Feeling Formal

I had the honour of making my sisters formal dress...

She looked so beautiful, and though I am bias...

I'd say "the belle of the ball"

 Grace and I having a good laugh!

I was so very happy with it, and most importantly... so was she!

Hoop-hoop-HOORAY!!

 

The hoop I started with...

a regular, kinda A-line hoop skirt.

but I was after the silhouette of more 1820-30's called an elliptical hoop

I took the top two hoops apart. 

Started pinning it together in the shape I desired.

NOTE: this took a day or two to figure out measurements and techniques, pinning and re-pinning again and again to get it right BUT!! I finally got my shape!

here is what it looked like with a random petty-coat I had draped over it...

(just checking the shape)

Took multiple pictures. Measured every part of it and copied those measurement to my sketched image so as to be able to replica it exactly how I wanted it in the actual materials.

Covered the wire hoops with cotton twill tape (of which I bought 18 meters)

Pined it together and tried it on to make sure that was how I liked it!!

YES! Really pleased.

Never have I worked with hoop wire, or making any type or "object" (as apposed to just fabric) it was a challenge to configure this shape. And with no experience or hands-on advise or help... 

the internet and Google Images was, again, my best friend!!

(Now, of cause this is only the top half of the hoop cage AND unfortunately is only pinned at this point... so that'll be a lot of hand stitching!!)

Ooh exciting times. It has been too long since I've been captivated by creating!! I continue to look forward to a beautiful ball gown (though its is months n months away) BUT remember to enjoy the process and the journey getting there...

                                                                                                     Rose xx

A Dream is a Wish...

It for sure is every little girls dream to be a princess and dance in a magnificent ball gown like Cinderella's! And for me, well, I guess in short... I've just never grown up!

Sandy Powell has out done herself again! (I was a huge fan of her work in "The Young Victoria")

She truly did bring the magical wonder of such an iconic fairy tale princess to life!! With such pressure to "get it right" in the eyes of EVERYONE. In my eyes she definitely got it right! (Thank 

you Disney!) 

I mean - LOOK AT THIS!!

A few weeks ago I drew up a few sketches and water-colours of a gown I would wish to "magically appear" (since I had made myself a mask)

...The Masquerade Rose...

but unfortunately it takes far longer to make than it does to imagine.

for if you look at the work not only in the dress its self but the under garments!!

the crinoline hoop frame

the hundreds of meters of frills sewn onto it!!! 

with all my searching I was unable to find any images of the corset she wore for the ball gown or her day dress (anything regarding "corset" led to "Oh how tiny her waist is" and nothing to do with design!)

Here is what I designed to be the frame work to my gown. 

I regret to say that these sketches were drawn quite a while ago and yet it seems a gown like this doesn't appear quite so swiftly as when a fairy-god-mother takes action! I don't know if I will ever make this. But half of the pleasure of something is looking forward to it. It maybe a while till I wear a ball gown like this... but nothing will stop me from looking forward to it!! 

Even though it is soooo super "corny" 

I do want to see things not only as they are, but as they could be.

"if you believe in courage, kindness and occasionally magic..."

Two Piece

I had been wanting to make a two piece for a while. One that was classy, not skimpy and looks like there wasn't enough fabric to finish it!! So with some left of over material from a dooner cover, this is what I got...

V neck-line with purl buttons down the back. Fully lined bodice. Inverted box pleated A-line skirt! With floral print cotton fabric.

(This photo-shoot was mainly for "head-shots" but I was wearing the out fit for it so though it doesnt give a detailed visual description of the two piece, you kind of get the idea!!)

My sister and I...

             

...one of my favourite shots of the day...

(camera credit to my friend Bethany!!)

What do you think???

I'm loving green at the moment!! So am so pleased I was able to find and use this greeny-blue material!!

Rose xx

Summer dress

Though I've not posted in months... I've not been idle!

Still keeping my sketch design books full and extending the size of my wardrobe with the new things I've been working on!! Here is a dress I finished about a week ago...

Rose xx