I could not be more thrilled.
Reuniting With Old Friends: A Night to Remember with the Poynton Male Voice Choir
I’m whirling around with GLEE! Pop over and read about Charlotte’s night with the “Poynton Male Voice Choir”
Tag: Gown
Charlotte Models Midnight Nightingale: Part II
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.
Charlotte Models Midnight Nightingale
Soprano Charlotte Hoather models “Midnight Nightingale”, and interviews me.
I’m thrilled with how terrific “Midnight Nightingale” fits Charlotte, and I’m over the moon 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.
BONUS
Charlotte made a wee video with a few pics and her splendid voice!
The gorgeous shots of Charlotte in the gown were taken by her brother Matt.
The Gift
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!
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
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.
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
The Sad Café
The lush visuals and vivid sensations created by “House of Heart” ‘s Sad Café series have captivated me. One night, while listening to live music, I began drawing from my mind’s eye album. Holly picked prose & poems to go with the drawings.
I’m awakened by far off laughter drifting through the window of my flat above the Café. From there I can see the cobblestone streets filling with nighttime partiers dodging snow drifts piling along the curbside. My watch reads ten o’clock. Sinking slowly into a warm bath I rinse the scent of smoke from my hair with lavender soap. My skin smells of yesterday’s perfume mingled with the haunting presence of strong cologne and the sweet scent of sweat and rope. At the mirror I brush my hair and pull it back with a silver plated comb, slip into smoky seamed stockings and a clingy black frock. Making my way past the crowded bar I slide into my usual booth at the dark fringe of a deserted corner. I order a glass of red wine and wait.
The room is stifling with
deflowered souls.
The sad café tends its ghosts
but we are more than grateful to forget.
There are no secrets among these
desolate lovers disfigured by life.
We inhale circlets of smoke
that linger in the air and taste lips
dripping desire.
The night arches its back
to drunken angels so we dance
below stars that meet us halfway.
I’ve been here forever
hidden in fantasies,
dimly lit rooms where
moonbeams caper blithely
on the river Seine.
All of my memories are strangers
that come and go.
I want them to know
the smokey purple of lunar tides,
the bittersweet of Rose red.
They linger beneath lamp lit streets,
shadows on tiger paws.
I remember you
beside that serpentine
river of eels and smoke and lovers.
Your secrets held captive
inside a closed heart,
coaxing stars pressed
up against the sky.
Do you think of me?
I am still here where walls
ring with silvery mirth.
I am your souvenir,
a shadow of a woman
in rhinestone heels
A street light blinks off and on. At the window a moth relentlessly scours its edges in search of a way out.
Parting a juicy plum I lick the nectar from my fingers. Like sweet memories the pulp is delicious on my tongue. Beating its wing’s against the glass the moth falls exhausted to the sill, like my eyes.
I remember you. The sun slipping through your teeth. The ghosts of lovers, like birds, peering from behind your eyes, flaying their wings unable to escape.
Drawings © Resa McConaghy
Poetry & Prose © Holly Rene Hunter
Ashlie in Jade w/ Jimi and Jim
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
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.
Belle Grâce – A La Gala
Robin needed a gown. It was time for ECAD, The Explorers Club Annual Dinner in New York City.
Robin emailed me via my website. She had been searching on line for an interesting gown source. The message read, “tell me more about your gowns”. Robin was enthralled by the fact they are made from: reused, repurposed, new old stock, etc. materials.
Included in the mail was her purpose, phone and other info which made it super easy to check her out. She was a valid contender to wear an Art Gown. After a personable phone conversation, we decided on Belle Grâce.
To review Belle Grâce, or see her for the first time click on her pic below.
My judy is built for someone who is about 5’6″ & a size 6. Robin is 5’9″ and about a size 10. No worries! The Art Gowns are built in components: top, skirt, tail & often a bussell
First thing was to detach the tail. Who could walk and dance an entire evening in an Art Gowns tail?
