the portrait dress

Did any of you see the new "Room with a View" on PBS last night? The Merchant and Ivory version of this film was my favorite when I was a teenager. I watched it dozens of times. Once my girlfriends and I were watching it at my house. My mom walked into the room just as the rotund Mr. Beebe, the handsome George and young Freddie were joyfully dashing into the local pond, stark naked. I sort of panicked, my mind racing through my options: should I turn off the t.v., or simply try to quickly fast forward this scene? In my moment of indecision, I did nothing. My mom, who is a very wholesome, conservative sort, about fell off the sofa in uncontrollable laughter. My girlfriends and I nearly died laughing at my mom's reaction. When the scene had ended, she said: "let's watch it again!" This will forever remain a favorite memory of my mom and of this beloved movie. I hope you all get a chance to watch the new version. It's well made, but lacks perhaps the vigor and passion of the older version. Maybe it's also the absence of the amazing Merchant and Ivory soundtrack,--remember "o mio babbino caro"--that lessons the impact of the new film. Anyway, it's always fun to see a new interpretation of a favorite story.

Here's a new interpretation of a simple dress, personalized with an embroidered line drawing of my girl. What could be more personal than a portrait dress? I gave it a modern look with white embroidery thread on heavy navy linen--the perfect backdrop to frame H's little four-year-old face.