Photo Shoot
Coat and Dress:
The tie:
Collar, bow and necklace close-up:
Special label inside the upper back of the coat:
The Dress:
My daughter's comment regarding the skirt, "Voluminous."My daughter helped tie the bow on the dress. She made it look perfect:
A few more random shots. My son took the first two, and my daughter took the second two:
When I put the gloves on, my daughter said, "They look like cleaning gloves!". Alright, where's my toilet wand?
Now, I have a big question for you. I have pretty much decided to make a border and attach it to the skirt of the dress the same way as the coat borders. I feel the dress is sort of boring for an art garment. It wouldn't be for "real life", but this is a little over the top and fantasy we're talking about here. I did not have the time to make the border (will take 6 to 8 weeks) before this first upcoming show (I've got to ship this ensemble early next week!), but will have it ready for subsequent shows. Out of curiosity hat do you think?Watch for a wrap up post and special announcement next week!
Parting Shot: Photographers. Today's photos are courtesy of my junior photography crew. These are not professional photos and some are a bit blurry or required a bit of cropping, but it is fun for all and a great memory.
69 comments:
As always, an inspiration. Fantastic! Love the size of your sewing/weight room :D
Adjectives keep running through my head and none of them seem appropriate because this is a masterpiece! The entire outfit is AWESOME but can I say that the dress is just masterful!
Personally, I wouldn't add a border because I think the simplicity of the dress plays so wonderfully against the ornateness of the coat but I am sure that whatever you decide to do will only enhance not detract from the overall wonderfulness of this outfit.
I need that little icon from SG, that bows and says "I am not worthy!"
Wow! Wow! Wow!
Gorgeous! For some reason after seeing little bits for so long I didn't realize how much there was of the coat and dress!
I like the dress simplicity like Carolyn but for an art garment, a border would look awesome! And for some reason my mind jumped to little pill box hat out of the embroidered blue. (Probably becuase you look like my Memaw :)
Amazing job!
Spectacular! Beautiful! Lovely!
The dress is lovely the way it is, but I can also see it with a border. That would make it just that much more beautiful.
What an artistic achievement. I am totally blown away. It must be wonderful to have your own photography crew too! ;) Thanks for sharing the process with all of us.
BTW, if you want to use those other shoes, a standard wire cutter should be able to cut off the top of that nail.
What an amazing piece of art! Love the shape, the colours and the workmanship. Agree that the dress could use a border. Love almost everything but only like the bow. Maternity clothes in the '80s had the same shape and everything had a big old bow placed right there. It also covers up some of your phenomenal workmanship. That is just me though and I am sure it is nicer in person.
Hi Summerset,
This is absolutely wonderful. Like someone else said, I think you need the skirt to be plainer, so that it can set the coat off. Otherwise, from a distance you would just see blue...you wouldn't be able to see your scallops. The white sets off the borders of the coat, and if you had one on the dress they would blend together.
What you might like to do if you don't like it plain, is to stitch the border as white on white (gold on white, whatever colour you used for the stitching on the blue) and make some of your little flowers in blue. It would pull the eye around the dress without giving a heavy stop to the bottom of the dress. If you know what I mean.
The other thing about the gloves..do you have pure white, rather than cream? and perhaps a bit narrower at the top?they do set of the outfit very well.
I do like the idea of the pillbox hat. But you probably need a break!!
Sandy in the UK
Bernina designer 2007 and 2008
Amazing and gorgeous! Congratulations on that big achievement.
I love the bow detailing on the dress. I may be in the minority, but I think the simplicity of the dress really plays well eith the magnificent coat. A border might compete. What about a front tie sash belt done in the style of the border??? Whatever you do, it will be fabulous! It's beautiful now as is! Thanks for the inspiration and the behind the scene look at your junior photo crew!
Wow, wow, WOW!!!!! I'm with Carolyn - need that "We're not worthy" emoticon.
Personally, I love the dress as-is, but I understand the desire to add to it. But I love it the way it is.
Amazing! You are the best dressed lady to ever set foot out of a time machine! It's gorgeous just the way it is, I wouldn't change a thing!
