Challenge # 9

The Erte' Challenge

This has been one of my favorite challenges, since I am primarily known for my costume and fantasy design, this challenge was more to my talent and my love. Erte’ has long been one of my very favorite illustrators and artist. I did have a few books on Erte’ in my personal library which made my research a lot easier.

After studying his design style I discovered many design elements I was in love with. More than I could possibly include in one design, so I weeding out the best which was quit a task for myself. I knew from the first I would NOT be designing a wearable contemporary garment that was removable. So I took a lot of liberties that the other home designer’s would not be taking. In my mind it was not to win but to create a design that I would really like.
One of Erte’s strong design elements is Asian. The kimono sleeve is evident in a lot of his drawings and I knew this would be something I wanted for my design too.

Another interesting thing he does a lot is continuing or merging one garment element to evolve into another such as my skirt hem becoming my kimono sleeve. There is so much going in Erte’s drawings you have to really dissect each one and study it closely.
The next element I found most intriguing is how he folds one fabric into another and slips a panel into the next intertwining, flipping, folding and lacing fabrics and panels together. I did some of this too. By folding back bodice pieces to revel contrast fabric at the neck and an unusual angled point under the arm, as well as the contrast lining on the skirt showing as the back of the sleeve element.
When I completed my design was compelled to do some beading…. which I have all but abandon during the DollWay Projects (due to time restraints). Beading is so much fun and is to me therapeutic. I can sit quietly and watch TV and bead. So I did do quite a bit of beading on this garment which in my mind helped to support the overall finished design.
This was a fun challenge and reintroduced to me Erte’ which I have always thought would be a great muse for fantasy doll designs.

So another challenge down and only one more to go. This was one that I really enjoyed

I did not win this challenge Jason did and his design was a awsome!! See....

You can see all of the At home designers entries at...Alexandrars Blog

http://alexandrasragtime.blogspot.com/

(Dot's and my doll together)

As always thanks Ted for the opportunity to strut my stuff…

At Home Challenge #8

With out a doubt this has been the most challenging exercise yet for me. Most who know me, know me for my costuming and fantasy. The Fashion Royalty girls are very realistic and sophisticated and want real looking detail clothing. The doll has very large breast and a tiny waist so fitting her was a night mare, for me.
The challenge was to create a center piece garment in a new collection for the FR line. With the Designers point of view – not Jason’s (who is the dolls creator) but ours!
The collection is call “joie de vivre” or the Joy of Life. With the centerpiece set titled:”Clair de Lune” or Moonlight.
I have completely OVER thought this challenge to the point of madness and not wanting do anything AT ALL. But I started this journey and I am going to complete it.

(this is the truest color of the fabric)

My first thoughts were Joy.... what makes me happy...or joyous.. my kids.. well that wont work! Ahhhh... yes... leisure time... vacations so my thoughts turned to how I could fit that into my FR challenge.
I am thinking a cruise.. Romantic moon light strolls on the deck with the blue Caribbean water reflecting the moon. I pursued for about a week the idea of a sporty white outfit with accents in Caribbean blue... I imagined the ocean breeze blowing across the model with her scarf blowing freely. This took on a simple nautical feeling in white and blue. My first idea was to create a dress with pleats all in white very full to blow freely like the scarf. So I drafted the pattern and began my execution. This doll is hard to fit.. I had to abandon my design I could not get her to look good in it or fit this design well. After all that pleating on white fabric I dumped it! White was wrong anyway I lamented to myself. Joyous but no moonlight... hmmmmmmm....

I had found some delightful print Caribbean blue sheer fabric for my scarf. It is yummmmy.... nice hand and flows well. The color will read very blue not black yet strong and dark. Ok, back to my thoughts ... romantic stroll on the deck of a cruise ship.... Somthing smple and elegant, I know how impossible it is to create a ruffle on a doll this size to look good but the design in my head called for just that. That meant I was going to have to “Natizi” my fabric to do my bidding.

The thing I have most enjoyed about the Dollway journey has been that I am stretching myself as a doll designer. I am trying new stuff each challenge that I may not have before. I have been manipulating the fabrics with my steam iron on almost every challenge so I have dubbed my manipulation as “Natizied”. Dum I know...

I spent the best part of the week end working on this dress I DO NOT want to carry this over to the holidays and scurry around before the deadline to finish.

After Christmas:
OK.. I know I said it but... it did not happen. So I am scurrying around trying to finish before the dead line. I can say she is MOSTLY done ..yea...
I did complete my design on time. But I am afraid all I did was what I jokingly dubbed to my doll friends as a “Pretty Dress”. And I do believe that it is Just a pretty dress. only I can understand the relationship to the challenge.
I have to say also that this doll was hard to pose, for her photo shoot, she is loose and would not cooperate with my manipulations. She is also a wigged doll and I fussed a lot with keeping it on her head and could not make a decision on which wig to use.
I think I made this challenge far harder than it had to be. It took me more time than any yet and I was not satisfied with the result.. So in the end I stand by my challenge solution as just a “Pretty Dress”.

Congrats to my Doll buddie Dal.. for winning this At Home Challenge. Her dress was stunning.

Also my buddie Dot, congratulations! This is your best work yet!!! I am very proud of your perseverance. Keep on trying!!!

Dollie-ON,
Durelle