Commission Completed

I successfully turned over the commission this morning. Overall I was pleased with how it came out and hoped that they would be too.  I didn’t cut any corners on this piece. 
Included were the dust braid and hem saver to protect the fabric of the dress from as much dirt as possible.
 
As we did an inset for the bodice front, I piped it as well as the sleeves, top and bottom of the dress.

When it came to the skirt, I felt it needed a little something.  So I made sheer ribbon daisies to tie the skirt and bodice together.

While I’ve never included one on any of my dresses, I felt it appropriate to include a privacy panel at the lacing (just in case). While the grommets are not covered in this picture, they will be after the ball so they are done properly for her next engagement.

I did a standard lacing pattern for her in lieu of straight lacing because I felt it would be easier for her to get into and out of for her first ball gown.  I know that straight lacing would be more appropriate but I’m still learning how that works out and wanted to be sure she had fun rather than stressing how to get into and out of her first ball gown.
This was the first time that I had done this type of sleeve.  The bodice was made from Past Patterns 704 but the sleeve was Heidi Marsh Patterns LB5ED.  While the sleeve turned out exactly as it should have, I felt I spent a frustrating amount of time on it.  I’m hoping that it was because that was my first time using that sleeve pattern and future pieces would go simpler, but we’ll have to leave that up to the test of time.

All together I thought it made a lovely ensemble and just hoped that my 15 year-old end user would be equally excited.  I was not disappointed, the grandmother who had commissioned the dress was thrilled with it and couldn’t wait to show it to her granddaughter.  She wrote me later that when her granddaughter saw the dress; “her mouth dropped open they loved it and couldn’t get over how beautiful it was. They were really impressed with the dress.”  It’s not every day that a young lady gets to feel like Cinderella but that’s what a Civil War Ball Gown does and I LOVE being able to share that feeling of magic! 
 
When the grandparents returned to pick up the young lady for the ball,the ensemble was finally complete.  Her grandmother noted later that the fabric brought out her eyes.  Doesn’t she look so happy and confident?

This fabric is amazing to view because it takes on different colors in different lighting. As you can see from the picture taken on “dolly”in my back hallway, it was more green but in a well lit area it takes on more blue. 
I’m happy to report that I still have more of this fabric and I will need to see if I have enough for another gown because I would love to see this fabric with a different design concept too just to show how varied you can make things.