A little Eye Candy

If you want some REAL art eye candy this is fantastic! Go to this link!

This is my top favoriate of the 2006 Fashion Show from Bernina. I love all the color in this, especially the pants! AND the beading! Always inspires me to do some wearable art!

Beady-ology
Judy Gelzinis Donovan
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A recent career change from art librarian to bead store manager pushed Donovan’s artistic focus from fiber to bead weaving and embroidery. The elaborate “goddess belt” was the first step in creating Beady-ology . Small pieces of every fabric planned for the garment were rolled into fabric beads and embellished by hand with craft wire and seed beads. The elaborate coat started with a design from an old wooden box where she keeps beaded jewelry, and from two beautiful strands of African trade beads given to her by the owner of the bead shop. The detachable sleeves, the front band and the back of the garment utilize a slash-stitching technique that started with fabric collage covered with a layer of Cherrywood black sueded cotton. Machine-stitched “bead” shapes were sewn over the fabrics, then the top layer was cut through to expose the beautiful colors beneath. The outfit is completed with baggy rayon pants and a cotton top embellished with more glass and ceramic beaded fringe. And to think it all started with a bead!

Judy Gelzinis Donovan

A Philadelphia textile artist and beader, Judy’s work - primarily garments and woven beadwork - has been shown nationally and internationally in juried shows, galleries, four times in the Fairfield Fashion show and in the 2002 BERNINA Fashion Show. Her garments, quilts and beadwork have appeared in many publications including Quilting Quarterly, Sew News, Fiberarts, Art Quilt Magazine and Fairfield Processing Corporation’s ART TO WEAR book. Judy’s beadwork has been featured in Interweave Press’ BEAD CROCHET by Bethany Barry (April 2004) and two of her jewelry designs will appear in issues of Step-by-Step beads in 2006. Judy lives in an historic 200-year-old townhouse in downtown Philadelphia with her husband and two Siamese cats. Judy currently teaches textile and jewelry classes at the Delaware College of Art and Design in Wilmington DE and is part-time manager of a bead store, Ubead2, where she also teaches and designs jewelry.

The second favorate is the one, how could I not love a little Paris:

Le Ciel de la Nuit (The Night's Sky)
Rochelle Harper
Portland, Oregon

This piece combines personal passions of the designer: intense color and textural fabrics, Post Impressionist art (Van Gogh in particular), architecture, and a personal dream to visit Paris. Maroon and charcoal wool knit fleece are the foundation for the flexible wrap coat; luxurious faux fur of maroon and black edge the collar, center front and hem edge. The lower portion of the coat is “painted” with iridescent silk organza in various colors that are ripped, cut, fused, and stitched to the fleece while maintaining the double-faced fabric. Multiple variegated embroidery threads in the design of the sky, inspired by Van Gogh’s Starry Night and digitized using BERNINA® software, contribute to the blending of colors for a “painterly” effect. Fleece cording is couched, giving dimension and color to the patterned sky. When the coat is reversed, the cityscape falls into shadow with lines of variegated pearl cotton providing detail to the scene. The stretch poly/Lycra® blend crushed velvet of the fitted dress contrasts with godets of silk charmeuse in the back and poly/Lycra® mesh in the front. Mesh insets on the dress are edged and couched with nylon/polyester yarn that continues in a swirl down the front, back, and sleeves.

Rochelle Harper

During college, Rochelle worked in a costume shop. After finishing her undergraduate degree, she began working at Daisy Kingdom as a buyer, pattern designer, and department manager for the outerwear department. This was a chance opportunity to acquire valuable knowledge and skills, especially while working and problem solving with designers and sample fabric buyers from the Portland area manufacturers (including NIKE). At the same time, Rochelle developed new techniques and approaches to sewing functional fleece and outerwear as well as developing wearable art with these technical materials. Eventually, her unique approach to sewing fleece fabrics led to the publication of “Sew the New Fleece”, her first book with Taunton Press in 1997. After the success of her first book, Rochelle followed with a comprehensive book for sewing all types of fleece and outerwear, “Sewing Outdoor Gear, Easy Techniques for Outerwear that Works,” (Taunton Press, 2001) with special details added for more uses of Fleece Cord (twisted) and Hot Cut appliqués. Though she continues to work as an independent designer and contractor, Rochelle recently followed a dream and devoted two years to earning a Master Degree in Education (graduating with a 4.0 GPA) with a teaching certification to teach K-12 Art. She also teaches upper level Studio and construction classes in Apparel Design at the Art Institute of Portland. Rochelle enjoys living in an old Portland bungalow that is under continuous renovation with her husband of 23 years and two amazing teenage girls that she drives to sports, music, service projects, and a multitude of other activities.

Comments

[Judy Gelzinis Donovan]

I found your wonderful blog quite by accident while searching for something on the web. Thank you so much for your kind words about my work. I'm hoping to have something published in Belle Armoire fairly soon on this garment in particular.

You made my week!

Judy Gelzinis Donovan

[Gypsy]

Judy!
I am delighted to have made your week! LOVE LOVE LOVE and mouth dropping to the floor would be my response to your wonderful outfit! Instant Eye Candy COMA!
You are very talented! Oh how I hope to see you in Belle Armoire!!!! Tis worthy Tis worthy!

I hope you stop by often! And share you newest creations! So exciting for ME to be able to talk to the creator!