Tutus

Ch..ch..changes….

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Are you singing that along with me? No? So not a Bowie fan. That is ok. We can still be friends.

It has been constantly and consistently running thru my head these past months. Yet again things happened out of my control but affected my quality of life enough I knew it was time to make changes. When you wake up dreading work, you know something has to give that shouldn’t be your health – physical or mental. It had me questioning why did I feel accomplished when saying I am soooo busy rather than realizing I was spreading myself too thin to achieve some unknown goal.

So what does this mean? First yes the rumours are true. I am retiring but not right this moment so calm down. The spring of 2026 will find me teaching some fabulous tutu makers as well as the odd costume here and there. The summer and fall of 2026 are where the changes really begin. Making it simple with bullet points below

  1. No more mailed out custom sizing. Custom sizing (that means fit and finished by me) must occur in Victoria or you must arrange a travel delivery (see page Custom Costumes and Terms of Reference for Custom Costumes)
  2. No more December deliveries so organize yourself to have your costumes delivered in November or delay your competition to later in January.
  3. Travel delivery is by request only meaning I choose when and where I will be delivering. With the border become more and more difficult, travel is becoming unenjoyable and often extremely stressful. I may travel to one US city this coming season so prepare yourself accordingly if you want custom fit. So if I am in Az in November but you need your costumes in September, I suggest you head to Victoria. “I can’t come to Victoria!” you say. Well actually you CAN! We have planes and airports, hotels, restaurants and even Uber! If you choose NOT to, well that is your issue, not mine. Maybe you need to head to ready to wear!

Speaking of which, ready to wear costumes will now be available. Please see the page that describes this but this is for ALL costumes that are not fit and delivered by me. So think do I meet Pamela in Victoria or one of her travel cities? No? Then you are buying RTW. But RTW is awesome. First, they are less expensive as they are much less labour. They are still custom designed so your dancer is getting a one of a kind Matryoshka Tutu but is made to predetermined measurements. How to order of these is so simple!

Send me an email to ensure I have space in my calendar. Tell me the variation and where/when it’s needed. We meet on line to take measurements together and determine the best size for you dancer. A sketch is then created using beautiful fabrics and other lovely laces, trims and special items found in my travels to Paris and Italy. I work with you/your teacher to create exactly what you are looking for then it is built to my exact standards and is mailed with loads of time any little adjustments can be made by your local seamstress – like straps made tighter or hooks/bars moved. Easy peasy! So you get the best of all worlds – custom designed costume, sent extra early AND is less expensive.

And finally some housekeeping. I need a break from some variation costumes so no Nikiya death (the pants), no Pharoah’s Daughter and no Esmeralda entrance (the green one – so so sick of this!). Also please remember I am a classical tutu maker which means I like CLASSICAL costumes. Please do not ask me for sad skinny romantic tutus that make me think there is a tulle shortage in the world. I like fluffy authentic pretty romantic tutus and wont make anything other than those. I adore bells and will often suggest these to keep to the silhouette when the ballet was written. For an example did you know Awakening of Flora was built for bell tutus and not long frumpy skirts? So do remember you are hiring me for my work but also my experience and expertise of ballet (costume) history.

Whew! Seems like a lot in one post and yes, it is a lot for me too. I want to love going to work again. I want to enjoy the last few years of creating classical costumes. Even as I write this, I am so excited about 2026 and the adventures it will bring!

Pretties and some news

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Can it be I’ve been home from a wonderful trip to Scotland, Paris and Amsterdam!?! It seems like it was just yesterday but also seems like it was ages ago as well. Returning with a sinus cold seemed like an ok trade off as I also returned with some gorgeous fabrics too. Can’t wait to start using them for my dancers in Scottsdale, Sarasota and local ones too. While it is fun have been gone for so long, it is equally fun getting back to work.

