In Amore Veritas

29 Apr


How many ways are there to say Thank you?

© Resa McConaghy

© Resa McConaghy

Lots!!

Inspired by WordPress friends, I made a pencil sketch to do so.

Thank you dearest Robyn from THROUGH THE HEALING LENS for being my muse/model for this pretty sketch that is my Thank You card. Robyn’s graciousness is just a small part of why she is so inspiring to all of us who follow her.

UnknownYes I know I sure took my time (months for some) getting around to thanking everyone, but I still want to show my appreciation.

Yes, I know I don’t post my Awards on my sidebar. wordpress-family-award-1

I’ve been trying to keep it as clean as  possibles  so “Art Gowns” for Charity can be noticed and hopefully do some good.

For nominating me for Blog Awards (& other things) I thank:

Alexandra at Worldly Winds -Blog of the Year (and a coffee party invite I didn’t get to.) She has a book of poetry recently released, “Tipping Sheep (the right way)

Carolyn at ABC of Spirit Talk – Blog of the Year (and for a coffee party invite, and many other WP social events I have not had time to attend) and ReBlogging Ballroom Lux..

Eunice at Nuts For Treasure – Blog of the Year and more recently, Word Press Familyimages and her Reblog of THE HOT FLASH – Crimson Fox.

Lori  at Poetry Patio – Liebster Award – I’d also like to Congratulate Lori for her poem in the current issue of “Four and Twenty” short form poetry Volume 6 Issue 4, and for her ongoing success with “Barn Door” where you can see some very beautiful pics she’s taken of Roses.

Kitty  at Dear Kitty – Liebster Award & Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Hodan - Very Inspiring Blogger Awardvery-inspirational-blogger

Stefan  at  Maxima – Reality Award

Imelda at Wine, Women and Wordplay for ReBlogs, “Art Gown” Tweets and “Rules Are For Breaking”

Boomie for all the “Art Gown” ReTweets and a beautiful New Years Shout Out!realityblogaward

To Everyone who has ever “Liked” or “Commented” or “Followed” THANK YOU!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Artist: John Kuna

Artist: John Kuna

 A very extra extra special “Thank You”

To the most beautiful niece in the whole entire world, Sherrie at Pain in the Peg

Thank you for all the ReBlogs, not to mention you are one of my very few best friends and the most awesome Driver/Partner in Crime (especially for Muralling)

Look Sherrie! N took me for a ride yesterday and we found this Mural. It makes me think of you, darling.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Sketching Robyn for my Thank You card was a lot of fun. In the end I used a simple scan of the pencil sketch, but not until I tried other things.

As every experiment was an attempt at a card for all of you, I thought you might enjoy the creations.

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THE HOT FLASH – Crimson Fox

11 Apr

Did you ever design a gown for a real life Super-Hero?

Hot2b

It’s nerve wracking, isn’t it?

My 6th “Art Gown” goes out to Wendy Anderson who portrays Nealy Gone, a chronic wallflower, who at 50 years old embraces the heat and changes of menopause to become an ass-kicking Super Hero, The Hot Flash

The gown to be was screaming “I’m hot! I’m red! I’m satin!”

So, I went with it, and draped a classic body shape with a modern bodice on Judy.

Hot #3

Hot #4

I used French darts to shape the bodice.

The back was a lot of sexy fun.

Of course in reality the bodice would be heavily corseted.

Both sides of the center front, the French darts and the back’s 3/4 panels would all have to be boned.

Then I needed some fire. As I’m very partial to tails, I decided a spread tail, like fox’s, no point at the end and in red hot sequin eyelash was the way to go. Once the tail was in, I began talking to the gown, calling her my Crimson Fox.

Hot #6b

Then I began thinking about mood swings, and the need for the cooling effect of fans, so I began changing things up a bit.

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Crimson Fox and I love, love, love “The Hot Flash” and want it to be a Web Series.

So visit the Web site The Hot Flash

Hot #1

Or follow on Twitter @the_hot_flash

Or on Facebook Facebook

Hot #11

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Dream of Love

9 Mar

Did you ever design a gown about falling in love, and dreams of romance?

Mango #6

Well I did, because “love rules”!

So it makes total sense that my “Art Gown” #5 has been inspired  by Imelda Evans of  Wine, Women and Wordplay.  Imelda is an author, and her first novel out is an EBook romance, “Rules Are For Breaking”on the “destiny Romance” label.

Mango #2

Having read the book, the first thing I was inspired to do was make 4 dozen silk organza flowers in shades of Mango.

Mangoflower #1 To prevent fraying, I cut strips of true bias in five widths (2-6 inches) then made squares.

