for details.

:)