With costume work, planning classes, my book and more patterns has kept me quite busy. And unfortunately life throws a curveball now and again which has me changing my pattern sales platform from Etsy to my website. I had a run in with a charmer from Florida (shocker!) and the staff at Etsy seemed to have no interest in helping (even with the ridiculous fees I pay). While I realize I am not making Etsy millions with my wee pattern page, I do think I should be allowed to take up space and be seen and heard.

Check out my updated pattern page. All of my patterns will be moved from Etsy to my website in the coming days. There will be a paypal widget to make payment easy. The only catch is it wont be a direct download after purchase. I will have to email them to each person for now. I know I know. Not getting them right away is a pain but I promise I will keep my phone on and be attentive to that email that lets me know someone needs their pattern.

Speaking of pattern, did I ever have a great time pattern matching the tutu below. This fabric was purchased last time I was in Paris and absolutely adored making it! It was part of a huge delivery in SoCal which is an annual thing it seems. I am slated to go there again in the fall of 2026 then pretty sure I will be hanging up my tutu hat shortly after but that is a post for another day…

The Prix, Paris, Dior and what’s new

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What a wonderful few weeks away to recharge and find inspiration for the final costumes of the season and set next season off right. Paris was, of course, Paris – meaning it was delightful with its little cafes, adorable shops and fabulous couture exhibitions. I enjoyed visiting the Louvre and Dior where the smallest hanging thread drove me insane but chatting with the stitchers at Dior made up for it. Seeing Galliano pieces and reverse engineering them made me realize how brilliant he truly is. Shopping in the garment district was delicious but difficult as well as I could only purchase the smallest amount due to luggage space – or lack thereof.

A week at the Prix de Lausanne was an eye opener as I realized disco ball tutus that were not tacked correctly and showed a dancer’s bottom seemed to be de rigueur but I am happy my dancers were well covered and could be seen without sunglasses. It also had me realize this is a competition just like the others where the best does not always place as there are larger forces present (aka money talks). It was a little bit of a disappointment as I had hoped for a higher level of integrity but as we all know, life is not fair so accept it and move on or don’t accept it and don’t. I chose to shake my head and move on with a warning – the prix is a wonderful experience but don’t take it too seriously.

During my time away, tariffs became prominent in North America news. There was some, oh wait no there isn’t, oh yes there is and wait what? There isn’t? Very complicated but for exporters such as myself, it is easy. The client pays the tariff. So what exactly does that mean for US customers hoping for one of my pieces? Quite simple really. As usual all shipping and duty is paid by you and now please enjoy the gift from your government that a tariff is now added. Because of this silliness, even in person deliveries will now need the costume to be shipping ahead, paid in full which includes the final costume cost, my travel expenses, duty, shipping and yay – tariffs!

And because of all of this mess, this means I need variation info even earlier as we need to ensure the costume arrives before I do. Enter May 1, 2025 which is when my calendar for next season opens. You don’t need to know your variation but do need to know when you’d like it delivered and how many you need. Read thru my terms of reference carefully please.

Exciting times ahead and very pretty ones too as I carefully unpack my Paris pretties and prepare for some Dior inspired costumes ahead.

As the New Year approaches…

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Every December I like to stop what I’m doing and think about the year – what did I like, what I didn’t, what I’d change and what I wouldn’t. Obviously I have been dealing with a terrible back overuse injury from sitting too long at the sewing machines for years. Funny how your body only lets you abuse it for so long before it revolts. I had to cut back to a third of my usual work load and I have to admit I’ve enjoyed this slower pace. I will definitely be continuing with this pace in the coming year. Teaching was extremely busy this past spring and summer and that I will not be continuing as such. Meaning I am reducing my teaching to only one week a month from February thru June. I had set aside a week to teach in the US in July but this cannot be confirmed until the new US administration has been sworn in. The 25% tariff proposed may cause such an increase in goods pricing that many US citizens will need to keep extra money on hand to pay for the increased inflation their economy will suffer. Honestly I will more than likely not go into the US except to deliver costumes as my visa allows. I realized it is a lot of work to prepare for a week long class to make it easier for people that can easily fly or drive over the border to take class in person here. At the end of the day I don’t need to teach – I choose to.