I fan layered 4 squares of the same size, ran a large hand stitch through the center to give me a point from which to pince, twist and secure with a few hand stitches.

Each flower came out different. I used a wired organza ribbon in green to mock leaves.

I saw the flowers on a black velvet gown with a cut silk velvet asymmetrically draped, creating subtle lines.

When the gown was finished, I had to ask it a question about Imelda.

Mango #1b

 ”How did Imelda feel when she found out she was a 2012 finalist in Australian Romance Reader Awards”?

Of course Dream Of Love had a direct quote.

“In answer to your question, my initial reaction to being a finalist was shock.  I truly got chills.  It honestly had never occurred to me that I would be on the list.  So when I came across my name and my book, at first, I hardly believed it.

Mango #3

I closed my eyes and opened them again.  Then I scrolled up to the top of the page to make sure that I was really reading the list of finalists.  Then I went back and looked again.

Mango #4

Then I went back onto facebook and found someone I knew who was online (it was quite late) and got them to confirm that I wasn’t hallucinating.  And through it all, my skin was clammy with the shock.

Mango #5

Since then, whenever I think about it, it has made me so happy.

ARRAImelda #2

I know my book isn’t the best book of 2012, but to be someone’s – anyone’s – favourite anything is so humbling and delightful.  It is so encouraging!  I can’t please all of the people all of the time, but if I have pleased even one person that much, I’m very, very happy.”

IMG_33411234

Well, I’ve read Rules Are For Breaking and if you love love the way I love love, you might want to read it, too.

Mango #10

Love,

Resa

♥♥♥

Test shot of "Dream of Love before she was finished.

Test shot of “Dream of Love before she was finished.

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Blue Venus

16 Feb

Did you ever feel like sculpting a gown, but marble and clay aren’t materials you work with?

Venus #1e

I faced that exact conundrum when designing my fourth “Art Gown” which is inspired by Robyn  from THROUGH THE HEALING LENS

Robyn’s Photos combined with her poetry are soothing, loving experiences.

Venus #2

When I asked her about color, she replied that she loved earth tones, and blue like the sky. I also thought of water, as many of Robyn’s pictures are from the beach.

I found a piece of stretch fabric that made me think of deep blue water.

To keep with a sculptural art theme, I stretched a two-piece sarong reminiscent of a 1940′s glamor cut over Judy.

Venus #3

I then began draping a piece of fabric I found in Affordable Textiles, a store on Queen West, pretty close to Qe.

When I saw it on the bolt, I blurted out that it looked like a sky with clouds. At that point the proprietor informed me that I was looking at the wrong side of the fabric.

Venus #4

Draping in the spirit of ancient Rome or Greece was a lot of fun.

Using the wrong side of the fabric, I split it lengthwise, divided one of the lengths into thirds then slashed up for about 2 feet.

 I braided the thirds into a front strap, and did the same for the back.

As an amateur photographer, I rely on natural light. I wanted a sunny day to take the pics of Blue Venus, so the sky with clouds effect would be perfect. The sun peeked out only a few moments. I did my best, and over exposed when things got too, dark.

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Well, that’s my Blue Venus. Thank you Robyn !

I think I’ll say good-bye in Black and White.

Venus #12Venus #13

Venus #3b

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Ballroom Lux

29 Jan

Did you ever design a magic gown that seemed to light itself?

ABC #1

Well, this “Art Gown” inspired by Carolyn from ABC of Spirit Talk turned out to do just that.

I love Carolyn’s “Reflections” and she has been a joy to me for almost a year now.

When I realized she enjoys Ballroom Dancing and loves a Waltz, I saw flowing white swans.

After she told me gold was a favorite color, I saw this modern fabric called Liquid Lamé. I decided to combine it with the most delicate of traditional white netting, shimmered and dotted with gold. Would these diametrically opposed fabrics work together?

ABC #2

As usual, I began by draping the bodice. The ruching down the center back took about 30 pins to hold in place. I was thrilled with the outcome.

I draped the underskirt in Lamé, added the over-skirt in net, and took a making of shot. I repositioned Judy, and shot the front. It was then I saw the dynamics of light with this creation.

ABC #3

I took off the over-skirt, threw a sash around Judy’s waist and made the tails into rosettes. I shot the gown in this state then re-attached the over skirt, and shot some more. Here’s what happened.

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It’s incredible what the gown revealed. Sometimes the net even looked like clear plastic.

“N” said if the pics were in black and white, it would look like it was from another era, another place in time.  I couldn’t resist. Sure enough, Carolyn’s gown is not only lux magic, it is lux mystic.

ABC #12

Carolyn’s gown welcomes us in one place then says farewell from another.

