Rupert Valentino Joins DracGoth & Etagloc

When AGMs Shey, Dale and Gigi vanished into thin air, Princess Blue Holly sprang into action.

She peered into her Tangle – Heart.

It showed her an image of OtherWorld. She saw DracGoth and Etagloc, marionettes at the feet of the SheyGoth effigy.

Rupert Valentino had imprisoned AGMs Shey, Gigi and Dale in a cage. The plan was to turn DracGoth and Etagloc back into normal monsters, and divvy up the AGMs amongst themselves. PBH listened in on their conversation.

DracGoth – You idiot! Moron! Nincompoop! You left the incantation on your coffee table? You’re no 13th cousin of mine.

Rupert – Knock it off, will ya! I told ya, I’ll just slip back through “Nowhere and Nothing” to Earth, grab the incantation offa the coffee table and vavoom, I’m back here.

Etagloc – Hissss… hack, cough…. can ya pick me up some smokes before ya vavoom? COUGH… hissssss. 

Rupert – You idiot! Moron! Nincompoop! I’ll think about it.

With that, Rupert took off!

Knowing Rupert Valentino would transverse through “Nowhere and Nothing”, PBH changed outfits, and tucked 2 magic peach blossoms from AGM Dale’s magic peach tree into her bustier.

Sure enough, in the middle of “Nowhere and Nothing”, Princess Blue and Rupert Valentino (a legend in his own mind) came face to face. He accosted her with a knife.

Rupert – What’re you gonna do now, Blue Holly? Attack me with your feeble poisonous whip? This knife will be the end of it, and you.

At that moment, Blue Holly took out one magic peach blossom, placed it in the centre of her palm, and blew it at Rupert.

Rupert began going through a series of demented changes. While PBH waited for the full effect to take hold on Rupert, she slipped into a new outfit.

AGMs Marina and Holly were modelling Art Gowns from the Classic Collection.

Marina was modelling Belle Grâce, Timothy’s dedicated Art Gown.

Holly was modelling her very own dedicated Art Gown Velvet Tango.

Rebecca was thrilled how the gowns fit so perfectly.

Girls, it’s going to be a magnificent show! Ahh, there’s nothing like the classics. RR should be here shortly to try on Cleopatra CapriccioThen, as soon as Blue Holly rescues Shey, Dale and Gigi, I shall continue gown selections and try ons!

Suddenly, there was a new presence in the room. A three armed woman stood blocking the doorway. Thing is the door was gone!

Bezella – I’m here to be an Art Gowns Model!

DracGoth – What the hell is keeping Rupert? He shoulda been back by now!

Etagloc – Ahhhack – hissss He better remember my smokes! COUGH!

PBH – “Hello boys! Waiting for someone?”

Having delivered marionette Rupert to the SheyGoth effigy, Blue Holly took the second magic peach blossom from her bodice. She blew it at the caged AGMs. In a blizzard of peach blossoms, they were freed and on their way back to earth.

PBH raced through “Nowhere and Nothing” to get back on Earth, before the AGMs arrived.

Back on Earth PBH morphed back into her alter ego. Ms. Rosso threw on a simple house gown. She proceeded to the Art Gowns room, for her fitting.

Sacré bleu! The door was gone, a mirror in its stead! Now what, she thought?

RR could hear the blizzard of peach blossoms bringing Shey, Gigi and Dale back. She’d have to think about what to do later. The AGMs were about to land!

Princess Blue Holly & Rene Rosso characters © Resa MeConaghy & Holly Rene Hunter – Since May 2019

Music selections by Holly Rene Hunter

Visit the AGMs on their blogs! Holly – Dale – Shey – Marina – Gigi

Nature Pics © & courtesy of Timothy Price. Visit Tim at Off Center Not Even

Visit Rebecca on Lady Budd & link to her other blogs from there.

In case you missed the first episode of their most recent adventure:

Glamour – 1940’s Movie Star Style

A Tangle of Music

Dahlings, do you just love my hair done as red sails? I feel like I could fly. It makes me think of songs like: Sailing by Christoper Cross, Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin & Come Sail Away by Styx. This brings me to the theme of our Tribute today, Music!

Take it away, Rebecca!

Thank you Rene! We’ve decided to have a bit of fun with “A Tangle of Music”. Each AGM is presented with 2 or 3 bars of 12, that are the instrumental opening to a famous song. There are other clues, as well.

