I made a dress from my Grandmother’s kitchen wallpaper.

Growing up I always thought this flowered wallpaper from my grandmother’s kitchen would make a nice spring dress…

So when that kitchen was remodeled recently for the sale of the house, I had a chance to make that fantasy a reality!  This project was truly bitter sweet, but a great reminder of all the family meals we prepared and shared in that room. It was a great way to say goodbye to a house full of so many childhood memories.

To our surprise the vinyl wallpaper came off in large pieces that felt like stiff fabric. When I brought them home I began to pin the to a dress form.

The stiffness of the paper allowed for making creases and forming a dress shape without needing stitches. For the top I did need to sew some seams, but found that the sewing machine worked just fine.

When it was finished I actually wore it to Easter Sunday dinner and took pictures to celebrate. The dress itself was just a bit stiff, but totally wearable:

I even added a zipper:

So many memories…

I also cut out some of the flowers to make a matching bouquet. Now I keep them in a vase on my studio counter!

Do remember the wallpaper in your grandmother’s kitchen? Wallpaper isn’t the only paper dress I’ve created. My first paper dress was made from candy wrappers. Check it out!