FOUNDATIONS REVEALED COMPETITION ENTRY
Otohime
(click images to to enlarge)
Outline the story …
As a child one of my favourite books was "Fairy Tales of The Allied Nations", illustrated by Edmund Dulac. In it was the story of Urashima Taro, a fisherman who, after saving a sea-turtle, gets taken to the Dragon Palace beneath the sea. The turtle is actually the sea deity's daughter, princess Otohime Urashima. Taro and Otohime wed but after three blissful days, Urashima Taro gets homesick and wishes to see his parents who must be terribly worried about him. Otohime gives him a small box to take with him while he is on land. But he is not to open it! Once back on land, not three days had passed but three hundred years and all his loved ones are no longer. Distraught, Urashima Taro returns to the shoreline, but in his grief curiosity takes the better of him and he opens the box gifted by Otohime. He turns into an old man. In some of versions of the story, princess Otohime takes on the shape of a dragon. I love how different versions of these type of stories can be found all over our globe. Shapeshifting women, gifts that are not to be opened, comfort zones that get left behind.
Outline the construction…
In the outfit I created, I added lots of elements of the story and I definitely left some comfort zones behind. Using silk organza for the skirt and jacket I aimed for a wispiness, like a veil of disguise. Sewn with tiny French seams and small rolled hems, I further added to the delicate nature of this fabric as all will be on show. I have added droplets of silk paint and a slight gradient down the bottom of the jacket. I repeated this process on the draped skirt on which I also added a fine row of tiny miyuki beads and an illustration of a sea turtle and seaweeds based on woodblock prints. The corset has an Edwardian shape to it and is made from a light coutil, covered with a raw silk for added texture. But the whole design of the outfit really started with my prawn embroidery. All its segments are made up of small bits of felt. Embroidered individually by hand with both silk shading stitches and French Knots. Finished with metal wire and small Miyuki beads. Surrounding the prawn are several layers of frayed organza to resemble the splashing of water. All this is topping a piece of tatting. This was my first large piece of tatting, all tatted with a small shuttle. Although I was happy with the result it is safe to say I shall not tat again for a long time! As an experiment I lastly made a mask.
This is Devine! All the elements are so beautiful
Very creative. Loved all the beadwork and tattling.
I would love to see this in person , every inch looks amazing
The textures all together are so lush and interesting! Everything looks ethereal and truly magical all together.
Stunning, as always. I do so love your work!
I love the lace tatting! It really looks lovely with the whole look.
So many gorgeous details, perfectly capturing the feel of Otohime. I adore the mask!
I’m sooo in love with your creation, the little prawn is so lovely. The mask is stunning. Everything is so delicate, from the choice of the fabric to the shades. it’s like a dream
The tatting is so beautiful- you don’t see that very often anymore.
lovely. structured but ethereal. tiny details like little gifts. always something else to see. good luck from icarus!
It is so beautiful! I love the way you combine the silk organza jacket and the embroidery!
Ohhh, Marloes! The delicacy of this is so magical! I definitely can see a magical being rising from ocean mist and as always, your details blow me away. I remember reading this story, or a version of it, in a collection of Japanese folktales I read to my mom when she was in hospital. It was a lovely book, and as you say, certain themes transcend cultures.
I’m especially taken by this huge piece of tatting, I know how much work goes into something like that. The whole ensemble is delightful!
That mask is just incredible, as is the overall effect of this piece! I really love the details, from the silk painting on the skirt to the tatting and embroidery on the corset. Well done!
Absolutely brilliant! The tatting is well executed, I have to say. The ensemble look as thought it is in motion even when it is on the form. Bravo!
WOW, this is so cool!! And incredible amount of work absolutely, and so skillfully done. I remember reading that fairytale when I was younger, I love your take on it. The outfit is such a cool balance between sturdy and delicate, it looks amazing!
So beautiful and so delicate, it looks like something out of a dream.
That prawn is beautiful, and everything goes with it so perfectly