Today is Leap Year Day, which only happens once every four years. So since it's a day that isn't real most of the time, I decided to do a simulacra dress in honor of it. A toast to the extra day! *grin* This gorgeous wine goblet is one of a set I own that I got from Avon many years ago. Upside down, it looks like a magnificent ballgown with a strapless bodice and a full hooped and embroidered skirt. This shade of maroon that almost borders on burgundy looks fabulous on me, so you can bet I'd wear this to meet Prince Charming! What do you think I should wear with it -- diamonds or rubies?
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Okay. I know it's a bit bizarre. But I just had to see if I could make a dress out of the numbers on my calculator. Well, I used the calculator on my phone because it showed the equation signs (and I needed a multiplication sign for the waistline.) But the resulting number dress turned out pretty cool. It has one strap and is cinched in at the waist. The skirt is shirred and the hemline is angled to add interest. The one thing this design doesn't really cover is the color of the dress, unless I went with a black and white print. I think this design is intriguing enough for the Oscars and at least as pretty as some of those that walked the carpet this weekend. Don't you agree?
This collage was created from past dresses in this challenge for the new art exhibit at our local Art League called "Eat Me!" The theme was food, so I set this collage up and titled it "What Shall I Wear?" Unfortunately it didn't make it into the exhibit, but I think it turned out awesome so I'm including it in my own personal exhibit. *grin* Feel free to download it or print it off if you like it too!
I had so much fun creating this mood piece! First I had to choose which dress silhouette I wanted to spotlight today, and since I knew I was going with a goth theme, I chose this figure-hugging gown with train. I set her in an abstract watercolor background that resembled trees in the fog and used my saturation and lighting levels to increase that feeling. Next I found an antique style gravestone and manipulated it until I had just the look I wanted, placing each of them strategically in the fog. It took more than an hour to get the entire piece to my liking, but the result was well worth the time. You can almost guess her story from her setting, can't you? And it's obvious that it's a sad tale indeed. This piece is entitled "Lady of the Night," and if it speaks to you, feel free to download or print it off to keep.
I have always been nervous about playing around in my photoshop program, so I am grateful to this challenge for encouraging me to explore areas I would not have ventured into otherwise. I learned a few new techniques today while playing around with this piece and have to say that it has given me some confidence that I may someday be able to create any dream vision I have ever had. And that is a wonderful thought indeed! My friend Melissa is constantly decluttering, so when I visited with her yesterday she sent me home with some things she was getting rid of around the house. One of those things was a nice set of dominoes. Well, you know I couldn't resist making a dress out of them. After all, they're colorful and have polka dots! This party dress says 'fun' in a big way with polka dots and ruffles galore -- a ruffled bodice, ruffled short sleeves, and a short tiered ruffled skirt! I see it done up in a stiff fabric such as taffeta so that it'll rustle with every movement. Isn't that a great idea? Now, where will I find a polka dotted taffeta so I can make it? A special thanks to Melissa for her generosity in giving me the dominoes. Thanks, girl! I had a wonderful time visiting all of you!
Special thanks to Wendy and Moira for the peanut butter Cheerios I used to make this dress! I was born in the early 60's and so the fun clothes that rocked the fashion world during those years were seared into my formative brain. I loved the bold color blocking and the mod art-to-wear that made its debut on big eyed models like Twiggy! I have a design for a fun mini dress in a similar style to this one that I've always wanted to make for myself. It features an Easter Island head in profile taking up one side of the dress while the other side is blank. I tried to use these Cheerios to create that design, but I couldn't give the face enough definition to tell what it was. So I went for a minimalist design instead and used one of my favorite motifs: the zigzag. It worked out very well with the tri-colored dots. You shouldn't even have to ask, but yes, I would wear this dress!
This blog was late because I spent the day yesterday out of town, taking a mini vacation to visit some wonderful friends. It was a wonderful day, and I came home rejuvenated and ready to take on the world! I also came home tired, so I went to bed without posting this. Apologies to anyone who was hanging on the edge of their chair wanting to see what today's dress was! This lovely silk special occasion dress was designed for young girls to play with on their Barbie dolls. I wanted a gown that was pretty, yet didn't have fasteners or buttons that would be too hard for small fingers to manipulate. So this gown has a deep V back, so that it can easily go on over the head then be belted with a tie belt if wanted. It can also be left loose for a caftan appearance. My granddaughters loved it on sight and couldn't wait to try it on their dolls. Success!
It means a lot to me whenever I make a Barbie dress. I suppose because it's a reminder that my first foray into fashion was making clothes for my Barbies when I was a young girl. And it means even more to me when I can give those fashions to my young relatives to play with on their dolls. The legacy passed on is very special to me. My vintage Staci is wearing a fancy royal blue knit gown with matching crop jacket. The red streak appliques and the lapel flower are done in red leather. I love how comfortable it is to wear while still making you look gorgeous! It's too late tonight to ask my granddaughters what they think of this ensemble, but you can be sure I'll ask them tomorrow! Does it get your vote for total class?
Since the girls and I had raisins for our snack this afternoon, we simply had to play with them and make dresses! I wanted a contrasting sash and a trim at the hem ruffle, so I left a blank space there to show it. I think it turned out very well and makes the dress more complex and interesting than otherwise. This is the design for a few dresses I'll be making for spring, and I can't wait to see how my chosen fabrics will work done up into it. It's as close to Retro 70's as I get, and then only because it's a flattering style. (I lived through the 70's the first time and have no wish to return there.) But there were a few things about that time that I like: ruffled hems, empire waistlines, and wide sleeves. This dress has them all!
I was feeling very goth today, and it showed in my design choices for Fashion Solitaire. This suit is a gorgeous black lace layered skirt worn with a black lace bustier and black velvet princess seam jacket with stand-up collar. I wish the framecap had been less fuzzy, because the picture really showed the lovely textures of the suit. I would pair the hematite triple strand necklace with some matching chandelier earrings and hit the night spots. What a statement I would make!
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Denise FeltI took this challenge in the hopes of expanding my creativity as an artist. Already I'm seeing art in a new light -- as something to do for fun and not just practicality! Archives
December 2015
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