Venetian Costume Ball

Here are photos of the costume I created for a Venetian costume ball I attended last February in Seattle. I was able to use the teal velveteen gown I made in high school (I was inspired by the movie, Camelot, which I saw 5 times). After studying the Italian costumes, I concluded that the ladies did not show cleavage so I folded purple organdy 4 times, gathered it with basting stitches, and held it together with a ribbon to make a "ruff." The glittered mask was embellished and the hat was definitely OVER THE TOP! Because the gown was teal, I had to use peacock feathers as the basis for the hat.

I found the skirt recently at a local consignment shop. I immediately knew it would be the one for the next ball. The fabric is sheer (will need an underskirt) with stripes of sage green, orange, rust, and the"dots" are actually splotches of gold threads spaced all over the skirt. So now I must design the top. The colors are so rich an luscious-velvet seems the only way to go...
I am open for suggestions for the top....any ideas? Help! The ball is Feb 2011.

I'm so excited-my cast was removed last week ! Now I feel that I have to move twice as fast to make up for lost time. I missed being away from blogging, but typing was just too laborious & time consuming.

Here is a photo of some decorations I made recently for a friend's baby shower. The hostess wanted black, white, and pink for the colors. The topiary was made with tissue paper flowers pinned into a styrofoam ball and the clay pot was spray-painted black. The 3-tiered boxes were covered with coordinating papers. Normally I can effortlessly whip out a gorgeous bow, but with an arm in a cast, I felt totally clutzy and like a beginner again. It was a good lesson in humility.

Shabby Chic & Some Things Pink Boutique Sale at The Rabbit Hole

Here are photos of my recent sale at The Rabbit Hole (my name for the finished space in my garage which is home for on-going flea-markets). Part of the space was draped with black, white, & pink sheets, mini-white lights were strung across the ceiling along with pink paper lanterns, & a large painting I got for free served as a background. Antique linens/quilts draped the tables. A lamp shade wire form was covered with lights & trimmed with a pink boa. Even the corseted dress form was decked out with a pink boa. Pink lemonade, pink sprinkled cookies & pink cupcakes were served. In spite of my arm still in a cast from being broken about a month ago, the show definitely went on and lots of fun was had by all. And I am already making plans for the big holiday show in the fall!

Shabby Chic Sale

As promised earlier, here are more items that will be for sale at my upcoming Shabby Chic & Some Things Pink Sale. I am planning on decorating with boas, mini-lights, pink flowers, pink feathers, and more. Check out the cool French baquette cart-great holder for paper rolls, fabric, and even bread? I re-did the floor lamp next to it. Votives can go into the purple cut-glass tea cups & the upper glass fixture can hold a candle or small vase for flowers. Cool. In the first picture there are 2 candle sticks that I glued glass fixtures to the top. They make great elevated "vases" or candle holders.

There will be vintage aprons & clothes, bird cages, mirrors, dessert pedestal stands, dishes, luminarias using teacups/saucers, lanterns, and more.
I'll post before & after photos of the garage that will be transformed. It will be the best that ole' unfinished space has ever looked!

Broken Wing

Hi
Just a note to say that I will be taking a break (pardon the pun) from posting (but not for too long-can't keep a gal down).
A few days ago I broke my arm. The down-side is a serious curtailment of my usual high-energy, productive days. The up-side is a heightened appreciation of what some people deal with permanently, gratitude that the breaks will heal & that it is my non-dominant hand. It will be a good lesson in patience & humility, and this will give an opportunity for this strong-willed, independent lady to graciously accept help.
Isn't life simply amazing?

Belles at the Fernwood Ball

I wanted to share some of the glorious flowers I have a chance to dance with in my garden.
The red poppy was discovered at the garden center where I worked-she stopped me in my tracks and I knew she had to be in my garden-even though it doesn't get as much sun as she would like. The red is brilliant and inspires me to have a scarlet , vampy petticoat someday. I think the name is "Belle of Liverpool." The white clematis is another beauty-blooms are almost 8" across and her name is "Duchess of Edinbourgh." (I think). Don't you just love the names? The foxglove are
incredible this year-some stand over 5' tall and given that they naturalize, it is an added bonus.
The lime green foliage with purple flowers is a hardy geranium and happily blooms all summer. The screaming "chartrocity" of the color is a great foil against the purple. I will be thinning out the yellow poppies but only after their luscious petals are finished twirling.

Tiger Lily Productions

These wire armatures have turned into "Pretty Maids All in a Row." I have shown how they look before and then after. The top form has a separate hoop skirt that is decked out in ribbons, paper pattern strips, and tulle. A sweet ribbon sash and matching ribbon rose completes the outfit. The second dress form was covered in paper scraps (one has pages from a French dictionary) which were brushed with a 50/50 solution of white glue/water.
To finish, the dress is "lined" on the inside with coordinating colored tissue paper. The pink dress sports a crepe paper ruffle at the hem. They both stand about 14" tall.

I suppose that even big grown-up girls still like to play dress-up with dolls.