Absolutely beautiful! You look like you are going to your coronation!
woww. Summerset .- for the moment I can only say: MY GOD ... I have to take time to admire these wonders. really, congratulations. In my opinion you do not need a hat.
Best wishes, Paco
Pta .-
very nice picture with the brush and rubber gloves ... Congratulations also to their children by the beautiful photos. I find a dress in real life. why not ... here in Spain, when we see a well dressed saying: "a dress to go to market".
absolutely amazing. Great work.
I'll also argue for leaving the dress just the way it is ... perhaps it's a good thing you've got to get this off for its first "showing," as that will give you time to decompress and think about it again.
Also, you'll get to do all those bunny costumes, which will really clear your mind! :)
WOW! This is amazing. I missed the beginning of this process so I have no idea of your inspiration. I feel there may be a touch of Cinderella crossed with Snow White perhaps. It it truly a work of art. Personally, I like the dress plain, it's a wonderful contrast to the coat.
Oh wow, it's exciting to see the garment after following it's progress. :):):) The detailing of the coat is incredible, and I love how you added the same detail to the dress, it brings it together.
Maybe your gloves can be the longer ones that go up to your upper arm. They have a sheen to them that would go very nicely with the ensemble.
I wouldn't wear a hat though, the garments are amazing on their own. :):):) A winner in my eyes.
Hugs,
Lory
Oh, STUNNING!
Another excellent project!
Wow. I am awestruck.
I like the simplicity of the dress as well. However, I do understand the need to make it more of an art garment. Like somebody else mentioned, I would make the dress border ivory so it wouldn't compete with the coat. Embellishing it with a gold thread (or ivory, or ...) would give you the WOW you're looking for, but still be simple from afar.
What an amazing work of art! You must be so pleased with how the coat and dress turned out. Beautiful!
It is a stunning ensemble. I love the dress just the way it is. I agree with the comments that a border would compete with the coat, however it is your art and you know best.
I also liked the idea of doing the border work in white on the dress with the blue flowers.
I always enjoy the sitting down photos. Thanks so much for sharing the journey and your photographers. They do good work. g
Awesome. Great to see it all together now. I can imagine your feelings on the dress, being an art garment. It's beautiful as such, perhaps you could add a little to the waist instead of the hem? I think I agree with a previous comment that at the hemline it might take the attention away from the scallop of the coat. I'm really in awe that you can think this out from start to finish, making adaptions along the way and have this gorgeous result. You are very talented.
Incredible! I am always amazed at your ability to "see" the project in advance and then to systematically march through the sequence of tasks to create items of beauty--both asthetically and technically. Bravo!
It's absolutely amazing! I can't wait to see it in a few weeks. It has been so much fun to watch it in development. I do like the idea of a border on the skirt but I sure don't ahve any advice on that - you are well beyond my little talent and vision!
Congratulations!
I'm going to add to the hat contingent. In the period of your ensemble, a lady would never go out without a hat especially for a dress up occasion. Perhaps just a little fascinator style with a view of the flowers? Little more than a heavily embellished headband, KWIM?
I understand your desire to further embellish the dress, but I'd leave it alone.
WOW!!!!!!!! I had to jump straight to the final post before catching up on the previous ones... What can I say to express my total excitement and admiration for this art garment? I sincerely believe that you pushed your advanced craftsmanship a little further with this one, without any doubt my favorite so far! You look absolutely PERFECT and that’s why it’s so difficult for me to make a judgment call on the dress border… I trust that you’ll do the best choice and with or without the border this is an ensemble that no one will ever forget! Congratulations, my dear friend! You’ve produced pure beauty and perfection!
Absolutely stunning! It is a beautiful outfit (and so are you, by the way!).
Yes, I like the idea of a border on the bottom of the dress - but only a small one so that that gorgeous collar is the main embelishment. But a border would help to balance out the dress. I think that collar is just beautiful. Actually both collars are my favourite bits. Just stunning. The bluebirds holding the label is another pretty touch.
You really are so talented. Thanks for sharing all this with us.
My eyeballs are popping out of my head. I know I say this for all of your art pieces, but "This is the best!"
Wow.
