Kambriel Tribute to Miss Havisham

[kambriel]

Lately, I found myself compelled to sequester myself away for a while and create a gown inspired by Miss Havisham ~ my favourite character from Charles Dickens' novel "Great Expectations", written in 1861. Many of the lace motifs I've used date back to the same era. Not that I would particularly recommend languishing around in a "Havisham" state of mind, but when life presents melancholia, one of the best things to do is find a way to create beauty from it!

I ~may~ be done with the dress, then again I might go crazy and put another several days of handwork into it... It's all completely organic at this point, and will let me know what's right. I decided it was at a good point to take a break now though as my fingertips are practically worked to the bone and need a well-earned rest.

The best part is getting to feel like I'm honouring the artistry and work of my female ancestors ~ all of whom created the various works of needle lace, embroidery, and crochet I am incorporating into this. Even the pearls that I'm using for the sleeves (and possibly collar) came from one of my great-grandmother's broken necklaces.

Here is a preview peek for now:







~ Kambriel

[Kambriel.com ~ Etsy ~ Twitter ~ Tumblr ~ Facebook]

Comments

[pmhrh.livejournal.com]

Wow! I'm speechless.

[acid-poptart.livejournal.com]

Woo hoo! I like moving closer to my twin! Unexpected benefits! :P

[aesthete.livejournal.com]

Oh, Kambriel! It is beautiful! What a gorgeous and delicate ensemble. Your love for the project shines through and through!

[lapetitemort73.livejournal.com]

Holy cannoli!
That is so intricate and stunning!

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's been like creating a "collage in lace" :)

[victorianrose23.livejournal.com]

OMG that is amazing!!!! Wow - just - wow.

*standing ovation*

[donnaricci.livejournal.com]

Wow! Just... wow!

edit: I just noticed the person above me posted the same response. It MUST be true!

[valerian.livejournal.com]

This incredible - an heirloom unto itself!

Just...wow!!

[donnaricci.livejournal.com]

I think you need to do a commercial in the vein of the Shamwow guy for this dress. The "Just Wow"

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

Ha! I remember some friends of mine in the Pacific Northwest who got snowed in a bit *too* much this past winter ~ snowed in to the point of watching that and thinking maybe they ~should~ buy a Shamwow ;)

[blueiduna.livejournal.com]

Love the layers of different laces, which appears to have been lovingly tea-stained I'm guessing? I see the goofiest little mirrored face in the middle of the lace-collage of the skirt, he's cracking me up! Miss Havisham would have done well with a silly little fellow to peer up from her knees when she was busy feeling sorry for herself and plotting misery for others.

I sincerely hope you never run out of broken antique bits to transform into new works of art. :)

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

It's something I've wanted to create for years, finally all the stars aligned and it just felt like the right time to do it :)

The scary thing is after all this, I still have many more lace pieces like ~ all handmade ~ (naively, I thought this project would use most of them up) so you'll see them make appearances in new creations in the coming months... I just want to make sure they aren't just packed away and forgotten... so much work has gone into them, they deserve that breath of life!

[donnaricci.livejournal.com]

Snowed in+limited entertainment options= bad purchasing choices

Just make sure to do your commercial without all the beating a hooker down afterwards. http://dlisted.com/node/31348

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

Oooh, you just brought this wonderful little bakery in Massachusetts to mind ~ you wouldn't believe all the different types of cannoli they have there!:

http://www.whollycannoli.com/

[victorine.livejournal.com]

Beautiful, wistful, glorious!

[kambriel.livejournal.com]

You're going to be so happy with the fabrics I've found for you! I think there's going to be some kind of magic in your gown... I was draping some of the more opulent pieces of fabric to show C how it was all coming together, and right at that moment, this huge, magnificent thunder sounded above us out of nowhere... it was the perfect old horror movie scenario ~ we just needed a pipe organ to complete the drama of the moment!

[icprncs.livejournal.com]

And another comment expressing admiration at your work and creativity and how beautiful it is. :)

[volksjager.livejournal.com]

Please tell me it's fire proof.

[miintikwa.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is incredible!

[ashbet]

Wow. That is . . . *exquisite*.

-- A <3

[harlequin-elf.livejournal.com]

Oh, pardon me for butting in, but you're a twin? Just proves to me that us in the twin club are a grand breed indeed!

And to make this a proper comment.... That is the best use of heirloom pieces I've seen a a good bit! I would say your ancestors would be beaning with delight over this!

[valerian.livejournal.com]

That is because it is... destiny!

Mwahaha. Mwahahaha! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!


(christened by a thunderclap - could it get any better??)

[thatursula.livejournal.com]

The biggest thing I miss about Western New York is the INCREDIBLE Italian food. You're always close to an ancient Italian bakery and/or people that can make their own wonderful cannoli. * sigh *

[thatursula.livejournal.com]

I neglected to mention that the dress (of course) is GORGEOUS. On a related note, do you take appointments for a customer to come in for a fitting? I may be in your end of the state in June...

[ms-tate.livejournal.com]

This is so amazingly beautiful. You passion for the project shows in the details. Looking forward to seeing more photos of this fabulous creation.

Oh, and I agree, Miss Havisham is a great character and my favorite from "Great Expectations" as well.