Pictured above is one of my newest runway pieces, a gown titled "Silver Lining" . I completed the dress in October of 2015. My inspiration came from the fabric of the skirt. My mom actually dyed this beautiful shade of blue-gray that reminded me of dull skies. Skies that you don't whether they plan to dump big plitter-platters of rain on you, or plan to break open with a glorious sun beaming through their thick cover.
She offered me the fabric, which at one point was being considered for her mother-of-the-bride dress. Since it didn't get used for that, it was now free to be invented into something else! I had yards and yards of this mystery fabric, that shifted and changed colors with every rustle of it's wonderful crinkly drape.
The top I created the fabric for, using my hand dyed habotai silk and then nuno felting a blend of merino wools into it. Like a lot of my recent pieces, I have been exploring using the silk side of my nuno felt as my featured side. The nuno process of fusing wool into the silk fabric creates this amazing texture. I added some pleating before felting to accentuate the texture.
I really wanted to create strong diagonal lines on the corset-style bodice with my silk and feel I was able to accomplish that. I emphasized it with the beading, a feature I love the look of, but always regret about 5 hours into the beadwork, when squinty eyes, a headache and at least 100 seed beads decorating my floor remind me not to put beads on my next piece! Yet I always do....
I love the asymmetry of the design. Creating designs has always been a favorite part of the process for me. I am excited to be working with Marilyn Donoho, an amazing seamstress who really understands me and works with me to take my sketches, fabrics and vision to completion.
This dress fits a size 8 beautifully, comfortably and elegantly. Perhaps the greatest joy for me was to be able to try it on and wear my dream and feel it come to life! That is truly the impetus for creativity!