The Jazz Age

On January 23, 2022January 24, 2022 By ResaIn 1920's, Gowntoons151 Comments

Dahlings! Rene Rosso here, welcome to the Jazz Age!

Defined by writers, performers and artists of the time such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Josephine Baker and Thomas Hart Benton, it was more than a Gatsby, Paris or New York moment. So let’s get the full string of beads from our glorious Art Director, Rebecca Budd.

Thank you, Rene! We know the Flapper dress was the cat’s meow and the Charleston was the hoofer’s delight. Still, we should acknowledge that Vionnet and Chanel were the first designers to get rid of the corset, defining the silhouette of the era. Palazzo pants made their debut, and the cloche hat was the keenest.

Here to show you what gowns were all about are the Art Gowns Models! First out on the catwalk is Gigi. Gigi wears a hand painted silk georgette dress, with asymmetric tiers, accentuated by hand rolled satin rattail.

AGM Marina is a Deco Delight in her Gloria Swanson inspired fish tail gown. The fish tail is made completely of metallic gold diamonds, and spills gracefully out onto the floor.

I’d like to take a moment here to acknowledge the brilliant work of “The Beauty Team”. On loan from The Coop; hair, make-up and wardrobe have done an outstanding job.

It was a tough job for Wiggy, to create all those Marcel Waves on the AGMs, who refused to have their hair cut. Nonetheless, between her skill and ingenuity, all the AGMs are finger waved.

Jamie copied the smouldering eyes of the era. Thanks to Clara Bow, eyebrows were severely plucked and pencilled in thin. Of course none of the AGM’s could afford to have their eyebrows plucked due to upcoming runway dates, but Jamie managed a faux look.

Judy did a masterful job making faux feathers out of scrap fabrics, for any trims and boas. Instead of fur, she trimmed Miss Rosso’s velvet Opera Cape, with a lusher napped velvet.

Back on the runway, AGM Dale shows off hand embroidered trims with jewel insets, in this fun design. A cloche hat adds elegance.

Holly works poetry in this AGM must show black silk crepe gown. Its lines are defined with the latest ribbon imports from Europe.

AGM Shey’s gown, made from a glorious silk jacquard, is reminiscent of the late 20’s as the drape flows into the bias cut of 30’s.

I now hand the stage back to Ms. Rosso!

Thank you, RB! I’m thrilled to present our guest performer of the evening. Here’s the bee’s knees, Lala LaSwirl. Lala has been touring the opera circuit under the name “Soprano Charlotte Hoather”! Tonight she will sing Quando M’en Vo from La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini.

Thank you, dahling Rene! I’m thrilled to be here. I could imagine the character, Musetta, wearing this Art Gowns outfit, as it is very glamorous. I could imagine a director selecting the dress if the setting for the performance was the 1920’s era.

After the show, Ms. Rosso was to attend to a Gatsby themed party in a bias cut dress & velvet opera wrap. In a fun mood, she sang along with her favourite entertainer of the era, Josephine Baker.

Out of the blue, RR’s 6th sense slapped her in the face! She stopped dead in her tracks.

She looked into her Tangle-Heart. My, my she thought, things look quite sweet and rosy. It’s, idyllic, so perfect. Something is wrong!

Dahlings, I know look simply marvellous in this pic of my Ziegfeld Follies gown. Sad, but it was lost with all my luggage while on tour 3 years ago. Now, it is my thank you Art Gown.

Princess Blue Holly & Rene Rosso © Resa McConaghy & Holly Rene Hunter

Since May, 2019

🎺 💙 Thank you dear Holly for suggesting this era! 💙 🎺

Visit all or any of these beauties on their blogs. Holly – House of Heart, Gigi – Rethinking Life, Shey – Smexy Historical Romance, Marina – Art Towards a Happy Day, Dale – A Dalectable Life

Check out the land of the AGM’s magic tress and more on Tim’s blog – Off Center Not Even

Visit Rebecca

I adore the new cover for Shey’s book –The Viking and the Courtesan

Let it be known that Shey’s heroines possibly are: strong willed, hard headed, lie, cheat, steal, connive, duplicitous and able to hide a corpse in the cellar. Intrigued? Just click on the book cover and go to her Amazon page!

Visit Charlotte on her blog

Click on the thank you above, to buy her recordings!!

“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” – 2022

On December 29, 2021 By ResaIn Happy New Year137 Comments

This New Year is about light and life.