There is an obvious theme running though each AGM’s gown, that pertains to the opening lyrics. Also, as you can see, I am surrounded by the chords in the song. Note: I am holding an A minor in my right hand.

First out on the Catwalk, with the first 2 bars, is AGM Marina in a stunning 1 shoulder, ultra fitted gown with a fish tail hem.

In order to make sure our presentation is sound, we consulted with Trent, & sent him the pic of Marina.

Trent’s reply: “My piano is way off to the side, and I was trying to play it off of the dress, which has the left hand (on the right side) and the right hand (on the left side) with a woman in between. It took a minute.”

Trent’s advice: “It is easier to see if the two parts (called staves) are together. If you can have the line and bracket joining them, a player knows they are played at the same time.”

As you can see AGM Shey holds the next 2 bars, with the staves joined, in one hand. She shows off the full skirt of the drop waist slip style gown in her other hand.

AGigiM is brilliant in pinch tucked trim accentuating a deep v décolletage. Off the shoulder ruffles make for an innocent (don’t be fooled) effect, while a generous side seam insert of pleats adds drama to her every move. Her right gloved hand holds the 5th, 6th & 7th bars.

Dale, our AGM of Thunder feels easy and breezy, as she leans on a fence of the 8th & 9th bars. Inspired by a gypsy’s dance, her gown is full of romance.

Avant Garde is the term for AGM Holly’s asymmetric gown. She stands nonchalantly by the last 3 bars to the intro.

The theme running through the gowns is  gold. “There’s a lady who’s sure
All that glitters is gold”.

This is an historic tribute performance of the answer!

Now, back to Rene!

Thank you, Rebecca! This is the gown that started it all. It’s a scribble gown, drawn to live music from under Resa’s bed.

Okay, the fun isn’t over yet! Someone’s past boyfriend found them online & sent her the song he wrote for her back when. Perhaps you can guess who? The answer will be on Holly’s blog.

Finally we have many blog pals who make great music. What would a great Tangle be without throwing a few into the snarl!

Click on the cards to visit their Youtube channels!

Check out the music of MK-O – Marina Kanavaki & Oannes (click on above)

Visit them on their blogs!

Holly, Gigi, Shey, Dale, Marina

& Art Director – Rebecca Budd

Rene Rosso character © Resa McConaghy & Holly Rene Hunter

Since 2019

Spring Rhapsody

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.

The mess was worth it!

I couldn’t take enough pics.

OUTTAKES

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This girl was a joy, from morning…

….until night.

Art Gown Spring Rhapsody © Resa McConaghy – 2021

I send my best to all of you, my blog pals. I adore you all, please take care and have the best spring ever!

Wild Rose

Could you ever fall in love with a wild rose bush, as it languishes in sun?

WRose #0

Then you’d want to take it home, but soon realize there’s not enough top soil in your apartment.

WRose #21

My solution? Make an Art Gown, and dedicate it to someone who has the earthy requirements!

WRose #2b

Wendy Ellen Thomas is perfect! Visit her blog Chez Chloé & see what I mean.

WRose #30

Wild Rose is a simple concept. Black is the earth.

WRose #33

Pink is the wild roses.

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As a veggie, I will never wear a leather dress I inherited from work, but I can do it justice.

WRose #002WRose #001Originally, it was a mini with tank style bodice & nasty zippers up the front.

With much glee, I cut away and restyled.

I spent less than $30.00 on a delicate pink lace with rose pattern.

Wild Rose #10WRose #6I used the lace for the corset insert & the skirt.

To decorate the bodice I began cutting flowers from the lace.

That was about 3 dozen delicately flowing petals I cut out.

Once I’d decided to use a swath of black voile for the tail, I began cutting out 200 more roses.

WRose #003

Each wild rose was hand sewn onto the voile.

WRose #22

Wild Rose outakes

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Wild Rose settles into her new home’s “Art Gowns” Room.

WRose #24c

She bathes her tail in the warm sunshine.

WRose #12

Wild Rose is a romantic …

WRose #40

… and pines for a lover.

WRose #41

Wild Rose says, “Let’s invite Wendy Ellen Thomas over for dinner!” She can really cook up a storm & Resa will do the dishes!”

