Beading, beading, and more beading . . .

It's been a while since I've posted here, only because, well, I've been a bit busy. It is high season for Bridal alterations, and though I am learning to pace myself better than years past, my days are still very full.

Embellishments seem to be the thing this year, and at the top of the list is beading. Lots of beading. I have done several dresses that have bodices covered in beading. Covered. As in, no fabric to show through. Lots of work, but even when you are finished taking in  a heavily beaded gown, it really looks no different from the original.

This dress was different. 

The bride chose a lovely gown from
 Essence of Australia, with a fully beaded                   
bodice and straps, cumberbund waist, and
 full, pleated taffeta skirt.










The back, though cut low, also had the beaded
straps for coverage. 







The back of the bodice fit quite well, but the front of the bodice was about an inch too wide across the breast width. Pulling it in in the center
seemed to fix the problem, so (and bless beading for it's forgive-ness!)
I took about an inch wide dart right down the center front, from the top of the bodice to the waist.

She also wanted to get rid of the straps completely.

4 hours of alteration work, and 6 hours of bead work later, and this is how it now looks!

                                                         

Front of bodice

Back of Bodice

It's fun to do a dress where you can actually see the difference a few hours of work can make!