Did any of you go to the Hobbycraft showat the NEC back in November? If you did , did you see the Fashion Show? It is stunning display of outfits made from materials that you use for your crafting. Origin Publishing and Create and Craft who sponsor the event get girls from Inkberrow College to model all the outfits (the girls even make some of them too).
Just a sample of some of the amazing outfits made from paper, card, fabric, lamp shades, rubber stamps and all manner of craft materials.
My costume was entered into the Rio Carnival category and I took butterflies as my inspiration. A lot of drawing, sampling and laughter later, my sister in law Gill Gryers (who is an expert seamstress) and I came up with the costume we called “Borboleta” which is Portuguese for butterfly.
The lovely Steff models the outfit. She is really tall, and struts with attitude!
The fabric is organza, the skirt has a tutu of brown net under the organza panels.
This is my lovely sister in law Wendy modeling the head dress for me. you can see the “body” of the butterfly down the middle. This was made using central heating piping insulation tubes (as was the harness for the wings). The curlicues made use of garden wire wrapped in fabric and Friendly Plastic. The helmet part of the head dress is made from Friendly Plastic re-coloured with pigment powders, and the wings on the head dress are organza, garden wire and FP.
3D butterflies adorn the wrists and bodice, made from Friendly plastic and organza.
Altogether a rather full on costume. We did use a flesh coloured leotard underneath for modesty sake. The search for a flesh coloured body or leotard caused a few problems when we looked on line to locate one; you would be amazed at the sorts of sites the Google came up with. At one point Gill was terrified she would have the police knocking on her door for viewing unseemly web sites!
The good news is that we won our category and the costume went off to the CHA trade show in California in February where it was the finale piece and apparently was a show stopper. I hope someone will let me have some pictures of it on the runway as unfortunately I could not be there to see it in person.
Hello Liz
Thank you for your comment on my blogsopt.
Your projects and all you do are an inspiration. I have had FP in my craft stash for about 18 months and have only just decided to use it. I m finding it is very versatile but needs lots more practise, any excuse to sit at my crafting table.
I shall add this site to my favs and check back.
Thanks once again Liz
Kind Regards
Jinny
Hi Liz,
How lovely to hear from you and read your blog. The pin you have designed is beautiful, I’m sure that was a very moving event.
I had a great time at stitches with you and the “team”, my head has been whirling with idea’s since I got back, even started to draw some designs so its obviously done something to give the creative urges a bit of a kick!! Phew.
I’m really glad you have become a fellow blogger, and look forward to keeping up with your wonderful work.
Take care Liz, and hope to see you soon,
xxxx
Leonie
Liz this is truly wonderful.
I have long held an image of myself wearing a very long, flowing, outrageous, fp coat as I attend art and craft fairs. Unfortunately when the making and selling season presses down on me these fanciful ideas go by the wayside. At the very least though I could make a tiara!
You do great work. So nice to see fp used well. Congratulations on your wins at the two events! Hopefully next time they’ll spring for a ticket so you can attend the California show!
All the best,
Katie.
Hi Katie, Leonie and Jinny,
Thanks for taking a peek, it makes me feel part of the blogging community. I am glad you like what I do. Isn’t it funny how we all admire what others do, and want to do a bit of it too. When I saw Leonie’s creations at Stitches, I wanted to have a go, and I always want to try out the stuff that goes on at Graphicus. You must all be doing a good job of inspiring people. And Katie, a tiara sounds perfect for your FP sales events. Sorry it took me 3 years to find you!
Liz
Hi Liz thanks for commenting on my blog and inviting me over to yours. Woweee you do some amazing stuff with FP and that costume is to die for.
I’m a friend of Jinny’s so that’s how i found you, but i will definitely be back.
xx
Hi Liz, I’ve visited your website, and it says you are doing a workshop at the Betroot Tree on 30th March. but when i went to their site it didn’t mention you. are you still doing it.
Thanks Margaret for your lovely comments. I feel priveleged to have been involved in it all, and to have met such truly selfless people, it was an experience that helps me to remember that the human race can be wonderful.
Wow Liz – it’s fabulous to see your garment – love to see it in the real and good to see you are blogging. Another exciting visit for me I can see.
Cheers
Dale
Hi Dale,
Good to hear from you. The blogging learning curve is steep, so I shall keep an eye on your blog to learn a few tips!
Liz