It's so neat to get to see the final photos after watching the pieces go together.
I'm wanting the 'I'm not worthy' graemlin, too...this is amazing!
I'm with the folks who like the contrast of the simple dress w/the knockout coat...but, then, I'm not the artist! It'll be interesting to see what comments you get from the upcoming show!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this dress. And I say "Yes!" to a border on the skirt; I think it would balance out the blue collar. And I think you should put flowers on the skirt border too. This is a seriously cool dress and coat. I can't wait to see it in person.
There is not much I can add that hasn't already been said in previous coments - but WOW! WOW! and WOW! again!!
I have eagerly followed your progress (thanks for updating your blog on such a regular basis - don't know how you find the time to do it all!?) and am in awe at what you have achieved, although shouldn't really be surprised as you are so talented.
On the issue of the border on the dress, I am undecided. My first instinct was that it didn't need anything else - but you are the artist and if you think it needs something (and if you didn't, I don't think you would be asking the question) then you are probably right - so go for it! :-)
Looking forward to what is next on your Wearable Art agenda :-)
Breathtaking! I really love how it turned out.
Personally I would not add a border to the dress. I think, when paired with the coat, it will be too much.
Absolutely incredible!! I love the picture of you sitting on the floor - it has the romantic vibe and is perfect!! You are truly an artist! Yea, and I totally agree - "I'm not worthy!"
Holy cow Summerset. You totally make me rethink the world of wearable art garments. I am speechless. The details are amazing. The fit is gorgeous. Personally, I like the simple dress and would love to see a hat too. But, I don't think there is much that could improve upon this gem!
Fabulous, it's amazing this started off as a flat piece of silk! Great photos too. I hadn't seen much of the dress before and I think it is gorgeous just the way it is. But I understand that for shows it's different - maybe keep a border in the same white fabric as the dress, but with the same embroidery details as the collar and coat?
{{WOW}} again {{WOW}}! I had no idea this outfit would look like this! It is absolutely beautiful. A real fairy tale type garment. I love it. Every detail is "perfect" and appropriate! I think it is perfect as is, but I'm sure you will make the right call on whether it requires a border or not. Congratulations on such a fabulous piece of art!
This outfit is beautiful beyond words! You are so talented. Please tell your children that they did a very good job with the photography.
This is just absolutely beautiful (but I am not as surprised as I should, probably, because I just checked out the whole contsruction process and result of American Beauty and Midnight Garden a few days ago, and all I can say is "wow" in a general way. Maybe words will come back to me at a later date).
I agree with you that the border of the skirt calls for something (otherwise the collar calls all the attention to itself), but I also agree with previous commenters that the white skirt peeking out from under the coat adds to it. What about a "simple" wine and flower decoration a few inches from the bottom ? It would leave the bottom of the dress white, but add some "weight" to it ? Anyway, I am sure you will think of something perfectly suited to the dress.
Felicitations to your photographers too, they did a great job, especially for inside photos that are always tricky...
Summerset, your ensemble is absolutely breathtaking! It is so fresh. Congratulations!
I would also go with a border to jazz the dress up a bit - for exactly the reasons you stated.
Fabulous work!!
What a wonderful creation. It is amazing.
Such detail
I think I would put a border on the dress
I've so enjoyed watching your amazing outfit unfold. Your workmanship is beautiful. My grandmother was the most astonishing seamstress I've ever none. She one first place overall in the Ohio State fair. And more blue ribbons than you can imagine. But I think you could be her equal. Since it's an art piece I would put your lovely bluebirds appliqued in a scallop like shape along the bottom. It would be unexpected and really be a surprise. Just a thought. Congratulations on your creation.
Beth
Fabulous, Summerset! And your kids did a great job with the photography.
I like the dress the way it is, no border at the hem. Iknow this is art and not really meant to be worn on a regular basis, but I think a horizontal line across the middle of your lower leg is going to shorten you.
BetsyV
I'm speechless! I've followed the progress of this whole ensemble and had absolutely no idea what the final look was going to be - there are no words that haven't already been said. Absolutely stunning !!!
There´s really not much to add...I´ve been following the progress and wish that I had a fraction of your patience. The ensamble is amazing.