Happy New Year! Boogapony Holly here in my best “Iron Butterfly” colours! I’m ponying on down into the light of 2022 with you all, while RR, the AGMs & R.B. are on holidays.

Perhaps you just need to take it easy, and let the light shine on you?

Or you’ve decided to climb for the stars!

The light of life can be found in your inside garden.

Or find it, in your outside garden.

Wherever you find it, bask in it!

Photo © Stephanie Tudin – Model P. Matheson in Mystic Lake

You’re in “The Garden of Life”. “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”

⭐️ FYI ⭐️

This is three and a half minutes of song & 14 minutes of music jam, with a psychedelic light show. What else could one ask for?

Well, that was long enough for me to do a costume change! For everyone who is not the “Iron Butterfly” type, I’d like to introduce a song completely from the other side of the stars.

The Age Of Aquarius is defined as “an astrological era believed to bring increased spirituality and harmony on earth.” Start dates vary. However, whether it began 0n the vernal equinox on March 20, 2021, or December 2020, the astrological ages last approximately 2,150 years.

Boogapony Holly character © Resa McConaghy & Holly Rene Hunter

Since January, 2018

OtherWorld Redux

On November 29, 2021November 30, 2021 By ResaIn Gowntoons148 Comments

Princess Blue Holly’s Tangle-Heart guided her to a back window accessing OtherWorld’s tower.

Peering out the only window facing onto OtherWorld, PBH could see DracGoth with Evilomlap Etagloc. DracGoth must have helped Evilomlap escape his imprisonment in a picture frame! Using super hearing, she eavesdropped.

EE – Hissss – This OtherWorld you made is a bit creepy, Drac. Hiss, cough, cough! It’s so dim and dank.

DG – I disagree, Evil. I find it very pleasant down here. I can’t stand all the light and colours up in the real world. That’s why I need SheyGoth to move down here.

EE – Why can’t you just be happy with the effigy of SheyGoth I made you? Hack, cough, hiss!

DG – We used it to crash the Art Gowns fashion show, and suck the colour out of the real world, but all she does here is sit on her throne. Ain’t nothin’ like the real thing, Evil!

EE – You really think Blue Holly will…. COUGH, hiss, come here trying to rescue colour?

DG – Of course, and when she does I’ll demand SheyGoth in exchange.

EE – Hiss, cough, and where is the colour hidden?

DG – In the effigy, obviously! Mwahahaha!

EE – Mwaha… hack, hack, hiss…hahaha!

Blue Holly could see that DracGoth had worked some half dead black bamboo into his drabscape. She got an idea. Using her Tangle-Heart, she contacted Rebecca Budd’s Black Bamboo on Tim’s Magic Tree Sanctuary.

She instructed the Bamboo to have the Art Gowns Models wander through and miniaturize them; then filter them into OtherWorld via its bamboo. She knew from her Tangle-Heart that once the AGMs left OW, they would return to normal size.

Hello boys!

DG & EE – What the… Blue Holly and puppets?

First, that’s Princess Blue Holly to you! Only my good friends call me Blue Holly. Second, these are not ordinary puppets. I had the AGMs miniaturized. I thought we could work out a deal. Come closer, look! They’ll put on a fashion show for you!

DG – How did you get in here?

We filtered in through the black bamboo

DG – Evil, burn down the bamboo so they can’t escape!

EE – Done! 🔥

You idiots! There’s more than few ways in and out of here. You’re burning down your own home for nothing!

– Wow! These look good Drac! Hissss, cough! I’ll take Gigi!

“In your dreams Evilomlap!”

DG – I’ll take AGM Marina! I’ve always wanted to play with her.

“I’m with Gigi! In your dreams DracGoth!”

EE – Fiesty little things, eh Drac? I’m taking AGM Holly!

“I’ll be in your worst nightmare!”

Not so fast! First restore colour to the real world, and I’ll give the AGMs to you. It’s a good bargain. If the AGMs were full size, do you have any idea how much their gowns, make-up and hair would set you back?

DG – Evil?

EE – Let’s do it!

DG – Done, “PRINCESS” Blue Holly! It will take an hour for the colour to return completely!

Looking into her Tangle-Heart PBH could see the first bit of colour slicing through the grey.

Then the Tangle-Heart showed her Resa’s Tree. Although heavily frosted with grey, there was no doubt colour was returning.

