I have some fab new tie belts covered in buttons, I even have a fab purple obi belt which is like a corset. There’s a mad purple jacket to go with it, with a collar made of ruffled ties and a bustle train. There’s also cute little mini ties to wear on your lapel like brooches. I think I have gone tie mad!

I will be making skirts and trousers over the coming months and I’ll be putting them up as I make them, as well as more jackets. If you like a jacket but you’re not sure how it will look on you can make an appointment to come down to the studio and try before you buy. I’m here every day 10am-6pm but please make an appointment first by phone 028 90242822 or email julieanne@curioustales.com.

As a special offer I am offering a 10% discount on everything for the first month (ends 11th July). Just enter the code hooray at the checkout.

Happy shopping!

The event will comprise of a restyle workshop, a recycled fair, a live restyle demonstration and you’ll be able to see Curious Tales in the recycled fashion show that finishes off the evening. The best part is… it’s completely free!

To take part in the restyle workshop registration is essential because places are limited. You can register now at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/wasteweek. The recycled fair, the live demonstration and the fashion show are all open to the public and registration for these is not necessary.

If you are registering for the workshop please remember to bring along a piece of clothing from home that you’d like to revamp! I will be giving advice on reviving clothes alongside other seamstresses and designers.

Please note, you can register up to 3 people at a time for the workshop so if you’re signing up a friend, make sure they haven’t already signed up themselves!

I hope to see you there! Tell your friends!

It’s bound to be full of strange and wonderful delights.

My favourite stall last time was Ties and Dolls, run by Paul Currie, King of the Pun. A cool mixture of his own hand sewn dolls and vintage ties. There will probably be the tree of illustrations where you can buy a small mystery drawing for a pound. You can always find loads of cool vintage clothing and interesting art. You can buy fab recycled jewelery by Ben Allen made from snooker balls, keys and lego. My friend Fleur will be selling Lulu and Red fashion, and of course you’ll be able to find Curious Tales.

Come along and check it out!

The weekend kicks off on Saturday 21st March in Blick Studios, 51 Malone Road. Events run all day, from 10am-7pm, with fair-fashion shows, a “new to me” shop and a variety of practical workshops in urban gardens, growing herbs, stitching, recycling, styling, cooking on a budget. There will also be the launch of an ethical fashion competition for students and under 25’s as well as delicious local food and great coffee.

On Sunday 22nd March from 1-6pm there will be a gorgeous design market at Una Rodden’s Boutique on 50 Upper Arthur Street, showcasing eco-fashion, local designers with a hint of vintage for good measure.

As organiser Alyson McElroy Jones says "At The Changing Room we are passionate about making fashion fairer, creating a more sustainable lifestyle now and helping each other become responsible consumers.

As we make changes to our daily routines and spending habits we not only join those helping to improve the lives of workers being treated unjustly across the world, we save money and protect the environment while our hands-on approach to fashion and investment in our kitchens and gardens ultimately makes us healthier, happier and more gorgeous people."

Our clothes will be featured in the fashion shows and will be available to buy on the Sunday, including a great new range of recycled tie belts which I’m very excited about!

Tickets cost £6 for adults, £5 concession and £3 for kids, and are available in person from Belfast Welcome Centre, 47 Donegall Place. By phone on 028 9023 9026 or online at www.thechangingroomni.com.

I was also shortlisted for Best Fashion Designer, alongside Una Rodden and Mary Rose McGrath. With such talented competition it was an honour to even be nominated. The award went very deservedly to Una Rodden, who has dressed celebrities such as Mischa Barton from her city centre boutique and has been a stalwart on the Belfast Fashion scene for years.

It was a very exciting night. Roxbury and McQueen won Best Lingerie Retailer. I absolutely love their corsets and waspies and was delighted for them. I was even wearing one! Their window dresser Jennifer Brennan won the Best Window Display and she was over the moon.

Miss Tracey from vintage boutique Previously Loved won Best Ambiance and Attitude. While Atelier won Best Newcomer. I’m not too sure who won the other awards as we couldn’t hear from where we were standing.

But it was a great atmosphere and with wine flowing, and delicious morsels of food, along with a full catwalk show from high street retailers such as House of Fraser, Kookai, French Connection we all had a fab time.

The girls from Cathy Martin PR did a fantastic job. A big thanks to them and everyone that made it a very successful Belfast Fashion Week!

I was showing corsets, bustles and skirts as well as the signature jackets. I even had a dress made out of tracksuits – check it out below. Thanks to Robin Cordiner for these photos of Curious Tales on the catwalk :)

We were showing alongside new designer Mary Rose McGrath who launched her collection of beautiful structured dresses. Clearly her time working in London for Matthew Williamson has paid off! She showed some gorgeous gowns made of beautiful silks and nets which floated and sashayed effortlessly along the catwalk.

Una Rodden showed her collection of furs, damasks, and sheer silk dresses. My absolute favourite was a stunning corset made from white shards of synthetic hair.

There were some super chic outfits from Christian Dior available in Harper, a selection of very smart little black dresses from Atelier, and serious evening wear from Beverly Hills. I loved Avoca’s styling, with brightly patterned wellies worn with each outfit.

