7/9/2014 - Project Progress - soldering crystal.

5/23//2014 Project Progress ... finished the bodice.

The beginning ...

getting ready to paint ...

art pic ... playing with iphone apps.

art pic ... playing with iphone apps.

1st coat of paint ...

2nd coat of paint ...

playing with ideas ... chain skirt.

Playing with ideas ...  definitely going to make a chain skirt to add crystal to .... definitely going to make it a floor lamp chandelier ...

Accidental Art - Chain Dress.

Disassembled chain skirt mock-up; getting ready for the real deal ... this is going to be a very heavy piece!

Disassembled mock-up .... going to paint ...

Glitter Paint

...  keep re-applying paint for more of a glitter effect  ;)

I like it.

painted the "dress straps" too ...

Going to attach the chain skirt tighter at the waist than the prototype's ...

Not liking wire; I need more flexibility ... going to try tag-ties.

Tag-ties work perfectly.

2nd layer of chain ....

 

 

Testing chain density with light ...

I prefer a defined waistline .... this one works but I am open to other options.

I'm choosing to add large vintage chandelier crystals to the chain skirt.

I will hand-sew each crystal onto the skirt ...

Decided to use my LV scarf for the waistline.

Decided to use my LV scarf for the waistline (light on)

Changed my mind about adding vintage chandelier crystals to the chain skirt.

Comparing silver and gold rhinestone chain instead ... chose gold.

Chose this embellishment for the upper portion of the dress form ... need to order 13 more.

 

* sold out everywhere! Managed to purchase 6 ... hoping for 7 more.

Love the contrast of silver & gold

Ordered 6 more of the chosen embellishments for upper portion of the dress ... also adding gold rhinestone chain to the chain skirt.

Received the rhinestone shipment for the chain skirt.

The gold is brighter than the small supply of rhinestone chain already in the studio. Still looks good on the silver chain so I will use it.

 

All measured & cut ...

Considering different methods of attachment ... decided against jump-rings because I do not want to solder on top of the tag ties.

Hand wiring works well, but very tedious work.

Tag-ties work well .... quick & flexible.

Flexibility is important when attaching from an irregular & inconsistant starting point; especially if you want the other ends to be similiar in length.

The rhinestone chain is super sparkly! Love it.

 

Adding 2" vintage chandelier crystals to the rhinestone chain.

I will solder them later ...

Decided to try a little color ...

Changed my mind about the colored crystals.

Ready to add more crystal ... filling the gap.

Found these beauties in the studio; they were on hand to make earrings. Very nice quality :)

I love it!

I need to solder it

I could only find 2 more of the chosen embellishments for the dress bodice; there's 3 total to work with.

Going to glue the embellishments on ....

 

*Pretty Swank Girl ring - vintage Chanel.

Fans speed up the glue's drying time ...

Too bad there's no more M&M's in the fan!

I made sure the holes were on the bottom end of each embellishment before I glued them; I might add a crystal or something later ...

Creating custom embellishments for the rest of the dress bodice ...

Adding the custom embellishments to the 3 sparkly embellishments as well ...

My little chandelier helper, Gucci :)

Put the logo tag on the back of the bodice.

                                                   Frock

 

Project Progress ... finished bodice embellishments.
Need to solder all the crystal, finish the electrical details, and a then a photo-shoot.
 

Quick photo ...
Need to solder all the crystal, finish the electrical details, and a then a photo-shoot.

Ordered the light source. Going to use chicken wire to hold the lights ...

I have to fold the chicken wire shapes in order to stuff them up under the chain skirt. I will unfold them once inside the the frock.

Placing the chicken wire up into the frock's chain skirt ...

Created a bottom to the frock. I will secure the chicken wire bottom with stainless steel tag ties.

... added chicken wire to the bottom interior of the frock to hold the light source.

Soldering crystal ...