Second on the 2nd: Project Dress Up

 

As most of you know, whenever possible, I like my Second Look to somehow reflect what our current host at Art Journal Journey is featuring.  That means I had to look for something that reflected Halle of Halle’s Hobbies whose theme is Fabric, Lace, and Trims.

Today is all about the dresses that live on my wall.  This was a year long project created by a lady who no longer has a blog.  She sent each player a PDF pattern and we were supposed to make the dresses out of paper and only decorated on one side.

I didn't learn about the project until late in January, 2010, so I started with the February dress.  I wasn't necessarily satisfied with what I was making, so for January, which was the only month I showed my dress late, I changed the pattern and decided all my dresses would look equally good on both sides.  Often made using fabric, and occasionally both paper and fabric, I made two dresses a few of the months.  I made and formed all the hangers from heavy metal baling wire, too.  Sometimes that was harder than the actual dress I created.

This was taken on my floor with my old worthless camera.  I made two dresses for February, two for March, and two for April.  From May through December, I made only one dress each month.  Want to see how I made them?  You can see each of my contribution by month: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.   You can also click on the label "Project Dress Up" on my right sidebar and they will all appear starting with December's dress.

We were also required to provide a cabinet to hold our dresses.  Most players made theirs out of paper, but I made this one out of wood.  When I decided to bring the cabinet upstairs, I got the idea of hanging the dresses on the wall instead of in the cabinet, which I now use for much needed storage. 

Now it's time to share your own Second on the 2nd.  The rules are quite simple and everyone is welcome to join the fun look back.  All you have to do is bring back a post that you are especially proud of, or perhaps one you shared before anyone knew your blog existed.  It could even be one that holds special meaning.  Any post, any genre, any artistic endeavor is acceptable, as long as it's been published sometime in the past.  Then link below (direct links only, please) and Bleubeard and I, along with other Second on the 2nd friends, will be by to visit. 

 

  

 

December Dress for Project Dress Up 2010

I wanted this to be a party dress, one that could be worn through the entire month of December. However, after I finished and scanned it, I thought it looked more like a sun dress. So this is for all those people below the equator, who are enjoying the Christmas season and Christmas colors, but who are also experiencing summer.


The front of the dress is not much different from the back, except the front has a small red bow for decoration. I was lucky that I found two matching ribbons, one wide, one with lace. I attached the large ribbon to a piece of card stock. I only had one sheet, so had to get the entire dress from one A4 size sheet. I used the lacy ribbon to extend the skirt

and to make the straps.


What better way to wrap up the year, than to have a wrap up party. So, here are all the dresses lined up in order of month. As you can see, I made two dresses for February, two for March, and two for April.

From May through December, I made only one dress each month.

And now they are all complete. All in their closet for that lucky "gal" to open and enjoy. Thanks again, Margaret, for making this such an awesome project. I have made so many friends and had so much fun doing this. You are the best host around.

Be sure to check out Margaret's blog for the links to all the other players' dresses this month, too.

November Dress for Project Dress-up 2010

Margaret asked that we have our wardrobes ready this month. I started mine last month and decided I liked the simple look. Now I could have added lots of paper, glitz, and glam, but I decided I liked the way the white cabinet set off the dresses, which I felt were the real stars of the show.


So the only adornment is this lovely print, originally framed, but cut down to fit the front. I felt it was the only addition that was needed.

And here is my next to the last dress for this project. I wanted a full skirt ball gown that would have a bit of glitz and glamor for some of the parties that would come before Thanksgiving and last till Christmas. I also wanted texture, so I tried a technique that Chris at Bling-kin-eck used for her dress last month. I never got the texture she did, although I tried different quantities of paint and glue. I also tried adding more glue to partially dried paint. In the end, I gave up and decided I simply didn't have a clue how to make mine have that rich texture she achieved.

For the top, I added copper mica chips to the paint. I also added a ribbon with a big bow and some glittery sparkles. I'm not sure what they are called, but they are cut glass. I used three to decorate around the neckline in front and 2 in back as "buttons." I sewed the top and skirt together and hid the stitching with the ribbon.

Be sure to check out the rest of these dresses at Margaret's blog (Alice and Camilla). She has the links and players add their dresses throughout the month. Only one more to go, Margaret! You've really made it a fun year and have been a most gracious host.

October dress for Project Dress-up 2010, plus my cabinet

If you were here last month, you read that I had misplaced the orange skirt pieces I had cut for September's autumn theme. Luckily, not long after I made the dress (isn't that always the case?), I found the two pieces, already cut and ready to turn into my October Halloween dress.

The front and the back don't look much different. About the only way I could tell was that the front neckline was lower than the back, although the shapes were basically the same. Even the pumpkins, cut from rusted paper, look similar. The top is made of fabric, the bottom is made using paper and ribbon that I sewed to the paper skirt.

