I really wanted the title of the post to say "DONE!" but I still have 1.5 hours of sewing left on the SW Mission Tank which is cut out in an ivory silk crepe. I can finish that up tonight when I get home...and finally my SWAP will be done.
But this last dress is F-I-N-I-S-H-E-D. It almost made me cry uncle several times because there is 8 hours of beading in this dress. I lost the lace for the lining of the dress and spent a precious hour looking for it only to find it on the cutting table.
please forgive the rug but it's standing in the hallway
waiting for me to empty my bedroom and lay it down!
The sleeves were made on Sunday evening but Monday I discovered that I cut them too long...so tonight they were recut, the lace reapplied and then once I started beading the first sleeve, I realized I didn't have enough beads. So it had to all be unbeaded and rebeaded using the beads in a wiser fashion.
To say I'm tired is an understatement...I've worked on this dress for 10 hours today! But it fits and looks lovely on...sorry but I only have close-ups and a hanger shot for you. Do you want to see it? Well here goes:
The dress in the pattern does not have a lining...but since I made mine from a linen/silk blend there was no way that it wouldn't be lined...and I added my signature lace to the hemline of the dress because it deserved no less:
3 yards of black lace @ $3.98 per yard from M&J Trimmings
It took three days to get all of the beading done. I also added a touch of piping at the front neckline to "finish" it off.
Beads and beading supplies (thread & needles)
from New York Beads Inc - $28.85
The navy linen/silk blend was from Fabric Mart at $9.99 per yard - I used 2.5 yards for this dress. And the blue rayon bemberg lining was purchased from fabric.com at $6.99 per yard.
Even if I don't win the SWAP contest ~ this dress is priceless because of all the techniques I used on a simple McCalls dress that turned it into a knockout....wait until you see it on...
I'll probably post one more group shot of all the pieces prior to the photo shoot but right now I'm off to bed...I'm one tired cookie and I have to work tomorrow!!!
71 comments:
Wow, that is definately a knock out dress and can't wait to see you wearing it, you will look divine.
This dress is lovely. All of your hard work really paid off!
Oh, Carolyn. It is beautiful. You outdid yourself, really. I heart it big time.
The neckline and sleeves look amazing! The beading of course is what really stands out. The piping is subtle, but I think it does a lot to make the beaded area look even better. What a good idea.
Congratulations! the beading along with the different fabric textures looks fantastic. Great job!
Rose in SV
I hope you are sleeping well! The dress is fabulous. Embellished but not overdone - just right!
Carolyn, this is stunning. You have such great ideas! The beading is beautifully done and I love the piping edge. You really know how to turn a pattern into your own design!
Love it! It is absolutely a knock-out dress and you should be proud of how it turned out. The beading is fab and I truly can say that I know how much planning, time and work hand beading can be.
So gorgeous! You have such amazing talent. I just love reading about and admiring your work.
Well done! It is lovely. Hope you slept well after that.
Stunning! No one will ever believe you made it- it is so lovely! Congrats- worth the time and effort.
This has been a real time-consuming job, but look at it as a 'labour of love'. It's a stunning dress! Very, very special.
Enjoy wearing it. (Hope to see a picture of that one day).
WOW! Beautiful, I can't wait to see a picture of you wearing it. You inspire and motivate me.
You're right, it's a knockout! I hate when the universe conspires against me & the finish line like that though. :) Glad you persevered! Can't wait to see it on you!
Beautiful work!!!! Laura Bennett would be impressed.
Beautiful dress. I can't wait to see it on you and your group photos.
It's not a knockout, it's a home run with runners on every base!!! Just gorgeous. I can't wait to see it on you. Congrats!
Gorgeous! I can't wait to see it on!
This is the reason I don't do SWAP contests:
"Even if I don't win the SWAP contest ~ this dress is priceless because of all the techniques I used on a simple McCalls dress that turned it into a knockout...."
If I put all that work into a dress, and didn't win, I'd be disappointed. And there would be no reason to be disappointed because I'd have a knockout dress! I'm just not evolved enough to enter a contest.
