Cheryse says: All of us in our youth dreamed of having one night where we could be a fairytale princess. Maybe a couple of decades late, emerging Young Adult author Danielle Sevenwaters grabbed that chance at her recent masquerade birthday ball where she became Ever After‘s Danielle du Barbarac for a single night (fairytale gown included). Please help me welcome Danielle Sevenwaters to my website as she guest blogs about the enchantment of love and fairytale princesses…
Danielle write
s…
“Since my first crush, Billy Draffen in high school, I’ve ached to find my Prince Charming. That heady rush caused by that boy simply turning up to class was a very addictive drug.
“However most, if not all, of my dalliances ended in disaster, with me wailing on the living room floor of my one-bedroom rented flat, screaming to the Gods, “Why doesn’t he like me? Why! Why! Why!?”
“While my love life was less than perfect, I did find somewhere that true love existed… in movies. The girl always got her dream guy, even if she had to crawl through mud to get there. Eventually I did meet the man I was to marry, but my obsession with love never waned. I was and always will be in love with the notion of true love.
“When my 40th birthday rolled around, one of my dear friends and I decided to host a Masquerade Ball. My costume was never in question.
“eBay became my friend. My husband wondered what all the little packets were that kept arriving in the mail… beads, pearls, lace, fabric, all started arriving. I found a sewing pattern that resembled the dress from the film so after a few fabric dramas, I was off and sewing.
“The lace was all hand dyed (the dress now has a slightly caffeinated aroma) and then hand sewn to each piece of the dress.
“The gown itself was made from 6m of Ivory Shantung silk, 5m of silver shot crinkle chiffon silk and 8m of beaded lace, an
d featured more than 400 beads and pearls all hand sewn to the sleeves and bodice. After months of work, hand-beading and sewing, late night phone calls to my mother and being rescued by her far superior sewing skills, the gown was finished.
“Now, Da
nielle du Barbarac nor Drew Barrymore were pregnant in the film, so I hope I can be forgiven for my portly appearance, but for one night I got to be the princess from the film I have loved for so long.
“The party was held at the Murray Bridge sailing club, right on the bank of the Murray River. A lot of good friends drove all the way from the city to our little corner of the world to celebrate with music, games and a lot of pavlova and cake.
“It was really special to see the effort that everyone went to for a really special night. Even my pixie-garbed two year old kicked on until stumps, finally collapsing in a heap on the still pumping dance floor.” – Danielle Sevenwaters
Cher says: Thanks, Dani-K, for dropping in. I love your gown and thoroughly believe every girl deserves at least one night as a fairytale princess. Fortunately, with books, we have the chance to live other people’s fantastical and magical lives over and over again. 🙂
Danielle Sevenwaters is an aspiring Young Adult author. You can connect with her via her Website , Facebook or Twitter
