Vintage dictionary pages and lots of glue…
Plus a dash of patience and sprinkle of wanting to bring an idea to life…
Can sometimes turn into mad paper fun.
I have wanted to turn one of my dress forms into a life size paper dress girl for ages.
So, in the midst of glue cravings, I plunged.
Then embellished with old I.O.O.F. medal ribbons.
I have quite a collection that Mister Lovee has gifted me over the years.
He would give them to me as a surprise, calling them commendations.
Stars and top hats and butterflies make everything better, me thinks.
So, after deciding to attempt to bring a paper dress like my ballerinas wear, to life…
I got busy, gluing and layering, and gluing some more.
Until a full paper dress came to life.
I dolled her up here and there.
And put a pendant necklace (which I make here) on her.
All my pendants are double sided, so the sheet music side is on display today.
Ready to go out on the town 😉
I even let her wear my fave brooch.
One thing I love about working with old dictionaries is that, as you work you may see wonderful things here and there.
Like a seahorse.
Or beetles and medallions.
I hope the dreamkeeper doesn’t mind sharing her hat for a little while.
I must confess.
The process was trickier than I had thought it would be.
But patience and perseverance pays off.
Even when your feet are glued to the floor and gluey paper floats about everywhere.
Thank goodness someone invented chicken wire.
I wonder what adventures she’ll lead me on?
Because when you create…
One creative endeavor leads to another and then another.
Which is why it is good to try to keep the creative vibe flowing.
You never know where it might lead you?
Now I have papier mache of the brain.
What to make next?
Any thoughts?
I hear the mail truck, our daily pleasure, off for now.
I’ll be back soon.
Love, V
ps: This is what goes on when I am working away 😉
Love it. So pretty. Isn’t it amazing what you can do with paper. And I love the medals Mr. Lovee has gifted you with.
How lovely! You’re on your way to becoming the next Isabella de Borchgrave! How fun it would be if you could really wear the dress! Just not on a rainy day! :0)
Way fun!! A life sized paper doll of the paper mache variety. She is totally you! And I see you are well supervised by fur ;o)
Have a great day.
Always, Queenie
Just Brilliant darling! I have a question..(hope you don’t mind!) Did you leave the chicken wire on it or did you eventually take the chicken wire off?
***amaZing as usual***
Paper makes the world go round, doesn’t it? I should probably hint that I need another commendation soon, hee hee!! 😉 Soo good to see you dear Renee!
I was thinking, the only way to make it wearable would be to use printed fabric. Oh Isabella’s printed papers would be so fun to play with. All long and crinkly with those beautiful prints……swwwwoooon!
I answer to fur indeed dearest Queenie, Highness of goodness 😉
I left it on Miss Carrie. I guess you could take it out once it is dry, but I tied it on early in the project 🙂 Thank you for being so kindred!! xoxo
Love sleeping puppies.
That dress is totally delightful.
Now I want to make a paper dress.
THIS is what you were creating?! Utterly unique, and so magical! She is beautiful, it is so amazing to see a life size paper dress girl!
It’s amazing! I love the glitter on it and the jewelry and the bird. xoxo
Oooooooooooooooh Vanessa!! I love it. I made a similar one for my wild, bohemian daughter last Christmas and she LOVED it! Making another now for a show I’m doing next week. So very cool….love your posts!
Gorgeous! You are always such an inspiration. Thank you!
Simply divine, beautiful beyond my wildest imagination.
Vanessa, have you changed your blog feed? I read it in The Older Reader and noticed a few posts ago that your pictures no longer show up, just the text. =(
Wowza! I love your dress form creation! Are you going to paint the paper aqua and pink??? Just kidding…as I know you love aqua and pink together. Actually, the paper will ‘age’ and look stunning with an ivory look. This is what is happening with ‘In Her Gown’…she is aging beautifully and she isn’t even in the sun at all.
Oh! And I adore the stars you added too!
I had just found a free pattern for a very small pin cushion size dress form to be made out of cotton and stuffed. Actually, you can print out the pattern and go 100% or even smaller. I guess I could cut the pattern from a book print and glue it together forming the dress form…that would work! Playing with paper dresses is so much fun!
thank you for showing your muse of inspiration!
Oh I do so love when magical things like this happen all on their own suddenly!! Inspiration, indeed! And a prettier paper frock I could not imagine ever being made!! : )
Amazing to me ,your creating are so great.
Lovely! I see now why you were so covered in glue!
Oh she’s sooooo beautiful. I’d love to go to a party in a glitzy paper dress like that. 🙂
Oh she’s so beautiful. I’d love to go to a party in a glitzy paper dress like that. 🙂
Oh my!!! You have outdone yourself…she is magnificent!!! You are talented beyond words. Happy Easter!!! (((hugs)))
Nathalie
Dearest V, the dress is gorgeous and I love how you constantly challenge yourself and bring your clever ideas to life! Well done, you! xo
Vanessa, she is beautiful…I too! was making a larger than life-size Goddess but with plaster instead of paper mache (wow that took a lot of fighting with auto correct to get that word out!)
happy Easter my dear!!
x…x
This… is just amazing! I am in love. And now I feel like I need to go paper mache EVERYTHING. ^_~
I must’ve missed this post, so I’m so glad you linked back to it! What a lovely surprise!!! =D
XOXO
thank you sweet Annaleeeeeeeeeee!!! xoxo
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 6/6/2014 6:45:19 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,