Tag: Fabrics

La Belle Époque 

On By ResaIn Gowntoons, Princess Blue Holly218 Comments

In America it was the Gilded Age, in the United Kingdom it was the Victorian era and in France it was La Belle Époque.

Dahlings, Welcome to the 1880’s

Inspired by Tissot’s fashion prints of the era, Art Gowns has designed its own gowns, and gone back in time to show them off. Made possible by Venus and the moon, we went through the the Tangle-Heart and moved backwards 137 years.

Rebecca, the first to land in 1888, went about setting up a fashion show at Le Chat Noir. Her palazzo pants, carefully hidden by the period’s draping fabrics, allowed her to move around without arousing suspicion.

The venue was a one night extravaganza at La Chat Noir in  the Montmartre  district of Paris.

Thought to be the first modern night club, it was opened on 18 November 1881 and closed in 1897.

NOW, Here’s Rebecca!

Thank you, Rene! We have a thrilling show tonight, so let me get right at it, and present les beaux modèles de la Belle Époque!

First out on the stage is Modèle de Robes d’Art, Shey. Shey is dressed for afternoon tea or “gouter” as known in Paris. Her fan’s print is inspired by the new Japanese aesthetics.

Next out is Gigi dressed for a night at the theare! Her asymetric ruffles play second fiddle only to her Statue of Liberty inspired diadème.

Now, back from her gown change is Mademoiselle Rene with a very Special announcement!

Thank you, Rebecca! Mes Chéris, all of us at Art Gowns put our design hats on and created a special La Belle Époque Super Hero outfit for Princess Blue Holly. Art Gowns presents:

Princess Blue Holly in la Belle Époque Super Hero Outfit

What an honour! Thank you to all! This is a momentous outfit! I love the boots, and they only take a half hour each to button up.

It must have been very difficult to be a female Super Hero in the 1880’s. So much beautiful fabric would make flying a bit of a challenge. Snagging would be an issue and the corsetry is somewhat confining when delivering the martial arts moves.

Check out the Freedom difference between 2025 and 1888! ……. aaaand back to Rebecca!

Thank you Princess Blue Holly! You look simply marvellous. That is one special outfit.

Perfect for taking the carriage to the fashion shops, Dale wears a travelling jacket of pinstripe twill, with brocade fishtail skirt completed with a voile tail under a ruched and layered silk bussel. A dainty reticule is the perfect accessory.

It’s a sunny day and Rene is back in another costume change. This is a miracle considering all the buttons she had to do up, as the zipper was not invented until 1917. She is off to the museum with a rose detail parasol and rose reticule.

It’s “dinner at eight” and the opera for Modèle de Robes d’Art, Marina. A rose print corset top with a panière effect from the waist to hips is a lovely accentuation to the fitted fishtail skirt.

Holly is off to a fancy party in white silk with red ruffle corset top and a skirt of silk Swiss dot. A lush red bow sets off the rose detailed bussel and tail with ruffles on the inside and out.

I’m sad to say the show has come to an end, buts let’s hear it for Mademoiselle Rene, who shall bid you adieu.

Mes Chéris, bon soir! We hate to leave, but it’s time to return to the future! Please enjoy Arabesque No.1 by Claude Debussy, while the beaux modèles de la Belle Époque make their departures.


No one saw when the AGM’s made their way back through the Tangle-Heart as contrails. All landed safely in the Bosque by Tim’s.

However, as Rene began her journey to the future she encountered a strange energy.

She landed back at Tim’s in Rebecca’s Black Bamboo, but she wasn’t herself, nor all there.

No one was worried! All were sure Princess Blue Holly would save her.

However and unfortunately, as you and I know, Rene IS Princess Blue Holly!

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

Since 2019

Visit them on their blogs!

Dale – Holly – Gigi – Marina – Shey

Visit Rebecca!

Visit Tim At Off Center Not Even

Tissot – I

On By ResaIn James Tissot, Tribute123 Comments

Tissot, a name I hadn’t heard much. Then the AGO announced an exhibit featuring their collection of 2 oil paintings, 1 watercolour and 30 etchings on paper.