Vintage shops showing their wares were Raspberry Beret and Oxfam Vintage, with a selection of outfits from Previously Loved gracing the stairways.

I was super nervy all day, but it all went very smoothly. Phew! I needed a few drinks afterwards :)

Orlaith McCallister from Big Brother was modelling in the show. You can check out what she has to say, as well as the clothes on the catwalk and an interview with me here

You can catch us on Thursday 16th October in the Baby Grand, Grand Opera House. There are two shows, at 6.30pm and 8pm so take your pick.

Tickets are £10 each and can be bought online or by phoning ++44 28 90241 919.

The show price also includes a complimentary West Coast Cooler and a goodie bag as well. The tickets have been on sale since 1st Aug so if you fancy it you might be better getting them sooner rather than later as I know it usually sells out.

We’ll be showing alongside designs from Atelier, Madison Rose, Mary Rose McGrath, Una Rodden, HARPER, Raspberry Beret, Avoca, Liberty Blue, Beverly Hills, Oxfam Vintage and Pillar Box Red so there will be a lot to choose from.

There is also going to be a static show of gorgeous vintage clothes by Previously Loved Boutique, Holywood

The models are in the very capable hands of Michael Quinn hairdressers, and makeup artist Paddy McGurgan. I’ve checked them out online and you’re in for a treat. Paddy has some spectacular makeup shots in his portfolio.

I’m planning on making some outrageous show pieces, corsets and headpieces, and can’t wait to get into the studio and dream them up. I haven’t made any hats since I was at school, so I am really looking forward to it! I hope to see you down there, it should be a fantastic night!

It was a fantastic event, organised by Alyson McElroy Jones of Pinkfly PR and Image Consultancy. We dined on fine sushi from one of my favourite Belfast haunts, Sakura and sipped champers, after being welcomed from the street with a full on red carpet. I was upstairs frantically dressing models so I wouldn’t have minded a whole bottle! Fell in love with some of Una Rodden’s gorgeous damask skirts and Vanjo’s beautiful lingerie. The models were fantastic and looked amazing with big hair courtesy of Paul Stafford, and makeup by The Makeup Boutique. Thank you so much to everyone that came along. I had an absolute ball and it was so lovely to meet so many lovely new people. And I was totally overwhelmed with the response to my jackets. I will have to get busy stitching and make some more :)

You can check out a review of the event here!

We are set up in the Mound Market if you fancy saying hello :) It’s just off Princes Street between the two National Galleries.

There are street performances going on all day in the square – chainsaw jugglers, fire whip acrobats, sword swallowers, strong men, unicyclists and even performing potatoes! Nuns, buskers, bagpipers, tourists, and sporrans galore. One day there were even naked activists protesting at the sporrans. You can’t move round here for someone trying to swallow fire, or make a bendy balloon sculpture of Homer Simpson. The guy in the stall up from me has even brought his drum kit to amuse himself on rainy days. It’s a bit of a squeeze in there!

And as if all that excitement wasn’t too much to bear, who asked me for directions on the very first day? None other than the leg end that is Roy Walker. What are the chances? Apparently he is doing a show here called Goodnight Mr Chips. You can check out his blog here!

We will be checking out what’s on and posting more soon!

Greenknickers had some wonderfully quirky pants, made from organic cotton, bamboo and recycled materials. They even had some pants made from Mr Men fabric, as well as a pair of padded pants for comfortable cycling! Look at these beautiful hemp and silk knickers with ribbons! Mmmmm…

There were gorgeous kimonos from Just Trade for only £35! And they are reversible :) Check out their website for jewellery, purses and some great bags, including these cool laptop cases made from rice sacks!

Green shoes were selling their ethical and hand-made footwear. They can create shoes and boots especially for you from their range of designs. All you have to do is draw around your feet and post it to them! I couldn’t resist their very cool accessories in gorgeous metallic leather. Check out their fringed wrist cuff, slashed cuff and necklace. They also do corset belts, but unfortunately I had to restrain myself.

I met the lovely Tamsin Blanchard, style director for the Telegraph Magazine and author of Green is the New Black, which I can’t wait to read. Check out her blog here for up to the minute eco fashion news! She was giving us the low-down on eco-chic and talking about the new Oxfam Fashion Boutique in Westbourne Grove which I am SO going to have to check out! It sells reworked pieces from the UK’s top designers.

Oxfam and Urban Threads held a recycling challenge while we were at the Expo. Urban Threads work with schools and community groups around Bristol, teaching about sustainability and recycling clothing. A team led by Jacqui Reeves, made fabulous creations for the fashion show, corsets from old ties, puff dresses from scarves, bustle skirts from shirts and created them all in the two days we were there. It was a hive of industry as they got busy with their sewing machines just across the way. It reminded me of the Trash Fashion Project that I ran for New Belfast Community Arts Initiative :)

The event was wrapped up with a fashion show organised by Flock Fashion, featuring reworked pieces made by the Urban Threads team, fashion students from Filton College, and clothes from Adili, Chandni Chowk, Bishopston Trading Company, People Tree, Green Knickers, Just Trade, Green Shoes, and of course, fab T-shirts from Curious Tales! I will have to see if any of the photos I took came out. Look out for them here…