DG – I’ll grab AGM Dale! She’ll look cute with SheyGoth and Marina.

Dale said not a word. NOW! said PBH! Whereupon AGM Dale, aka Thunder, created a thunderstorm that grew darker and darker; louder and louder.

As much as she loved DracGoth, he could not get away with stealing the world’s colour. She would not be coerced. AGM Shey thrust an arm into the black of the storm. Using her SheyGoth, she broke the inky dark into millions of swirling fragments.

The swirling black fragments turned red, then became Princess Blue Holly’s long red hair. Using her hair, the miniature AGMs climbed into the tower. They escaped out the back window.

When the thunderstorm passed, DracGoth and Evilomlap found themselves as prisoner puppets of the SheyGoth effigy.

EE – This is horrid! HACK, hissss. cough. I’m going to run out of cigarettes, soon!

DG – Cigarettes? What about our dreams of possessing the art Gowns Models?

Hello Boys! I’m an effigy of Rene Rosso. Blue Holly sent me here to brighten up your drab world, and sing to you about dreams, forever!

Colour is restored to earth. Rene Rosso has vowed that the next catwalk will showcase the Art Gowns Models in full colour.

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Princess Blue Holly & Rene Rosso © Resa McConaghy & Holly Rene Hunter

Since May 2019

You can visit the AGMs on their blogs. Just click on their names. Every one is hot! Dale – Holly – Marina – Gigi – Shey

All photos courtesy of & © Timothy – Off Center Not Even

Thank you Rebecca

A BIG SHOUT OUT TO: Brian at Equinoxo 21 Thank you for thinking of us!

Belle Grâce

On November 3, 2021 By ResaIn Magic, Romance152 Comments

Ever wonder how to capture mother nature in an Art Gown? After all, there are many aspects to her.

To name a few, she’s Dogmatic & Powerful

Cloudy & Moody

Sunshine & Sunsets

Seasons & Storms.

Then let me introduce you to Tim, to whom Belle Grâce is dedicated. Tim shares all that mystic with us, via photographs from his magic tree sanctuary.

Belle Grâce is constructed from yards & yards of liquidation curtain sheers. At $0.50/yd. the fabric was an Art Gown in waiting. Acetate lining scraps sent to the Art Gowns fabric bin, by a long time friend, were paired with the sheers.

First a full skirt liner was fashioned to fit over the Art Gowns Crinoline. The same Crinoline is used for all full skirted Art Gowns. Then a bodice was draped on the Judy.

Using tailor’s tacks, the drape was opened up, creating a pattern. Again using tailor’s tacks the shape was repeated on a stiff under lining. The goal was to create a corset look, without using boning.

The sheers were gathered and and attached to the over skirt. A diamond of beaded self satin was added to the bodice.

The result – Belle Grâce

Belle Grâce loves all lighting.

The diaphanous layers of sheer over satin solids make for a lot of opportunities.

The natural light this time of year is glorious, as it pours through the windows. A DOP once pointed out to me, you can’t replace the sun.

A gluttony of Outtakes

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Here are some of Tim’s spectacular, Art Gowns inspiring photos.

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All trees featured in the slideshow have been dedicated to someone. I am pleased to say that all of the AGMs & AG Art Director, Rebecca Budd, have a magic tree of their own.

Magic Hour Back Light

If you click on the Thank you, you’ll visit Holly.

Art Gown Belle Grâce designed and handmade by Resa McConaghy – 2021

All Photos of Belle Grâce © Resa McConaghy

All nature photos © Timothy Price – Off Center Not Even

A Carnival of Colour

On September 12, 2021September 17, 2021 By ResaIn Gowntoons, Princess Blue Holly/Rene Rosso154 Comments

Welcome, welcome all, to A Carnival of Color! I’m Rene Rosso 🌹, and I present to you the most colour you will ever see on any catwalk, anywhere.

All hail our dahling Art Director Rebecca Budd! Wearing bias cut faux tartan print palazzo pants, with coordinated accessories, she has earned the feathers in her hat directing “A Carnival of Colour’!

“I’m honored to be here, & what a great day for us all! Colour is a critical component of our lives, and I am thrilled to present all the AGMs resplendent in their favourite colours from the crayon carousel!”

“First out on the runway is AGM Holly! Holly wears a feathery gown in milky hues of magenta, yellow, green and teal.”

SUDDENLY …. black and white flashes engulfed the venue. As AGM Holly exited the stage, her gown turned black, white and grey.

