"You Nailed It!"

My kitchen table looked like this for most evenings
over the past three weeks.

I pondered, fretted, cried, and worked, worked, worked for a whole month! And finally, this very day, I gave my mid-term presentation for Illustration.  You may remember the big fabrication I invented to sell my dress line? I think that, at least at first, some of my fellow students thought the story was true. When I told about the fourteen-year-old granddaughter with cancer there were a few sad Awww's and Oh's in my audience.


My "inspiration board." Can you see how I used these images to create my dresses?

 My line carries the theme of Joplin's rags, gold, and, since it's been a century of music, I incorporated some popular styles/silhouettes of the 20th century as well. The presentation went very well. I only wish I'd had a recording of one of Joplin's rags to play for them.

Anyway I am happy to report that ALL comments by teacher and students were positive.  I was praised for my artwork, detail in the hairstyles and the coloring, as well as the designs themselves. I had two classmates tell me which dresses they wanted for themselves, and the teacher said that I could sell my gowns "for thousands." (Because of detail, fabrics, etc.) She told me, "You nailed it."

Yay!

So, without any further ado, I would like to present

"The Weeping Willow Rag" is a flapper-styled sheath dress made of silk, but  fitted a little closer to the body than a vintage 1920's flapper dress. The skirt is of looped ribbons, weighted down with gold teardrop beads and the bodice is embellished with gold beading.

"The Easy Winner Rag" has a 1950's "New Look" styling.  The bodice
is of gold velvet and red, gold and cream brocade; the scoop back
has a self-bow.  The skirt is of cream-clored satin covered
in layers of gold tulle.

"The Entertainer" is a wink to the 1960's with a grand piano "pop-art" look. It is made of white peau de soie and gold lame'. Three large, gold grommets make the neckline pop!

"The Entertainer's" look is completed with an asymettrical black taffeta wrap, closed with a piano keyboard belt. The broad shoulders could represent the 40's or 80's.

"The Sunflower Slow-Drag" is made of deep green peau de soie; the asymmetrical skirt is lined with gold china silk. The ribbon sunflowers boast "seeds" of black and gold sequins and beading.

"Maple Leaf Rag" is a look at the glamourous, "goddess-styling" of the 1930's. It is made of deep red-orange silk charmeuse; the bias-cut skirt contains layers of shibori-dyed silk chiffon, printed with gold maple leaves. The belt and shoulder are adorned with gold maple leaves.

So watch for my line of formal gowns at the Scott Joplin 100th Anniversary Gold-Ribbon Gala. They are worth thousands! ;-)