A Most Enchanting Day at the AGO

The Fashionable Beauty (1885)
  • There were several variations of the “Fashionable Beauty”
  • This one was from the hip up.
  • Some were more whispy, some more dense
  • Camera on portrait stage setting

In the last decades of the nineteenth century, James Tissot portrayed women within the contradictions of the period.

Political Woman (1885)

Modernity via the speed of travel, fashion and commodity culture is juxtaposed with the constraint of women’s every day lives.

Flaunting the “Masculine” Realm

  • The Newspaper (1883)

A well dressed woman reads a newspaper. The fashionable Japanese-influenced wallpaper lining the wall informs of her engagement with the outside world & knowledge of trends.

Fashion magazines and novels were appropriate for Victorian women.

Newspapers were linked to men, as they symbolized factual knowledge and interest in global politics. Although, the image below depicts another reason a woman would read a newspaper.

Without a Dowry (1885)

The above image portrays a young woman and her mother in a Parisian park. The black clothing suggests they are mourning a male relative, and are without a dowry. The daughter sits in an available position, while the mother searches the newspapers for marriage offers.

Dreaming (1881)

More About the Artist

“Best known for his paintings of fashionable figures, Tissot began his career in Paris. While he turned down Edgar Degas’s invitation to exhibit with the impressionists, he shared the groups desire to portray scenes of modern life in an innovative style. He moved to London in 1871 after fighting in the Franco-Prussian War, and became a popular painter of Victorian scenes, particularly those showing young women in typically modern moments, before returning to France in 1882.” – Art Gallery of Ontario

Portico – National Gallery, London (1878)

Moral Ambiguity, a Central Theme

Sunday Morning (1883)

A well dressed young woman walks to church holding a bible. Her raised eyebrows and tentative gaze pose the question, does she need to atone for her sins, or is she nervous about being late for service?

Horizontal women’s bodies were lubricous from a voyeuristic perspective.

Slumbering female figures had erotic connotations in the Victorian Era, especially in semi-conscious states like dreaming or sleeping.

The Fan (1876)

Now discredited – The below woman’s twisted hand was indicative of the pathological disorder – hysteria. This “chic” female disease was considered fashionably feminine and modern.

Sleeping Woman (1876)

The moral ambiguity of Tissot’s images was integral to their popular appeal.

British critics claimed they were too, risqué, too French.

  • The Hammock (1880)

A Personal Fascination

Other than the title, I know only that the etching below is in the Hippodrome (ℹ︎ Met Museum site). I was mesmerized by it. All that skin makes the costumes seem so modern and the Statue of Liberty crowns were piquing.

The Ladies of the Chariots (1885)

I can’t get everything into 1 post, so there will be a Tissot – II. In the meantime, I leave you with a shot of the 1 watercolour with gouache on paper.

Waiting (late 1800’s)

The young girl’s bored stare, pale skin, under eye circles with oversized bonnet and gloves (highlighting weight loss) suggest tuberculosis.

“Consumption” was coined a term, as it consumed patients, and ate away bodies.

Is she waiting for someone or something?

Is she waiting to heal or die?

Photos © Resa McConaghy – Taken January 7, 2025

Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada

Information Source: The Art gallery of Ontario

Lilac Fan Dance

On By ResaIn Burlesque, Floral239 Comments

A storm of uneasy was roiling within me.

All of the AGMs had a dedicated Art Gown, except Dale.

The only way to quell the turmoil was to whip up a gown. I figured four, five months tops.

Seven months later, Lilac Fan Dance was dreaming out of the Art Gowns atelier window.

The ruffly lace tail had become a total diva during its construction. What figured to be done in 3-4 hours took 3-4 weeks.

It was the same time consuming issues I’d encountered making the fans for Diane Lane in “The Big Town”.

It began with an 80’s floral print fabric draped on Judy. Surrounded with acetates, a sheer and lace harvested from “Atlantis Mermaid Love-In”, inspiration struck .

The harvested lace was not enough to fulfill my idea, so old lace curtain scraps were painted with acrylics inherited from my F-i-L. The dates on the tubes were from the 1990’s.

