MFAM Week 4: China Doll

Week four is finally here! The original post was a little late this time around, and I'm blaming it on my turtle jacket, my car (which was in the shop), and my finicky router and nearly non-existent internet connection.

This week we're exploring part of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art's Asian art collection. The Nelson is home to one of the greatest collections of Chinese art in the U.S., including one of my favorite pieces, a small (less than 3 inches in diameter!) biscuit porcelain basket of flowers. (Photos can be found on my blog.)

While this week's project isn't quite as delicate or lovely as its inspiration, it does have a similar floral design. The cut wasn't very flattering and the sleeves were all kinds of awkward, but it was only $1, so I brought it home.

I think there's more fabric in the sleeves than the rest of the top.

Since the sleeves were so wide where they met the rest of the shirt, I figured I'd turn this top into a short cape.

To start, I used my seam ripper to undo the seams in the sides and the sleeves, leaving the front and the back of the shirt hanging open. 

Six sides of funky floral fabric.

I liked the hexagonal shape the shirt already had, so all I had to to after that was finish the edges and replace a button on the collar, choosing a button that was similar to the jewel detail on one of the Nelson's ceramic pieces.

Matchy-matchy.

I wasn't sure what to wear my new cape with, so I went with my old stand-by - black pants, black shirt, and black shoes. It's not terribly creative, but it usually works.

MFAM Week 4: Chinese Art

Here's hoping next week is a little easier. (Oh, great car and internet gods, please have mercy on me!) Don’t forget to tune in next week for the next MFAM installment, and remember, please don’t touch the art.

- Elizabeth
aka The Hungry Octopus

Now blogging at www.TheHungryOctopus.com!