To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory. Isaiah 61:3

Monday, August 24, 2015

Grape Soda Dress.....Compete!!! Huzzah!

She's done!!  I am so excited as I can get back to my life!  Seriously!  I don't think I have ever spent this much time on a dress...except for the "Faithfulness" Masquerade dress I made for the SASS Convention waaaaay back in 2005!!  I think I spent more hours on this dress than I did on the Wedding Dress I made in January/February of this year.  I don't want to make another one of these time consuming dresses again for a long time.  That being said, I am super happy, excited, thrilled with the way this beast dress turned out!!!


Sadly, I didn't have enough of the periwinkle silk to make any long tails for the bows on the bustle or the back of the "belt", but that's just fine with me.  I think the addition of a bigger bow or tails would have overwhelmed a balance that was teetering on the knife edge of just right and "HOLY COW, IT'S A BARBIE DOLL CAKE!!!!!"  


These are the Barbie Doll Cakes of which I speak.  Of course if I were a 6 year old little girl, I would totally be all over these, and if I were per chance to be at a 6 year old's Birthday Party, I would so totally partake of said cake.  However, I am a 43 year old woman and do not wish to look like a Barbie Doll Cake.

Edited to say:  I LOVE Barbie Doll Cakes....I just don't want to wear one!!!

Source:  Cake Gallery

Right....Back to the subject at hand....


The way the colors of the silks blend together really makes my heart and eyes happy!!


The trim at the front is a spray of antique lilac flowers.  I LOVE them so much!  I have had them for a very long time and they have been used on a couple of hats and another dress.  I was going to go for a solid periwinkle bow, but decided on the bamboo print silk instead to give a nice contrast.



UGH!!! These sleeves caused me to have quite the anxiety!!  I started out using Truly Victorian's 1873 Polonaise for the sleeve pattern.  I had them all sewn up and pinned into the bodice and they just didn't blow my skirt up.  So I futzed around with them and finally came to what is now sewn onto the bodice!  I added pleats and ruching/shirring and a bow to carry on the theme that the rest of the dress was employing.  If I find some wide, inexpensive antique lace, I may add them to the sleeves.  Purchasing college textbooks and homeschool curriculum has cut into my costuming budget though...which is just fine with me!!!


And that's the end!!!  Hahahahahahaha!!!!

The Hat

For whatever reason, I didn't wish to have a bonnet to go with this dress.  I wanted something nice and simple.  Maybe it was the thought that a little coffee will cut the sweet.  I had the feeling that if I made a bonnet, it would only cause the almost saccharine sweetness of the dress to become overkill and way too much.  So, a simple hat was the solution!


The hat started out as a large sun hat.  I found it at a thrift store and about 5 years ago re-worked it into what I thought could pass for a first bustle era dress.  The crown was super skinny and the brim was....well, different.  I decided that I didn't like the shape and so set about re-shaping it with steam and clothes pins!!  That's how I got the tip of the brim to fold over...clothes pins!  Hahahahaha!!!

Below are some of the inspiration images that helped in the designing of  my hat.


The one on the left...I love that it doesn't have any ribbons trailing down the back.  Again, I ran out of silk for this dress and so didn't have any extra to make ribbons for the back.  It's nice and neat!


Again, the hat on the left. This one has the ribbons though....


An antique buckle, antique fabric flowers, and antique ostrich plumes were used as decorations.


Pardon my bald head...I am still working on a suitable hairstyle to go with this era...ACK!!! I have my own hair and then a nice braid that I am going to use!




The shoes I am thinking of using can be seen here. They are a wee it darker...ok a lot bit darker and pinch my feet.  So, not 100% sure they will be worn.



There you have it!  Huzzah and away!!  All done!! Well, except to sew on the bows at the sleeves and add the buckle to the bustle cage...then.....I will rest!!!

Be Blessed my friends!!!

g

54 comments:

  1. First, the whole Barbie doll cake thing made me laugh - enough to scare the cat. :-)

    Second, {insert drool here} *in best Homer Simpson voice* mmmmm...grape soda......

    Honestly, that is absolutely gorgeous!

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    1. Hahahahaha!!! Isabella, I am so happy that made you laugh! I was laughing while writing it! Poor kitty though!!! And I am so laughing at your reference to Homer Simpson....I can totally hear him in my head!!! Thank you, by the way!
      Blessings!
      g

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  2. This is just beautiful, can't wait to see pictures of you wearing it!

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    1. Thank you so much Karin! I can't wait to get all done up and wear it and have a photo shoot!
      Blessings!
      g

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  3. Wow, wow, wow, wow, WOW!!! Just- wow.

    Fabulous as always! Looking forward to seeing it on you! :-)

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    1. Wow! Thank you so much Lily! I am just happy it is over with! I can't wait to wear it!
      Blessings!
      g

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  4. This is AMAZING! All of your dresses are stunning and this one is a masterpiece. Your purple shoes give me a smile, too: I have the exact same ones! :P

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    1. Oh how fun that you have the exact pair!! What are the odds? Thank you so much for you lovely compliments! They make all the time I spent on the dress worth it!
      Blessings!
      g

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  5. Oh, that is just decadent. I LOVE the color combination. Your things always have such a wow factor.

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    1. Thank you Jennifer! The color combination isn't one that I would have on purpose put together, so the "accidental" matching makes me so happy! I love your compliment!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  6. Wow that is delightful! And you may not want to look like a Barbie doll cake but it doesn't mean you can't have one of them to eat!

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    1. Thank you so much Vivien! And I agree...if there were a Barbie Doll cake in front of me...her dress would be mine!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  7. Lovely! The way the colours blend together is just delicious! Amazing job!