Once dry the paint was heat set, the lace cut into creative shapes and randomly gathered. The 3d lace pieces were strewn behind the gown, and it was evident backing yardage was required.

A strip of white curtain sheer left over from Belle Grâce was blotch painted with the remainder of the purple paint.

TA DA! Lilac Fan Dance – dedicated to Dale – A Dalectable Life

Suddenly, the day became dark and filled with the peal of Thunder.

Memories flooded in and I could see…

Diane Lane waiting on my front porch. She’d come to check out her fans.

Romanticized by the idea of the Burlesque circuit, Lilac Fan Dance built a fan out of peach blossoms from Dale’s peach tree on Tim’s magic tree sanctuary.

Unable to dance due to that she had wheels instead of legs, no arms of her own and no head,

…. she borrowed some of Mae West’s jokes and did a stand-up.

Happy with her time as an entertainer, but tired of life on the road, Lilac Fan Dance returned home.

“Positive thoughts generate positive feelings and attract positive life experiences. You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” -Mae West

OUTTAKES

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Lilac Fan Dance © Resa McConaghy – 2024

Peach Blossom pics © Timothy Price from Off Center Not Even

The Vi-Queens

On By ResaIn Gowntoons123 Comments

Welcome dahlings! Inspired by Vikings, northern lights and all things “land of the midnight sun”, Art Gowns presents a twist of creation, “TheVi-Queens”. 

Here to host our Vi-Queen telecast, her mic custom made to look like an ax, is Art Gowns own glorious Art Director, Rebecca Budd. Take it away RB!

Thank you RR! I’m lovin’ my new maxrophone. It’s made to talk your head off! Each AGM Vi-Queen will model her gown in a regal gold picture frame made out of all recycled materials.

First into the frame is Gigi. A red velvet gown, gold lame cape and black with silver metallic faux fur keeps her warm during days of all night.

Marina is the god’s musical muse in a blueberry dyed gossamer cotton gown. Her head piece features a hammered gold diamond with an olive tree decoration.

40 layers of tulle help Holly float into the frame. Wide strips of blue NOS ultrasuede tapered at the waist lets lacing shape the overskirt. Trumpet sleeves and a macrame choker are held in place by vintage gold buttons.

Posing in her second costume change of the evening, RR graces a claret velvet gown with hammered gold breast cups, arm bands and belt buckle. Detached trumpet sleeves complete the ancient look.

Shey, still in Goth recovery from losing her beloved to a puppethood prisonership, poses in a pale moss green silk bias cut gown. A gold coin hip belt, gold arm band, headband with gold medallion, asymmetric gloves and gold tipped spear perfect this powerful Vi-Queen.

Dale’s faux feather boa will keep her warm when night is nigh. Her fishtail gown’s metallic bustier is of repurposed lurex, and the fishtail’s feathers are  from the same fabric scraps as the boa.

RR’s final outfit of the evening is another fishtail gown: skin tight with lace-up corset style bodice & lurex inserts. 

🌺 Her  floral shawl, a  gift from Princess Blue Holly, has a one time unknown magic feature! 🌹

Rupert wielding 2 steak knives, Drac with blood red talons of steel & Etagloc smoking a massive nicotine spewing cigar with a fire ball heater advance threateningly.

Without hesitation, RR  whips open her enchanted shawl. The floral print turns into a hundred thousand real flowers of all sizes, sundering the golden frame apart.

The mystical flowers bury Belezza, her evil puppets and the entire film crew in a floral potpourri.

The AGM V-Qs & RB are encased in midnight sun protective spheres created by the shadows of petals.

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RR looks into her Tangle-Heart, and watches Belezza & the puppets retreat into Otherworld. The AGMs remain trapped in protective spheres and the crew has evacuated the studio.

