labricoleuse | Shibori projects, part one!

I've been pretty busy this past week, working on some hat mockups for Pride and Prejudice (which, i might post some photos of later...dunno if mockups are very exciting viewing though?) and spending evenings over at Duke working with Basil Twist on puppetry and other effects for their production of Ionesco's Exit the King.

My dye class students are about to turn in their first big surface design project, which is shibori yardage.

"Finger sandwiches"--clamped shibori samples pre-dyeing
(Artisan: Shanna Parks)

This multi-process piece was first ombre-dyed in a yellow/green/blue range.
(Artisan: Sachi Denison)

This began as a 60" x 108" piece, and is now the size of a doormat.
(Artisan: Katie Anderson)

I can't wait to see how these turn out, once the students do their dye processes! I'll have photos to share on Tuesday of the finished works.

And, because folks always enjoy them, here are a couple of half-forms from period pattern class, another set of 1920s fashions:

Right: jacket and underdress by Jacki Blakeney Armit
Left: Lanvin evening dress by Amy A. Page

Another full-length view

detail of jacket and research image

detail of Lanvin bodice

The Lanvin dress is really an unusual, atypical silhouette for the 1920s, with the fairly natural waist (as opposed to the prevailing fashion for dropped waists of the time) and the full springy skirt. Amy's really applying her dye class knowledge in this period pattern project--she dyed all the silk organza in the half-dress and the ombre effect on the ribbon trim! I love the covered button medallion garniture, too.