Class: Parasol presentations!

[labricoleuse]

My Decorative Arts class presented their parasol projects today and i have some lovely photos to share.



This fully-lined 8-panel cotton-canopy parasol by undergraduate Lily Peiffer
was inspired by Asian paper parasol designs.
Note the braided cord closure harness.



First-year MFA candidate Samantha Coles made this 7-panel ruffled parasol,
using a 19th-century frame, and both figured cotton and moire fabrics.
It is fully lined in the red moire.


Detail view of moire lining.



First-year MFA candidate Kaitlin Fara Smith created this fully-lined
8-panel cotton-canopy kaleidoscope-effect parasol.


Full view of same


Detail view of the spike finial, which Kaitlin made from stained, turned wood
and finished with an upholstery nail for protecting the tip.



This fully-lined 10-panel mushroom-canopy ruffled parasol
was made from crosswoven silk taffeta by second-year MFA candidate Shanna Parks,
after a research image from a Victorian fashion magazine.


The canopy is trimmed in velvet ribbon, and prior to assembly,
Shanna completely restored the antique frame, which features a hand-carved handle of
wood and horn and brass spike finial.


Closeup of brass finial.

I'm so proud of all my students! Such amazing, lovely work on these!

And, i guess i'd be remiss in promotion if i didn't note that if you'd like to learn to make parasols like these, buy my book, which is (as far as i've been able to find) the only extant resource on the subject.

Comments

[vanessa-lynne.livejournal.com]

Those are all so lovely. I'm hoping to get your book around Christmas.

[ladycelia.livejournal.com]

Some day I'm going to have the spare cash to get your book.
Your students do beautiful work. Good work, teach!

parasol frames

[(Anonymous)]

Im ordering your book, but my question is:
Where can you buy the frames? Or does your book have instructions on how to make them?
Thanks!

Re: parasol frames

[labricoleuse.livejournal.com]

That's a good question, and unfortunately there's no easy answer.

No one i've found sells really good quality parasol frames. The ones from costume and wedding places are all fairly flimsy. You can buy good-quality modern umbrella frames and make new canopies, and switch out the handles if you like. For the theatres for whom i do parasols, i shop antique frames on eBay or flea markets--usually the ones with rotted canopies can be easily fixed.

The book explains how to repair broken frames in a variety of ways, too. It doesn't explain how to make the frame from scratch, because nobody really sells all the components separately. However, using the book as a reference, my students have rebuilt old frames to the point of replacing all the ribs and switching out handles, so it's not beyond therealm of possibility to do major overhauls on them!

[(Anonymous)]

Wow, you should be proud indeed, and so should your students! I especially like the kaleidoscope, it is so artistically and precisely pieced together... I never would have thought that fabric would be something I'd like, but the effect is stunning. But they are all gorgeous.
I have bought your book and found it very useful. Thank you for making your expertise available to people who do not study this professionally, like me! I am just finishing my second parasol, using modern frames for now and adding vintage/antique handles, next time maybe I will be brave enough to use a vintage or antique frame.
I am finding out the hard way the "costume" parasols I bought to "train myself" on are poor quality indeed, the catch spring on the first is already not working after just finishing it! The bottom part of the spring pops out instead of the top part, as it should. Is there a way to fix or replace that? I'm thinking strong epoxy glue...

[labricoleuse.livejournal.com]

I don't know that i can suggest a method without a visual on what's wrong, but if it is something that you think might be repaired with an adhesive, i have had great results with epoxies on metal-to-metal bonds! Thank you for the wonderful compliments, and good luck with your parasol-making!

[twilatee.livejournal.com]

Hi! I found your journal on accident... and am glad I did. :) I was wondering about the ebook format of your book... I love ebooks. Have you seen your book on a kindle? how are the pictures? are there any? Should I just buy the paper back?

I hope you don't mind... I added you as a friend. Seems like this is my 2nd time finding your journal. The first being when you found my spoonflower tennis bustle dress fabric.... I bought the paper back BTW. :) Tangible proof of your awesomeness.