Sunlit Air

Sunlit Air

At the moment I’m loving words – phrases from a book, something someone might say or a piece of poetry.  For me  – The Sunlit Air is a phrase which seems to capture something wonderful.

To purchase this item, please, visit Our Etsy Shop for further details.

Story Time was made at the same time as Blossom and Dewdrops; I photographed them together but had not intended them as a pair; however, I did think I might list them both on Etsy at the same time. Then Tom said “if they’re not a pair, no hurry, list one on today and the other tomorrow”. So, we listed Blossom and Dewdrops on Monday night. Why do I listen to him?

Story Time

Blossom and Dewdrops was bought shortly after she was listed and, as you might have guessed, the buyer immediately asked if Story Time would be for sale soon.  We listed Story Time last night and, yes, she was bought by the same person who bought of Blossom and Dewdrops.

Story Time

It’s great to have such enthusiastic buyers, but thanks to Tom they’ve now paid two full amounts of P&P when they didn’t have to. It’s not a big problem I can easily refund the difference.  Tom is a great help but sometimes…………

I found a beautiful vintage cotton tablecloth with lovely pastel coloured flowers embroidered on, so was inspired to make these two little dresses.  I’d read the words blossoms and dewdrops together somewhere and knew I wanted to use them on something,  when I saw these beautiful embroidered flowers I knew this was the piece as they were so spring time. I’ve also sewn little silk and muslin inserts into the dress which remind me of hanky style dresses from the twenties.  This  got me to thinking of the new ”Great Gatsby” film that is coming out and I have an old copy of the book, so am thinking that will be on the cards after I’ve finished a few other little pieces.

Blossoms and Dewdrops

Small 25cm long, 19cm wide, paper fabric assemblage.

One small, three dimensional, simple, white cotton dress with a book paper stitched bodice. The skirt of the dress is formed from gathered strips of differing white cottons, one is from a vintage embroidered tablecloth another is from the cuff of a cotton shirt – which has the words Blossoms and Dewdrops embroidered on. The dress is decorated front and back with buttons and some smaller pieces of ruched fabric. Hanging from the hem of the dress is a small teapot.

Blossom and Dewdrops

To purchase this item, please, visit Our Etsy Shop for further details.

Some time ago I made another art dress entitled The Swan. This one was made as a commission piece, you would have had to be quick to spot this one on Etsy, she was only up for a few hours.

The Swan - Art Dress Assemblage.

The Swan - Art Dress Assemblage.

Small 18cm long, 21cm wide, paper fabric assemblage.

One small three dimensional ballet style dress. Tailored and stitched together from old pleated book pages and white cotton remnants. White feathers and small beads decorate the dress with the edges being touched with silver leaf. The inside of the bodice is also covered in silver leaf.

I lived in London during my student years and I’m quite jealous of my eldest daughter who now visits her friends there.  She’s been down a few times this year and the reason form my jealousy is the art galleries, museums and exhibitions she gets to visit. One I’d like to visit will take place later this year and with my current interest in dresses would be an ideal research trip.

Opening in May, in the newly renovated V&A Fashion Galleries, and likely to be a spectacular exhibition, will be a display of over 60 beautiful ballgowns, red carpet evening gowns and catwalk showstopper, spanning the 1950′s to the present day.

Ah well, I’ll just have to make do with the previews for now.

Satin and flocked tulle gown by Vivienne Westwood. Created for Lay Bianca Job-Tyoran to wear to Queen Charlotte's Ball, 1994.

Alexander McQueen.

Beaded silk satin gown by Norman Hartnell, 1953.

State evening ensemble 'Elvis Dress' for Princess Diana by Catherine Walker, 1989.

Atsuko Kudo gown worn by Georgia Frost with dresses by Hardy Amies and Worth of London.

Silk satin and beaded 'Rumina' gown by Erdem,

Gown by Victor Edelstein, 1986.

Evening gown designed by Worth London.

I’ve made a dress with a similar title before but, this one is a slightly bigger, has a different underskirt and more beading.

Dress For A "Mid-Summer's Night Dream"

Now I think about it, this dress is similar mostly due to the colour.

Dress For A "Mid-Summer's Night Dream"

She is 18cm long, 23cm wide. Tailored and stitched together from old pleated book pages, and fabric remnants. Differing colored decorative glass and enameled beads glint and sparkle at the waist and bodice. A dreamy dress ready for a moon lit midnight ball.

Please visit   Our Etsy Shop for further details.

Art Dress Assemblage - Miss Havisham's Trousseau (2)

Continuing my own little celebration of the 2ooth anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens, here is the second dress from Miss Havisham’s trousseau.

Art Dress Assemblage - Miss Havisham's Trousseau (2)

The bodice of this dress is sculpted to form a 3 dimensional shape. The material of the skirt is an ivory 100% silk, which has been ruched and stitched together to form blossom shapes at the waist of the skirt. The edging of the skirt is gathered under to give a tulip effect and has a soft fraying muslin underskirt.

To find out more about the author – Charles Dickens and the novel, try these Wikipedia pages – the author or the novel. If you would like to read the novel, it is available free and in several different formats, here at the wonderful Project Gutenberg. If you’ve lost your copy of the novel and would like to buy it again, then you can always try Amazon – Great Expectations (Wordsworth Classics)

The dress is currently listed in my Etsy shop and I hope soon to put it in my own online shop at MessieJessie.co.uk

The original photos of this dress are not as good as I had hoped so, I intend to take some new ones soon. Meanwhile I’ve posted this short video on Youtube.