Much like Carolyn, her gown is divinely enchanting!ABC #13

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Graffiti Girl Glam

17 Dec

Have you ever felt like painting a graffiti mural on a beautiful gold lamé gown, then shooting it in the alley beside a mural?

IMG_982912

Well I have, & it is inspired by all the ephemeral art my eyes now see around me.

So to thank  Eric Vandersteenen, Director & General Administrator and Monique Deveen, Artistic Director & Main Photographer of the Free Tag Zone network  for introducing me to a new passion, my second “Art Gown” is an FTZ Tribute Gown.

Graffitiglam #11

As this is a Tribute Gown to FTZ, I have included all of the FTZ network sites in the graffti art I have painted on it : Voyage en éphémère, Graffs en Capitales, Graffiti Art on Trains … and Around, Le Kosmopolite Art Tour à Louvain-La-Neuve (2012), When Resa Meets The Murals Of Winnipeg, Street Murals & Art in Resa’s Toronto and A la découverte de l’art éphémère à Bâle …

Graffitiglam #2

Of course, I needed a gold lamé gown to paint on.

So I basted a crinoline onto Judy , and draped a bodice.

The bodice has inverted waist darts set at a dramatic angle.

Graffitiglam #3

Then I gathered 4 meters of lamé over the crinoline.

I basted the skirt to the crinoline.

5 centimeter wide straps were attached to the bodice, and crossed in the back.

There was extra fabric which I draped into a tail. I just love gowns with tails.

FTZ gown #2

Graffitiglam #5

Draping  the gown took only a few hours.

I figured, I would have it painted in no time at all.

I gave myself 2 part days.

Three weeks later, I was finished. I hadn’t figured on my lack of painting ability, and the time it takes paint to dry!

Here is the result.

Graffitiglam #7

Graffitiglam #8

After a week I began talking to her.

Graffitigam #9Her proper name is Free Tag Zone, but after awhile, I started calling her Freeta for short.

Graffitiglam #10

Check out the  KAT  on the cross straps! KAT features Monique Deveen’s divine work at Louvain-La-Neuve.

Graffitiglam #14

I really love this gown, and could not stop taking pics of her.

Well, my tribute to FTZ is over, but ephemeral art lives on!

Kisses to you Eric, Monique and everyone who is part of making  FTZ   such a wonderful experience!

Graffiti glam #15

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Strawberry Kisses

25 Nov

Did you ever wake up in the middle of the night and feel like designing a gown?

Well I have, and I totally understand how you feel if you have.

Most recently I’ve thought of gowns as an art form.

I could paint on a gown, or use exotic media (toilet paper, banana peels or my old venetian blinds) to build a gown.

I could write someone’s poetry on a gown.

One recent night I decided an “Art Gown” should be like music.

Live music floats into the air then disappears forever.

Why not a “Performance Art Gown” that I drape on my Judy then take the pins out and it’s gone forever?

Before I take the pins out, why not photograph and name it, like a song performed live,  recorded and enjoyed in the future?

I tremble as I pull Judy out of the closet.

I drag out my stash of fabrics, and make a fabulous and colorful creative mess.I begin pinning away.

I like what I’ve started. However, I see that if this gown needs all this tulle underneath, it isn’t as free flowing as I’m thinking for my first “Art Gown” Post.

I decide to finish this gown later. (I since have and it’s awesome!)

I discover a gorgeous piece of red silk Jacquard that I had forgotten I own.

It’s 6 Meters long, 45 inches wide, and it is stunning.

I immediately think about Boomie and her poetry. I’m truly inspired and name the gown I am about to drape “Strawberry Kisses”

I cut 8 inches off the bottom of the piece of fabric. This is to make a waist band and bow.

Without cutting into the fabric, I drape it continuously over and around Judy.

After about an hour, I end up with a softly pleated halter top gown.

 Boomie , this “Art Gown”, gone forever like a song played live, is for you.

“Strawberry Kisses”

It is backless and cinched in heavily at the waist. That fact that the yardage remains uncut, gives the dramatic swoop at the hem finished with a tail. I love it!

AFTERMATH:

As I clean up my colorful mess, I think about the fun I had designing Boomie’s gown. I feel like an artist. I think of more and different “Art Gowns” I can design for inspiring Blog friends like Carolyn at ABC Of Spirit Talk, Robyn Lee  at Through The Healing Lens or, Imelda Evans at Wine, Women & Wordplay.

Of course Sherrie, my driver, will need a chauffeur gown.

The list goes on like the beat in a song.

SUMMATION:

I wish everyone’s life could be like a gown, long and beautiful!

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