Monday, September 12, 2011

What do you do with a mannequin when you don't sew?




www.corsetlacedmannequins.co.uk





Yesterday while blogging, 
I ended up on this
site from the United Kingdom 
that sells beautiful mannequins 
that can be ordered with the standard tan fabric 
or with patterned fabrics added to them
depending on your purpose 
and where you plan
to display it.






Union Jackie :)




Isn't it funny how distracting
blogging can be?
Never know where you may end
up once you start clicking on things!
Hours later...... here I was.



They reminded me
of a mannequin I bought
last year for the shop.

She was an old and dirty
vintage gal and needed a little 
"makeover"
before she went to the shop.

Didn't want to strip her
of her original purpose,
so rather than ruining her 
fabric body I decided to
make a plastic wrap base
before transforming her.

Here is what she looked like:



Since our shop is called 
"Blue Cardinal"
I decided to use some old vintage
bird prints, the pages of an old
large coffee table book on birds,
and some wrapping paper that had 
hand-written script on it
to decoupage this old gal.

I cannot find all the pics
I took through the process,
but here is how she turned out.

My daughter named her "Robin" and this was Robin standing near the shop's entrance.


Here is a close-up of the "ruffled " collar I made for her adding an antique French ribbon and nest necklace.


The back of Miss Robin was kind of boring,
so I decided to cut the paper mache'
wrapping that I had made 
and then hole punch it
so I could thread a silk ribbon through it.
Here is how it turned out.





We liked her so much
after her transformation 
we decided she could just stand
as our little shop mascot.

So of course,
anything that you do not price
sparks questions from the management
on the price of the piece.
I priced her high so she
wouldn't sell, but one day she
must have "flown away"
 and went home with someone.

I guess Miss Robin ended up in someone's nest,
but she was a fun addition
to the shop while she was there!

:)

25 comments:

Babs said...

Robin was a beauty and you did a beautiful job of creating her 'outfit'. I like the photo caption 'Union Jackie',too cute.
Hope you have a great week,
Babs

michele said...

omg i love that corset detail! brilliant!

and just to brighten your monday:

(not sure if you're getting hacked or not, but i have a received a couple weird emails from evergroveinteriors directing me to um...viagra! has anyone else let you know? the emails have been sent to a group.)

michele

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

WOW Alison you sure did create a beauty!! Martina

Anonymous said...

First off, I love that pink mannequin. However, I love birds and love yours too. Easy to see with the trends today why someone would want it. I learned long ago if you want to keep something, don't put it in a shop. Seems it's those high priced things you are sure will NEVER sell always do.

Still kicking myself over a chest of drawers I painted and put a high price on, sure nobody would buy it, so I could justify I "tried" but nobody wanted it. The store told me some woman came in daily to check on the piece and asked them to reduce the price. They never told me because her price was insulting! Come to find out, her husband eventually came to buy it for her for Christmas. *groan* I really wanted that too!

At least you know how to make a pretty mannequin if you ever find another one.

Elizabeth and Gary said...

Hi Alison,
I saw these beautifully dresses manneguin's when I googled manneguin's. They are so pretty. I have an vintage I think 1960 mannequin I purchased from a store that was moving their shop. I was going to dress her up, but have not started on that project yet..LOL..I have so many things I want to make.
I love how your Blue cardinal mannequin turned out, the ribbon tie in the back is adorable... Oh my you said Miss Robin bird flew away to a new home..I sure she has made someone very happy. You were so creative with Robin...
I enjoyed your post!
Have a sweet day, Elizabeth

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

I'm not surprised Robin flew away. She's a beauty.

Carolyn@Sweet Chaos Home said...

You are so creative! I love what you did with "Robin." Sorry I haven't e-mailed you back yet... life has been a little hectic... but I LOVED your Rusted Root story. How cool is that??

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

She was gorgeous!!

Lakeshore Cottage Living said...

She is beautiful. I am sure whomever bought her is enjoying her very much! LOVE the ribbon on the back...so creative!

Richard Cottrell said...

I don't get the attraction that people have to mannequins. But they sure do. The one you overhauled was really cute. maybe you have a new career, just waiting for you. "Project Mannequin". title of the new TV series. Great job. Richard

Olive said...

Wow, what a fabulous non-sewing job you did with her. I am not surprised she flew away at some point. To answer Richard's question we love to dress them and put jewelry on them.

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

Wow, you really did a great job on Robin! Love the decoupage work and the back is adorable! I have no idea why someone would want a mannequin but, to each his own! That's what makes the world go round:):) XO, Pinky

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

Awwww, Alison. Naming a mannequin after me, how sweet :) Just kidding! Loved your creativity with her, tho...

The French Hutch said...

Hi Alison, You did a beautiful job on the mannequin, and she was the perfect mascot. You only made one mistake, the tag should have read, NOT FOR SALE! How I love her, the fabric is gorgeous. I can see someone paying a lot for her, she was worth it!!! Maybe you should make another to stand outside the door. If I ever get to your town I sure want to visit your shop. I'm sure you have such lovely items.

~Emily
The French Hutch

Sherry @ No Minimalist Here said...

Alison, She is beautiful and I adore the corset detail! Great idea with the saran wrap too.
xo,
Sherry

Blondie's Journal said...

I can see why Robin sold...she is beautiful!! Love the corset!!

XO,
Jane

Ricki Treleaven said...

I absolutely love Robin. My fourteen year old loves mannequins. She wanted a room like Massie's from The Clique book series and movie, so we bought her a mannequin like Massie's and she puts her clothes and accessories on it the night before she plans to wear the outfit. She is so funny!

Gypsy Heart said...

I've always wanted a mannequin ~ just never done anything about it. Miss Robin looked beautiful...not sure how you let her fly away! You did a great job on her attire.

xo
Pat

Designs on 47th Street said...

Miss Robin was a beauty. I loved reading about her transformation. So pretty. The back was brilliant and so well done!
I laughed when I read you priced her high so as not to sell! Sometimes I do that with my floral arrangements and then gasp when they actually leave! :)

Donna

Cottage and Broome said...

She was wonderful! I love the old or new mannequins, they always look so pretty in a bedroom of craft room, thanks for sharing, Laura Cottage and Broome

Debi said...

Sweet name for her; you did a great job with that project. I have one, but not sure what I want to do with it yet. It was from the garmet district and I don't want to ruin it.

Hill Country House Girl said...

LOVE Robin! She is beautiful!! I am still sorry I sold a wonderful old mannequin I had. I do love the ones you discovered, though - might have to pay that website a visit. Thanks for the tip!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Oh....I am sad now....too bad you don't have her anymore...time for a new girl???

Tammy@Beatrice Banks said...

Love that! You did an amazing job dressing her up!

Honey at 2805 said...

I love Robin's corset!! How cute. Girls wannt have fun and they love something new!