PET DRESSUP - Creative Edge November 2020
DESIGNS & TEXT BY HITOMI GILLIAM AIFD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY COLIN GILLIAM | FEATURING SWARLEY THE DOG
“I had fun this month with Cosplay – a portmanteau of the words costume play. It is a performance art whereby the costume wearer represent a specific character. Flowering your pet… or Pet Dressup can be a fun distraction for social media posting!
Our special pets ultimately can garner more ‘LIKES’ modelling our flower creations with their cuteness!!
In creating flower costumes for our mini Australian Shepherd, SWARLEY, I wanted to come up with 3 different characters for him to cosplay. Different storyline for characterization was imagined, before working through the mechanics, techniques and flower choices to complete the costume.
I created 3 personalities this month for Swarley. Costume dressup is not limited to Halloween with pets…. We can dress them up any time of the year.”
COSTUME one
‘Dude’ Flower Bandana
“Flowers to wear that personifies the true character of the person… or in this case, the pet. Swarley is a miniature Australian Shepherd… he is a true herder by nature and a protector. He thinks he is a tough guy and a real ‘DUDE’.
I designed for him, a masculine look (more textural material rather than flowery) BANDANA to be work around his neck, worn slightly off center to look rugged and COOL!!”
BOTANICALS Amaranthus caudatus (Hanging Amaranthus), Astrantia major, Celosia cristata (Cockscomb), Chrysanthemum pompom, Eucalyptus seeded (Eucalyptus gunnii var.), Hypericum androsaemum, Sempervivum sp. (Hens & Chicks), Grevillea broadleaf sp.
SUPPLIES Aluminum wire (yarn wrapped), Flatwire 1” (yarn wrapped), Felt, Hot Glue
ORDER YOUR LIMITED SIGNED PRINT TODAY
Purchase a Limited Run 8x10 Creative Edge print this month and 100% of Profits will be donated to the BCSPCA. Signed by Hitomi and printed on a high quality 320gsm photo paper, this month’s print features Swarley & his ‘Dude’ Flower Bandana!
*Limited to 50 Prints / Available for a Limited Time
COSTUME two
‘Foxy Tail’ Flower Cosplay
“Swarley is a tail-less mini Australian Shepherd. With this flower coat, he becomes the perfect fox with a bushy Pampas grass tail. The back spine of the coat has a ½” yarn-covered flat wire through the middle and 2 midollino extenders are glued to the hem on the head end, and the rear end so it extends and twist ties on the underside of his body. The top of the coat attaches at the back of the neck, to the dog collar.
The mums, scabiosa pods, hypericum are in autumnal foxy color. The pampas grass helps the botanicals transition to the furry texture. In this glorious fall colored coat, Swarley feels he can blend in with the foxes, and prance around with the bushy tail!!”
BOTANICALS Chrysanthemum disbud ‘Sunny Dip’, Chrysanthemum spider disbud (bronze), Chrysanthemum pompon, Hypericum androsaemum, Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana), Scabiosa pods (Scabiosa stellate), Grevillea broadleaf sp., Hydrangea petiolaris foliage
SUPPLIES Bindwire (Oasis), 2pc. Midollino Extenders (see YouTube Video Tutorial), ½” Flatwire wrapped with yarn, Floral Adhesive (Oasis), Hot Glue
COSTUME THREE
‘Derby’ Flower Fascinator
“Pet dressup does not have to be restricted to worn costumes…. For florist pet owners, we can consider many options of flower to wear. I decided to create a fashionable flower fascinator like the ladies wear for ‘Derby’ outings in England. It’s a show of social pedigree and status amongst ‘Derby’ pets.
The base mechanics should attach to the pet harness, the collar on the backside and a twisted midollino extender under the neck to secure solidly. A well heeled British pet model can walk the Derby with some poise… but it took our Australian herder dog much precautionary securing to capture this photo.
A simple fascinator gluing base was created with combination of cardboard, chenille stems and chenille wire to begin this construction.
Repetition of form in designing…. Starting the flowering with individual bracts of Guzmania flaring out, set the directional flow of materials to create this flower to wear. Pincushion Protea became the focus emphasis area with mini callas, Euphorbia, Scabiosa pods and other flowers and berries to radiate outward.”
BOTANICALS Calla Mini (Zantedeschia rehmannii), Celosia cristata (Cockscomb), Chrysanthemum disbud ‘Sunny Dip’, Euphorbia fulgens, Guzmania sp., Hypericum androsaemum, Malus sp. (Ornamental Crabapple), Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana), Pincushion Protea (Leucospermum cordifolium), Scabiosa pods (Scabiosa stellate), Grevillea Broadleaf
SUPPLIES Cardboard, Chenille stems, Floral Adhesive (Oasis), Flocked wire (Oasis), Midollino Extender (see YouTube Video Tutorial)
