Shaping It Up

On September 1, 2015December 29, 2016 By ResaIn Art Gown Products, Art Gowns Brand81 Comments

I designed #TheShape, drafted a pattern, made 2 mini coats & want to know what you think!

Using my Judy to fit them on, I did one out of a stiff cotton Spanish drapery fabric.

The other was made out of a thin, crisp shirt weight Italian velvet flocked cotton.

Next up was a model. I wanted a mature woman, 40 years +. I couldn’t find one I could afford, except me. So, oh well!

The flocked velvet coat was finished first, so I started there. Here I paired it with leggings from Marina Kanavaki’s S6 Shop & a ceramic Green Leaf Pin designed by Belén Soto.

The print on the leggings is from an original work of art by Marina, Paths of Color [Turquoise, Blue And Green] The purse is a sustainable fashion piece made from cork bought at Chartreuse Style in Toronto.

The curtain coat was finished in time to go out for a dinner.

Dressier than the last outfit, I put the coat together with a little black dress & heavy black tights. It was accessorized with a hand-made black rubber & copper wire necklace.

#TheShape is flattering, & can be cut longer. It can be made from all types of fabrics. Sleeves & collars can change, & the front closure become buttons. A solid front with zip in the back turns it into a dress. The sky’s the limit!

What do you think of #TheShape?

Should I call it #TheResa?

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

All photos of Resa © Norman Orenstien – September 19 & 27, 2015

Coats designed & made by Resa – August – September, 2015

Autumn Orchid

On March 20, 2015February 26, 2018 By ResaIn Floral96 Comments

Did you ever have to “make-over” an internet shawl contestant into an “Art Gown”?

If you have, you know it’s not as painful as standing in the shadows of love,

…but still, you spent a lot of time looking out the window wondering how!

Between the challenges of life, the window of opportunity and the shadows of love, lies hope. I dedicate “Autumn Orchid” to Cindy Knoke, and I hope she just loves it!

Cindy’s Blog is filled with color, nature, joy and adventure. It is a most positive place to visit, and as beautiful as any “Art Gown”

This gown started, as a shawl.

The shawl took over 40 hours.

Due to paint drying times, this was over a three week period.

I chose yardage of a 90″ wide piece of floral patterned curtain lace.

This ensured that there would be no seams in the shawl, that it would be 1 piece unto itself.

Cutting deep into the lace around the flowers, a unique bordeur was created.

After mixing metallic copper acrylic paint with fabric medium, I painted the bordeur.

Both sides of the lace were painted.

When finished and dry, the paint was meticulously heat set with a hot iron.

Using finishing scissors, I cut off all micro bits of painted fray.

This made a very smooth edge.

The shawl was entered in a very fabulous talent contest.

It was so exciting!

The slideshow features some of my fave shots of the finished shawl.

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Oh…. boohoo! My shawl didn’t win. I moodily wandered around the “Art Gown” room for awhile.

Then, I thought of Cindy, & remembered the old saying “If life gives you a lemon shawl, make “Art Gown” lemonade!”

I halved the remaining lace.

One piece went into a pail with copper acrylic paint and water.

The other half was hand painted with copper, cobalt turquoise & a blend of the two.

I cut around the lace pattern to form a bodice.

For the skirt, the shawl was folded diagonally, as you saw in the slideshow, then fastened around Judy’s waist with the opening in the back. The pail soaked lace was inserted into the back opening.

Flowers were cut out from the rest of the lace. In back, they were ruched onto the insert. In front, they were used like flat puzzle pieces.

Voilà, more “Autumn Orchid”

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One last nostalgic look.

P.S. I did find a fabulous turquoise orchid online. It is a rights reserved image, so I can’t show you.

“Art Gown” Autumn Orchid designed by Resa McConaghy – November, 2014

All photos taken by Resa McConaghy – November, 2014

Empress d’Amore

On March 9, 2014November 12, 2017 By ResaIn Royalty80 Comments

Are you like me, at a loss for words to describe an “Art Gown” that is its own Fairy Tale?

Okay, at least we know it opens with: Once Upon A Time

Virginia, a retired chef & her romantic, fanciful blog Bel’ Occhio have inspired this Art Gown. You’ll find some of her recipes on this blog, but if you have the appetite for more delicious creations visit her at Mrs. Butterfingers

ONCE UPON A TIME

There was a beautiful young girl named Virginia who lived in the Empire of Amore. Unfortunately, she was very poor, a seamstress for the wealthy merchants of the Kingdom.

