Wednesday, September 1, 2010

September Dress for Project Dress Up 2010

For September, I thought it was a bit early to be thinking about autumn, but then I realized it made good sense, since everything is brown and dying in my part of the world.

This dress was fraught with peril from the beginning. I first cut the skirt out of two pieces of orange scrapbook paper, and the top out of contrasting, but color coordinated leaf pattern scrapbook paper. Then I proceeded to lose the skirt pieces. My mind was not on my task, and we all know that art takes concentration. So to improvise, I painted a piece of cardstock using a cheap orange acrylic. When nearly dry, I brushed Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold fluid acrylic over the top to tone down the orange. When dry, I cut the skirt and began the assembly. I was not about to put the pieces down again.

Before assembling the two sides, I added the leaves to the front and back of the skirt using E6000.

Next I made the hanger (probably more difficult to make than the dress). I measured the shoulders to get a good fit on the hanger and sewed the pieces together. Then I added the hanger to the top and glued the top to the bottom. When the glue was dry, I sewed the skirt for good measure. To finish it off, I used a tiny paint brush and filled in any white cardstock that showed and covered the black thread.

If you have just found my blog and wonder what Project Dress-Up 2010 is all about, please visit Margaret at Alice and Camilla, our hostess for this year long project. You will find links to September's and all previous month's participants. I keep wondering if Margaret knew what she started way back in January when she proposed and started this project. I'm just glad she did.

21 thoughtful remarks:

Karen said...

This is really pretty Elizabeth, mine is done & ready to blog too XXX

Halle said...

Your dress very sweet and timely at least up in this neck of the woods. The Maple and Cottonwood trees around here are changing and dropping leaves already.

Steph said...

I love love looking at these pretty dresses you talented ladies are showcasing every month... (Patty and you :)) )

Teresa aka Tess said...

This is such a pretty dress. I would wear it to work. I love leaves and any art that has leaf embellishments.

~*~Patty S said...

'fraught with peril' ... you made me giggle this morning Elizabeth ... not laughing at you WITH you ... why is it that some projects run so smoothly and there others....
your hard work and persistence paid off ... your autumn dress is lovely in every detail, great hanger too!
oxo

Terri Kahrs said...

I, too, had to chuckle when I read the "fraught with peril" line in your post this morning, Elizabeth! I love how you always keep it real.

Love your newest creation! I'll bet it rustles beautifully in a soft breeze! PERFECT!!! Hugs, Terri xoxo

Cindy Adkins said...

Oh your dress is the perfect "autumn" theme...how gorgeous!!! (I actually used leaves for my October one--did it early.) How precious your design is...I adore it!
Hugs
xox

Marfi-topia said...

So pretty!the colors look great...like what the gold acrylic did to the orange.
Yes I couldnt help but use the leaves...too tempting!
have a great day and thank you for visiting.

Margaret said...

You made me smile this morning Elizabeth! lovely post! after all that 'peril' a totally fab result, lovely colour and tiny detail, it was all worth it!!
Yes, I had no idea Dress Up would grow in the way it did, I expected about 5 players! but what a treat we've all had, I think it's a perfect example of creating and sharing just for the pure joy of it. M

Petunia said...

'fraught with peril'.....I love it! And I love how your lovely dress turned out. It's just perfect for autumn. I completely agree with you about the hanger. I also think it's so much more harrowing to make than the dress. Ah the things we put ourselves through in the name of art!

BadPenny said...

However it got put together it makes a stunning vibrant dress ! Gorgeous x

Unknown said...

I LOVE all the detail you put into this- it's fabulous!

Charlene Stemen said...

I love this dress! Of course I am partial to fall-my favorite season-I would wear this dress over and over! Oh, by the way, my white hangers you liked came from Michaels. Again, kudos on this months dress!

Dianne said...

the dress turned out beautifully, I think it's my favorite so far...I do love autumn leaves! but then you are great at improvising when things don't go as planned...well done!

Sinderella's Studio said...

perfect for fall!
dana

Nan said...

Love your fall dress! I am having a hard time with my September dress because I want to do fall but it is 256 degrees here. Guess I'm having a bit of a jealous snit over people saying it feels like fall where they are! Really do love your dress :) Nan

NEEDLEWINGS said...

Ahhh so you do dresses too! Fabulous for fall!

Sherry said...

Pefect Autumnal dress! I thought you was going to say once you'd prepared and painted the skirt, you found the original!! That sort of thing usually happens to me.

Electra said...

It's so lovely, you would never know it was so full of challenges! You never disappoint!

JaN's ArTy JouRneY said...

Whooo, I love the autumnal feel of your beautiful dress! The colours and the leaves are perfect!

Jan x

SandeeNC said...

It's nice to know that you do actually admit to owning card stock, I always feel so guilty everytime I use any for my AB! lol I feel like shouting.."see, she does use card stock too! "...hee hee Lovely fall inspired dress!