I Am My Own SuperHero.

Ever since I was a little girl, there were a few people that I considered 'superheroes'.  These include circus performers, The Bionic Woman, Pippi Longstocking, and pretty much any woman who can sew clothing.  All my life, I've placed these people on a pedestal.  Lately I've crossed a few things off my bucket list.

I can ride a unicycle like a circus performer.  

I can run without getting winded like the Bionic Woman.  

I sleep completely backwards in my bed and wash my floors with sponges tied to my feet a la Pippi Longstocking.  

Now I can say that I have also successfully sewn a garment too!!  No kidding!  I've looked at patterns many times in my life, and just really get lost and confused in them.  I've always been better at doing my own creativity thing.  I've been deeply enjoying fibre art.  I've looked at wearable art before, but never really connected with it.  It was always a little too out there for me.  I don't resonate with abstract and shock value.  I like pretty and I like familiar.  All that changed when I saw the December 2010 cover of Belle Armoire (art to wear magazine).  I squealed with excitement when I saw this.

Shortly after this, our guild announced the 'Making Waves' biennial quilt show.  I looked through the list of categories and when I saw 'wearables', I signed up.  I thought:  

WHAT IF 
I 
ENTERED 
A PRAIRIE DRESS?  

OMG can you imagine!?  The image of what I wanted just instantly came to mind and I was entirely smitten with my idea.  A Prairie Dress was waiting to be created.  I dreamt it up.  I sketched it.  I looked at dress patterns that somewhat fit my idea.  I made my fabric.  I completely altered and re-edited a pattern template to my own specs & style.  I built that dress.  I did it!!  I Am My Own SuperHero!

A Prairie Dress

the front

after a little more embellishing (pencil crayon!)

I added the white the night before the show, and I'm glad I did.  It's perfect!  I really made my imagination come to reality.  I'm so impressed.  (Is it okay to say that?)  See all the sparkle!?

the back

This dress features loops, ties, hooks & eyes, my first ever zipper, boning, princess seams, a train, pleats, darts, piecing, applique, machine quilting, decorative stitches, free motion stitching, hand embroidery, beading, machine couching, hand couching... can you believe it!

The details.  I will post a bit more about the process in a future post.

This outfit even includes folded fabric if you counted the shoes (yes: SHOES!) that I upcycled to go with the dress.

Knock Your Socks Off!

I`m sure this is pretty out there for many of you.  I am so very pleased with it.  It was a real labor of love.  It's my Art-to-Wear... and I will wear it!!

: )

linking to Celebrate Color!