Stunned, but knowing the show must go on, Rebecca introduced the next gown.

“Here’s AGM Shey, in a romantic gown from times past. This gown; in hues of blues and creams, with pumpkin petticoats and a delightful orange trim, presents quite nicely .. ahem… in shades of black and white .”

“Let’s hear it for AGM Marina! In daffodil yellow and a brilliant cinnamon copper, her 1940’s inspired gown awes us … erm … whew! in the monochromatic scale.”

“Put your hands together for Gigi, our most colourful AGM! Magenta, pink, teal, orange, blue and more have never looked as amazing as they do on this body of silver! How fabulous it looks in black, sigh, white and grey! ”

“AGM Dale wows us in this mosaic print in every colour a person could imagine. Just look at those greens, lavenders, reds, golds and more in the drama of black and white!”

“Now, let’s have a thunderous applause for Rene Rosso! Tonight she will share her kaleidoscopic voice with us featuring the Torch Song …..”

As Rebecca spoke, all of the colour drained out of Ms. Rosso’s gown. Worse, her magnificent red hair turned shades of grey.

RR became extremely angry, and in a fit of passion switched her Torch Song to a rendition of a Rock’n’Roll song by Heart! Her band scrambled!

When the song ended, RR stormed off the stage in a smoky huff! As she exited stage left, black and white flashes burst forth! It was a stroboscopic SheyGoth!

A collective gasp went up! AGM Shey’s voice resounded through and over all, “That is not me! That is a fake SheyGoth!”

RR was not amused! Her lounging robe in lavender lace with petite flocked lilac flowers and magenta ruffles was a disaster in in the grey scale.

She looked into her Tangle-Heart, and suddenly knew the score. DracGoth was the culprit. However, she knew he wasn’t this clever. He must have had help!

Rene Rosso & Princess Blue Holly Characters © Resa McConaghy & Holly Rene Hunter

Since – May 2019

Visit any of the Art Gowns Models on their blogs!

Gigi – Rethinking Life – Marina – Art Towards a Happy Day – Holly – House of Heart – Shey ~ Smexy Historical Romance – Dale – A Dalectable Life

Visit Rebecca Budd at Lady Budd

Many Thank you’s to Tim from Off Center Not Even, Art Gowns official Gowntoons Photographer

❦ A MESSAGE FROM ONE-EYE ❦

While I continue to struggle with Tartan & Motorcycles, I thought colour would be the way to go. Apparently there are forces working against the Art Gowns Models. Not to worry! PBH will have this travesty of creativity cleared up in no time at all, or as fast as I can draw!

Lala LaSwirl is on tour. She will be back for another Soprano performance in November. In the meantime, visit her blog, buy her album and blow your mind!

Frida Kahlo – for Gigi

On August 14, 2021 By ResaIn Honorary Art Gowns140 Comments

From Resa & Holly – House of Heart.

It all began with a post displaying some of Frida’s clothing. Gigi dedicated that post to me. Click on the pic below, and visit Frida’s costumes.

I told Gigi I was going to draw Frida, and style an outfit for her, in her spirit. This was met with resounding enthusiasm. Having never drawn Frida, I began with a black & white photo.

Done in pencil: while listening to TBURB (The Band Under Resa’s Bed), not caring how much erasing, how many hand smudges on the page, or caring about scribbling.

When I showed the drawing to Holly, she loved it, and also adored the idea of a special post for Gigi. She sent me a poem she had written about Frida. I love the poem. I was very inspired by it, and the photos of Frida that Holly had chosen. Now we were in this together.

If you click on Holly’s poem, you will transport to the original post, with some history of Frida and Nickolas Muray, and the poem.

Then a colour study of Frida was in order. I’m not a portrait artist, but did my best.

Next, a theme was needed for the drawing, and the outfit. As Holly was in this, AGM Holly became the experimental model, to try things out on. The drawing below was the winner.

A rough up in pencil was made.

Now, it was time for the drawing. I was quite nervous. A few lines, a tad of colour , it happened over many days. Well. you see the outcome. If it was not for Holly’s poem and pics, I would have made the shawl black. This is so much better.

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Gigi has done enough Frida posts, that there is a Frida Category on her blog. Click on the pic above and go to the category page, where you can view all or any of the Frida posts.

Here is Paloma Negra sung by Chavela Vargas. This song was used in the movie FRIDA.