However, I'm glad YOU entered because I get to be inspired by your fantastic dress!
Wow! Hand sewing and I do not get along so I'm doubly impressed.
This is so lovely. I especially love the neckline. The piping was the perfect extra touch to highlight everything. A designer dress!
It's wonderful. I've beaded two prom dresses and know your pain. It's always worth it when you're done. At least this isn't a one time wear dress.
Fabulous! What a great dress. The embellishment is terrific.
Beautiful !
Love it. An inspiration.
Corinne
Cute love the details on the sleeve. Great job.
Love that dress! The beading is so worth it!
Absolutely stunning!
This dress looks terrific. All the hard work paid off, it's amazing!
This dress is wonderful. Your beading is so much nicer than what is shown on the pattern. The piping seems like a small touch, but it really sets things off. Looking forward to seeing you model it.
Barb
ABsolutely beautiful. It's a stunner!
gorgeous!!!! it looks amazing :-)
Oh my goodness, it's BEAUTIFUL!
Beautiful work! The beadwork is terrific.
Absolutely gorgeous dress. Well worth the work. I love the beading detail and the use of the textured fabric as the background for the beading. Here is my "Go Carolyn, Go!" cheer as you sprint for the finish line on your SWAP.
Absolutely gorgeous!
That is one impressive dress!
This dress is beautiful! You truly have the gift of vision. You turned something ordinary into the extra-ordinary!Dawn
I like the balance of the materials used they play each other well for those reading sorry definitely (correct spelling) definately (wrong spelling) am a spelling person - thanks
Bee-you-tee-ful!!! You inspire me to find a great TNT and stick to it, exercising creativity in fabrics, embellishments and design details.
You've got my vote based on this dress alone. Very impressive, I love it.
Wow Carolyn! That dress is gorgeous and it looks worth the tears!
Wowser, Carolyn! This is a beaut! I love, love, love the beading. Maybe I'll see it on you one of these days...
You did a fabulous job on the dress..
Lovely!
Beautiful! I love the different textures of the fabrics and beads, and suble color variations. Perfect! I hope you get to wear it a lot.
Looking forward to seeing this on you, it looks beautiful!
The beading is wonderful. Quite a couture piece.
This dress is fabulous! The beading may have been a pain to do but WOW, it just makes the dress so unique.
You dress is just lovely! Great job as usual.
Wonderful details! It will be fabulous on.
Way to go!!
Wow, this is absolutely stunning. RTW quality. No, better than RTW quality. Congrats on putting all the work in and getting such a great finished project. It is a truly wonderful piece.
That dress is smoking.
Gorgeous dress, well worth 8 hours of beading!
I love the beading! Such a fantastic job!
Great, great dress! Definitely worth it all the work.
What a wonderful use of textures and beading. Your dress looks terrific.
I don't know how you manage to do it time and time again. I looked at the pattern when you posted it and couldn't figure out what you were going to do with it. It is gorgeous as always and you look wonderful in it. Enjoy it and wear it in good health!
Beautiful, just beautiful. That is one really nice dress. Enjoy wearing it.
OUTSTANDING!!!! That's a show stopper! WOW!
Absolutely Gorgeous!
OMG, gorgeous! I love the beading. Congratulations on finishing the SWAP!
Congratulations. You look smashing in your new 'woo hoo' dress.
Wow!
I know I am late to the party here, but that dress is absolutely stunning, and gorgeous on you as well. It is certainly something to be proud of and the time and effort that went into it have made it special.
The beading looks great on this. congratulations on finishing your swap!
The beading is beautiful!! Awesome job! You look fabulous in it!
It looks so good on you. It fits you so well.
Whoa- hello, gorgeous! Nice work- love the details :)
Gorgeous! Absolutely stunning dress.
And congratulations on finishing the swap. Looking forward to seeing the pictures your friend has taken.
Such a wonderful yoke and neckline to complement overall impeccable work. A beautiful dress.
That one is a stunner. After all of the work you put into it, I'm really happy to hear that you love it - you are positively beaming in that picture! :)
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