I have been putting this cabinet off for months. I finally decorated it yesterday. I kept it very simple, thinking I might add something to it after I had let it sit for awhile. The entire cabinet is the same color, although some of it looks different due to the lighting in the basement where I decorated it.

This shows I could easily add decorations to the sides

and the shelves.

I decided to see how well the dresses were going to fit once I installed the dowel. Originally, I had two ends cut that would hold the dowel in place, but which would allow the dowel to be removed quickly. I even had started decorating them when I cut the dowel and saw how nicely it fit without the aid of the two brackets.

Here I have taken a photo of the dress with a flash. Maybe you can actually see the sleeve detail in this. I have to admit, in this photo, the pumpkins appear to glow.

Next, I added all the dresses to see if they would fit. The only two I had trouble with were June's bridal dress, which was too long,

and February's kimono, which I hung on the corner of the cabinet. To see each of these dresses in all their glory, please see my right sidebar for each month's entry. Also, you can click on the Project 2010 Dress-up picture and it will take you to Margaret's blog Alice and Camilla, where links to other talented designers' dresses can be found. Remember, artists add these links throughout the month, so don't forget to check back often.

And now there are TWO left! Thank you again, Margaret for this project.

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.

August Dress for Project 2010 Dress Up

I was recently reminded that school is about to start in many parts of the US. For some reason, I always associate school with September, but it seems the kids start earlier and earlier each year. So for my August dress, I decided to make a first day back-to-school dress.

For August, I returned to Margaret's original dress design. Those of you new to my blog might not be aware that Margaret is the originator of this project. You can find links to all the creative dresses each month, along with her contribution, on her blog, Alice and Camilla. And the link to this project is on my sidebar, so there's no reason not to visit often and check out the other dresses.

This dress began with a substrate of cardstock, over which I ironed wonder under backed green fabric for the skirt and a darling black and cream fabric for the top that will help any gal learn arithmetic. I added an apron, made from light green and black fabric, which will help with reading skills, and will cover any paint splashes and spills in art class.

For the back, I used another coordinating cream, green, and black fabric with numbers on it. The skirt is the same green as the front. I didn't have any green ribbon that would match the fabric I used, so I dyed the pale green grosgrain ribbon I had, using a lime green dye ink. This dress is all ready for the recipient to start school in style this month.

July dress for the Project Dress Up 2010

Independence day is as American as apple pie and baseball. It's celebrated in the US on July 4th. When I found this fabric way back in February, I knew I wanted to use it for a July 4th party dress fit for a back yard bar-b-que or pool party. It's the perfect outfit to wear to the park if the back yard gets too small for all the guests. The bursts of red and blue remind me of fireworks bursting in the sky, also an American July 4th tradition. This two piece skirt and halter combo will go easily from the heat of the day to the nighttime fireworks.


I have not put this two piece skirt and halter top on a hanger yet, because I'm not sure how I want to hang it. The halter is made from fabric ribbon and stickers, and trimmed in clear Stickles and teeny, tiny buttons. Button holes were drawn on using a black Sharpie. Sorry it's all bunched together. It wouldn't all fit on my scanner otherwise.

The back of the halter is plain with lots of Stickles glitter in the "cup" area. The buttons will release the neck strap and create a strapless halter top.

Just think. We're over half way through the year and I still haven't finished my cabinet. Who would have thought when Margaret suggested this collaboration back in January, it would have been so popular. I want to thank Margaret at Alice and Camilla's once again for keeping the links and for being such a great hostess. Be sure to check out all the lovely dresses the players make this month. You won't be sorry you did.

June Dress for Project 2010 Dress Up

It's the first of the month, so that means it's time for Project 2010 Dress Up again. To see what all the other designers have made this month, head on over to Alice and Camilla, where Margaret keeps the links.

For my June dress, I was inspired to make a strapless wedding dress, but not being able to sew a straight line or use a dress pattern, I did the best I could, taking inspiration from the dresses I recently saw at the thrift store. This dress is huge, bigger than most doll dresses, so I knew there would be no way I could get it all on the scanner.

You can see I tried to create a V panel in front,

along with some lovely fabric bows for accents. I'm not sure the scan is much better than the photo.

Here is the back detail. Unlike the front, there is no panel, so the back is very see-through.

You can always find my previous dresses on my right side bar directly underneath my Dress Up participation button. But I thought, since we are now half way through the year, I would show all the ones I've made to this point.


I only used Margaret's pattern on the first one I made, which is the pink one for February. After that, I designed my own patterns, sometimes creating more problems for myself than if I'd stuck with her pattern. I made two in February, March, and April,

and one in each of the other months. All are decorated front and back.

Please don't forget to visit the other Dress Up participants. I know they will appreciate your comments as much as I do.

May Dress for Project Dress Up 2010

When I think May, I think PROM. To find out what girls were wearing to prom this year, I visited a few sites that featured prom dresses. From those sites, I settled on a design similar to one that was popular on several sites. So here is my interpretation of a prom dress. I can't seem to get my dresses curvy enough and they seem to be shapeless. Maybe I'll be able to make a good pattern before June rolls around.

