>> I don't want to be loading the blog with heavy analysis or weighty commentary when most people are itching for Christmas to come and ready to go offline in anticipation of eating their own weight in roast potatoes, Ferrero Rocher chocolates and brussel sprouts (in that order of course). Thankfully young Ella Barton Buchanan emailed me in the nick of time to provide me with pure eye candy - quite literally, this is lace that is so edible that each look book image should come wrapped in a pretty Charbonnel et Walker box with a bow tied around it. Buchanan is from Wellington in New Zealand and has just graduated from Massey University with this delicious collection. Turns out those Hubba Bubba, saturated macaroon tones were inspired by the legendary French filmmaker Georges Méliès and the innovative way that he hand painted every frame, amongst other groundbreaking techniques.
From the complicated, surreal and bonkers world of Méliès' early 20th century filmmaking, Buchanan deduced something quite simple but hugely effective. Her entire collection is made out of curtain lace which she stiffened by painting the fabric about five to eight times to perfect the colour and weight. The point was to complete change the properties of the lace as well as build up colour in a controlled way. This fussy fabric that normally lies limp over chintzy fabrics, becomes something quite structural and is intensely vibrant with the layers of textile and acrylic paint. I may have to plagiarise that idea to see if painted lace curtains would work in my new abode (signing the dotted line soon... that's a cue for you to congratulate me seeing as I'm already congratulating myself). Then I can break out into song and enthusiastically tear down my "drapes" Sound of Music style and make myself some play clothes. Well, that's the plan anyway.