Belle Grâce stands in a pool of handkerchief hem. The great thing about Robin’s height is the handkerchief hem was now enough off the ground that I merely had to tie overhand knots in the longest points.
We decided she would need to wear a strapless bra, so I designed a strap across the back to cover the bra’s back. A second thin strap was added for extra support.
By the time the beautiful and vivacious Robin returned for her second fitting, I had converted Belle Grâce’s tail into a stole. Skirt hooks and bussell snaps had been repositioned. Back straps had been built and positioned. Knots were tied in the handkerchief hem.
WHEN ROBIN PICKED UP THE GOWN I ONLY HAD TO PERFCT BAR PLACEMENTS IN THE BACK.
TADA!
Robin Brooks is an elected executive of the Canadian Chapter of The Explorers Club. She is the regional director for Ontario/Nunavit. Click on her pic below to view the page.
To check out The Explorers Club (established 1904) click on the pic below of Robin tripping the light fantastic.
Thank you, Robin! I am ecstatic.
What’s Your Fave Biker Song?
Dahlings!“Get your motor running” by posting your fave biker, freedom feeling or road trip song in comments.
While you think of your fave song, here’s one of mine!
We’ve also got the AGMs on the catwalk in Biker Inspired Gowns. Under the stage lights, her famous palazzo pants chopped, is RB, Art Director extraordinaire.
Thank you Rene! I’m lovin’ the feelin’ of freedom, and the gowns are outta sight! AGM Dale, our concert’s Maitre’d Mama, is on the runway. In a “Heavy metal thunder” gown with gauntlets, she has a message.
“Yeah darlin’ gonna make it happen”! Put your fave freedom riding song in comments. BUT, we don’t want the browser crashing.
Good to know! Oh, if you mess up, Art Gowns will fix it up!
On her way to the “Lookin’ for adventure” awards is AGM Holly. Resplendent in thigh high boots, metal studs & disparate arm bands; her dainty skull evening bag hangs on steel chain.
In a mesh t-shirt under a skin-tight’n’tailed gown with velvet boots & accessories, we have Marina about to “Take the world in a love embrace”.
“Racing with the wind”, RR is back in a wardrobe change. Her gown’s skirt will look like a hurricane flying off the back of a motorcycle. Take it away Rene!
“I like smoke and lightning” and that’s what it was like going to the “AFA Weekend Concert Series”.
However, Frank is at the beach, but he has given the go ahead for Art Gowns to pick up the music where he left off. He reminds:
He also sent us this song.
“In whatever comes our way” AGM Gigi can kick start her ride in these hand crafted biker boots, the perfect augmentation to her bad ass gown & snake tattoo.
Shey will lure you in with her amply ruffled fish tail gown. Adorned with heavy duty zips & decolletage trimmed with black nails, she evokes – “Born to be Wild”
RR wears the perfect wedding dress for a club house ceremony ! Hop in her sidecar, as she “Explodes into space”.
Dahlings … Don’t regret the ride you didn’t take! Race the rain! Leave me your song!
RR & Princess Blue Holly characters © Resa McConaghy & Holly Rene Hunter – since 2019
(except Poison, from Frank))
Visit the AGMs on their blogs – Holly – House of Heart * Gigi – Rethinking Life * Marina – Art Towards a Happy Day * Shey – Smexy Historical Romance * Dale – A Dalectable Life
Visit R.B. – Lady Budd
Motorcycle beauty shots © Timothy Price – Off Center Not Even
The Last Drive ~ John W. Howell
The sequel to “Eternal Road” once again has Sam and James traveling through time in a 1956 Oldsmobile.
Sam (Samantha) is an Angel Emissary. Her current mission: Find Ryan, a recent soul and his guide, Eddie. They have gone missing. Lucifer is suspect for their disappearance. To aide her on the mission, she wrests James from his eternal home.
DISCLAIMER: There are no gowns in this story, per se.