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    1. Thank you so much for you lovely compliment MmePolaire! The colors do work really well together!
      Blessings!
      g

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  8. Officially, I've fallen in love in your dress, Gina! <3

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    1. Oh! Thank you so much for this Asia!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  9. This is such a wonderful dress! I love it!

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  10. It's amazing!! I'm really looking forward to see it on you! I'm sure you'll do great for the hair, you always do ;)

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    1. Thank you so much for your vote of confidence MaiLoan! The hair is making me a bit nervous. Hair is sooooo not my strong point in Historical Costuming!
      Blessings!
      g

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  11. I am arsonic green with envy at your skill, and talent and your owning of this gorgeous, beautiful beast. The Grape Soda dress is elegant, and charming, and complex! All those ruffles! All those pleats! Heaven have mercy, clutching-my-pearls! Look forward to seeing you model this and, of course, whatever you sew next!

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    1. Oh Holly! Loving the "arsenic green with envy" line! Your awesome compliment has put a perma-grin smile on my face! Thank you so much!
      Blessings!
      g

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  12. This is so stunning it takes my breath away! I am a pleat freak, too, and run the risk of cake plate paper look-a-like! If ever you see a stalker crawling around behind you trying to get a close view of all the pleats...that would be me! ps- I'm really harmless. Just annoying!

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    1. You are so fun Belinda! If we ever meet, we shall speak of pleats and pleats and more pleats! I love them so much! Thank you for your lovely compliment!
      Blessings!
      g

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  13. It looks great! I especially love the rusching... just perfectly done!!!

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    1. Thank you so much my dear friend! And for our conversation this morning... You delight my heart!
      Blessings!
      g

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  14. So pretty! I NEED a bustle dress in my life. Someday it will happen.
    -Emily

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    1. Ooooh! I can't wait to see you in a bustle dress Emily! You will make a fabulous one!
      Blessings!
      g

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  15. Oh wow, so much gorgeousness in one place! You have excelled yourself with this one.

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    1. Thank you so much BT!! I am having a fun time looking at it on Emma!! Hahaha!!! Although Emma is way skinnier than I am!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  16. Wow, it's so lovely Gina! It really does seem like grape soda with the ruffles and the lightness of the brocade, bravo!

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    1. Thank you Loren! The pale color reminds me of the fizz on top of grape soda when you pour it into a glass!
      Blessings!
      g

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  17. Today was crazy homeschool day for me so... This is late breaking news to me! Love the whole almost but not quite barbie cake dress!! So since your so "done!" with the whole thing - now would be a good time to ask to borrow it? Too soon? ;) it is smashing!! You are going to have so much fun wearing it. I have Tea envy!

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    1. Yay for crazy homeschool days!! You can totally borrow the dress anytime, just get yourself out here! hahahahaha!!! I will miss you at the tea!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  18. I really love all the details. Great job. Any chance of a picture of you wearing it?

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    1. Thank you MM! Yes, there will be pictures of me wearing it, bit not for a while... Need to get my hair situated, then pick a good place to have a photo shoot!
      Blessings!
      g

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  19. Wow!!! This is so, SO gorgeous! Amazing job!!! I can't wait to see you in it!

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    1. Thank you Esther! I can't wait to wear it!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  20. Oh my, you have amazed me once again! The color harmony of the fabrics is so perfect that I think my heart sprouted wings and flew to heaven!!

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    1. Oh! What a wonderful sweet and poetic compliment!! Thank yup so very much Gabriela!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  21. The lilac and bamboo combination is so deliciously light and airy. Perfect for such a detailed dress such as this one! You really have a superb eye for color. And all the pleats and bows really are the icing on top. Lovely work again! ❤

    xox,
    bonita of Lavender & Twill

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    1. Thank you so much Bonita! I like your description of light and airy! I think the balance is a good one...not too heavy. Just glad it's made and over! hahahahah!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  22. GINA!!!!! I was just boarding Pirates with some friends when your post popped up about your finished bustle (last post). I almost yelled, "Stop! Wait! I have to check out Gina's bustle," but I thought my friends might think me mad, which they may anyways. Alas, it has taken me almost two weeks to get back here to drool over your completed gown. AND DROOL I HAVE!!!! It is simply the most gorgeous purple concoction ever created!!! I love every little detail, but me thinks I'm seriously infatuated with your collar...strange, I know, but it reminds me of a gown that May Newland wore in the movie, "Age of Innocence." Even though I believe those may have been from the natural era? Anywho, I can not wait to see pictures of you in it. That is if you can get it away from Emma. It's sucg a good thing those girls don't have legs :-))).

    xoxo,
    Cori

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    1. Hahahaha!! Oh Cori, you have made my morning! Good thing those girls don't have legs indeed!! She would leave me for all the pins I stick in her! Poor thing! Thank you so much for your wonderfully lovely compliments! I think I know the dress or dresses from Age of Innocence you are talking about. I LOVE all of those dresses! It is such a costume drool worthy movie!!! And you are correct, it was NFE....So fun! I may have to watch it again! I hope you had fun on your Pirates trip!!!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  23. Wow, Gina! It is beautiful! All the layers of pleating and gathering really help make it look *right*. I hope you wear it and take pictures!!! :)

    Best,
    Quinn

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    1. Thanks so much Quinn!! Ya... There's a lot of fluff!! I will be doing a photo shoot soon... Need to survive this week first!!
      Blessings!
      g

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  24. The dress is lovely, I adore all the details! I really admire the early 1870s fashion, contrary to the natural form era and the 1880s' second bustle, which are just not my cup of tea ;)

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    1. Thank you so much Olga! It was a bear to make and complete, but I'm so happy it's done! This was my first from this era and I'm happy it is now living with me!
      Blessings!
      g

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    1. Thank you so much Jessika! I am finally starting to write posts again!
      Blessings!
      g

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