According to some of my research Frida loved painting by music. This was one of her favorite popular Mexican songs that she painted by. It was not in the movie.

Click on the above to read the article.

Thank you for joining Art Gowns, Holly and Gigi on this fascinating Frida Kahlo experience!

His Judas Bride – by: Shehanne Moore

On July 27, 2021 By ResaIn Art Gowns Interviews143 Comments

‘Tis a thrilling adventure unfurling in the Scottish highlands.

This fiery, passionate romance thrills without much graphic reference. True, Lady Kara wears a see through gown, revealed at the top of the story. However, it’s not her choice. She makes many choices, good and bad, but her gowns are imposed by her vile father.

Comments are in regular type. My questions are in italics. Shey’s answers are in bold.

1 – Shey, I want to draw Lady Kara in her gowns. It feels like 1700. Is there an exact year to this tale?

I based the Trojan horse premise of this book on the actual Glencoe Massacre. Let’s be clear that whole bit of Scotland was a law unto itself. South of the highland line was an entirely different Scotland. Anyway, the way to get into Glencoe, which was pretty impregnable at that time, was to come as friends. I liked that idea of a small clan who largely survived where they were because no-one could get in or out.

I looked up the Glencoe Massacre. It was in 1692. So, without mentioning an exact year, the flavour of your writing sets up the right time frame.

2 – Ewen and some other characters speak in a dialect that give the Scottish highlands an authentic feel.

“Whit? Can ye no see Ah’m busy.” “How is it no’? Mah horse, laddie.” Is this written by ear, or have you studied Gaelic? Or?

Now here in Scotland we probably speak English, in a local dialect. This is sometimes incomprehensible to those who are not local.

We also speak…maybe not old Scots but certainly Scots as Ewen and some of the other characters do. Gaelic would have been spoken by the clans. It was mainly spoken in the Highlands and islands of western Scotland. It is still spoken by about 58,000 people in these parts. When you’re writing dialogue and trying to give something an authentic feel, you’re torn between that and being understood which was why I didn’t have everybody speaking in some form of Scots. I think it’s fair to say we often joke that there’s more than one book set here which we don’t understand because the dialogue is not authentic. For example ‘donnae’ is a name, not the word for ‘don’t’ which is ‘dinnae’!

3 – I find certain small bits of your writing make me laugh…..such as Ewen’s talents, the description of the green dress and Callm asking himself:

Is it just me? Or do you insert this humour on purpose?

No and no. It’s not just you and no I don’t mean to do it, but it sort of comes out. I mean, I love that people have idiosyncrasies. They are what makes us. Kara’s little habit of firstly, secondly, thirdly, and her mantra about doing things that she will be happy, or not happy with, when it comes to choices–quite awful things in some instances. These are her little idiosyncrasies.

Also people can be gloriously unselfaware. As you see with Callm asking himself why he shouldn’t be considered suitable, is a rich seam to be mined. Also let’s face it too, funny things do happen to people. Things like Kara not being able to get on that horse and walking round the yard trying to, while making out she knows what’s she’s doing. Well, honestly one day in the middle of nowhere in Yorkshire of all places, this woman asked if I could hold this absolute beast of a horse steady while she got on it. She’d been walking for miles at this point trying to do just that and hadn’t come across anybody. As for asking me? Well… But hey (no pun intended) I did it.

In truth I’ve never been any good at being serious, or keeping a straight face. It’s probably why my palms have half inch fingernail dents in them. Just joking. But not actually. So I guess I don’t bung the humour in on purpose. It just appears.

4- Near the end of the story, Ewen joins Callm on the mission. It’s a wonderful twist of sorts, that solidifies the family. When asked why, Ewen answers – “Te get mah bride, Kertyn. Or Ardene. Whitever ane will hae me.

Kertyn returns with Callm and Ewen’s entourage. Does this mean Kertyn marries Ewen?

Well now… I didn’t want to ruin it entirely for the poor girl given he’s not exactly an oil painting, but I guess she is gonna be lady ruler of Lochalpin while Kara is gonna rule her glen. That’s if Kertyn doesn’t do a runner next!!!! I honestly just don’t like writing cardboardy villains. No-one is all bad. (except maybe Snotra from the Viking!)

Hahahaha! No oil painting! Just oily! Still, you gave Ewen the talents of dancing and cooking/baking!