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Princess Blue Holly & Rene Rosso characters © Resa McConaghy & Holly Rene Hunter -since 2019

Music selection by Holly Rene Hunter

🌕 Holly – House of Heart🌖 Shey – Smexy Historical Romance 🌗 Gigi – Rethinking Life 🌘 Marina – Art Towards a Happy Day 🌑 Dale – A Dalectable Life   🌒 Rebecca – Chasing Art 🌓

🌔 Flower & tree photos © Timothy Price Visit Tim’s blog 🌕

Charlotte Models Midnight Nightingale: Part II

On By ResaIn Live Model Collection

Soprano Charlotte Hoather models “Midnight Nightingale” & Interviews Me:  Part II

Still thrilled with how terrific “Midnight Nightingale” fits Charlotte, I’m now on Venus with how beautiful she looks in it.

Click on the reblog box or the photo of Charlotte to visit the post, read the interview and enjoy the shots.

The Gift

On By ResaIn Thank You139 Comments

Hello dahling Kat!  We’re here to say ThankYou for the wonderful gift of old fabrics, starting with a 40 pound box, that showed up in the mail one day!

Look! I just have to drape them over and around me, and it looks like a gown. Still, several gowns have been made largely out of the gifts you’ve sent.

Here to tell all about the creations is AG’s Art Director. Take it away Rebecca!

Thank you, Rene! Not only has Kat sent enough fabric to cover a few elephants, I’m standing here wearing and holding vintage clothing, scarves, pillow shams, lace and such that she has tossed in.

Check out the cat walk! Art Gowns Model Shey looks like one of her romance novel heroines in her dedicated Art Gown, Jade.

Jade is crafted from yardage of a chartreuse-esque poly silk-satin of sorts, 2 vintage decorator pillow shams & many metres of reclaimed ribbon.

On the runway, Μοντέλο Art Gowns Marina, models Belle Grâce. Belle Grâce, Tim’s dedicated Art Gown, is made from a mid-weight satin in pink & 2 shades of gold, with white curtain sheers. 

AGM Holly, in Spring Rhapsody, holds the tail as she walks. The copper satin of the gown is strange… possibly upholstery goods, and is somewhat heavy. Spring Rhapsody is topped with a vintage pillow slip, and adorned with various cut cloth bits, scraps of fine lace and vintage gold buttons.

On this occasion, Holly has written a poem especially for Kat.

Modèle de robes d’art Gigi found out how much Kat adores the Chicklets. She sends a message!

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Displaying the main fabric for what will be her dedicated Art Gown, AGM Dale knows that there’s a lot to do to finish it, but that it is well under way!

And now back to RR for a parting message!

Thank you Rebecca! In closing I’m leaving these songs for Kat; one for being a mush head and one for fun.

Princess Blue Holly & Rene Rosso characters © Resa McConaghy & HollyRene Hunter – since September 2019

Chicklets art © Georgiann Carlson

Visit the AGMs on their blogs – Marina – Art Towards a Happy Day / Holly – House of Heart/ Dale – A Dalectable Life / Shey – Smexy Historical Romance/ Gigi – Rethinking Life

Visit Timothy Price from Off Center Not Even

Need a reminder, or to catch up? Click on the above poster!

Get ready for the next fashion show when Bezella and her evil puppets will take on Princess Blue Holly!

Midnight Nightingale

On By ResaIn Sopranos198 Comments

One enchanted evening I was inspired to make a performance Art Gown for the spellbinding Soprano, Charlotte Hoather.

She embraces the concept that Art Gowns are hand sewn from off cuts, repurposed clothes, curtains, table cloths, etc. and NOS (new old stock).

Charlotte lives in the U.K., and I wouldn’t be able to fit her. So, she sent me professionally taken measurements from an opera wardrobe department. I used those to make small adjustments to Judy.

Although I’ve made many gowns, and have history designing in film and television; presenting for stage is different.

Day shots were in natural light.  Night shots were lit. I can’t compete with stage lighting, especially overhead lighting. That would bring out the dazzle on the skirt’s circular tail, as it sits on the floor.

Midnight Nightingale is presented in a way I hope you can imagine what stage lighting could make happen.

I sent Charlotte a photo of an off cut of sequin fabric someone had gifted me. It was thrown on Judy with a stretch velvet piece, to show the germ of an idea. Called “Dragon Skin”, the sequins are variegated green/blue. Also, one can rub the sequins backwards and they flip to black. Funny, but once I got going, that novelty wore off.

