The Moth

An assemblage of another time captured in a small vintage tin, which is 16 cm long, 12 cm wide when the tin is opened, 6 cm when closed.

The Moth

I found a lovely little book of poems by different poets which has inspired my next few pieces, this one being  The Moth by Walter De La Mare.

The Moth

Isled in the midnight air,
Musked with the dark’s faint bloom,
Out into glooming and secret haunts
The flame cries,

‘Come!’Lovely in dye and fan,
A-tremble in shimmering grace,
A moth from her winter swoon
Uplifts her face:

Stares from her glamorous eyes;
Wafts her on plumes like mist;
In ecstasy swirls and sways
To her strange tryst.

Walter de la Mare

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.

The Swan Princess

Latest addition to the Etsy shop, is this assemblage comprised of a wire an papier mache figurine accompanied by a cast metal swan on the stage of a mock theater.

The Swan Princess

Inspired by the mythical creature of many tales and legends, who shape-shifts from human form to swan form, this piece owes its origins to the story of the Swan Maiden.  Folktales usually adhere to the following basic plot. A young, unmarried man steals a magic robe made of swan feathers from a swan maiden so that she will not fly away, and winds up marrying her.

To find out more about the fairy tale, try these Wikipedia pages -the fairy tale. If you would like to read the fairy tale, you’ll find it along with other fairy tales, freely available in Kindle format and many more, here at the wonderful Project Gutenberg . If you’ve lost your copy of the fairy tale and want to replace it or would like to buy a hard copy, try this list at Amazon The Swan Maiden

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

I’ve been working on the “The Princess and the Pea” for what seems like ages but, she’s finally here.

The Princess and the Pea - Papier Mache, Wire and Fabric Sculpture.

Of course, she’s inspired by the well known Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea”. In the fairy tale, a young girl is revealed as a princess after claiming to have had a restless night, caused by a pea being placed under the multitude of matresses and featherbeds upon which she slept (the actual number was 20 matresses and 20 featherbeds – I stopped at 15 ).

The Princess and the Pea - Papier Mache, Wire and Fabric Sculpture

23cm wide, 33cm high and 16cm deep, the piece depicts a small princess wearing a billowing silk nightdress, awakeing from her restless slumber, yawning and streching as morning approaches.

The figure is made from wire and papire mache. Her hair is made from soft viscose, gathered and ruched, which falls in a lomg plait to the floor. Her nightdress is 100% silk – after all, she is a princess! On the rug are her discarded slippers, patiently made form little pieces of paper.

Now to the bed, it’s also made form wire and papier mache and sits atop a book as if coming alive from the story. A ladder sweeps in a curve to the top of the bed. Whilst her mattresses, each one individually handmade, come from all over the world - Indian cottons, Chinese silk and satins, beautiful cottons, linens and 100% cashmere. The sheets under which she lay, like her nightdress are made from 100% silk, overlayed with warm luxurious blankest made form vintage lace and cahmere.

The photos shown here, unlike the ones on Etsy, were taken against a dark background. I’m  not to sure which I like best, what do you think?

To find out more about the author – Hans Christian Andersen and the fairy tale, try these Wikipedia pages – the author or the fairy tale. If you would like to read the fairy tale, you’ll find it along with other Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales freely available in Kindle format and many more, here at the wonderful Project Gutenberg .  If you’ve lost your copy of the fairy tale and want to replace it or would like to buy a hard copy, try Amazon – The Princess and the Pea

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

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 - What Katy Did

Art Dress Assemblage - What Katy Did

She’s been a while coming but here is the next in the series.

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