The Joy of Completion!!

I have finally finished my ball gown!!! I am so excited to have it done and ready to go. The ball is in a few weeks. With everything else going on I NEEDED this to be done.

Now lets take a quick look back at the original beauty... aawww.. so pretty. Love this dress, its AM-azing!

Duh-Duh-Duh-Duh!!! Here is mine. Now the lighting isn't the best, and the velvet picks up every little bit of flash and runs with it, but you get the point. :0)

I have added a vine, rosebuds and flowers. Then crystals for a little sparkle.. not that you can see it on this photo. The velvet gathers at the hip, along with the petticoat which I edged with lace. The same lace that is across the bodice, I wanted to soften up the lines. To the right is a close up of the flower. I painted these obnoxious red flowers black (with watercolors to deepen the overall color of the flower), then added layers of chiffon, then crystals at the center.

Here you can see close up the vine that I added (wasn't on the original) that runs over my hip and curls at the base of my spine. It has rosebuds and crystals. Really wish you could see them better, but they are the lighter dots on the vine and leaves.

The dress with my bolero. I made this jacket for my brothers wedding but as it ended up being about 95 degrees that day it wasn't needed. But its being re-purposed as it will still be cool the day of the ball, AND I'm concerned with seeming immodest at such a formal occasion.

Of course, Roonie is never far from me. But he especially loves being in the sewing room with me. Its my favorite room in the house and I think he can feel how happy I am in there... and he always is happy to lend his fluff and drool to any project I attempt. Love my boy!

 Last but not least, my shoes for the occasion. I tried to find something that would honor the 50's style of the dress, not be too overly sparkly (I didn't want to take away from all my effort) and was low enough that I could hide that the dress is a tad bit short for me. Oh yeah, that was another reason I added the lace to the petticoat, trying to cover that the dress is short.. not bad but noticeable when I wear heels.

Now all I need is earrings and a good bra and I am ready. Oh and figuring out what to do with my hair and make-up. I was thinking simple and clean for hair, maybe I will rag roll it and then just pull it back in a loose french twist. And I want to do pinup make-up, but its alot harder than it looks and I really don't want to look like a clown at this shin-dig.. so we will see what I come up with.

Comment and let me know what you think of my finished product!!