The Emperor demanded his son, Prince Will, marry. He decreed a holiday with a Royal procession throughout the Empire. All “Virgins” of marrying age were to don their prettiest gowns & attend.

Virgina’s mind was on her sewing when The “Town Crier” made the announcement. What she heard as his words floated up from the street and through her window was “All Virginias were to don their pretty gowns for the procession.”

Alas, poor Virginia had no gown, but owned some yardage of thin taffeta, the color not in fashion.

Virginia would sew a gown, but it would be very plain. She had no lace nor gems to decorate it with.

All she had was a modest piece of net, a length of ratty marabou & colorful scraps of silks from her rich clients.

Using “Tailor Tacks” she overlaid the net best she could.

Virginia then decided to make the scraps into an luxurious abundance of braided trim.

She braided for many days and many nights then creatively attached the silk braids to the gown.

When it was finished, her gown was far more beautiful than any of the bejeweled and otherwise overly embellished “Gowns of the Empire”.

On the day of the event, Virginia took her place along the procession route with hundreds of other girls in gowns.

“My, my” she said to herself, “I had no idea how many girls were named Virginia.”

As the parade moved past her, Prince Will was smitten with Virginia’s beauty and the uniqueness of her gown. He took her in his arms, and asked her to be his future Empress d’Amore.

The Emperor announced to the cheering crowd that Prince Will had chosen his Virgin bride.

“Oh dear!” cried Virginia, “I’m not a virgin, but my name is Virginia.” The Emperor’s men tore her from the Prince’s arms. All he was left with was a hand full of colorful silk braids.

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Prince Will denounced his title, and set out on his white steed to find his beloved Virginia. He wore the colorful silk braids around his neck, as he wandered the Empire.

Furious, the Emperor had Virgina imprisoned in a velvet tower where she pined her days away

When Will learned of her lofty prison. He took the braids from his neck & made a rope.

A dove took the end of the silk rope, and flew up to Virginia’s window. Recognizing the braids, she threw open the sash and the dove flew in.

Using the rope, Virgina climbed down from the tower.

With his Love in his arms, Will galloped away on his strong white steed, as the people cheered.

The Emperor died, unloved and lonely.

Due to the the people’s love, Will was made Emperor, and Virginia became Empress.

THE MORAL OF THIS TALE

Don’t mess with love! It has a Will of its own, and being a Virgin has nothing to do with it.

THE END

La Vie en Rosé

On January 31, 2014January 19, 2015 By ResaIn Gowns105 Comments

Were you ever inspired to embellish an Art Gown with 300 wine corks?

Tip #1 – Do not attempt to drink 300 bottles of wine all in one night. Spread them out over a few days.

Shot in Magic Hour with Incandescent lighting — Shot in late afternoon with Incandescent lighting

Tip #2 – Share them with friends.

Tip #3 – Read a romance novel by Imelda Evans while you sip luxuriously

La Vie en Rosé is inspired by and dedicated to Imelda and her latest novel “Playing By The Rules”

OF course I would have to attach all the corks somehow so I bought 110 meters of old gold soutache. It was easy getting else wise creative with that soutache.

I wanted more creative fuel for so I asked Imelda,

“If you could put 1 color to Kate & 1 color to Josh what are those 2 colors? Not that I will use them, but what would they be?”

Imelda’s answer:

“Okay, this was a mind-bender for me, as I don’t think this way normally (although I’m going to do it for all my characters now).

Kate is a rich, autumn brown. If it were shiny it would be burnished bronze. Josh is a bright, apple-y green. I have no idea why!”

I couldn’t resist buying some new yardage

I found this gorgeous tie-dyed (the pattern does not repeat) stretch velvet.

In the warm lighting of the store the colors were a perfect bronze/brown with a kind of apple green coming though.

As I was paying for it, my eyes caught the most enchanting brown/bronze organza ribbon so I grabbed 20 meters of that.

When I set up in the”Art Gown” room which is filled with natural light the colors appeared to be burgundy and teal. When shot with a flash the green magically appeared.

The gown is a chameleon!

This is why I opened with 3 similar shots of La Vie en Rosé I was completely at a loss for what was more beautiful.

I loved Imelda’s first book, “Rules Are For Breaking”

As “Playing By The Rules” is a prequel. I just had to ask,

“Was it easier to write the second book having already developed the
characters in the first book?”