A bustier shape was draped on Judy, then transferred to a paper pattern. That was used to cut the Dragon Skin. A decent yardage of 25 year old NOS plum acetate satin was pulled from the stash, and a 3 panel a-line(ish) skirt was cut. A full circle of $2.00/yd., 120″ wide liquidated black curtain sheer was draped on top.

The stretch velvet was used for the back & straps of the bustier. The thought was that it would be easier for fit and altering. A separating zip was inserted in the centre back. The gown’s finishes were designed to accommodate alterations.

Circles were cut out of the remaining Dragon Skin, and sewn onto the circular tail of the skirt.

A small bustle with a long thin nightingale tail, on its own waistband, is added separately to the top and skirt.

The gown can be worn with or without the bustle/nightingale tail. Teeny rhinestones (a gift from a friend) dot it and fill in between the sequin circles on the skirt’s tail.

Midnight Nightingale’s circular skirt tail can be hitched up, with or without the bustle/nightingale tail, for various effects.

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Visit Charlotte on her blog!

Last I knew, Charlotte was practicing to be a Coloratura Soprano. She may be there already. Below is a fantastic performance.

I’m totally in love when Charlotte sings and George plays piano.

Charlotte, her star rising, is in rehearsals for a new Opera, “Brontë“.

In three pieces, Midnight Nightingale is glamorous and versatile. Above, the top is shown with a vintage navy panné velvet skirt.

Art Gowns & Photography © Resa McConaghy

Since – November 2012

Ashlie in Jade w/ Jimi and Jim

On By ResaIn Live Model Collection, Tribute99 Comments

Question: What do you do when your great niece comes for a 2 hour visit, and you haven’t seen her for 6 years?

Answer: Throw an Art Gown on her and start shooting! No time for cleaning up, setting a stage, ironing, lighting or thinking in general!

We decided on Jade, an Art Gown dedicated to  Shey, one of the 5 AGMs.

So, how did Jimi and Jim enter the equation?

Their images happen to be on 2 – 55 year old ceramic wine bottles that were on my mantle. N’s mom bought them in Yorkville Village circa 1967-69.

Pretty cool!

They’ve been living with me for over 20 years & it’s nothing short of a miracle that they are still in 1 piece. Glass and ceramics are at high risk here.

Anyway, Sherrie (Ash’s mom) said she’d like to have them, one day. I figured now’s a good a time as any.

The portraits of Jimi Hendrix & Jim Morrison on the bottles aren’t perfect, but painting on a ceramic bottle can’t be easy.

The Bottles Slide Show

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Drawing on paper is much easier, and not perfect either.

The Jimi and Jim bottles resting comfortably on a shelf in Winnipeg, Canada.

During photo selection, Google photos suddenly changed! There’s a lot of new creative  editing options, as well as the old ones. Here is extreme “white point” & “black point”, together.

The Necromancer’s Daughter – by: D. Wallace Peach

On By ResaIn Book Review344 Comments

Monarchy, religion, culture and love collide in ancient China’s warring society. All come to rest upon the shoulders of Aster, a gentle soul content in her life. At the start of this tale, her dead infant body is stolen from her mother, the  Queen of Verdane. Aster is brought back to life by Barus. Barus becomes her father, the only one she knows & loves.

Resa – Why &/or how did you come up withe the name Aster?

Peach – That’s an easy one.  She’s so pale that she reminded Barus of the white asters that grew in the meadows around his home. I imagined that when in bloom the flowers almost looked like snow.

Resa – I just have to ask, ” When did you discover the idea of “necromancy” … that it could bring people back to life?

Peach – Great question! Necromancy is (or was) a real thing, and the earliest records date back to the 3rd century, AD. Christian priests and scholars were some of the first to record attempts to “reanimate dead people or foretell the future by communicating with them.” So, it’s been around a long time, and I’m willing to swear that the desire to communicate with the dead continues today. Ouija Boards are a modern example, and some people make a very good living channeling departed souls.

