New Project....Shabby Bride

I have taken on a new project for the New Year. I have promised myself that I would try to accomplish something that I feel is not obtainable to me. Something that is out of my reach. My daughters gave me some inspiring items for Christmas and I feel the need to act on the feelings that these gifts have opened up to me.
It is funny because this new project will include only old things. I want to create something new out of something old. I decided to make a wedding dress for a submission to a magazine challenge. I hope I can complete this project, lets just say it is not about the dress.
This is a picture of the original dress. I found it in an antique shop and it was not in real good condition but just right for my project.


I wanted something vintage but also wanted it to be grungy and torn and in its own way very beautiful. I want the hanging threads and raw edges, that is what life is all about. I started by ripping apart the original dress. I tore off the sleeves, and all of the lace and netting on the bodice. I left pieces here and there to get the feeling that I wanted.


I had a fun day dyeing to get the perfect vintage color. I had three large pots on the stove. One was tan one was pink and one was color remover. I dipped and plunged the pieces of the dress repeating this process until I had the color that I wanted.





I started with all of the pieces freshly dyed and dried. No iron for me I love the wrinkles it is part of the dress design. I cut a large amount of the fabric from the skirt and started to make the ruffles.

I want this area to be filled in with a soft and beautiful suprize. Lets think about the bride in the front of the church, it seems we see her from the back for the entire ceremony. I felt like the back should symbolize the tiers of her life ahead of her and there are going to be many aspects to this new life.




I will be posting more of this dress in a few days so you can see the progression.