Peacock Princess

 The ‘peacock princess’ is a minor character from a book I tried to write a few years back. I might pick up the story again at some point, but no promises. Her green over skirt with its lace detail is supposed to reference a peacock’s tail, which is also why the underskirt is blue.

This illustration is actually the work of several years.

I made the original sketch a few years ago. I don’t know how long exactly, because it was before I started recording dates on my work. I think that at the time I thought it gave them a 'timeless’ quality?

Anyway, I scanned it into the computer, enlarged it, lightened the lines, and printed it to 'clean up’ the lace pattern in ink. At some point after this, I coloured the ball gown and the lady wearing it, and then left the picture in a drawer and forgot about it until I found it a couple of months ago.

When I found it, I realized her legs were out of proportion for a standing figure, so I put her in a chair. Then I decided she should be reaching for something, since she wasn’t curtsying, and added the side table and book.

That made the other side of the picture look empty, so I sketched the fireplace and the joint of the wall and floor - and then decided to go whole-hog and put a bookshelf recessed into the wall behind her, framed in wrought iron.

I’m pleased with the overall look, particularly with how the books, marble bookends, and geodes turned out. I think that not inking the books’ outlines helps them recede into the background, in contrast to the chair, the table and book on it, the brickwork inlaid in front of the fireplace, and the fire grille.

Colours are a combination of pencil crayon, brush pen, and coloured pen. The princess was inked in a standard blue ballpoint pen; if I were to ink this image again, I would probably keep that for her dress, flower, and jewellery, but change pens for outlining her skin and hair. On the other hand, it does make her the unquestionable focus point of the image.

Here is the original sketch, for comparison:

(This post has been cross-posted [link] on my tumblr account.)

Disney Overalls: Tiana

You can probaby find frog-shaped buttons if you look long enough.

Disney Overalls: Belle

Any avid reader who claims not to covet the library from this movie is a lying liar who lies.

Cinderella Dressed In ... Overalls

Do not feel bad if you do not read that giant block of text. I did not realize, until I started making the list of 'versions of Cinderella I own', just how many entries would be on it. And then I figured, since it was so long already, I might as well include summaries and opinions and versions of Cinderella that I knew but did not have in my possession.

Also, I realized after the fact that I had forgotten three Cinderella stories I have - Wyrd Sisters (Terry Pratchett; fairy godmother is the villain; three witches go on a quest to prevent a servant girl marrying a prince), Unlocking the Spell (E. D. Baker; the protagonists are Prince Charming's cousins and they pass through the ball on their way elsewhere), and Shrek. (Cinderella isn't plot-relevant to Shrek, but she's a throwaway reference in the first and second movies and a minor character in the third one.) So I actually have 18 versions.

Pineapple Dress

Once I learn how to make pineapple upside-down cake, I will post a recipe here, and whichever of these dresses I make, I will wear while eating pineapple upside-down cake.

Green Dress

Keywords: dress, ballgown, make, sew by hand, stitch, pleated skirt, corset bodice, historical, Victorian Elizabethan inspired, design, create, flair, elegant, formal, backless, plunging back, green, reverse-angle raglan sleeve.
External inks mentioned in the blog post don't seem to be transcribable here, so here they are in longhand:
http [colon slash slash] elizabethancostume [dot] net [slash] custompat
http [colon slash slash] historicalsewing [dot] com [slash] figure-out-how-to-do-pleats-on-back-of-a-bustle-bodice
Remove the spaces and insert the necessary punctuation.

Purple Dress

Keywords: purple dress, design, make, sew by hand, pattern drafting, stretchy cloth, improvisation, needle and thread, thirty-five 35 hours, semi-formal, tapered waist, circle flutter butterfly sleeves, knit weave fray comparison, whole cloth, cape, mantle, cloak, classy jacket substitute, safety pin, semi-ballgown.

Happy Accident Barbie Dress

Keywords: Barbie doll dress, cellphone bag, pouch, sleeve, ribbon, halter, sewing machine, measure, happy accident, green, snap closure, stitch, reconsider.

Red T-shirt Dress

I hope this is both interesting and informative. Although the bulk of my posts will be in comic format, I will probably include a bit of text at the end of each post to aid the search feature. Most of the time it will just be a list of keywords ... in this case: first post, red dress, how to, sew, recycle, upcycle, redesign, repurpose, clothes, clothing, remake, garment repair, T-shirt, skirt, create, stitch, sewing machine, Asperger's Syndrome.