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

Art Gowns – Red Carpet Review

On January 24, 2015 By ResaIn Gowns115 Comments

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

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.

⭐

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.

⭐

She 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.

⭐

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Dosage 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.

⭐

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.

⭐

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!

All gowns designed by Resa McConaghy

All photos © Resa McConaghy

All poetry © Christy Birmingham

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

All photos of La Vie en Rosé © Resa McConaghy – January – 2014

Message in a Bracelet – DIY

On January 8, 2014December 8, 2014 By ResaIn Art Gown Products, Art Gowns Brand, DIY39 Comments

Do you love learning about history? Does it ever inspire you?

Then think “Suffragettes” and you’ll know why I’ve designed a bracelet in green, white and violet.

Recently, I did a guest post on Christy Burmingham’s blog WHEN WOMEN INSPIRE. It’s titled #GreenWhiteViolet. It inspired me back!

I decided the bracelet needed earrings. I wound up making 2 pairs.

Just in case you want to make a bracelet of your own design:

DIY INSTRUCTIONS

One of my challenges was that I had to use what I could find at home, or in my kit.

I gathered my green, white and violet beads.I found white pony beads, violet lined glass seed beads, a string of real cut amethysts, and a string of fake pearls.

There were also some solid purple & green glass ponies and a string of agates, several in appropriate tones.

I never did use the crystals that you see in my platter’s collection.

You’ll need a needle nose jewelry plier, and a flat nose plier w/cutter.

Find some great chain.

Gather jump rings, jewelry pins to match the chain (or not to match, depending on your design) and a clasp.

Now creatively thread the beads onto the jewelry pins.

Try to keep an eye on what your building beforehand by clustering up some beaded pins, and havng a look!

If you’re happy then you can begin attaching your lovelies onto the chain.

INTERMISSION

Now, on with the DIY instructions!

Cut the chain about 3 inches longer than you need.

As you add beads, they and the pins take up space so it will get shorter and shorter.

You also need to snip the jewelry pins to about 1/2 inch from the top bead.

Using the needlenose pliers, bend the end of the pin into an arc.

Hook the arced pin into the chain.

Again, using the needle noses, push the open end of the pin toward the piece of pin coming out of the bead.

Tuck the raw pin end inside the bead to finish it.

Keep attaching beaded pins.

Before the bracelet is fully clustered up, check how it’s fitting your wrist.

Add the clasp to one end. You may need to use a jump ring here.

If your chain is not open enough for

your clasp to fit through, you will need to add a jump ring to the appropriate place at the other end.

If needed snip off excess chain.

TIP: Hold the beaded pin with the flat nose pliers in one hand, while you work with the needle nose in your other.

Click on pics for larger details.

TO MAKE EARRINGS

You will need a pair of “shepherd’s hooks” or a pair of clips.

Use all of the same beads and findings.

Using the same techniques as for the bracelet, design and build your earrings.

Unless they are symmetrical, remember to make a left and a right.

Slideshows are visual poetry. Here is my prose. However, if you feel like reading a written poem, check out Christy Birmingham’s blog Poetic Parfait

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The past can be a nostalgic allure.

Until my next post, I wish you all a fond and romantic adieu!

Atlantis Mermaid Love-in

On July 13, 2013January 19, 2015 By ResaIn Gowns111 Comments

Did you ever get the urge to design an “Art Gown” who could swim the oceans & seas spreading love and peace?

Well, then you know she’d have to be a mermaid, and speak a lot of languages.

Le Drake Noir, as you speak 8 languages (reading and writing in 4), and are constantly posting pics of or from oceans and seas, This “Art Gown” is for you.

My personal challenge with this “Art Gown” was that I could only use what I had in stock. I was not allowed to buy anything.

I found:

Blue Crushed Velvet yardage

3 white T-shirts, of my design, and 2 boxes of purple dye. I immediately tie-dyed 2 of the t-shirts, thinking of hippies in their tie-dyes and velvet bell-bottoms.

When it comes to “Love &Peace”, the Hippies were full of it.

Scraps of $200.00/yd. French Lace

Blue and purple acrylic paint.

I soaked the lace in watered down acrylic paint.

When it dried it had become plastic-like, and looked like fan seaweed.

I found I could cut around the lace patterns and it didn’t run. What fun!

I also found a bottle of glue, which I used to adhere the cut out seaweed pieces to her.

The thing about mermaids is, if you were under the water and saw one, she might be swimming under you, or over you.