Lol…I did!! I wanted to give him something!! Also, I wanted to explore resentment between two brothers who ultimately are still brothers.

I wanted to explore Ewen as the younger sibling, the one the lassies never looked at. As he says, no very bonnie, he’s loud, overweight, and cos he has had the glen handed to him on a plate, even down to Callm keeping it safe for him, he’s fallen in with the wrong crowd and is throwing his power around. Meantime here’s the big bro who obvi has done so much right… the wife, the child … in the past anyway.

And by the way Shey, OMG! Snotra is a total bitch!!!

On that note, I thank Shehanne Moore for answering all of my questions. I totally enjoyed this book! A+

You can connect with Shey on her blog Shehanne Moore -Smexy Historical Romance

OR Click on the book cover below, and go to her Amazon page where this and all of her titles are available.

Remember, never judge a book by it’s cover, unless there’s a gown on it!

A Tangle of Scribbles

On June 6, 2021 By ResaIn Art Gowns Events, Art Gowns Tribute126 Comments

🌹Dahlings, welcome to “A Tangle of Scribbles”! Rene Rosso here presenting Art Gowns’ third Tangle Tribute to Tim from Off Center Not Even, for his gift of pencils & other art supplies for One-Eye.

I now hand over the mike to our Art Director Rebecca Budd. Rebecca has single-handedly brought back the fad of Palazzo Pants, aka, “the gown of trousers”.

Good evening! During the great pencil drought of 2021, One-Eye had no other course but to do a line of Art Gowns scribbled in black, blue and red ballpoint pen. It’s an exciting collection, so let’s check out the catwalk.

AGM Marina had the first fitting. Being the artistic type, she chose this wild “Why do I have to draw ballpoint scribble gowns?” venting style.

Although AGM Shey lost weight from all the DracGoth 3 am visits , it was good news during fittings. She was the only one who could get into this one shoulder, side tail, super slim scribble-off.

I’m Thrilled to present our special guest, 🌟Lala LaSwirl🌟! Spokes-Singer for the AIDAS & good….ah..erm… friend of Rene Rosso. Lala really knows how to rock a scribble gown with scribble boa.

AGM Dale goes Hollywood in this snazzy and unsuspected array of thunder scribbles.

Heeeere’s Holly! This sweet AGM chose a back and forth arrangement of scribbling, with scribbled floral accents.

Gigi, the cat’s pyjamas, is an AGM class act. She’s featured here in this asymmetric hip line featuring gradating scribbles skirt, and scribbled hip bow.

🎼 Now, on to tonight’s music entertainment! 🎼

Hello dahlings! I’m honoured to be wearing the first scribble gown that was created. Of course it was designed especially for me!

I’m also thrilled to be doing a cover of “The Look Of Love”. My favourite rendition is the one by the most amazing, Diana Krall.

“Unfortunately the red, black and blue ballpoints ran out of ink, just as my gown was being scribbled up.”

“One-Eye was forced to use pink, turquoise and purple gel pens. I just love it! I feel like singing!”

Since September, 2019

Rene Rosso, and all of the AGMs welcome Charlotte Hoather – Soprano into our special world of Gowntoons! We want you to know that you can buy Charlotte and George’s “Songs From Our Balcony” A++++++ album. Just click on the pic of Charlotte above, and you will be in their shop at Apple!

The AGMs names are the hottest. No kidding! Click on your fave and go visit!

Holly – House of Heart– Gigi – Rethinking Life– Marina – Art Towards a Happy Day – Shey -Smexy Historical Romance– Dale – A Dalectable Life

Click on Rebecca, and visit one of her blogs!

A FEW WORDS FROM ONE-EYE

The art supply store near me, perhaps the biggest in Toronto, has been a Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard for a year. A high quality pencil is important to me. I mentioned to AGM Holly that I was down to my last low quality pencil, so she & Tim started a swear jar. Within a day they saved enough for Tim to buy me all these pencils!!!! 😉

Tim went beyond the call, and bought me an array of lead types. He sent me red watercolour pencils for RR & PBH’s hair – pink & turquoise for Lala’s upcoming gowns – black, white and ochre, (mine are down to stumps). I got 4 kneaded erasers, 4 pencil stump holders and a special coffee cup, for my coffee when I’m drawing.

Also, since November the shops in Toronto have been closed, except for 2 weeks in March. Things going well, they will reopen with 15% capacity, hopefully in a week tomorrow. I’m sure shelves will still be bare for awhile.