Imelda’s answer:

“That’s a bit of a tricky one, as this book was actually written first! I did rewrite a lot of it after I published the other one though, so I guess I can still answer that.

Yes, knowing the characters first makes it much easier to write their stories. But I get to know the characters by writing their stories, so it’s a bit of a catch 22! Not sure what comes first, sometimes, the story or the people!”

Both of Imelda’s books are available on Amazon.

Playing By The Rules

and

Rules Are For Breaking

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Oh! If you want to know how the French title and wine corks tie in, you’ll have to read the book. I hope you do!

La Fin

“Art Gown” La Vie en Rosé designed by Resa McConaghy _ January – 2014

Lady Anne

On November 20, 2013November 12, 2017 By ResaIn Royalty114 Comments

Did you ever toss and turn through the dark of night trying to figure how to make a gown out of an old black leather coat and studded leather pants?

If your answer is “yes”, I feel your stress!

Lady Anne is inspired by Norman who donated the coat & pants to my “Art Gowns” supplies stash.

Norman is a musician & composer. He works in film & television, and is an amazing guitar player.

Black leather and studs made me think “Hard Rock” and “Metal”.

However, this is a gown, so I thought “Rock Ballads” and bought 9 meters of very inexpensive cotton gauze and Chantilly lace.

I removed the coat’s sleeves, and each sleeve became half of the bodice.

The pant legs became the skirt’s front panels. I cut scallops around the raw edges, and used glue to attach the fabric.

I surgically removed the lower half of the coat’s fronts and the entire back in one piece.

This became the back of the gown. I split this up the center to add a flouncing bustle with skirt of gauze.

I over-layered the skirt of gauze with a triangle of lace.

I needed something to pull Lady Jane together so I pulled a grommet laden S&M harness from my pile of leftover production stock, and chopped that up.

Lady Anne is, Medieval, Elizabethan and Renaissance all rolled into today.

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Her name, Lady Anne, came to me as I was shooting her.

Soon after I was humming Lady Jane, an old Rolling Stones tune. In the song, Lady Anne is being left for Lady Jane. There is only one color to describe that feeling …. blue.

"My dear Lady Anne, I've done what I can. I must take my leave, for promised I am This play is run my love, your time has come my love I've pledged my troth to Lady Jane." Mick Jagger/Keith Richards — “My dear Lady Anne, I’ve done what I can.
I must take my leave, for promised I am
This play is run my love, your time has come my love
I’ve pledged my troth to Lady Jane.”
Mick Jagger/Keith Richards

Norman, Lady Anne is like the music you make, a romance of many eras, places and feelings. Thank you for the inspiration!

Norman Orenstein Music

“Art Gown” Lady Anne designed by Resa McConaghy – November, 2013

All photos of Lady Anne taken by Resa McConaghy – November, 2013

Blue Venus

On February 16, 2013March 4, 2022 By ResaIn Goddesses118 Comments

Did you ever feel like sculpting a gown, but marble and clay aren’t materials you work with?

I faced that exact conundrum when designing my fourth “Art Gown” which is inspired by Robyn from THROUGH THE HEALING LENS

Robyn’s Photos combined with her poetry are soothing, loving experiences.

When I asked her about color, she replied that she loved earth tones, and blue like the sky. I also thought of water, as many of Robyn’s pictures are from the beach.

I found a piece of stretch fabric that made me think of deep blue water.

To keep with a sculptural art theme, I stretched a two-piece sarong reminiscent of a 1940’s glamor cut over Judy.

I then began draping a piece of fabric I found in Affordable Textiles, a store on Queen West, pretty close to Qe.

When I saw it on the bolt, I blurted out that it looked like a sky with clouds. At that point the proprietor informed me that I was looking at the wrong side of the fabric.

Draping in the spirit of ancient Rome or Greece was a lot of fun.

Using the wrong side of the fabric, I split it lengthwise, divided one of the lengths into thirds then slashed up for about 2 feet.

I braided the thirds into a front strap, and did the same for the back.

As an amateur photographer, I rely on natural light. I wanted a sunny day to take the pics of Blue Venus, so the sky with clouds effect would be perfect. The sun peeked out only a few moments. I did my best, and over exposed when things got too, dark.

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Well, that’s my Blue Venus. Thank you Robyn !

I think I’ll say good-bye in Black and White.

AS “LIKES” DID NOT TRANSFER TO MY NEW BLOG,

I TOOK A PIC OF THEM. ACTIVE “LIKES” ARE ON PERMALINK

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