My inspiration for this piece arrived on the shores of Nobles Pond, the local water feature of my neighborhood. Hundreds upon hundreds of snail shells, in a variety of sizes and colors (most of them empty), were just lying there waiting for repurposing. I filled several bags with them and walked back home. After a long bleach bath soak and some unfortunate extractions, the shells were then roasted, dried, and in some cases spray painted. Months later, when I had happened upon three bags of what I thought was yarn at a thrift store, only to discover a few dozen crocheted boas, did the vision fall into place. The boas reminded me of coral. Currently there are 32 boas and counting….
The base fabric was from my inventory so the dress is made from scratch in a simple tank style with a decidedly underwater feel. The placement of the hip line was determined by the length of the boas, most doubled. An inventory belt with a clam shell buckle enhances the fit. And those shells? Well over 600 of them became a cape, each having to have a hole drilled into it and be hand tied one by one to the muslin base. The cape is lined, detailed with another boa and weighs several pounds. Walking this garment causes the boas to flow and sway as if underwater and the snail shell clatter along in harmony.