The Ornamented Being

grimsperation:

Michele Caragher 

Embroidered details in Game of Thrones 

‘Michele Carragher is a London-based Hand Embroiderer and Illustrator who has been working in costume on film and television productions for over 15 years. She studied Fashion Design at The London College of Fashion, where the course incorporated design, pattern cutting, garment construction, embroidery, millinery and illustration. At the same time she attended a three year evening course in Saddlery at Cordwainers College learning skills in leatherwork.

After leaving college Michele worked in Textile Conservation, repairing and restoring historical textiles for private collectors and museums, specialising in hand embroidery. She then moved into a career in costume for film and television, initially working as a Costume Assistant/Maker on productions such as the BBC’s Our Mutual Friend, ITV’s David Copperfield and Mansfield Park. She soon gravitated towards the decoration and embellishment of costumes, using skills in hand embroidery and surface decoration, taking inspiration from the many historical textiles she had encountered working as a Textile Conservator. 

The first production that saw her undertake the role of a Principal Costume Embroiderer was for HBO’s 2005 Emmy Costume award-winning production of Elizabeth 1. Her most recent work has been on HBO’s 2012 Costume award-winning television series Game of Thrones, working on all three seasons.

As a Costume Embroiderer Michele specialises in hand embroidery and surface embellishment, using traditional hand embroidery techniques, smocking, beading and surface decoration. She works directly onto the completed garment or starts with motifs and textures on silk crepeline/organza, which are applied to the costume and then worked into once on the actual garment. She also works on existing machine embroidery designs that are not too dense, adding some hand stitching and beading to give a more authentic, hand-finished look.

Michele finds hand embroidery has more flexibility and diversity than that of embroidery created by machine, as there is a greater variety of thread choice and colours to use. It is also possible to work more easily on garments that are already constructed. However, machine embroidery in combination with hand work can be very useful when completing many repeats by creating light outlines or a less dense machine stitch, work can then be completed by hand and again can be carried out on a finished garment.

Michele is a highly creative Costume Embroiderer, producing original designs as well as working closely to a costume designer’s brief to create their desired look.’

Text and images from  http://www.michelecarragherembroidery.com

I said it once I will say it again. This what I see when she comes on screen wearing the popcorn bowl.

Also, Margaery Tyrell’s costumes are atrocious. What is this Alexander McQueen does Ren faire?

I mean sorry but the entire time I was watching this episode I kept expecting Chris Tucker to pop out.

I haven’t been home since January which means I have had a lot of shows to catch up on in the past few days

Unfortunately I am now caught up on GoT and I can say that while I no longer enjoy the books, I really hate the show. I’m not sure what happened but I really can’t stand it. Besides I already know what happens in the rest of the series. I do however approve of the guy playing Jaqen H’ghar and his hair. Which is basically awesome.

On the other hand we have The Borgias with Francois Arnaud AND Jeremy Irons. I’m actually interested in the plot line, the costumes are beautiful (I also took classes from the man who makes Lucrezia’s gowns), and I love the characters. Also, there is no Red Wedding that I’m going to have to eventually come to terms with. Even though Augustus Prew met an unfortunate end, I still love the show.

To go against Jaqen H’ghar’s awesome wicked cool, oh my Lord your face is really sexy hair we have Cesare Borgias and the curls.

And as a bonus I present the Shaggy dog look:

And that, Lords and Ladies, is a terribly hard choice. This is most likely the weirdest question I have ever asked on the Ornamented Being, but in the category of better hair: Who wins?

… Homeland beats Boardwalk Empire AND Game of Thrones?

PAGING RICHARD AND SER ILLYN PAYNE. You are needed backstage at the Golden Globes immediately.