Rhapsody in Blue

Rice Rafferty Couture Accessories
Rhapsody in Blue Series

Pill Box Hat 

Blue Organza Floral Embellishment

Luxurious Tulle dyed in shades of blue accented with faux blue seed pearls and a feather.

Captivating blue sparkle fascinator is embellished with blue Russian Veiling and Tulle and feathers.

Luscious layers of Tulle dyed in shade of blue accented with faux blue seed pearls.

Layers of blue Tulle Cocktail Hat accented with three feathers.

Three blue Organza Floral Embellishments, blue faux seed pearls and feathers create a stunning head piece.

The reverse side of each Rice Rafferty product is as skillfully finished as the front. 

   Please visit Kara and me www.ricerafferty.com 

"Everybody's beautiful In their own way Under God's heaven The world's gonna find a way. " Ray Stevens

 Since my long break from regular posting I have had a series of life changing events that have opened my creative energies for a service I am passionate about and very capable of filling the need with compassion.

Two years ago after much testing I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2010.  

I can tell you for sure, "When Momma has breast cancer the entire family deals with breast cancer."

 Long story shortened both of my son and my daughter got married within this past year.

How do cancer care and weddings go together you might be thinking right now?

I'll tell you my experience with numerous doctor visits and hospital surgeries for breast cancer has opened my eyes to many lovely ladies who are choosing not to hide their hair loss from chemotherapy under a wig.

 Yes, you can be very bald and very beautiful.

As many of you are aware my daughter Kara and I teamed our artistic abilities to launch a cottage industry in my home/ studio in Clarence, NY.  We named our indie designer partnership Rice Rafferty because that is our touchstone Rice my maiden name is Kara's middle name. And Rafferty of course we shared as our last name.  

Rice Rafferty Couture Accessories been steadily building sales from customers who want something special.

Women who are either not happy with what they see in the stores, want to have have input to their own custom made one of a kind design over mass produced goods or have a special need item made just for them.  Slowly we have been building customers from word of mouth along with return satisfied repeat customers.

" Design a veil for a bride who is presently without hair. " was the latest design request brought to our attention.

 We knew our bride does not want to wear a wig yet she wants to wear something pretty to feel festive on her special day.  Here are a few examples we have designed with our beautiful bride in mind.  

This veil is made of soft tulle and can be made in white, ivory or any shade.   Keep in mind the veil is made to measure so we can make it any length you wish.

We added a Bridal Tiara in the first image for a touch of excitement. 

The second image shows the back view where the veil is tied behind the head inspired by long tresses of hair gathered in a soft ribbon.

 In the third image we attached our handmade peony flower embellished with a feather.  Each flower is handmade so it can be created in any shade or size.  This lovely peony is 4.5" wide created in ivory and champagne chiffon accented with seed pearls.

Kara and I look forward to working with you to make your wedding or special occasion dream designs come true.  

Please look at our website http://carolannricerafferty.com/

Feel free to follow us on facebook Rice Raffery.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rice-Rafferty-Couture-Accessories/203899441756
or shop online @
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ricerafferty

We look forward to hearing from and working with you soon ;~)

“Almost all words do have color and nothing is more pleasant than to utter a pink word and see someone's eyes light up and know it is a pink word for him or her too”

“Almost all words do have color and nothing is more pleasant than to utter a pink word and see some one's eyes light up and know it is a pink word for him or her too”     Gladys Taber

In the Pink Collection was inspired by Breast Cancer Awareness and the Look Good Feel Better programs to promote breast health and wellness for women of all ages.

This one of a kind In the Pink Statement Necklace will be available tonight at

http://www.vivaforlife.org/Celebrations.html

 ViVA for Life, 

 an evening of celebration, is a Creative Black Tie Gala

" Breast cancer has touched many lives in our community. ViVA for Life, an Evening of Celebration was created to help generate much needed revenue and to celebrate living. All proceeds from this event benefit the WNY Breast Resource Center at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and will stay right here in WNY to assist in this daily fight and impact many lives. "

                            2010 Celebration on Friday, September 24, 2010 from 8pm to 12am.

 Kara and I of ricerafferty designs donated this pieces with hopes it is purchased and treasured by someone who is thriving not just surviving the battle against breast cancer.

                                                  Look for more ricerafferty
                               In the Pink accessories as they become available.