This is a full length gown made from deli paper that I painted using Twinkling H20s. It really shimmers. I purposely crinkled the paper so it would appear to have both texture and movement. I added epoxy circles that had a silver backing to them. In the scan, they looked like little mirrors. Then I tried to stamp swirls around the bling. Yep, I keep telling everyone I don't stamp, and this proves it. I think you are supposed to stamp, then add the bling.


The back has a fairly large split that I failed to capture properly on the scanner. I left it unglued, so it would have a real split effect. Just the perfect thing for dancing the night away with the date of your dreams. As with all my outfits, I can remove the hanger, which is fun if you want to play with the dress, but not so fun when you are scanning it.

Want to see all the other dresses this month? The magic begins at Alice and Camilla by Margaret, where you will find links to all the other participants' blogs. And be sure to leave them a comment. I know they will appreciate it just as much as I do.

April Dress for Project 2010 Dress Up

April is Earth Month, at least it is on my blog. Earth Day is turning 40 this year, so every day leading up to April 22, I will feature a project using recycled or found materials, beginning with my April dresses. Double click for best views.

This is the front of my mini skirt and top. You can almost believe this might be a cheerleading outfit. The top is made from 2 1/2" wide polyester ribbon that I sewed up the sides. The bottom was cut from three soda pop cans that I ran through my die cut machine using a tag die. I cut a flower from the Coke can using a hand held punch.

To cover the back, I mixed Chili Pepper and Calabaza Orange alcohol inks by Jacquard, then spread them on the aluminum. It was the closest I could get to the color of the top, although it's still a bit too pink.

I couldn't stop with one dress for this month, either. For my second dress, I took old silk flowers apart that had been living outside way too long. I tried all kinds of ways to glue the skirt together, starting with double sided tape from UHU (which worked for just a few minutes until the weight of the piece tore the flowers apart), then UHU Twist & Glue, which also didn't hold them. I finally got out the "big guns" and used E6000. The black flower is made into a pin which can be removed when the wearer wants to wash the dress. The top is made from some of the leaves from the flower bouquet.

I left the back plain. As you can see, the dress is hanging on the hanger like a regular dress would. Only the two outer leaves tops are connected. It shifted when I turned it over to scan the back.

Now for an update:

Remember this March dress?

I really didn't care for the shamrock on the front. It didn't add anything to the overall piece, except to signify St. Patrick's Day. I removed the shamrock napkin, colored the tiny shamrock on the decoration to more closely match the dress color and now feel much better about the dress.

Want to see all the other dresses this month? Go to Alice and Camilla by Margaret, our hostess with the mostess's blog and check out all the other participants' blogs. And be sure to leave them a comment. I know they will appreciate it just as much as I do.

March Dress for Project 2010 Dress Up

I know I'm a bit late celebrating Mardi Gras, but I had green on the brain last month, so thought I would once again make two dresses that would celebrate holidays.


This dress was difficult to scan because the skirt was so wide and kept shifting on the scanner. The undergarment is more centered than it appears.



For both the front and back undergarment I colored book pages with color washes. I used a recycled potato bag for the skirt. I added a feather and mask charm to the front as an accent and Mardi Gras beads at the waist. The top is meant to end partway down the back. After all, Mardi Gras outfits should be a bit risque.


I designed this dress by modifying Margaret's original dress design. I wanted it to be plain and mostly unadorned to represent the struggles the Irish have endured over the centuries. It is ankle length. I thought it might be a "Sunday" dress worn by a laborer or peasant.


I couldn't help adding a bit of decoration to the back to represent the Irish shamrock. This dress was made from hand dyed material fused to card stock. I cut both the front and back at the same time, something I learned while making my January dress. It barely fit on the scanner, so that's why you can't see all of the hanger.

To see my January and February contributions, the links are on my sidebar. Don't forget to check out Margaret's blog and follow the links to other great March dresses.

Finally, I can't say it enough! Thanks you Margaret for coming up with this super collaboration that spans the globe.

February dress for Project 2010 Dress Up

I actually finished my February dress before the one I made for January.

The top is made of fabric, the bottom some lovely tissue paper I had been saving for that perfect project. The apron was made from a heart doily.


The back is pink tissue fused to card stock. The buttons are little heart brads.


Because I had so much time on my hands, I chose to make a second dress. Actually it's an origami kimono. The "fabric" is made from three layers of tissue paper and glue. It is quite stiff and will actually stand on its own.

The front is left open to show the glitz and glitter of the inside of the piece. The hanger can be removed because I thought it looked better left loose than to try to glue it to the piece.


The back has a piece of joss paper added.


The detail on the front and the inside glitz is shown here.


The gold on the joss paper that decorates the back is hard to photograph.

Thanks again to Margaret for organizing this project.