“Old weeping willow trees bend over the Racquette River near where I grew up. Their supple drooping branches would gently kiss the cool mountain water as it rapidly went by. Many times over the years my father and I would put the canoe in the river under one of these arching, majestic willows, and we’d find a placid fishing-hole and fish well past dark.” – Mary Gwyneth Holland
The “Willow and Stream” gown is constructed of hand-dyed silk and silk-spandex fabrics. Silk-rayon velvet is the emerald green “grass”. The “tree trunk” is bubble-stretch silk, hand-dyed in earthy rich browns, then textured using stitched spun silk, rayon-cotton chenille, acrylic-cotton chenille and wool-acrylic yarns. The “leaves” are machine embroidered, hand-dyed hues of green – cut and then crocheted with the same yarns into hanging willow “branches”. The fish tail-shaped “water” skirt and train is hand-dyed aquamarine habotai with organza ruffles. Droplets of blue, green and clear beading in shell, pearl and glass beads simulate the sparkle of light dancing on the water. The hand-dyed materials and originality of the design give the gown an ethereal and floating effect with the use of different textures and color variations. The wearer will experience the flowing water and the spirit of the trees swaying gently in the breeze. “Willow and Stream” is designed for the woman looking for originality, a bit of playfulness and elegance for fantasy, formal and exclusive costume events.