Peach – In modern fantasy, most necromancers are evil and scary, involved in black magic and creating monsters. My mother didn’t want to read the book because she thought it was about cannibals. Lol. It’s a stereotype that I flipped on its head with Barus and Aster.

Resa – Did you make up the ritual? The mixing of herbs… the incanting…. the bleeding? Or did you read about it somewhere? Are there aster flowers in the potion?

Peach – The ritual was my own fabrication though I incorporated pieces of rituals that I found on the internet. It’s amazing what you can research there!
The herbs used in necromancy don’t include asters. The ones in the book are real poisons. The toxins have medical uses, but can easily be lethal. It’s another instance of that fine line between good and bad. It’s all about intention, isn’t it?

Resa – Above is an outfit I think the Queen of Blackrock could dress Aster in, when she is a guest there. However, I’m jumping ahead. Aster must get there first, and it’s a difficult journey fraught with perils.

Fortunately, she has the help of Joreh, then Teko. Oh, and I love all the hair on the men. Okay, not so much the beards, but all that long hair be it snarled, in a ponytail, braid or grey. I confess I have a huge crush on Teko.

Peach – I like long hair on men too. Ha ha. And not beards so much either, but it’s not like these guys get a chance to shave, so beards it is.  And Teko is a fan favorite, Resa. He was so fun to write – a barbarian imbued with honor, misleading simplicity, and astute wisdom. He was full of surprises even as I wrote him.

Resa – There is a black & silver Dragon, who has bonded with Aster. It seems like a simple bonding, until the final legs of the journey to claim her birthright. What gave you the idea to use dragons?

Peach – In the Chinese legend of Kwan-Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, there’s a dragon. She encounters it on the road while carrying water, and she isn’t afraid. The dragon admires her goodness and kindness and gives her a gift of a well so she won’t have to carry water anymore.  Just the mention of a dragon was enough for me to include them in the retelling of her story. ❤

Resa – On her journey, Aster encounters “Nightlings”. Are these like fire flies? Or are they little birds? I’d read a small portion of the book when they were encountered. In my mind I saw them as a sort of flashlight, leading Aster through darkness.

Peach – Ha ha ha.  I saw them in my mind’s eye as insects actually but large ones, the size of hummingbirds. They’re like dragonflies but they light up during dusk. I think Joreh mentions in the beginning that they’re insects, but I mostly leave it up to the reader’s imagination. Your question intrigued me.

Resa – I gotta tell you, I was wearing a thick, oversized lumberjack shirt while reading about the snow, the cold, the freezing, the deprivations of winter beyond winter. A couple of nights ago, when I put the story down for dinner, my hands were so cold my fingers were icicles. I’m chalking it up to that you are such a great writer that you can describe me into being cold.
❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ ❄️
Peach – LOL, Resa.  I probably was wearing a coat when I wrote the book… last winter.  Our cabin is hard to heat when it gets especially chilly outside. 🙂 I’m so sorry about the cold fingers though! 

Resa – I have a question about Aster’s raiment once she has reached Blackrock. Aster is cleaned up and dressed in rose, cream and violet silk with a blue sash sleeveless blue robe/w dragons on the hem. Her hair is in a tall knot. This description is not as brightly colourful as the citizens are dressed.  Am I correct in summing up that her outfit in Blackrock is a less richly hued  than the one she wears at the Gates of Whitehall?

Peach – I can so tell that you’re a wardrobe and gown designer! Your questions are wonderful. Generally, the queen of BlackRock has selected pastels for Aster, in Blackrock and at the gates of Whitehall. The queen thinks she’s too deathly pale for anything the least vivid. She also doesn’t trust Aster’s fashion sense, so everything coordinates regardless of how Aster puts the layers together.
The gowns are similar to the Hanfu style of Chinese clothing, lots of layers of silk and long flowing sleeves. There are wonderful images on the internet and lots of variation. The tall hairstyles were typical of Chinese royalty back in the day.
Resa – I imagined I was the Queen of Blackrock’s designer, so I had access to all silk, threads and jewels. I designed an outfit with Aster. There is an aster pattern down one side of her sleeveless kimono, and she wears fresh asters in her hair.
❄️
Peach – Love it! Wow. Resa, that’s beautiful!  And I just ADORE the idea of you as the designer producing Aster’s dress for the queen. How fun to have you in the story!
❄️
Resa – OH! You never described a headdress. Would I be out of order to include one?
❄️
Peach – Isn’t that funny? Lol. Please do whatever you want with a headdress. You’re the designer. ❤❤❤
 Resa – I would have loved to draw Aster on her horse, but that could have added MONTHS to the drawing.
Inside the Gates of Whitehall, Aster is weak as a kitten, yet regal. I saw her using something to hold onto. I came up with obsidian cat statues. There are the wild cats mentioned throughout the journey, so I thought even though you never described these statues, it’s not totally out of context.

