Perchance to DreamMy project plans and dreams |
Soon to be reality...
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The Adele Dress |
This dress started with a gray 1850's bonnet that I purchased at Costume College in 2004 (I think). Later that same year, Joann's Fabric & Craft store miraculously carried a striped silk on a blue base. I managed to pick up nearly two full bolts of the stuff. The bodice will have moderate pagoda sleeves with some sort of trim, ideally of self fabric, though that depends on how much I have left after the skirt, as I'd like the skirt to have three flounces. |
The Hermia Dress |
Again, this one started with the hat, another that I purchased at Costume College several years ago. An exquisite Edwardian shaped white straw hat with flora and feathers like you wouldn't believe. Immediately it reminded me of the costuming in a film version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Next, I found at Joann's (lucky me) two bolts of an immitation dotted swiss. (It looks like a cotton voile that was stamped with little raised-paint dots.) This one will have lots of ruffles on a trained skirt, on the bodice neckline, and on the sleeves. While I should maintain some level of authenticity and make a pigeon-front bodice, I think I will probably err on the side of flattery and make a fitted bodice that will look better on my body. I might be convinced to go with a bodice that blouses just a little, but nothing more! |
Dreams...
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The Cranach Gown |
I'm not entirely sure what the inspiration here was except that I think it started with the movie Luther. From that vague suggestion, I started researching German Renaissance dresses and ran into one after the other after the other after the other...of Cranach paintings. I thought they looked pretty cool and figured I'd like to give one a try and see if I couldn't come up with something better than the slashed felted wool things I see at faire all the time. (Is it a faire costuming requirement that all Germans must wear felted wool?) |
The Ter Borch Gown |
Purely inspired by the artwork, because these gowns are amazing. I actually started this gown two years ago. I had the bodice draped, mocked up, and the bodice foundation complete, with boning channels and everything. Then, I started losing weight...like a lot of weight. So, I'm left with good experience and a canvas bodice that is at least four sizes too big. |
The Lady Josephine Dress |
While some of my inspiration comes from films, artwork, and fashion plates, sometimes it's patterns and fabrics themselves which get the creative juices flowing. That is the case with this brain child. I've wanted to make this Truly Victorian bustle skirt for ages now. Then, I found the perfect fabric, a beautiful royal blue silk taffeta that I was able to get over twelve yards of--plenty to make this skirt, a bodice, and trim too! I knew that I was also going to want an accent fabric, which I found when I was organizing my fabric stash. I was putting fabric away in bins and taping swatches to cards when I taped the silk swatch right next to a swatch of navy blue velveteen. The lightbulb came on and I new that one day I would have to make this dress. |
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