Resa – John, I drew Sam as her angel self. I mean, when she’s not out on missions, she would be in her angel wear. I hope you approve of the drawing. (I don’t see wings)
John – I love Sam’s Angel self. I think it is exactly what she would wear around the cloud so to speak. She doesn’t have wings so that was a good call.
Resa – To me, Sam is the star of the 2 books. I mean, if the books were a movie, I think Sam would have top billing over James. Ryan and Eddie are co-stars. What do you think about that?
John – Yes, Sam is the star. She is the glue that holds both stories together. James could be a co-star and Eddie and Ryan featured players.
Resa – Also, now that I’m into drawing Sam, I got an itch to draw her in a mid 70’s style casino gown. Yes, I know she never wears one when they go to the Bellagio, but she could, in a time warp thing. I can’t remember if she wears one in the previous book, when they go to Vegas?
John – In the previous book she did not wear a casino gown but I know she would love one. I think if they had had the time she would have insisted on getting one. Sam can be anywhere she wants at anytime.
Resa – I like that! Sam’s main ace up her sleeve is time eternal.
Forever, Sam’s seven letter word falling across a triple word score, as she, James, Eddie and Ryan attempt to outwit their underworld opponent, the biggest cheater this side of Niflheim aka hell.
Speaking of hell; John affords no comfort as Satan tries to trick Sam, James, Eddie and Ryan, by placing them in some of the most horrific times and places man has ever known. The price of a ticket back to paradise? Ryan’s soul!
Resa – I know you worked out most of the time travel mechanics in the first book. The idea of not disturbing the “time continuum” I get. I learned that in the old Star Trek series. However, there are many other time travel issues, in both your books “Eternal Road” & The Last Drive.
Did you make a chart, when working things out?
John – I do not have a chart on the time travel rules. The basics are pretty simple. You cannot alter the future when in a different time period.
Resa – How did you figure/rationalize the logistics?
Was it all worked out in book one? Or did you have to work out some new time travel ideas & issues in this book?
John – The issues in the book were handled one at a time given the circumstance at the time. For instance if James or Ryan tried to save Karen after she was hit by a car then they would have altered the future. In the same manner if James and Ryan stayed at the scene as witnesses the same thing would happen.
On the time travel question every scene in The Last Drive was worked out on it’s own. Figuring the logistics took some thought but the rule about not disturbing the future was the guide.
For example the team considered that they should try to save the people on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania. The rationale that the intended target (The Capital ) was never hit was used. All those lives lost had repercussions on families left behind so to save them would have altered those repercussions. This is how each was thought through.
Resa -I see you can obtain an object (ie cell phone) in one time frame, then take it to another time frame.
Could Sam obtain a piece of fabric from ancient Rome, and take that to Las Vegas? Then could she obtain a dress from Las Vegas and combine the fabric and dress into one garment? Then could she wear that garment in another different time and place? Or, even combine that with say jewelry from that third place? Could this go on ad infinitum?
John – Sam can haul anything from zone to zone as long as she can get it before the dump to a new zone. She can’t haul stuff from heaven but the zones are fair game.
Resa – John, I’d like to post this on “Art Gowns”, but need as many gowns as possible. As you can see I have drawn Sam in: an Angel gown, a Las Vegas gown, A Roman Colosseum Gladiatorette gown, a Tea Time on the Titanic gown and a 1912 Ball gown.
John – You are the best, Resa. Thank you for what will be a beautiful thing.
Resa – I listened to a podcast that featured you. It was quite good. Some asked about a sequel. I ask what about a prequel?
John – A prequel is a great idea. You’ll hear another idea on the broadcast that may have legs too.
John turned to writing as a full-time occupation after an extensive career in business. John writes thriller fiction novels and short stories. He has written 7 books.
To read more about John’s books and awards, click on his photo.
All of John’s books are published by Keewaydin Lane Books.
Visit John on his BLOG
Click on the cover of “The Last Drive” to go to John’s Amazon Page.
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