Fun A Day Finish Four!

This one was a biggie...

 Show all hung at the gallery. Fantastic landscape photography by Evan Russel.

Gorgeous show. I'm very proud of my part in making it happen,  as a curator in training.
The selection of artist and timing was my choice, and I think I might have got it right.
A new skill set in the making.

Now the reception is Friday night. And I can't wait!

The Big Reveal...

 Perhaps you might recall this lovely yet un-assuming little out fit that I posted way back in July.

It's actually something that has been a work in progress for almost 2 years now.

It is the Jane Austen Theater Dress.

 Recently titled "No Apologies to Mr. Darcy" for the FashionArt show.

 The taffeta on the skirt is hiding

 A series of loops and cords

 So that when the model raises her arms .... Up comes the curtain.

 The underskirt is appliqued with a scene where Elizabeth becomes inappropriately damp in the presence of the rather stuffy Mr. Darcy...

( Happens to lots of Jane Austen characters, actually.)

 We had a collar of vintage pearls and a fascinator made from birdcage net and the folded pages of the novel.

 As many of you may know I have a rather morbid fascination with the societal restrictions placed on the mid-century female. So, I had some fun combining a slightly risque reveal on a vintage fashion piece with a scene from Jane Austen, which I love, but also makes me marvel at the ways women were marginalized and how their very well being was linked inextricably to their marrying or being cared for by a man.

I was so lucky to get to work with Chelsea Keating as my model. She  really put everything into it and it was quite frankly totally amazing to see my creation come to life as she took it down the runway.

She was fun, and sweet and so perfect for it.

It wouldn't have been nearly as exciting without her enthusiasm and charisma!

Thank You, Chelsea!

And here is a little close up... for the crafty voyeurs.

( click the photo to enlarge...)

This is actually a w.i.p. photo.

There were silver and crystal rain drops added on the day before the show....  

What can I say? Deadlines are my greatest inspiration!

WIP Wednesday: The Hat in Question

As I'm teaching myself how to use Photoshop, I have hits and misses with my concepts.  

Sometimes the actresses and Burlesque stars have something clear to say 

and sometimes they are just esoterically whimsical. 

This young lady was the latter of the two.

But whether they come together easily or not I have so much fun doing this that I forget myself entirely and will tweak and nudge the pieces for hours, if not interrupted.

I'm reading a great book on creativity by Ken Robinson, called
The Element. 

So far ( I'm a third of the way in) it's about finding something that combines your talent and interest, so that you can find that unique endeavor that makes time cease to exist. It is then that you are in 

"your element".

What puts you in your element?

Saint Anne (More Photoshop Practice)

I have been really lazy about taking pictures of what I'm sewing, but pretty disciplined about playing with other people's old pictures. So here is my tribute to the lovely Saint Ann. Patron saint of housewives, and seamstress alike. She was Mary's mama, don't ya know?

I also feel compelled to point out she also was  originally said to have had a virgin birth. Was that a lot more common way back when? Or maybe it just ran in the family. Anyway the Catholic Church had the story straightened out a few centuries back, so I should just stop spreading rumors.

Anyhooo, as my threads break and my seams tweak, it just find it comforting to know that there is a specific saint I should be calling on.

Her feast day is July 26th. Maybe I should throw her a party!

Monday Mantra Collage

Hi everyone!

Home again safe and sound.

Here's a little collage with a James Dean quote.

(more info on sources on flickr, click on sidebar.)

still a little tired from travel...

so, ciao for now!

Made it Myself Monday: Rabbit's Got Lamb Powered Wheels

Inspired by vintage German Scrap pictures and adorable Japanese felted creatures I decided to bring two disparate but cute worshiping cultures together, along with a gob of thrifted gee-gaws to make my tiny vision into a tiny reality.

 

I am very proud of the craftmanship on this pretty little silliness.

The wheels turn the lamb's bell rings, and each little basket in the back has a bunny and a bow.

 

The wooly creatures are hand felted from roving purchased locally and on etsy

with hand blown glass eyes.

and I finished in time for Easter !!

There's another picture or 2 on flickr...

just in case you need to see more.

Made It Myself Monday: A Story to Wear

click to enlarge, my dears

About a year ago I finally found a wool blanket at a thrift store. I brought it home and cleaned it. One morning,  not too long after as I was doing my morning meditation, it came to me.

I sketched it out and sewed it up and started to do the needle felt applique all around it. 

Little Red, the Big Bad Wolf, The woodsman, the woods and Grandma in her house.

 I knew I wanted it to be creamy like the paper in old books. But trimmed in red felt ruffles.

I knew Red would have dark curls like my neighbor, Miss Rowyn.

And that I would want to take her picture with her very own Big Bad "Wolf".

 But it took almost a year before we finally took the pictures so I could share it with you.

 Sometime life is as silly as a fairy tale.

The cloak is for sale.

I love it but it's too small for me.

Email me if you are interested.

and detailed pictures of the needle felting will be on my

Flickr...