Monday, March 15, 2010

making a newspaper dress.....

It sounds strange I know, but I have always wanted to do it and I am kinda strange anyway...The main thing is, I want it to be a wearable paper dress, the real deal....I could do an artful paper dress easy...give some hot glue and interesting bits and I could go to town...Sewing one is harder for for me to accomplish. So that is what I am working on...A Spring dress out of newspaper....The first step is to make your newspaper fabric...I meld newspaper into muslin with a whole lot of water, (lots and lots) a little modpodge and then I use dynaflow fabric dyes randomly to color it.....








I let this dry overnight and then start cutting and sewing....I am making a halter dress with a full skirt...Kind of like Marilyn Monroe's dress..you know the one over the steam vent.....I am kind of winging the pattern..I can't follow directions anyway, so I figured why try? I looked at some pictures to get inspiration..Tonight I had enough fabric to do the bodice....I like it so far, I really do....





It will have a back piece connected to the skirt and then a zipper....A zipper scares the you know out of me...I have done one zipper in my life and I don't remember how....But I am going to suck it up and be a brave little seamstress and try...Not that I consider myself a seamstress by any means...
I have big plans for the embellishing...on the bodice where the top crosses I am going to make a big paper rose and then along the bottom of the dress, I am going to paint or stamp big vanilla roses...I might do some kind of tulle underskirt too, but we will see....I have more newspaper drying upstairs so I should have the skirt cut out in the next few days...more to come on this endeavor...
Tomorrow on Fiber Art Traders there is another blind challenge...this time it is three days...The last one was five days and my piece was on Quilting Arts Online....(I didnt send it in fast enough to make the magazine...)It also sold to a collector which was pretty exciting...I have the babies and kidlets tomorrow but I am going to join in anyway...
Tell me what you think of the dress thing, I would love to hear from you!

19 comments:

Julie Harward said...

Crazy! It looks really cool...what are you going to do with it? What a challenge, but it looks like you are doing it! Come say hi :D

Jen xo said...

well i think it looks sensational,i hate putting in zippers too..
i will have to find a link to the paper dress challenge last year online.cant wait to see it finished. we used to make a half a dress in pattermaking from tissue and staple and stick thenmm together.had to everything done properly , collars turned and pleats and gathering!
the blind fibre arts woul sbe wonderful too...i was looking at those recently....

LINDA BYLSMA said...

Very Project Runway! The process is intriquing. Looking forward to seeing the finished product, modeled by YOU.

Unknown said...

wow Melinda, you amaze me every day with the things you make, you are not afraid to try nothing, i love that about you. i think the dress is going to be awesome and i can't wait to see it completed.

Pat said...

WOW....that is really something else! I can't wait to see the rest of it. You are really creative and brave, too....I'd be afraid to attempt this.

Joanne Lendaro said...

That is so cool!! You are so creative! Can't imagine the zipper being a problem for you...I'm pretty sure you will be able to work it out!! WOW!!

GardenOfDaisies said...

Fun! this is going to be beautiful!
I think they did do this on project runway... maybe it was a couple of seasons ago.

Debby said...

How cool is this? I love it so far.
Debby

Trudy said...

What a cool project. It looks awesome so far.

Trudy Callan
Coordinator for The Artistic Mother's Art Group
www.artisticcreationswithtrudy.blogspot.com

Little Lady Patchwork said...

WOW! Can't wait to see the rest of it.

Margaret said...

Oh my, this is just wonderful! love your starting point pic and to see the way it's come together, I can't wait to see your embellishments! Super cool! Margaret

Needled Mom said...

It sounds fascinating. I love the technique and can't wait to see it finished.

Tamerie Shriver Halliday said...

Love the colors! I can't wait to see the finished dress. I want you to take a picture wearing it! As for the zipper, I think they are easy to put in, but this is about you! If you baste it in first, it would be easier to get it in the right place without slippage. I always sew the piece shut, sew the zipper in, then open the seam back up. It works perfectly every time. I KNOW you can do it!

Hugs,
Tamerie

Jeanne Turner McBrayer said...

I think you should apply for Project Runway. So creative! The top looks great so far.

Jody said...

I'm totally in awe!! Can I be you when I grow up?!?

Laurie said...

What a fun project! This could lead to a whole new career for you! Seriously, I love the colors you chose. Very you.

JennaLouiseCreates said...

The colors are great and I love the style. Can't wait to see the embellishments! You are so inspirational!

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

Oh how cool!!! Can't wait to see it finished! Marva

peggy aplSEEDS said...

the first time i visit and what do i find? a newspaper dress?! well, this is really interesting. i've got to follow you! :-)