curiouser and curiouser

two years of planning, narrowed down to a furious 24 hours of sewing time.

okay, i lie. but you know i’m a liar. i can’t be trusted. the truth is, 1 time two years ago a thought briefly crossed my mind. i blogged it.

then i didn’t do it, and i didn’t really think about it much.

it took this week’s project run and play theme of “movie inspired” to finally push me to be able to cross another dress off my list of “movie dresses i’d like to make someday”.
and because i’m nothing if not a Grade-A Champion Procrastinator i waited until wednesday to start sewing.

what? it’s like my own personal project runway challenge. when i don’t win i have guinevere kiss my cheeks euro-style and say “auf weidersen”. a girl can dream, right? i’ll be honest. the hardest part is creating all the drama and tension by myself. i have to side-eye elliot and accuse her of trying to steal my designs. let’s face it—reality tv loves a good hissy fit, and i aim to please.

anyway--

it’s done. and prepare yourself for PHOTO OVERLOAD…OAD…OAD…OAD (that echoes in a dramatic and slightly nerve-wracking way) because this dress?

HARDEST.

THING.

EVER.

PERIOD.

.

ready?

it’s not JUST that this was a difficult set of fabrics to work with—pale blue chiffon (slippery slippery) layered over a richer blue taffeta (more slippery slippery).

it’s not JUST that the construction of this bodice—which i self-drafted—contained piping, princess seams, an illusion neckline, lace, pintucks, faux rolled hems, smocking, front snap closure with a faux placket and eleven carefully hand-sewn buttons (HA! remember, i’m a liar! those buttons are glued baby. but the rest is true.)

it’s not JUST that the skirt was made of six different sections, plus a waistband, with the bottom tier edged by a hand-drawn design to mimic the embroidery of the original (seriously—2 1/2 hours to do it with a fabric marker! and i used the templates so generously provided HERE. she DID embroider her version of the dress—and it took her seven months. SEVEN. i can almost make a baby in that time.)

 

and it’s certainly not JUST that across all versions of “alice” there’s a few constants—one being her hair. and so there was a very specific look we were aiming for from head to toe for this alice.

no. it wasn’t JUST any of those things—it was ALL OF THEM. and more. are there things i’d do differently? yes. am i going to do it again? nope. am i in love with the final result?

AB

 

SO

LUTE

LY

PERIOD. ;)