As I don’t have a glass floor, I climbed a ladder.

It looks like she’s swimming up at me.

What a beauty!

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I usually do a Black & White here, but this “Art Gown” has a lush glamor that precedes the glamor of the 1940’s, so I antiqued it!

Le Drake Noir, I enjoy your blog, and I know you’ll look great in this gown!

Flora Blanca

On May 24, 2013February 26, 2018 By ResaIn Floral107 Comments

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!

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.

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

Of course wool and paper popped immediately into my mind.

Not just any 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.

The Gown

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.

Dearest Darling ♥♥♥ Sherrie ♥♥♥

Thanks for helping me move my garden!

THE HOT FLASH – Crimson Fox

On April 11, 2013November 22, 2014 By ResaIn Gowns139 Comments

Did you ever design a gown for a real life Super-Hero?

It’s nerve wracking, isn’t it?

My 6th “Art Gown” goes out to Wendy Anderson who portrays Nealy Gone, a chronic wallflower, who at 50 years old embraces the heat and changes of menopause to become an ass-kicking Super Hero, The Hot Flash

The gown to be was screaming “I’m hot! I’m red! I’m satin!”

So, I went with it, and draped a classic body shape with a modern bodice on Judy.

I used French darts to shape the bodice.

The back was a lot of sexy fun.

Of course in reality the bodice would be heavily corseted.

Both sides of the center front, the French darts and the back’s 3/4 panels would all have to be boned.

Then I needed some fire. As I’m very partial to tails, I decided a spread tail, like fox’s, no point at the end and in red hot sequin eyelash was the way to go. Once the tail was in, I began talking to the gown, calling her my Crimson Fox.

Then I began thinking about mood swings, and the need for the cooling effect of fans, so I began changing things up a bit.

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Crimson Fox and I love, love, love “The Hot Flash” and want it to be a Web Series.

So visit the Web site The Hot Flash

Or follow on Twitter @the_hot_flash

Or on Facebook Facebook

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

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

Dream of Love

On March 9, 2013February 26, 2018 By ResaIn Floral, Romance161 Comments

Did you ever design a gown about falling in love, and dreams of romance?

Well I did, because “love rules”!

So it makes total sense that my “Art Gown” #5 has been inspired by Imelda Evans of Wine, Women and Wordplay. Imelda is an author, and her first novel out is an EBook romance, “Rules Are For Breaking”on the “destiny Romance” label.

Having read the book, the first thing I was inspired to do was make 4 dozen silk organza flowers in shades of Mango.

To prevent fraying, I cut strips of true bias in five widths (2-6 inches) then made squares.

I fan layered 4 squares of the same size, ran a large hand stitch through the center to give me a point from which to pince, twist and secure with a few hand stitches.

Each flower came out different. I used a wired organza ribbon in green to mock leaves.

I saw the flowers on a black velvet gown with a cut silk velvet asymmetrically draped, creating subtle lines.

When the gown was finished, I had to ask it a question about Imelda.

“How did Imelda feel when she found out she was a 2012 finalist in Australian Romance Reader Awards”?

Of course Dream Of Love had a direct quote.

“In answer to your question, my initial reaction to being a finalist was shock. I truly got chills. It honestly had never occurred to me that I would be on the list. So when I came across my name and my book, at first, I hardly believed it.

I closed my eyes and opened them again. Then I scrolled up to the top of the page to make sure that I was really reading the list of finalists. Then I went back and looked again.

Then I went back onto facebook and found someone I knew who was online (it was quite late) and got them to confirm that I wasn’t hallucinating. And through it all, my skin was clammy with the shock.

Since then, whenever I think about it, it has made me so happy.

I know my book isn’t the best book of 2012, but to be someone’s – anyone’s – favourite anything is so humbling and delightful. It is so encouraging! I can’t please all of the people all of the time, but if I have pleased even one person that much, I’m very, very happy.”

Well, I’ve read Rules Are For Breaking and if you love love the way I love love, you might want to read it, too.

Love,

Resa

♥♥♥

“Art Gown” Dream of Love designed by Resa McConaghy – March, 2013

All photos taken by Resa McConaghy – March 2013

Test shot of "Dream of Love before she was finished. — Test shot of “Dream of Love before she was finished.

AS “LIKES” DID NOT TRANSFER TO MY NEW BLOG, I TOOK A PIC OF THEM.

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.

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

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