La Guadalupana
concept: scott talbert
designer/seamstress: rachel murphy

La Guadalupana is a one-off, original design by Rachel Murphy of
Silverlode Needlecraft. Inspired by the miraculous image of Our Lady of
Guadalupe in Mexico City, the dress is a combination of the lovely turquoise,
coral, and gold in her garment--with the addition of striking reds and coppers.

The base fabric is a coral-gold metallic silk, with a turquoise netting behind
the applique. The skirt lining and bloomers are made of a rich copper liquid
lame, and the pleats--front and back--are a multicolor glitterdot.

The embroidered lettering, "Mulier amicta sole et corona stellarum" ("A woman
clothed with the sun and a crown of stars") is an abridgement of Latin quote
from Revelation (12:1):

    Et signum magnum apparuit in cælo: mulier amicta sole, et luna
    sub pedibus ejus, et in capite ejus corona stellarum duodecim.

    Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the
    sun, with the moon under feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars.

The embroidery is freehand machine work in metallic threads of turquoise,
copper, red, and gold. The dress is accented with Swarovski crystals in "Light
Siam", "Sun", and "Blue Zircon", all with an Aurora Borealis shine, and
"Hyacinth".

The dress was completed in March, 2007, for a lovely dancer in Arizona.

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