With this added time, I’m happy I can get my new patterns digitized and finally get the photos uploaded for my coming book Skirts Skirts Skirts.

First is some exciting travel though! Off to Paris and Switzerland and whilst there, I will be attending the Prix which is something I’ve wanted to do since I first made costumes for this many years ago. I’m back to Scotland in late September to hike thru the Highlands so my fall calendar will look quite different as well.

I guess the year in review is work less, travel more and slowing down can often be what we all need.

Summer blooms…

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Slowly moving into May and the Westcoast is still the Wet-coast. I’m needing summer desperately and soft, floofy and bright tutus are placating this need. This sweet confection of barely there yellow lace and lemon silk heads to Perth in the next few days, along with a smokey persimmon using my favourite Italian net, soft English tulle and floral silk that has traveled with me during an adventure to find its rightful owner.

Teaching is now almost at a close with two more group classes. I have so enjoyed sharing my methodology with other students these past few months and so look forward to continue doing with a new to tutu maker and delving even deeper with returning students too. Those returning students are diving into pattern drafting which is one of my very favourite things to do!

These last few weeks, my email has been constant with requests for next season – made even busier with a dancer wearing my costume gracing the program cover of the 25th edition of Youth America Grand Prix finals yet again. Of course there is only so much of me to go around so if you are interested in a costume and have made it this far, this is what 2024-25 looks like.

Calendar opens July 1 (or when yagp announces semi final dates)

8 spots for Socal delivery proposed Sept 8-22. Variations due by July 15.

8 spots for Scottsdale delivery proposed for Nov 8-21. Variations due by Sept 15.

2 spots for those travelling to my studio on the Island proposed Dec 17-20. Variations due by Nov 17.

4 spots for Socal 2025 proposed Jan 22- Feb 1. Variations due by Dec 1.

Do remember each costume comes with a partial flight/travel fee costs as well as 1 hotel night charge. So 4 costumes for one family? That means all of these fees X 4. If you are on a tight budget, it may be smart to purchase a ready to wear from my list and hire up your local shopping mall repair person to add the hooks and bars as these are a simple request.

No custom sized mail out costumes unless we have worked together in the past and is subject to my availability. You may request custom designed costumes but these costumes are made to the sizing you choose from a list I provide. There are no fittings and final sale but you do have a change to choose fabrics, nets, skirt lengths, lace and other pretties ❤

It will be a wonderful season ahead as I’ve collected beautiful fabrics based off Bridgerton (some from the same sources the show used), smokey net shades from Italy and the loveliest of laces I’ve taken months to curate. I can’t wait to get to work!

End of the season and prepping for the next one…

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I think only a tutu maker can think why yes it’s January and already we need to think about next season. The bulk of the work is complete for Prix, ADC, UBC and Yagp. Now I settle down to draft patterns and begin the little season of teaching. I truly love teaching and cannot wait to welcome returning students who want to delve even deeper into this chaos and of course new students who wish to take their work to the next level. 

Even though my schedule for teaching seems excessive, when there are only 2 persons per class, it still gives me ample time to organize the net shipments from Italy, pretty coloured English tulle from the Pacific Rim and fabrics, laces and trims which will allow a season that is more curated and less influenced by artistic directors and teachers. While I do love a good team, sometimes we need to realize it is best if some of our team sticks to the ballet studio whilst other parts of our team do the designing and stitching.

