Charlotta Sisco of Reveries of Solace Fantasy Couture
July 04, 2009 | By
If there was anyone that could inspire me to pick up a new craft, more specifically making dresses, it would be none other than Charlotta Sisco of Reveries of Solace. Every dress has its own story and every bit of the dress has its own magical history. A mom, a business woman, and an inspiration.
First Name: Charlotta
Last Name: Sisco
Company Name: Reveries of Solace ~ Fantasy Couture
Where are you located: Houston, Texas
As a mother, what advice could you give other mothers seeking to start their own business?
Prepare for CHAOS! Set up a support system and organize the troops. Make sure to at least once a week schedule REAL time for your business venture that is longer than your little one's afternoon nap.
I know you now have three little girls, what part do they play in the creation of your dresses ?
Well, being a stay at home mom with them certainly forces me to take a longer look at each piece. We coexist with each dress for sometimes months at a time. Everyone sees the progress and gives their opinions freely. My four and seven year old have just started creating sketches for future gowns and I am really inspired!! I mean, what adult would have thought of a bunny fairy dress and backed up their idea with a perfectly valid sketch of their vision??
If you could describe your dresses in ONE word what would it be?
Fantastical!
What is the one medium you have not used on your dresses but would like to?
Well, not so much a medium as a tool. I have had an airbrush for over a year now, but have yet to try it out. I am itching to fine tune the detailed painting, but quite honestly am still to scared of that monstrosity called a compressor!
Do you have a favorite store that you purchase your materials from?
I try really hard to use only articles that have had a former life so garage sales and thrift stores are my favorite. I cringe when I have to go to Joann's for that perfect shade of ribbon, etc. Somehow articles loose their magic when I am the first "owner" so I will do everything in my power to achieve the look I want with what I have. Thus, of course, making the creative process FAR more tedious....but I LOVE it!
How was the actual name, Reveries of Solace created?
At the time of developing my web site we had only our first two girls, Solis and Reverie. Since the girls truly are the inspiring force that nudged this dream into reality, I thought it appropriate to name the venture after them. Now with Veda's recent birth, I am not sure what I am going to do! I can't leave anybody out!
How did fantasycouture.com come about?
I first sold my personal handmade Sally costume (" Nightmare Before Christmas") on Ebay and was stunned at the positive response and made more. A couple of years later when Burton's movie "Corpse Bride" came out I could not wait to create Emily's gown. WOW! HUGE response. Many Emily and Sally costumes later I grew bored and felt like I was mooching off of Burton's vision. So I put faith into my own fascination of fairies and fantasy. I was surprised to discover that my own creative vision was well received and I couldn't make gowns fast enough for Ebay auctions. With all of the interest in my gowns for weddings and fairies, I thought I should have a place to offer them year round without the risky auction format.
What is your favorite dress that you have made thus so far? ( I have my own favorite )
Hmm.....That is REALLY hard. Throughout the creative process with each gown I have a love/hate relationship and I end up appreciating different things about each one. Some of them photograph so well while others are so much better received in person. Some of them carry sentimental value and some are created in such a blinding creative spurt that I will never forget the feeling they gave me in the process. All things considered, I would have to choose the Sea Fairy in greens, purples, and golds. The sequin bodice's first life was as my 1991 prom dress. Funny thing? That is my husbands absolute LEAST favorite. To each their own!
You mentioned that you also do custom orders, how do you go about pricing
custom jobs?
That is a toughie. I have considered stopping custom all together. It is such a source of stress to stay in the confines of someone else's creative vision and budget. One must be really interested in my work as an art form and maintain a very open mind for me to accept an order. As far as pricing is concerned, it will depend on the size of the gown, my time involved, and what materials are used.
Do you sell your work anywhere else other than your website?
Around Halloween I begin to list and sell on Ebay. I gained a true admiration of Ebay and respect of buyers there when I began offering pieces on the auction site. I also listed a gown on Etsy once and would like to list more there when I finish some of the smaller, less involved pieces that I will have to offer.
Aside from creating dresses do you make or create anything else?
Oh my goodness! There are always plenty of projects around here!! Anything from creative cupcakes to Sculpty dolls to bathroom curtains.
What is the best piece of advice you can give other artists?
Trite as it may be; always stay true to YOURSELF and experiment often!
If you won a thousand dollars to spend on improving your business what would you
spend it on ?
A used industrial sewing machine and an invincible dress form!
Charlotta Sisco can be found at:
In addition to being a columnist at handmadenews.org, Jennifer is a self taught graphic design artist and photographer based in England, specializing in photo artwork. Turning family photos into works of art. Come see what you can become at My Magic Me Studios.
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