Hommage

I was very privileged to have had in my hands for a few weeks an embroidered dress, still on it's fabric base of silk organza.  It belongs to my sister-in-law and was made by her uncle's mother.  We think from the style that it was done in the 1920's.  My daughter did the drawing of what we think the dress would look like and I printed it onto some rust dyed silk/cotton.  I embroidered the zigzag which has become way too stiff to put beads on  - the wash away must not have all washed away!

Originally I had thought to simply copy a section using machine embroidery but was then awed by the work that went into the design.  Drawing up the zigzags must have been a formidable task way back then.  The embroidery was something else!  I just felt that this was something I had to acknowledge.  Albeit with not much time left!  

 Here is the back of the dress and you can see the border that was done at the bottom.  The dress part drops to just above my knees (I'm short).  And the front - also with the band at the bottom.

 And the embroidery and beads!  You can see how she transitioned colour using both the beads and the thread with which they were put on.  Very clever.

 Part of the neckline

 And the band at the bottom.

 And just anther close-up of the work.

 I'm just waiting to hear if the McCord  museum in Montreal would like to have it.