Thursday, July 31, 2008

Show me your form!





Welcome to "Show Me Your Form", hosted by Tiffany at Shabby Scraps~

If you don't have a dress form, make your self one with duct tape! I've always wanted to do this. Instructions here!

These are my "double mint twins".
They are both vintage dress forms, one was my Grandma's, and I acquired the second one later.




I've used them for various projects and eventually want to display my costumes and vintage clothing on them in my parlor, bedroom, and craft room.



Currently one is wearing a vintage pearl collar, a lamp shade carcass, and on top of that my 15" Franklin Mint Vinyl Scarlett doll's wire hoops for her costumes. I have to store them on something round, and for now this fits. However, Miss Scarlett actually has doll dress forms of her own! Here's one featuring the Blue Mill Dress,
MVC-104S


The other twin is wearing my unfinished red staircase robe from Gone With the Wind. All she needs is the friggin' sleeves sewn on (which are sitting on top), but as you may have seen in my last post I have to learn to use my new sewing machine first.

I made this from an exsisting vintage robe. It zips up the front. I didn't want real velvet as I actually want to wear this garment as an every day housecoat. It had regular sleeves and I cut them at the elbow, and tried to get that draped sleeve effect as much as I could with the fabric I cut off. I think this will work out perfectly, because having the really large draped sleeves like the real robe wouldn't be practical. I long to wear this Christmas morning, so I must conquer my machine by then, lol!

Here is Scarlett in the staircase robe~




Closeup of fine lace and netting behind it~


A rare sketch of Walter Plunkett's original design for the robe...

My robe as I found it on eBay.


I sewed the lace and tulle on by hand. I wish I could afford fine lace and net!

A shot before I cut the sleeves off.
What is a staircase robe without a staircase?
That is my doll's dress form and red robe on the post.



I also have a torso dress form.

I like to use it for vignettes like this one I did for Valentine's Day, see all of my heart necklaces?


Displayed on the form is an antique velvet waist from the 1870's. It is the MOST LUCIOUS velvet ever. They certainly don't make things like they used to. I believe it to be silk. Here is a slideshow featuring it on yet another form made of wire. You will also see a bustle gown from the period which the waist would've been worn with. The peice used to be heavily beaded. I wish I could've seen her in all of her glory.

Here is one of my prized possessions, an antique period gown from 1910. It is made of aqua moire taffeta. Beautiful tissue silk draping, pearls, lace, and faux flowers. It has some repairs to make at the shoulders, but other than that she is in excellent condition~sans a few pearls here and there. It has steel boning and an attached silk petticoat. These are old scans, but you can see more details of the gown in this slideshow.

1910 moire gown



1910 moire gown with petticoat

I musn't forget to show you Scarlett's "Shame" gown. I think it's my favorite. Here it is in the works.

Shown with train fabric pinned on

I love embellishing pre-made dresses.

Here's what the dress looked like before. I got it for $25 on eBay. Ripped off the sleeves and added the stones. The train is just pinned in the pic, need to sew that and add feathers and she's good to go. It's more red than the film version but that's ok for the price!

My cheap $25 ebay version, only more red

"And put on plenty of rouge, I want you to look your part tonight!" She's so beautiful here,

shame gown bodice2



Wow, this post is getting much to long! I shall try to simplify it somewhat, lol!
The twins have helped me with my Drapery Dress and Jump dress too.


NOTE: let me tell you that many of these photos are taken in rooms before they were redone. (We're redoing our 100 year old home). So you'll see boxes and junque everywhere. It's slowly getting better! My craft room is full of all of the stuff we had to move out of Nova's room when I found out we were expecting! His room was to be used for storage for a while... not any more!


Here's a shot of the "Jump" dress from Titanic. I embellished a prom dress to look like Rose's gown. I added a tulle underlay, beading, rhinestone buttons, and cut the overskirt at an angle. You can see more in yet another slideshow here!
pinned up overskirt to add beaded tulle


The "Drapery" dress I bought on ebay. I had to take it in 6 inches, and redo the collar and sleeves. Thank goodness I had those twins!!


Collar and sleeve torn off


YES! That's Kevin as Rhett! I cut and colored a wig for him, made him shave, and dyed his brows and mustache. LOL! I even bought him a pinky ring, *snort*


If you're still here and you're not saying "ENOUGH already!" then you can see more pics in this album.


halloween2006 008


NikViv compare


Kevin before morphing into Rhett. HEY! If you squint hard enough you can see my mannequin in the background, along with one of the twin's torsos on the floor with Dorothy's dress on!


Kevin before morfing into RHETT


halloween2006 012


When Scarlett gets tipsy so does her




I'm sure I could bore you with more, (such as Rose's Tea dress from Titanic), but before I go I'll show you a pic of my mannequin. She's kinda spooky, and about 7ft. tall. She was nekkid, but I threw this vintage plastic apron on her for now. Like her "Rose" wig?



Then I walked around the house with camera in hand and was surpised to see how many other little dress forms I had.




My newest addition to my GWTW collection. Kevin's cousin surprised me with this.

Thank you Vickie!