Which leads me to how to get on the ever shrinking list of clients. It’s quite simple really. Get your variations organized as soon as you can. Don’t keep this a secret. Message me what they are (because I don’t always want to do them – seriously if I make one more Nikiya, I’m going to light myself on FIRE) and give me a heads up on your wish list of delivery dates. Once YAGP announces their semi final dates (usually July 1), my calendar will open. Returning clients and those with locked in variations get first crack. Remember any mailed costumes are considered “ready to wear” which sizing that must be chosen from a list. Unless you are from a studio in Perth or a cutie patootie red head in Sarasota, any mailed custom requests is a hard no.

I will be traveling to California October and January only. I will be in Scottsdale only once mid November as I have an adventure toward the US Thanksgiving.

If you need your costume before those dates, I suggest you checking your passport expiry and road tripping to the Island. 

As a reminder, if I am not feeling your variation, I will more than likely pass on your request. ”Nah, I don’t want to” is something many of you may hear this season and if that is upsetting, sorry (but really I’m not). Let’s remember when you own your own business, you get to choose with whom you create with/for and I want to choose wonderful variations that inspire rather than ones that make me want to throw my sewing machine in the bin.

Mid season madness…

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I hit the ground running when I returned home from Europe. It was a tough few days getting used to deadlines after over a month of my biggest stress being what flavour cake was I going to have for breakfast. Delivering numerous costumes to Scottsdale and home for a few days to have me heading out again took a bit of a toll. Living with the sound of your heart pounding in your ears and constant state of stress and anxiousness is not really a good long term heath plan. I keep organizing every moment it seems only to have outside forces enjoy flinging my hard work in the air, screaming wheeeeee while I can do nothing but watch in horror.

Competition dates change. Check those dates before messaging me please.

Mum “forgetting” she signed up for an earlier venue or maybe realizing her dear child may miss out. Does she really need to go to 4-5 semi finals?

Measurement issues. Can’t measure? Hire your local shopping mall seamstress. They are happy to work with me via FT to ensure we get it right the first time.

I had a lot of spare time wondering where it all went wrong as I waited in hotels for kids who’s mum couldn’t get them to me for a myriad of reasons from she can’t miss class (even though she goes every day), dentist which really could have been rebooked, photo shoots (don’t even start me on this subject!) or my favourite other child needed to be driven to (fill in sport) even though dad was A – home B – has a car C – was available.

So cue typical Pamela fashion of reacting in a way that may not always be balanced. I just wont be bothered to do it.

I wont do mail out tutus to new clients and only a select few returning ones may be part of costumes without personal fitting.

I will organize travel after competitions such as YAGP publish their venues and dates.

I am traveling to the US late Sept and late Nov only. If your dates fall between those, see you early or hope you have your passport and can come to my home studio.

I am limiting clients even more. I am choosing to enjoy creating for clients that respect the work that goes into these pieces, do not cause unnecessary drama and for those with a teacher that wants to work as a team instead of a crazed dictator.

The dream is once I start saying no more often, I will be enjoying those I say yes to more.

I’m excited to begin the less stressful chapter of Matryoshka Tutus.

Summer break just around the corner

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Teaching, yoga, pottery and Europe

Home not long ago from a quick class where I was both student and teacher. I spent 3 days (re)learning tunic drafting with Renee then new and returning students joined me for 5 days of tutu class. It was there, with help from returning student Lisa, I realized there is so much anxiety and stress over finishing the project, we often forget we are there to soak up as much information as possible. We can then take this information home and practice it at our leisure. When you have only 40 hours of learning, why waste it staying up late, pushing yourself physically and mentally and just not focusing.

So new class mandate – slow down. Learn. Don’t panic if you don’t get every project done. It is more important to understand than to kill yourself for a social media post to say look what I did.

Now it is time for me to focus on students coming to my home studio on Vancouver Island for class thru the summer. They run every two weeks (week long classes) from May to July. I’m super excited to have students from the US, Canada and all the way from New Zealand this year. Cannot wait to share even more of what I myself have tested and learned this past season. Your teacher should be neck deep making what it is they are sharing with you. They need to see how things have changed season to season in demands of the dancer. Comps like ADC, Yagp and Prix de Lausanne are constantly moving the goal post of us costumers and if your teacher is not part of that, how are they to know what is relevant?

