WOW Preselection 2018

Having completed my three entries with time to spare (due to the decision not to attempt the fourth!) I assembled the faithful team for the photoshoot.  A week later, I submitted the photos for preselection, a preliminary step for International Designers before we ship the pieces for initial judging. Another week later, to my utmost horror, I received the first email beginning with the fatal words "Thank you for entering...". ( The good ones begin with "Congratulations!") Okaaaaay. The next one was a good one, but with a change of section, but to my further horror, the third was yet another rejection! Nooooooooo!! I was truly stunned, as I honestly thought the pieces were very strong.  The one entered in the Avant Garde section was a reprisal of my first entry, 10 years ago. Same concept, of a beautiful moth emerging from a cocoon, just interpreted differently, utilising the many new skills I have acquired over that time period. It's the most couture piece I've ever done - I really nutted out

the patternmaking, made toiles, and hand finished lining. The wing pieces were made by painting gel medium onto organza, then painting, then free-motion embroidering. The 'window' panels are a textured cellophane. The tunic (created from 5?6? layers) is covered in motifs that have been created the same way, before being cut out and applied to the bodice, then hand beaded. The chestpiece of the tunic has been tambour beaded - it's been a few years, but it was great to practice it again - and includes cellophane pieces, large rhinestones and ostrich feathers. The shoulder and head pieces have wire bases, moulded leather covers, painted and embellished with rhinestones. It is a personally significant piece, so it was a bit of a body blow to not have it accepted. I keep questioning if it would have made a difference if I had sent more detailed shots, but I figure if they wanted to see more, they would have asked for it to go through to the next stage. These are just the basic shots - I hope to share the more quirky ones sometime soon!

The second entry was a Bizarre Bra that I thought would be greatly appreciated! The description of my work 'Trumptopussy' read: 'Originally just a quirky idea for a bra based on a beautiful octopus, the surrounding political climate offered an alternative story. The 2016 Trump campaign became notorious for the phrase ‘grab ‘em by the pussy’, and searching the phrase ‘‘hands like an octopus’ online now leads straight to articles on Donald Trump. His presidency has sparked an incredible protest movement, with women finally taking a stand against sexual misconduct. I have always thought of the Bond film Octopussy in connection to the animal (the character actually a powerful, impressive woman). Trumptopussy of course, had to be orange.'

His awful hair is made of felted merino wool, his body is satin off-cuts stuffed with pillows, his suckers are made of window blind material from Reverse Garbage. He too, sparkles with rhinestones, and has a creepy, beady eye, which looks at you whilst one of his tentacles creeps down to the groin area.....

I'm sure Trumptopussy has a future out there....
Many thanks as before to Matt, Jenelle, Chantal, and Edwina.
Fingers crossed the third makes it on to the stage!!