Major Revisions

I want to recover some of my costs. By the time I am finished, I will have spent about $1,700 on just the mannequins so a show is an objective— either an exhibition with a donation box or a show that is as much a performance as it is an exhibition — perhaps an Equity co-op production with friends seduced by the idea, a finished script and photos of my dresses.

I decided the peacock dress needed to go on the new mannequin I picked up yesterday morning so I had Dwight over for lunch again yesterday and we moved the dress. It looks incredible (to me) on the new form (it has arms) but the bodice doesn’t fit so I have a major re-working of that piece to do.

We talked about the show too and Dwight was frank: He loves the peacock dress and really loves the cardinal dress — I think it’s his favourite — but he hates the pearl dress.

So the pearl dress is out. I can’t believe it. It took a lot of money and time but it’s a failure. I will keep it though; it will go in the lobby or at the door.

And my cheerleader crest — now almost finished after, perhaps, sixty hours of sewing — is out too. It’s toast.

And Vivicean’s wedding dress? Gone! I will recreate a white dress and add the blood but it will not be a wedding dress. It will be the blood dress.

I understand far better what I am doing with the dresses now. The “defiance” is in the story and each dress needs a really striking visual element that is hand-made or be of a material normally used for couture. So here’s where I’m at:

• Peacock dress: done but in need of alterations
• Cardinal dress: Done!
• Cheerleader uniform: To be re-started.
• Apron: Materials in hand.
• Blood dress: To be completely redone.

So #6 will be a wheat dress: full stalks for the dress and only grains for the bodice. I can hardly wait. And #7 may be collaged candy wrappers.

The buttons! The open clasp on the jacket! Yum.