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.

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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.

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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.

Some Great News To Share

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