                                Check our websitehttp://www.ricerafferty.com/

                                                 In the Pink Collection

The color pink is named after the flowers called pinks, flowering plants in the genus Dianthus. The name derives from the frilled edge of the flowers—the verb "to pink" dates from the 14th century and means "to decorate with a perforated or punched pattern" (possibly from German "pinken" = to peck).[11] As noted and referenced above, the word “pink” was first used as a noun to refer to the color we know today as pink in the late 17th century. The verb sense of the word “pink” continues to be used today in the name of the hand tool known as pinking shears.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink

Pink is a pale red color. The use of the word for the color we know today as pink was first recorded in the late 17th century.
Although the pink is roughly considered just as a tint of red in fact most variations of pink lie between red, white and magenta colors. This means that the pink's hue is somewhat between red and magenta
Roseus is a Latin word meaning "rosy" or "pink." Lucretius used the word to describe the dawn in his epic poem On the Nature of Things (De Rerum Natura).The word is also used in the binomial names of several species, such as the Rosy Starling (Sturnus roseus) and Catharanthus roseus. In most Indo-European languages, the color pink is called rosa.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink

                   Embellish yourself with a gift of PINK or give as a gift to someone you LOVE ;~)

 Don't see what you want yet ???  Each piece is handcrafted from hand dyed tulle, silk, handmade Polymer Clay hand painted Rose and up cycled jewelry items.

               Choose from our luscious Blessing Basket full of shades that will make anyone feel
                                                              In the Pink

Trapeze dresses are constructed of fabric falling straight from the shoulders with no shaping seams. Think “shapeless,” and you have the trapeze dress

Ultra Feminine Warrior this shear, sexy, full body armour, my final garment is an art object inspired by the Trapeze dress so popular in the 1960's.
Cut just above the knee in the front, gently suggesting a train in the back, I created an over sized tutu. The look is pure fun and truly playful. Aftrer all fashion shows are a place to express the extremes.
My wearable art object is hand stitched from generous yards of tulle is light, airy and just plain fun to wear. Embedded with silk floral elements and fiber optic lights you will be sure to be noticed. Trapeze dresses are best worn with sexy, light, strap, sandals paired with bare legs. I cut through the layers to expose a rich copper hued, 100 % silk chemise. Detach the snaps and wear the Tulle Tutu anyway you wish ;~)

" Contrary to what it sounds like, a trapeze dress is not something worn by a female flying aerialist. The name actually refers to the word "trapezoid," a geometric figure in which the sides flare out. The trapeze dress, narrow at the top and wider at the bottom, originally saw popularity in the 1950s and again became popular at the beginning of the 21st century.
A trapeze dress can have many variations and still fit the definition, but the term basically refers to a dress that is narrow at the bodice and flares out loosely at the bottom so that it swings freely. The classic trapeze dresses were sleeveless, but some featured long sleeves, sometimes cuffed.
Origin
Yves Saint Laurent became the head of the House of Dior when Christian Dior died in 1957. The following spring, the young Saint Laurent, only 21 when he was thrust into the spotlight, came up with a new collection that featured the trapeze dress. Part of the popularity of the new fashion was attributed to the freedom afforded by a loose-fitting garment in contrast to the tight waists women were used to wearing.

http://www.tulle.net/fashion.asp

History
In 1958 First Lady Mamie Eisenhower wore a silk shantung trapeze dress, decorated with bows, as part of her spring wardrobe; manufacturers produced instant copies, and the popularity of the style took off. By the 1960s the trapeze dress evolved, becoming a mini-dress and usually featuring a sleeveless top, sometimes cut to resemble a halter. The dress style has continued to fade in and out of style over the years. " http://www.ehow.com/about_5418362_trapeze-dress.html

With forty plus years of sewing experience, I have been designing dresses and creating wardrobe accessories for Kara and myself to enjoy.

Ultra Feminine Warrior collection was designed for celebrating energy, creativity, sacred power of women. My collection of wearable art includes; garments, objects and accessories inspired from military armor such as gorgets, gauntlets and gaiters illuminated with technological fiber optic elements.

My collection began as a conversation during lunch with a mentor, fueled by a creative spark, powered by immeasurable woman hours; of sketching, dyeing fabrics, and sewing ended up on Runway 3.0
I had chills in my body and joy in my heart watching the young ladies model the fruits of my labor. It was a wonderful learning experience and most of all a labor of love creating great fun ;~)

“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.”
George Bernard Shaw

Special thanks and deep appreciation to my daughter, Kara Rice Rafferty.
She is the graphic designer, web designer, marketing director as well as my partner in our cottage industry rice rafferty.
All of my collection was created with Kara in mind. Having a daughter is like having a live Barbie doll where I first realized my love of sewing. Kara graciously agreed to wear the over sized Tutu ;~)
I love you Kara, it is truly a pleasure to be your mom ;~)