Candy's a dedicated garment and home dec home sewer, with a big interest in the couture. I've been ordering books on that topic for her and of course we got to talking. She has stopped in several times with finished objects to show me. Her sewing machine has high-end embroidery capability and her imagination has been soaring. This is a woman who is making that embroidery capability work for her in all kinds of ways, and is constantly experimenting with ideas and technique. She has certainly opened my eyes. Machine embroidery is far more than monograms and cartoon characters on children's clothes.
One jaw-dropping project after another....
I had my camera ready one day when Candy stopped in with some samples of her work. This is a sleeveless wool dress with bodice and hem insets made from an ombre denim with subtle sparkle, closely matching the wool in color.
Candy embroidered motifs in a matching color on both bodice and around the hem, some areas making use of a wing needle--so subtle, so lovely. It's hard to see, but the tucks on the skirt and and the edging of the insets make use of decorative machine stitches that so many of us have on our machines, but so few of us use. (That's a lesson for me: move away from that straight stitch once in a while.) This is a one-of-a-kind garment, for sure.
I'm considering making some fabric and ribbon flowers to accent my daughter's wedding dress. Candy has quite a bit of experience with ribbon flowers and brought in some examples of her work to show me.
This below is a pink linen dress, with a bodice covered in ribbon roses. Some of the flowers are made from sheer ribbon, some from ombre-toned ribbon, some from solids. Candy worked to flatten the flowers, to give an antique-y look.
These are apron-like panels strewn with a great variety of ribbon flowers.
This is a belt covered with ribbon and beaded flowers. Candy made this after seeing a photo of a similar belt accenting a couture dress. This piece is just breathtaking--the photo doesn't do justice. Lots of inspiration here--crocheted, beaded, and ribbon flowers sing together in this piece.
Below, a beaded floral neckpiece, simply exquisite in its workmanship.
After a visit from Candy, I'm no good for the rest of the day. Most of the sewing I do is quilting--quite far removed from couture, and garment sewing, and fancy embellishment. Totally different. But seeing this creativity stimulates my own. My brain perks with ideas and all I want to do is sew.
And I can't wait to see what goodies Candy will bring in to show me next.
4 comments:
What gorgeous stuff. She is a master seamstress. I am in awe!
Wow! Candy is a very talented seamstress - how fun to get to see her creations! Thanks for sharing with us.
Very impressive. I particularly like the machine embroidery on the wool dress. My machine is very basic and does not have much for decorative stitches. However a new one is not on my list. There is no room, anymore, in my lifestyle for such fancy clothes.
Wow! Great work! Hmmm, I need your help on something could you shoot me an email? I need your help with something really special. Thanks.
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