The Vest: According to Marlene, “this vest was made to wear when the quilt of the same name was exhibited. Green, fuchsia and yellow Setacolor paints were used to paint the parts of the vest. Each piece was scrunched and left to dry. After setting the paint with an iron, commercial fabrics were used to machine applique a poinsettia flower – part being on the front of the vest, and part on the back. The three pieces of the vest were quilted separately using pre-shrunk flannel for the “batting”. Free motion quilting was used throughout the entire vest to give the illusion of both flower petals and leaves. For the bracts of the flower at the top of the shoulder, I sandwiched green tulle with two layers of Solvy in a hoop. Using the sewing machine, the bracts were embroidered with Sulky thread. The vest was lined with dark green lining fabric. Buttons were covered with leftover pieces of the painted fabric to complete the vest.”

Made: 2001

History:

Belle Armoire’s Salon Magazine (Art-to-Wear) 2003

String-A-Long Quilt Guild biennial show, Valparaiso, IN, June 12-13, 2004. 2nd place in wearable category.

The Shoes and the Inspiration

Marlene shares, “White sale shoes were used for the base of these “challenge” shoes. The artist (Marlene) painted the shoes with Pearl Violet Lumiere paint by Jacquard. The green ultrasuede leaves and heel accent are couple with burgundy ultrasuede poinsettis embellished with lime greeen Miyuki Drop beads to resemble the bracts.” The inspiration for the shoes was a vest which she had made that was displayed in the Belle Armoire publication SALON.

The Necklace and Bracelet

Marlene describes, “I ‘whipped’ up this necklace for wearing with the poinsettia vest and will also wear this bracelet which I made last year. The necklace is a multi-strand necklace of seed beads and delicas in watermelon colors with a poinsettia leaf medallion dangling from one of the strands. The bracelet has a variety of green glass beads and is made in an eclectic free-form manner using the even peyote stitch.” It is worn with a white silk blouse and a purple long southwestern skirt that Marlene purchsed in Sante Fe, New Mexico on the tragic day of September 11, 2001.