This is one of my newest creations with a vintage vibe that has been inspired by Paris. This design was created using a brocade coat purchased on a clearance rack at a big box store as its base. A roll of natural toned linen with a Paris print, vintage lace table linens, lace sections from a donated vintage lace dress and vintage rhinestone trim were applied to the coat. Antiqued bronze buttons, pearls and an Eiffel Tower pendant with a deep blue velvet bow finish off the romantic and nostalgic accents to this upcycled piece.
Michaels is currently running a contest called Springtime in Paris. One of the requirements of the contest was the submission of a piece created by the applicant that is inspired by Paris and/or Springtime in Paris. When I found out about the contest, I already had in mind to create this very coat using these materials and so decided to give it a shot and submit my piece as a entry in the contest. The guidelines of the contest stated that they were looking for an item to be submitted that fit into the category of jewellery, baked goods, visual arts or paper craft. It did not mention wearable art as of the one the categories, but, ever the rebel, I decided to take a chance and submit a piece that did not fit the box and see what happened.
The other criteria you had to fulfill was to tell them in at least 100 words why you felt you should win a trip to Paris. Here is what I wrote and ultimately submitted:
” As with many people, Paris has always held an allure for me. The food, the ambience, the romanticism, the fashion and the history – it is a city that has it all! As a wearable art and millinery designer, Paris is the ultimate destination for inspiration and to have the honour of walking the same streets as past and present infamous artists and designers would be dream become reality. I am also an avid reader of anything surrounding Marie Antoinette. I am such a fan of her and that historical period that my graduating year collection at the Richard Robinson Academy of Fashion Design was a Marie Antoinette inspired collection, complete with decorated wigs, gloves and fans. To have the opportunity to see, touch and escape back in time in the city she called home and that, ultimately, became her final resting place, would bring to life in front of my eyes things and places that up until now I have only read about. Perhaps most importantly, winning this trip to Paris would also be a wonderful thank you gift to my husband. After almost 6 years of marriage, we have never had the opportunity to take a honeymoon. He is the sole breadwinner of our family in order that I could go back to school for fashion design and continues to be so in order that I can pursue my career as a wearable art designer. All of this, he has done for me on top of surviving a rare form of cancer and now being in remission. We are both incurable romantics and have been told many times we are “old souls”. What better place than Paris to celebrate the sacrifices we make for love, the commitments we make for love and the enduring and forever bond forged in and from love? Thank you for considering my application and I do not envy you the job of choosing from all of the, I am sure, truly creative and awe inspiring submissions. “
The contest closes on March 31st, 2015 and I submitted my application and picture of my work this morning. Wish me luck!!!
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