Peach – The drawing is beautiful. And the cat statues look great the way they frame her. I totally defer to your artistic impulses.
❄️
Resa – You are not just gracious, you are a true fan of the creative nature.
❄️
Peach – And your reviews are just amazing!  I LOVE them. I can’t wait to see it all come to life. Thank you so much for reading my work and for your wonderful drawings.
❄️
Resa – My pleasure!!!! ❤️❤️❤️

A long-time reader, best-selling author D. Wallace Peach started writing later in life after the kids were grown and a move left her with hours to fill. Years of working in business surrendered to a full-time indulgence in the imaginative world of books, and when she started writing, she was instantly hooked.

In addition to fantasy books, Peach’s publishing career includes participation in various anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She’s an avid supporter of the arts in her local community, organizing and publishing annual anthologies of Oregon prose, poetry, and photography.

Peach lives in a log cabin amongst the tall evergreens and emerald moss of Oregon’s rainforest with her husband, two owls, a horde of bats, and the occasional family of coyotes.

Visit Diana on her blog!

You can buy D. Wallace Peach’s books on:

Amazon US~~~Amazon UK~~~Kobo

All pics of street art taken by Resa – 2019 – 2022

Toronto, Canada

This is one fabulous story!

Outtakes

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Dragon (manipulated) – from a mural by Allan Bender John Nobrega & Stacey Kinder

All other street artists unknown

Some Great News To Share

On By ResaIn Reblogs, Tribute2 Comments

My favourite Soprano in the whole world is not merely a fabulous singer, but a wonderful person. In the past, she has brought Opera to children who are deaf &/or  hard of hearing.

Charlotte – “For several years now, I have had a deep desire to create an Opera Production which can be enjoyed across the full hearing spectrum. The idea for the Opera is developed from my album “Down The Rabbit Hole”.”

She has worked diligently for several years, and has now received a grant.

Charlotte – “Two weeks ago, I got the news that they were willing to provide key funding for my project if I could raise the rest.  So before I could share the news with you, I had to hit the phones, write emails and send off applications to try and raise the shortfall.”

Charlotte has raised the shortfall. She will do a small tour of primary schools next Spring, which will include both D/Deaf specialist schools and primary schools from socially deprived areas.

Charlotte – “If I can raise an extra £600.00 it will give me enough money to print a learning aid booklet for each of the 800 children we perform for. If I can raise an additional £3000.00 it will allow me to add the two schools that I have as reserves so that none of the children miss out.”

If you live in the U.K., there is a way to help Charlotte raise the money by simply shopping.

Click on this and go to Charlotte’s page

OR

Visit Charlotte’s Blog, where there is a button to donate to this project on the side bar. I just donated £ 10.00 with PayPal!

If you have never had the delight of hearing Charlotte sing, click on the image below and visit her YouTube Channel.

I have Charlotte’s permission to reblog. However, as there is no reblog button on her blog, I have made this semi-repost.

To visit the full original post, click on the pic below.

I’ve decided to close comments. Many of you might want to say something to Charlotte, however Akismet won’t allow her to comment on this blog. Crazy! We communicate through comments on her blog. So, go visit!

 Announcement: An Art Gown for Charlotte. A few years ago, I was gifted some sequin fabric left over from a TV production. This was the beginning. It will be sent to Charlotte, with help from ❦ Timothy Price ❦