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Rose Poem of the Past:
This life that we're a'livin' in
Is mighty hard to beat,
You get a thorn in every rose,
But ain't the roses sweet!
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The rain drops were still on the roses when I photographed them today. I liked these old fashioned tea roses, and have seen a lot of paintings of the same, which I will post later in this sewing series. I have been trying to share how a seamstress can get ideas from different sources, such as a cute cottage, a beach, a rose garden, or even a pair of shoes. These were on sale at Wal Mart for $10.00. I had not bought shoes in a long time, but these were so pretty, I took them over to the fabric department and matched them up to this fabric...
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...and made this dress with it
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The roses were so pretty, I felt I should dress up for them. The most popular pages in this sewing series has been the Hawaiian Dresses, so I made this up to look somewhat like them. The light green shawl is just a piece of cotton fabric, hemmed all around, and it was really needed in the cool of the morning. After wearing this style for awhile, I think the Hawaiin dresses come close to being one of the most ideal dresses to wear. They are cotton, cool, loose but still shaped, and they are so colorful and comfortable. I gathered up the hem at each side, with a gathering stitch, shown close up, below:
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A clearer photograph of the dress on a dress form will be posted soon. Please click on the roses for a larger view of the rain drops.
In a Garden of Roses
by Ford Madox Brown (British: 1821-1893)
Study of Multi-color Roses
(French: 1855-1911)
Click on the artist ame to read more about him.
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15 comments:
These shoes have perferations all around the upper part, which gives so much cool comfort in hot weather, and the padding in them is very comfortable.
Lovely roses and a lovely dress too.
FlowerLady
Oh, what beautiful roses. And, you have such great sewing skill. Can't wait to see the dress on the form.
What a useful, sensible and beautiful way to use your creativity. Great job. Love Linda
Lovely flowers--lovely dress.
Looking forward to seeing your sewn garments.
S.
I have been side tracked by corn and other things that need immediate attention, but I think I can get just as inspired by corn, as by roses, to sew. Look for a new post soon, as well as addition pictures on this post and the Hawaiian dress post. Look for these updates today sometime. Thanks for viewing, everyone. Someone in another post commented on the darker colors being beautiful. They are indeed,if they are long and not too skimpy. You can take the same dark colors, such as the blue in the over-skirt of the Shepherdess, and put it in modern wear, and it will look dull and non-descript, and masculine. Make it up in a skirt or long dress and it is beautiful. The light on long clothing that has a lot of drape in it, appear more beautiful, even if it is brown or gray or denim-blue. There is a way of designing called "draping" that you can learn, if you want to create beautiful clothing. There are some websites that offer books or lessons on the art of draping. It is the way to get an idea of a garment, then use it as a pattern.
earth colors are just beautiful, but they look terrible when the design is masculine for girls. Sitting at a bus stop hiding under a brown hooding, wearing tight faded jeans with torn cuffs and a huge belt, is spooky. If you take those colors and do something feminine with them, it makes all the difference in the world.
I was in a fabric store and saw so many beautiful colors and prints!! NOw that autumn is here, the shades are intense and rich. Yet, not one woman in the store was buying to make a dress. THey all came in their dungarees and trousers, and I felt that the designers had got us all where they wanted us: completely helplessly dependent on them for clothes. All that beautiful fabric, and not one glorious dress to be seen. Some attempt had been made to use a pattern and makle a dress displayed on a dress form, but it looked like an office dress in the color of the cement steps. Still, I was not discouraged. I spent an hour looking at the fabric and picked a piece for a dress. I think many women would LIKE to wear dresses but they are too short and they feel uncomfortable. If the stores had real dresses , women would buy them.
I have seen those shoes at Walmart but didn't have time to try them on. Now that I know they are comfortable, I will go back. I love this dress, it did remind me of the Hawaiian dresses. But just for the record, my favorite in this series has been the Pink Dress!!!! =)
The Hawaiian dress is finished, and placed in the Hawaiian Dresses post. I will try to get a photo of me wearing it sometime.
That just looks fantastic. I love the Hawaiian idea.
This dress, and the Hawaiian one, are very lovely. I truly love pink and other feminine pastels, but in all the looking at fabric I've done since this series started, I have not been able to bring myself to buy any of those candy colors.
I'm simply drawn to chocolate brown, denim blue, deep grass green, even black prints. As I already have a substantial stash of these colors, I'm going to go ahead and get them stitched up, with aprons and cotton muslin slips to boot!! Maybe in the spring I'll try pink. I think my practical side just cringes at the thought of muddy paw prints on pretty pink, or garden mud, or chicken muck.....I just feel like I want/need the darker colors for my work at home.
I've noticed too, that I look at women's accessories in a much different way now: instead of lusting over the latest in purses, belts, etc.....I'm all interested and thinking about handmade baskets for gathering eggs and garden produce, aprons for keeping dresses clean, beautiful shawls for keeping shoulders warm, and knitted handwarmers and socks!!
Your series has been so inspiring and yes--LIBERATING!!
Thank you.
I did leave a comment earlier that the paintings of peasants of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries showed them in the browns and blues and sturdy fabrics useful for the outdoor farming life. I pointed out that in spite of the supposed "dull" colors, the fact that they were in skirts and pretty blouses made a big, big difference in the the beauty of the garment. Put the same colors in jeans and hoodies and there goes the beauty and the femininity. The way the light shows on a fabric when there is more gathering and folds or length, makes it completely soft looking and very elegant. Scroll down to the paintings of peasant women and men and click on some of the links for more paintings, and you will see what I mean. I have not recommended any particular colore here. I have shown what happens with any fabric or color when it is made into a dress or a skirt.
That dress is beautiful!!!! What's the pattern number? I have had some trouble finding modest, pretty dresses. Thank you
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