🎨 With this wonderful gift, I will be able to hold out for quite awhile! 🎨

Otherworld Adventure

On May 4, 2021 By ResaIn Princess Blue Holly/Rene Rosso195 Comments

Princess Blue Holly descended gracefully into Otherworld.

She was led by her Tangle-Heart. A moonless night was falling, as it watched over the defoliated magic trees.

Upon arrival, Blue Holly adopted the garb of the common peoples of Otherworld. She wandered tirelessly through a dark, eternal 3 a.m., searching for SheyGoth.

At first the song was far away, but PBH followed the music. AGM Shey was an incurable romantic. She was sure SheyGoth was behind the music.

As PBH drew near to SheyGoth, DracGoth intercepted.

“Princess Blue, I call you out! You are not in your league here. You have few powers to do anything. SheyGoth is here of her own free will. She can only leave of her own free will. We are Otherworld lovers.”

Blue Holly faced him dead on, albeit a tad cheeky.

“Was it the red hair that tipped you off? Look, I just want to talk to SheyGoth!”

SheyGoth appeared behind her Goth lover.“Princess Blue, I have no desire to talk with you!”

PBH replied, “then at least speak with Rene. You owe her that much. She made you, and all of the Art Gowns Models international celebrities.”

Driven by her love for all her AGM sisters, SheyGoth conceded. Blue Holly chose Nowhere & Nothing World, for the meeting. SheyGoth slipped on a simple gown, thereby becoming AGM Shey for the occasion.

A hologram of Rene Rosso appeared. “Come home dear Shey!”

“Remember the gowns, the colours, the joys of the catwalk? Remember Holly, Dale, Marina & Gigi? Remember how all the AGMs help each other? They wait for you! Rebecca Budd says she can’t do another show without you!”

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AGM Shey’s memories filled the air around her. Soon her true colour came back.

AGM Shey looked at RR, and asked,”Will you sing “Once I Was Loved”, by Melody Gardot?”

DracGoth was frantic. “SheyGoth, don’t leave me! I love you! I need you! We are Otherworld lovers!”

“Sorry, Dahling! As much as I love our loving, there is no colour, no daytime, no any other time but 3 a.m. here. The Girlfriends and Gowns are calling. Dahling, you can come up and see me any night! I’ll wait in the dark for you.”

With that, SheyGoth slowly faded into a golden glow. The golden glow was cast upon the leafless magic trees.

Soon AGM Shey’s tree and all other magic trees were green again.

One-eye shed a tear for love.

Since September 2019

Shey – Gigi – Marina – Dale – Holly

TWO Things of note.

1. I was commissioned to draw Dracula. DracGoth is some of the drawings that did not win. Here is the winner:

2. AGM Shey/aka SheyGoth/ aka Shehanne Moore – IS a true romantic. She writes the best historical romances, ever! Of 8 I’ve read 7. I’ve reviewed 6 here on Art Gowns. More will come!

Click on the above banner & go to Shey’s Amazon page!

In case you missed the first episode to this adventure, click on the pic below, and go there!

Spring Rhapsody

On March 23, 2021 By ResaIn Floral185 Comments

Ever dream of making an Art Gown that burst forth from the drab of winter?

Then, it blooms into the brilliance of spring!

Surely that Art Gown would be a flower garden.

Which is why I dedicate Spring Rhapsody to Amy Rose. Amy takes superlative photos of flowers, and she grows the most beautiful roses. She takes fabulous, magic photos all year long. Yet, her flowers, especially roses are stand out.

Her photography was recently featured on another post focusing on spring. Frank’s Beach Walk Reflections on Spring.

The Making Of:

It all began when a friend sent me about 40 pounds of old fabrics. There was a damask pillow case, that worked with a shiny coppery brown fabric. It seemed a bit earthy coloured for a gown. I thought: earth, garden, Amy’s flowers.

The shiny coppery fabric is odd: rubbery, perhaps used for upholstery, annoying to work with and exceptionally lustrous.

The box also included many scraps of colourful acetate linings, and scriffles of a delicate net embroidered with gold and pearls.

The colourful acetates picked nicely into the subtleties of the Damask. Shapes were cut out of the net scraps, overlaid onto the acetates and stitched on.

Gold buttons, from another friend’s buckets of buttons, were used as centres to gather the flowers around. Then began the biggest mess ever made, in the making of an Art Gown.