Travilla exhibition, part 1

These are my pictures from our visit to the Travilla exhibition in Bath. Travilla made many of Marilyn Monroe's most iconic dresses, and it was these dresses that were in the exhibition. Above is the actual dress that she wore in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The bow is stuffed with ostrich feathers. Below are his sketches and measurements for the same dress

This is a photograph of a painting I did for one of our Marilyn inspired cards

The man himself, William Travilla during a dress fitting for Marilyn Monroe

This cream dress was lent to Marilyn. There is a dirty mark on the dress which came when Marilyn brushed against a car tyre. This exhibition was on at the Costume Museum in Bath (below is Jasmine trying on the crinolines there!). The exhibition is moving to Manchester Palace Hotel shortly. There is more information on the dresses and tour dates on www.travillatour.com There is also a touching story behind the exhibition, read it on the Travilla website or donate to the Alzheimer's Society www.alzheimers.org.uk I will also be adding another blog on Travilla and Marilyn once I've done some more creations, so keep checking back!

Marilyn book

I am starting work on expanding my icons or 'So' range and was very happy to get a catalogue of the Marilyn Monroe auction that Christies held in 1999 today. I bought it on ebay so I wasn't sure what it was going to be like, but it is just jam-packed with beautiful photos and pictures of Marilyn Monroe's clothes and possessions from her feather boas to her white grand piano. It's going to be great to work from - I especially like the broderie anglaise dresses below