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| Big Girl's Blouse |
| Before 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' ...I was out there, clawing my way to the top of the dressing room at the Ipswich Junior Eisteddfod (Dance Section), clambering over the backs of snarling rouged and ringleted 8-year-olds in fairy-floss pink organza ruffles, and their equally terrifying mothers. Later, I made inroads on the big time: the Senior girls. Trust me, it's a jungle in there. I enjoy designing and making costumes. I suppose it's a natural development from my learning to sew doll's clothes on my grandmother's treadle machine when I was 8 or 9. By the time I was 13, I was capable of making straightforward garments for myself, and loved the creative part of the process -- varying a bought pattern with choice of fabric, trim, finishes and so on. At high school, all the girls did at least a compulsory year of "domestic science" (yes, it was that long ago), including dressmaking and basic pattern drafting. That helped give me a few simple skills: the rest I've worked out for myself. I tend to be obsessive with new projects, and become totally focused on planning the design and execution, and figuring out how something might be done. All my projects are as good as I can make them, and well constructed, but I have to admit that, try as I might, I'm not the neatest worker you'll ever see. What I lack in perfection of finish I make up for with style and originality! Over time, I've dabbled in designing and creating rag dolls (fashion dolls in period dress); fantasy costume gifts (fairy outfits, special occasion "princess" gowns for little girls); fancy dress for my daughters' school balls; dancewear and costumes for my nieces' and nephew's dancing class concerts; formal gowns; and even a few costume items for professional dance groups. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictorial records at all of most of my projects. The photos here are the only ones I could find. If I ever get the energy, I might even take some photos of various other projects that I ended up being pretty pleased with eg. patchwork, original knitting designs, stuff like that. One day. And I've got a cupboard full of scraps, sequins, beads, feathers, knitting yarn and God knows what else. Something's bound to come in han |
| (Last updated 1 November 2003) |
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| ABOVE: Isabella's speed tap costume. Gold hologram lycra leotard, self-skirt with peaked hem. Petal-and-leaf embellishment on shoulder and hip, in self fabric, gold ribbon and gold lace. Hair ornament in gold wire-edged lace. |
| BELOW: Franny's 1860 lady's outdoor costume. Crinoline skirt in polyester taffeta curtain fabric (6 metres!) Drop-shoulder flared peplum jacket in cotton plush with piping and covered buttons. Matching reticule. Handkerchief linen detachable collar and undersleeves. Lined & trimmed straw bonnet. Crinoline of calico & steel wire. Fine cotton undergarments (chemise and long knickers trimmed with broderie anglaise). |
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| Some of the projects I've tackled... |
| DANCEWEAR * A parrot & six canaries * Donald Duck * Speed tap, waltz tap, song & dance, '40s tap duo * Ostrich feather showgirl headpieces (x 3) SPECIAL OCCASIONS & THEATRICAL * Senior formal gowns * Little girls' princess gowns (own design) * Girls' party dresses * Harem girl & Indian princess * Flower fairy * Emu * Mother Superior * Dowager duchess * Canadian Mountie * Salvation Army lass * "Little Buttercup" * Three little girls (back to childhood) * Red Dragon * Snow White * 19th Century crinoline lady |
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| LEFT. Best summer frocks in lavender gingham, made by Mum for my sisters and I in 1959. |
| RIGHT: Same girls 36 years later. I reproduced our matching summer dresses to surprise Mum at her 60th birthday party. |
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| ABOVE: Bella the flower fairy. Skirt made of separate overlapping petals in tulle, crystal organza, taffeta and fabric lace, with ribbons, gold pompoms and pearl sequins on a satin blanket-binding band fastened with velcro. Garland of scraps and silk flowers twisted into pipe cleaners. Wings of lace fabric on wire frame with elastic loops. Wand from craft shop, painted gold & decorated with ribbons, sequins and glitter. Lots of fun! |
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| BELOW: Tap costume -- headband and high-necked leotard with cut-in shoulders and keyhole back in apple green foil print lycra. Sequin and beading detail at neck. Ruffle behind of lycra, foil and beading. |
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| RIGHT: Knitted outfit for baby Bella in cream and forest green: dress with striped yoke, frilled |
| armholes and hem, and lace-patterned skirt. Striped leggings and tam'o'shanter One of my earliest attempts, and the pattern was my own.. |
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| LEFT: My first little girl's fantasy dress (made from remnants) for Bella's birthday. Forest green satin |
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| LEFT: "Aladdin"-inspired Princess Jasmine dress-up costume, another birthday present for Bella. Harem pants have attached briefs. Outfit trimmed with beads and silver metal coin ornaments, bought from a jewellery findings store. |
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| princess-line bodice with round neck and short capped sleeves, buttoned at back with tiny buttons covered in coppery metallic-finish leather, of all things. Full, layered skirt of silver- and multi-striped organza. Tied sash of dark jade-green taffeta and silver ribbon. |
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| RIGHT: Sleeve detail from Bella's mediaeval-inspired fantasy gown -- yet another birthday present. My own, rather elaborate design featuring a laced, panelled bodice, full panelled skirt with paniers, double sleeves and trim of gold piping and black and gold ribbon-threaded lace. Fabrics are stretch panne velvets in shades of royal blue, dark aquamarine and turquoise; and midnight blue shot crystal organza. |
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| ABOVE: Corbin's Bob the Builder vest. 8-ply acrylic intarsia knit. Picture graph based on a graph by Jean Dale, downloaded from Sara Bradberry's www.knitting-and.com. |