Funnelcake Bridal: "Where Unique Style Belongs"

 

Christine Ramsey, owner of Funnelcake Fashion & Funnelcake Bridal, understands a bride's need to feel unique.  "My bridal style comes from the idea of always pushing the envelope, but not going totally overboard."  

To Ramsey, flare & hauteur don't have to be at the expense of elegance or comfort.  "I like to taking classic shapes and modernize them, using new fabrics, like cotton & bamboo."

When you purchase one of these dresses you know that there aren't brides all over the country wearing the same exact thing. Every time I sew a dress there's a twist here or there.

Ramsey describes her "Cupcake" wedding dress: "Rock out at your wedding with this hot mini dress.  Nothing adds to your big day like a little frill!  This dress is fully corsetted & features cotton & bamboo satin; underneath is a separate petticoat with a drawstring waist to keep the skirt full."

In addition to wedding & bridesmaids dresses, Ramsey also designs & creates bridal boleros.  "My boleros are generally white or in beautiful accent colors, like burgundy," she said. 

"Sometimes even the most traditional bride wants something a little bit alternative about what they wear down the aisle, & that's where I come in!"

While bridal wear is Ramsey's specialty, she also designs an assortment of girl-about-town daywear.  Below, she describes a couple of her favorite new pieces: 

"Be the centerpiece of the room when you wear this dress!  Get a glimpse of color with the awesome pink interior lining in the side pockets.  The pleated skirt keeps the tummy looking flat & flatters every body shape."

   

"This black cotton dress is one of Funnelcake Fashion's most versatile designs.  The classic knee-length, flowing skirt is perfectly refined, & has a polyester cream lace overlay that adds a light rustic touch." 

 

"You'll look elegant & sassy in this figure-flattering cotton dress.  This design is a Funnelcake Fashion original, featuring a rouched shape & straps that make the shoulders look sleek & sexy.  Pockets on the side, a purely modern touch, add function to this dress's exceptional form.  

To see more of Ramsey's collection, or to place an order, visit www.funnelcakewedding.etsy.com or www.funnelcakefashion.etsy.com.  Also, Ramsey is currently raising money for her 2011 Viking-inspired bridal collection.  Visit http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1924822755/funnelcake-wedding-2011-viking-inspired-bridal-col for details.

"I Love Working Without Rules"

     Mixed-media artist, born & raised Seattle-ite, & Cornish College of the Arts senior Adam Rosand has been painting murals in our fair city for years, but his first passion was for the theatre.  In an act he describes as facilitating the “stumble” into his artistic potential, Rosand’s mother involved him in community theatre at age 9.  “There was a lot of turbulence in our family at that time,” he said, “My brother & I pretty much had to fend for ourselves.  She wanted me to have a distraction, or an outlet.”

   His experience in a production of “Oliver!” uncovered a knack for performing.  “Sometimes doing something well catches me by total surprise!” Rosand chuckled.

                   

     In his teen years, the turbulence at home got the best of Rosand, & his artistic pursuits were sacrificed at the alter of drug addiction.  "I finally got sober when I was 21 because my life became completely redundant.  I just wasn’t going anywhere." he recalled, "My definition of Hell is when nothing is changing."  Two years into sobriety, he began to get sick.  At the age of 26, Rosand discovered that he’d contracted a liver disease, & his liver was so cirrhotic that it would require a transplant.  On December 17th, 1997, Rosand received his new liver (above-center, he has "Victory" tattooed below his transplant scar).  

   Throughout the course of his recovery, Rosand’s passion for the arts was rekindled by his restlessness & depression.  "Being clean & sick... I had plenty of need for escape, & plenty of time to work on my art,” he said, “I spent a lot of time in hospitals for a couple of years, & my art reflected how I viewed life at that time: grim but pretty”.  Once he recuperated from the transplant, Rosand became “obsessed” with painting, specifically murals & portraits.  He volunteered for set design & special effects makeup in haunted houses, drew caricatures of “regulars” at a local cafe, & took freelance jobs of all kinds. 

   “I thought that murals were going to be my path,” Rosand said, “but then I met this girl...  She dared me to go to art school.  I was in my 30’s!  I was like, ‘are you crazy?!’”  But the peer pressure paid off, & Rosand was accepted into Cornish College of the Arts in 2006, where a Foundations teacher pushed him back into the Theatre Performance Production department.

   “I love working with theatre people,” Rosand said, “they have great exercises for communicating ideas.  They give keywords, like ‘mucky, moldy, old, dilapidated...’.  Sometimes I’ll start a new set design project by Googling the keywords & just seeing what comes up.  The next step is usually a rough drawing, & then the planning meetings begin.”

   Rosand, seen above holding his piece "Dark Entries" (an interpretation of a Bauhaus song of the same name), has worked on a number of high-profile productions as a set designer, including a regional show for Fox called "Jackson Horn", & the Cornish double feature production, Sam Shepard's "Back Bog Beast Bait" & Ellen Steves' "Holey Smokes".  He is set to graduate in December 2010, & plans to continue his freelance work.  

Star Anna & the Laughing Dogs

WP had the opportunity to shoot local badass Star Anna when she sold out Ballard's Tractor Tavern recently, & now the tour continues!  She'll be in Portland tonight at the Hawthorne Theatre.  WP wishes they could be there, & recruits you to go rock out in our stead.

Star, play "Burn"!  WP will be trying to finagle an actual interview soon, & maybe even a shoot in a place with easier-to-work-with lighting.  

Star Anna & The Laughing Dogs: Star Anna, Justin Davis, Travis Yost, Keith Ash

Welcome!

Thank you for visiting us at the new blog space!  Tonight, Wayfaring Photo will be shooting with Gregory Baxley Photography at the season's final Seattle Jello Wrestling Extravaganza.  The bout starts in just a few minutes at the Rendevous in Belltown, Seattle.  It's going to be a great show!  

WP is totally stoked to be a member of the blogging community.  We'll be updating regularly as we establish our content style & identity, & look forward to your input & support!