Along with teaching, I’m lucky to have taken time off solo builds as I need to recharge. Get extra yoga in and spend some time in my pottery studio. I have a garden/art show coming up in July so best have the garden ready and art for people to enjoy whilst here! Showing weeds and buckets of reclaimed clay may not be quite what they are interested in seeing.

And then it’s time for Europe. The studio will be closed Aug 15-Sept 24th. I will be receiving emails (NO TEXTS!!!!) but don’t be shocked when it takes some time for me to get back to you. I’m on holiday and working on emails is not really my idea of time away. Of course with my first delivery toward the end of October, I do understand some correspondence is necessary. Saying that, I will be in SoCal end of Oct with very limited delivery. I must have your variations and we will discuss measurements by Aug 1st, 2023. Anything after that, you will be bumped to the next delivery time which is end of Nov/early Dec.

For the second delivery (that Nov/early Dec date), please note it may be in Scottsdale or LA. The deadline for this is Oct 1st, 2023. This is also limited as there is only so much of me to go around.

Please do not write me about how your teacher won’t tell you what variation your child is doing. Sounds like you need to talk with your teacher over what is important. Your child should be. If they cannot get this to you by Oct 1st, 2023, don’t look shocked when you are released from our contract. Please go elsewhere that doesn’t mind the stressed sleepless nights your teacher is causing by not being on top of things.

January will be another date with travel not yet organized. It may be you are road tripping to the Island to me which is always an option and the easiest way to get onto my every shrinking list of people I work with. Mid Jan delivery needs all variation info to me by Nov 1st.

See how easy this is? Get your info to me early and we can then plan wonderful things!!!

What’s New

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Well it seems this is! I’ve moved to WordPress after some silliness which sounded a lot like computer words, computer words, computer words which made me Zzzzzz. So while my old site is still live, this is the space to now find me.

With 2022 coming to an end, I look forward to some fun stuff ahead for 2023. Along with in-person deliveries to Santa Ana in January, I’m teaching in April in San Jose. I will be adding a page on in-person classes in Victoria, BC shortly. There will be some beginner classes and classes more suited for those with some experience and classes made for experienced tutu makers who wish to up their technical game as it were.

More info in no particular order

  • I’m no longer delivering to Vancouver. Vancity dancers will need to come to the Island for their fittings/delivery as I literally can NOT get on BC Ferries one more time. I loathe every moment of it and why do something you don’t like! So don’t forget see you crack of dawn day one, later that afternoon and again the next day for each costume requested.
  • I’m off Aug and Sept to Europe which means my earliest delivery for 2023/24 will be end of October and very limited from then to mid December. So how to ensure you have a spot? Get a hold of me asap. For that coveted October delivery, I need your variations BEFORE I leave (so think end of July). For end Nov or mid Dec deliveries, pending on where you are, I’d need this info mid Sept. If you are putting a studio together for a group delivery, get ONE parent only to message me with parent/dancer names, how many costumes, where you are located and preferred delivery date. Please don’t say end of Oct with 22 tutus. I don’t get home til end of Sept so of course this will be impossible and I won’t even consider it.
  • I am reducing my workload substantially. If you’d like one of my costumes, please message BEFORE you or your teacher commits your dancer to a competition date. Just because you compete in Dec does not mean I am available to help you. My next opening may be in February so your comp dates either move or feel free to check out other costumers that have a calendar less jammed then mine.
  • I will be digitizing more patterns soon! There are new sizes and also new styles – one with straps which is quite exciting!

To keep up to date, follow me on WordPress as I will update this often. This allows you to see if I have openings left, where I am heading for deliveries and there may be a Pippin photo or two (and I’m sure some F1 stuff too 😀 )