WRose #20b

Wild Rose designed, made & written by Resa McConaghy – October, 2015

Photos © Resa McConaghy – taken November 4 – 2015

WRose #13

Shaping It Up

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

AGCoat #2

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

An Art Gowns Original Design

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

AGCoat #14

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!

AGCoat #10

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.

AGCoat #8

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.

AGCoat #9

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

AGCoat 1c

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.

AGCoat #6

#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!

AGCoat #7

What do you think of #TheShape?

OR

Should I call it #TheResa?

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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

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

AGCoat #5

Autumn Orchid

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

Cindy #1b

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

CINDY #1

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

Cindy #6b

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 #4

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”

Cindy MOS #1This 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.

Cindy MOS #2After 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.

Cindy #7

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

MOG #4MOG #5I 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.

Cindy #2b

MOG #1MOG #2Flowers 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.

Cindy #8

Voilà, more “Autumn Orchid”

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One last nostalgic look.

Cindy #4b12

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

Cindy #20

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

All photos taken by Resa McConaghy – November, 2014

Art Gowns – Red Carpet Review

I’M THRILLED to be a NOMINEE for BEST COSTUME DESIGN – CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS

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The show I’m up for is “The Best Laid Plans” & of course some of the “Art Gowns” want to go to the Gala. They each say they are “The Best Made Gown”.

So in a supportive spirit, my writer friend Christy Birmingham from  Poetic Parfait uses her talent to review a few of the gowns.

 

titles222FB

penn-test1

Dip me in a mixture of blooms and light,

For a wedding beyond what I ever thought possible.

Douse me with water from a river of silky fabric

That tumbles across my curves with brilliance

I had not previously known.

Let me savor this garden today.

Penn #5_2

 

 

titles222LA

anne-1She slithers with sexiness, power rising from

Far within the depths of the striking hemlines,

Reaching out with a bold beauty to fit snuggly at

The intersection of feminine and powerful.

She is a layer of heat upon hope, black upon white,

Billowing in a breathtaking world of her own.

Anne #8

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

 

titles222la

Imelda2-aDosage is plenty, yet never too much,

With purple shades of glory that rest underneath

Bobbles more elegant than words will allow,

As though the train to perfection is held within

Lines across me, and it flows to the

Floor with an ease I have not felt in years.Imelda2- k

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

titles222bv2

venus-6

Shimmer me this, tell me what you think,

Whether my daring spirit is coating your

Mind with romance for miles?

Run your hopes down my side, like the soft

Fabric of my dreams, and settle within the

Bare skin that complements a blue vision

Put here to amaze us.

Layer within my company tonight.

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THANK YOU DEAR CHRISTY

Christy’s blog Poetic Parfait is filled with her poetry, short stories, book reviews and more, as she shares her creative mind with us all. When Women Inspire, Christy’s other “must see” blog, is a wonderful celebration of and for all women ……. and men!

ABC #12

All gowns designed by Resa McConaghy

All photos © Resa McConaghy

All poetry © Christy Birmingham

Flora Blanca

Did you ever have to move a bevy of jaded “Art Gowns” to a new “WordPress” site?

It would be easier to transplant a garden to another city!

Penn test

That’s why this “Art Gown” is inspired by and dedicated to my beloved niece Sherrie. She is the only person I know who would actually help me dig up an entire garden, lug it then replant it.

Penn #2b

Hence, I decided to do a Garden themed “Art Gown”

Penn #5_2

Of course wool and paper popped immediately into my mind.

Penn #12Not just anyPenn #10 wool, but a pure, fine and all natural wool, fit for the Pope’s cassock.

Not just any paper, but pictures of Roses, Begonias, Peonies, Lilies, Orchids and Poppies by “Irving Penn”.

Yes, I cut up the entire book. It is a true labor of love cutting around the beads of dew, thorns, intricate ruffles and fine hairs of Mr. Penn’s” photographs.

Penn #8

The GownPenn #9

itself is

based

on an

Orchid.

I used 2

bottles

of clear

drying

craft glue . If I made this on a display Judy, it could be varnished and made into a decoupage type sculpture.

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 “Art Gowns” remind me of the mid nineteen hundreds Hollywood Movie Glamor. That’s why I love the Black & White treatment.

Penn #15Dearest Darling ♥♥♥ Sherrie ♥♥♥

Thanks for helping me move my garden!

Penn #16