All things eerie and wispy have been the order of the day here for some weeks, with a request from the Dance Teacher at our school for ethereal and wraith-like Victoriana style costumes for a Contemporary dance item this year. Sort of Miss Havisham-like, as I mentioned in my post here.
Remember Miss Havisham? She was the bride left at the altar in the classic novel, Great Expectations, and many of the great actresses of our time, have played the part with varying degrees of success, over the decades. Miss Havisham spent the rest of her days in decay and despair, pining for her lost love. Our brief was for a troupe full of Miss Havishams.
Materials were sourced including dresses in muted neutral hues, cobwebby yarn, ribbon, sequins, pearly buttons, tulle, silks, satins, chiffons, georgette and French script 'love letter' style fabric.
Mixed fibre bodices were fashioned using these elements and some trusty embroidery stabiliser. We loved the cobwebby look the yarn lent to the embellishments.
Rosettes were made utilising three strips of toning fabric, gathered at the base and hand stitched into simple rolled roses, which were then sprayed liberally with water and ironed with a pressing cloth, to flatten. These were attached as elements of the bodices, or as bustles on the backs of dresses and skirts. Wispy trails of shredded tulle, silk, satin, chiffon and French script created a great effect in motion.
A Highly Commended was achieved by the girls for this dance item, placing them sixth in a field of nearly 30 groups. No mean feat!
The costumes are now carefully packed away, a tribute to the hard work of a special handful of Mums.
Please note: I have had technology problems in the last fortnight, leaving me without computer or phone, so all posts and linkups were impossible. I'm looking forward to a return to my normal routine as of next week. Thankyou for your patience.
...Mimi...
