couture is a dream brought to life.

the combined work of artists, and a labor of love from very skilled hands,

are brought together to transform a one-of-a-kind vision into a reality.

it is a rare art form in today’s world,

and its existence 

underscores the value of preserving something well made.

Marie DeGeorge

the dream begins with a sketch

marie degeorge original graphite drawing

FOR THE EMBROIDERY ON THIS WEDDING GOWN, THE bride WANTED THE LOOK

OF SMALL WILD GARDEN FLOWERS AND A RANDOM TOSSED FEEL TO THE PLACEMENT.  

FOUR DESIGNS WERE SKETCHED WITH WHITE PENCIL ONTO BLACK 11” X 14” ART BOARDS

AND PRESENTED TO THE CLIENT. 

ELEMENTS FROM EACH WERE SELECTED AND RECOMBINED

TO CREATE A NEW OVERALL LACE EFFECT.

MULTI-PETALED FLOWERS, MIXED SIZES OF LEAVES, AND QUEEN ANNE’S LACE

WERE THE FINAL SELECTIONS.

THESE WERE THEN TRACED, CUT FROM TISSUE, AND PINNED TO THE finished TOILE

TO SHOW THE PLACEMENT OF THE ACTUAL EMBROIDERY. this will be shown below.

the first toile is created

the selected design motifs are then pinned onTO the

finished toile for placement

the toile is a cotton model of the gown.

It is used to check the fit and

overall proportions of the design.

occasionally, more than one toile is

created to reflect any design

modifications.

The image to the left shows

the first toile.

next, the DESIGN MOTIFS are TRANSFERRED ONTO

THE PATTERN PIECES OF THE WEDDING GOWN

USING A LIGHT BOX TO CHECK THE 

PLACEMENT, THE DESIGN MOTIFS

WERE HAND-DRAWN ONTO ALL EIGHT PANELS 

OF THE WEDDING GOWN PATTERN.

an EMBROIDERY SAMPLE is created

A SMALL TEST SAMPLE OF THE THREAD EMBROIDERY 

WAS DONE ON A PIECE OF THE SILK ORGANZA

AND SENT BACK TO THE STUDIO IN ATLANTA FOR APPROVAL.

THE CLOSENESS OF THE STITCHING AND OVERALL LOOK OF THE DESIGN

WERE CHECKED.

AFTER APPROVAL, THE FINAL ARTWORK WAS COMPLETED AND THE GOWN

PATTERN PIECES WERE SENT TO LOS ANGELES FOR EMBROIDERY.

click to watch video

“a true art form and a labor of love from very skilled hands.

it is an honor to work with these women.”

marie

here we explain all the STEPS

OF THE HAND EMBROIDERY PROCESS

as seen in the video above

PAPER PATTERN PIECES FOR THIS GOWN,

ALONG WITH THE CORRESPONDING SILK ORGANZA,

WERE SENT TO THE EMBROIDERS IN LOS ANGELES.

ALL OF THE ARTWORK ON EACH OF THE EIGHT PANELS

WERE TRANSFERRED IN WHITE CHALK ONTO THE SILK.

EACH OF THE FABRIC PANELS WERE ATTACHED TO AN EMBROIDERY FRAME,

AND THE HAND WORK BEGAN.

USING A SMALL EMBROIDERY HOOK, THE DESIGNS WERE EACH FILLED in

with WHITE THREAD IN A TIGHT PULL BACK CHAIN STITCH.

THE LOOK OF THE QUEEN ANNE’S LACE WAS CREATED BY THE ADDITION

OF HAND-MADE FRENCH KNOTS.

THE HAND EMBROIDERY FOR THIS GOWN TOOK SIX WOMEN

A TOTAL OF THREE HUNDRED HOURS.

THE FINISHED PANELS WERE THEN SENT BACK TO THE STUDIO IN ATLANTA

TO BE SEWN TOGETHER IN PREPARATION FOR THE FITTINGS.

THE wedding gown ready for final fittings

this wedding gown was done with

double layers of french seamed ivory silk organza,

a layer of satin-faced organza,

and lined with silk charmeuse.

The hems were hand-rolled and the back of the gown

was finished with silk-covered buttons.

final moments

image above: Deborah Whitlaw LLewellyn photography