When Inner Spring Turns Into Eidergown
Sun Herald
Sunday September 24, 2006
IT'S the ultimate in spring fashion. For an HSC assessment, year 12 student Danielle Kelly has transformed a mattress into a stunning flowing gown complete with upholstery and metal springs.
The unusual project, undertaken as Danielle's major work for her design and technology course, has taken almost a year of preparation, creative design and hand and machine stitching.The dress has an impressive detachable bustle where delicate fabric flowers protect the wearer from the springs' sharp points.Its construction consumed Danielle's entire July holidays and led to nights when she was up until 3am.An old family mattress destined for the tip provided the SCECGs Redlands student with unexpected inspiration for the project.After a trip to a mattress manufacturer in Padstow (and a $140 each way taxi fare), Danielle had the ingredients to begin her project.After taking the mattress apart layer by layer, she stitched together various elements to create the dress."The idea behind the gown was to demonstrate how a basic product such as a mattress can be reused and re-created into something quite different," Danielle, 17, said.The total cost of materials for Danielle's creation, called Sleeping Beauty, has climbed to almost $400."I love making something people are amazed by. I love seeing everyone's reaction," she said.NSW Board of Studies figures show 4000 year 12 students are enrolled in the Design and Technology HSC course this year. Students' major works, which had to be submitted by August 28, comprise 60 per cent of their final mark.The written HSC exams begin on October 19.COUNTING DOWN* HSC design and technology students handed in their major works by the end of August. Their projects comprise 60 per cent of the final mark.* Design and technology written exams are on October 23.* HSC exams begin October 19 and finish November 15.
© 2006 Sun Herald