My suggestions: add a hat, whiter, narrower gloves ( I aggree with your dauther...)and a suggest a waist treatment, maybee something that will fall over the skirt, if you´re going to add somthing to the hemline, make sure it does´nt compete with the scallopped border of the coat.
WOW
Add me to the "I'm not worthy" group! I love the photo with the toilett brush. You totally look like an add from the 50's: My new XXX makes cleaning so much fun"
The ensemble is awesome but I'm a little unsure about the white bow. But since I'm not really fond of bows in any case, I'm not counting ;)
I would not add a border to the skirt, so that the attention is all upon the collar but if you want to add one I would go for a white on white embroidery!
I am a little late to the party here due to a houseful of company the past few days. Summerset, this is spectacular. Your efforts, skill, and artistic sensiblity are just amazing. You show the world that garment making can truly be an art form.
i like shot #4 where you just left it untied... the bow when it's tied si a bit distracting from the gorgeous detailing.... have really enjoyed watching this unfold
Just beautiful!
The dress is incredible! And I must say, you are as well. You aren't just a "hanger" for the clothes like "real" models. The kids did a great job with the pictures and you did an astounding job with the garments!
As for a border, it's up to you! Personally I think that it doesn't need one, but if you are leaning that way, don't let our comments from the peanut gallery deter you.
Late to comment, so I have to echo everyone else: wow, amazing, gorgeous, perfect. I do like the idea of the hat, not so much the border on the skirt. When I was very young those little net hats were all the rage, just a piece of netting with an embellishment or bow on the top.
I've really enjoyed following along on your endeavour. I can't believe it's done (or mostly done). This looks like a knock out winner to me!
Wow!!! The coat and dress are both spectacular! Thanks so much for sharing your journey in this wonderful creation!
Your coat and dress is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing this incredible project with us.
I am speechless...which is saying alot for me...this is absolutely Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Absolutely a masterpiece, a beautiful work of art, just lovely I am totally speechless, just awesomeeeeeeeeeeeee
I have to gush, too. The outfit is wonderful and I've never seen a pix of you looking quite so beautiful, Summerset. I love the dress as it is right now, adoring the simplicity, but for competition you are probably correct that the dress needs a border.
Wow!
I have really enjoyed following the progress of this outfit. Thank you for sharing it with us.
This whole ensemble is absolutely gorgeous! I've really enjoyed following your progress. I love the idea of a skirt border and will be interested to see it if you decide to do it. And your photographers are fabulous! They do a wonderful job!
Phenomenally Beautiful!
Wow your dress is... WOW! Amazing. What a work, to me it looks perfect the way it is, no need to had a border, it's precious. Congratulations!!!
OMG, that is just amazing! I have no words and I am sure everyone has said it all far better than I. Congratulations. I think you have outdone your already super fabulous self.
Oh My....stunning! An absolute work of art...and you look so beautiful!
Pam ~Off The Cuff~
What else can I say that hasn't already been said? It's a stunner Summerset. You've created a work of wearable art. I love the dress just as it is and in my humble opinion for what it's worth wouldn't add a border. Maybe a little embellishment around the waist somehow if you really think it needs a little something extra.
I love it though, just the way it is, it's an absolutely gorgeous ensemble.
I am late in commenting but wanted to add to the Wows, this is an amazing work of art, you have such talent. Great job.
Oh! Summerset. You look divine. The Bluebird of Happiness spectacular. Your skills and artistry are outstanding.
This is fabulous. I vote no skirt border.
Would have loved to read everyone's comments, but just don't have time.
This is really just incredible. The coat is amazing! I haven't been following along, so I'm going to have to go back and find some closer shots of that beautiful beading, and the flowers!
I know I'm late to comment and there's not much I can add that's already been said, but this ensemble is truly inspiring. The amount of detail is so overwhelmingly awesome. I read that you are considering not doing the blue border already so I won't pipe in on that. But I will say that I think the simplicity of the dress is a good contrast to the coat.
Beautiful!
What a work you have with this dress and long coat!
I love de flowers and birds details...like a princess!
Congratulations!
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