Tiffany, I hope this helps your husband to see how much these gals mean to us. Thank you for hosting "Show Me Your Form". Nadia is a true gem of a find, enjoy her! I look forward to meeting Miss Kitty.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for sharing! How can this not help my husband! He HAS to see I am not crazy now! YOu have a lovely collection, I hope you enjoy meeting Kitty!
xoxo, Tiffany

La Tea Dah said...

Totally awesome post! I enjoyed ALL of it!

LaTeaDah

Anonymous said...

OMG you are one talented lady. All of them and there dresses are just Beautiful!!! Loved all your picture's. Have a wonderful day.

Kathy

Lallee said...

I knew you'd have a great show today and you did not disappoint! I think the 'shame' dress is my favorite too. You make the best dress form of all ;-)

Hugs,
Lallee

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

You do have some lovely dress forms. I really like them. BTW, I think you like Titanic items. I posted earlier this week my Titanic candy bowl. You might enjoy seeing it.

Saucy said...

Oh missy, you and I could be great friends. I am currently embellishing a pre-made "jump" dress from Titanic, although it won't fit on my Clara, she's too "full-formed" (she gets grumpy when I call her big-boned)... right now on my blog she is modeling another rather famous "outfit" from the same movie. (Hint: one size fits all)!

Unknown said...

You have some very nice dress forms. I've got a mini one, too for jewelry. I love all the scarlett references. Lovely dresses, too!

blessings said...

I love, love, love how you did your photo like scarlets photo. So cool!! And the dress forms are pretty scrumptious too. Blessings... Polly

{oc cottage} said...

Woooooooooooooooooooowie!


M ^..^

ROSE VINE COTTAGE said...

I can't believe you make all your dresses! You have such a talent! I love the pic of your husband dressed up~so cute!
Hugs~Kelly

Maija said...

Those dresses are stunning!!!!

Nerissa Alford said...

WOW! What a great collection. Thanks for coming over to visit my blog. It's nice to "meet" you!
Nerissa

MJ Ornaments said...

Amazing dress forms, and you look just like Scarlet!
~Martha

Anonymous said...

Too funny about the duct tape, I ran across the instructions & was thinking about placing it into my post as well. Just didn't go in that direction.... love the forms.. and the beautiful dresses. xoxo, Joanna

Life on the Edge said...

This was a really fun post! You are just awesome with a needle and thread! I love how you take exisiting vintage dresses, or even that bathrobe, and come up with those incredible dresse!

And how cute are you and hubby in your Gone With the Wind outfits! He is really a dear to let you turn him into Rhett Butler...on the other hand, who could resist Rhett? Bet it just made you want him more!

I am beyond impressed at your talent!

Kady

Karen ~ Cider Antiques said...

What a lovely 1910 gown you have! I can certainly see why it is your favorite. I love the green velvet too!

Such a lovely post!

Karen at Ciderantiques (sorry if those post appears twice)

cherished*vintage said...

Wow, I can't get over all the beautiful dresses you've created! You are so talented!!! Thanks for sharing.
-Karoline

Elisabeth Grace Foley said...

Oh, my goodness! Your Gone With the Wind dresses are simply gorgeous!

Rue said...

Good evening Katie Scarlett ;)

I'm soooo jealous of that robe! I've always wanted one like it. I don't think it would work with the dog hair that floats around though LOL

Your dresses and forms are amazing!

hugs,
rue

That Crazy Ajumma said...

Wow!!
You and Kevin looked so amazing in your outfits!
I don't think my hubby would dare such a thing...lol.
I love all your dress forms.
My mother in law is giving me one..yay!
I have the stand so far but the rest is in her attic.
My hubby,I think is dreading crawling up there.

Jaede said...

That was such a beautiful post, you are a clever girl. And Kevin was a good sport for shaving.

Brittany said...

Love this post!! I am so showing it to my mom!! She creates dresses. I want the "drapery" dress!!

I could never EVER convince my DH to dress up as Rhett!
xoxo,
Brittany

Harbor Hon said...

Oh My! You and your "Rhett" look so stunning! You've got the gift and both of you got the look just right. Glad your husband squinted his eyes, it gave the persona more oomph. Thanks for sharing. xxoo

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

Hi Nikki! Wow, I have spent an incredible amount of time today perusing all your past GWTW posts ~ 11 of them!! This one is my fav because it has so many pretty gowns in it, all the awesome dressforms you have (I also have a passion for dressforms) & I just adore the pic of NikViv!! Such an incredible likeness. The red party dress of shame is one of my favs, too, & I have always loved the Blue Portrait Dress that she never wore on film. Had such fun viewing the Halloween party you two went to & all the wig swapping that ensued!! I gotta go eat lunch, then I plan on "stalking" your blog again & visiting some of the girls that you say make the costumes for your vinyl dolls!!!!

Big Big Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

Samantha P. said...

Ironically enough I'm watching Antiques Roadshow when I come across your blog. Hold on to that very rare Plunkett sketch! It sales at auction anywhere from $3000-4000! Love your Scarlett dresses, Gone with the Wind is my favorite movie! Hey, have you seen Scarlett by any chance? It's a two part series that picks right up at Melony's funeral. I think you would enjoy!