Monday brought the opening to my 2026-27 season. I will update this space as my calendar fills but it is always a good idea to email to ask if their space. Sometimes I finish a project earlier and other times a dancer moves their deadline deeper into the year so other projects can be added as time permits. Please keep in mind I am off December 15 thru January 15.
As of now May, June and December are full. There are 2 spaces left for September and November. Those months will also find me in Orange County (Sept) and Scottsdale (Nov). There are limited spaces available for August and October.
How to get into the calendar? There are 3 choices.
Come to my studio to pick up a custom fit and designed costume. These studios pick ups often allow you to jump the queue.
2. Engage me to hand deliver and customize the fit in your city – like those that have hired me for Sept and Nov.
3. Order ready to wear sized off my website and it is mailed. This design is custom but it is made using dozens of sizes I have prepared. This means it may need some straps sewn or hooks and bars moved to customize the fit once it has arrived.
Ready to wear is a great option as I can mail costumes as early as July for, example, a September competition. No stress over if the costume will arrive on time and allows the dancer to practice in it too!
This year is a little different as I am not waiting for the large competitions to announce their dates. Unfortunately I am unable to wait for those as they are often very late announcing which makes us even later to deliver the level of costume that is equated with my work. It also prepares people to be organized for 2027 where I am taking much of September off as I hike thru Scotland (yes again!).
So, no, not trying to rush people to make decisions or choose variations without thinking well ahead but needing parents, dancers and teachers to be sensitive to the time taken to create these sought after pieces.
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
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)
No more December deliveries so organize yourself to have your costumes delivered in November or delay your competition to later in January.
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!
matryoshkatutus 