The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-09-01

signing, WHICH came ABOUT because
an artist friend, Sheila Ellsworth BIZ
Starts on Career
Miss Burlinghame, now a fresco
artist and sculptoress, had executed
some batiks and wanted Mrs. Mat
thews to design from them tea
gowns for a society woman.
"Oh, 1 couldn't possibly" gasped
the young designer. I've never at
tempted anything so big" Miss
Burlinghame understood her youth
full reluctance, but she was deter
mined.
She invited Mrs. Matthews to tea
one day. Another guest was there.
The woman, Mrs. Matthews soon
was to learn, was the one who want
ed the gowns.
1T was something I couldn't es-
cape. 1 couldn't be rude and refuse,
so 1 made several for her and her
daughter" Mrs. Matthews recalled.
She blended the colors of the batikS
with the lines suitable for the per-
sonality of the wearer.
Admired by Artist
The gowns later were exhibited in
Kansas City. An artist admir-
ing them one day asked her if she
knew what period they represented.
well. no." she confessed con-
fusedly. L just followed the feel
of how the material should be de-
signed"
They're Renaissance" he an
swered. That was proof enough Of
the accuracy Of her instinct, for the
patterns of Miss Burlinghame's ba-
tiks were Renaissance.
For two years Mrs. Matthews has
been in charge of costumes for the
Children's theater and the Actors
and Workers Guild of the Civic the
alter.
IT'S been forever that I've been
designing for my family and
friends" she explained. AT 7 1
was dressing dolls for party prizes
and at IL made my first dress"
She recalls worrying her fam
ily to submission in the matter Of
designing their dresses. At II she
bought $50 worth of material to
make herself an ensemble
Success With Costume
Her mother was aghast at her
confidence. but rather than shatter
it, she merely smiled hopefully.
The dress turned out success
fully, but Mother later confessed
that the experience added at least
dozen gray hairs to her head" Mrs.
Matthews reminisced.
Mr.. Matthews admireS his wife'S
gift of line and color executions in
costumes. and she is proud of his
tone and rhythm interpretations on
piano and organ. While he plays
the organ at Tabernacle Presby-
terrain church as a hobby, she is
making articulate her talent.
L encourage his musical express
sion and he sympathizes with my
artistic inclination" pointed out
Mrs. Matthews. We have fun de-
batting whose talent 5-year-old Paul
Jr. Will inherit"
Enjoys Her Work
Il like best the planning. buying,
cutting and fitting" explained Mrs.
Matthews. who is young, vivid and
enthusiastic. I'd be pleased never
to see a needle and. thread. use
them only to get results. When
the dress is pinned up, all the thrill
of creation is gone.
People misrepressnt themselves
So" she lamented. They wear
dresses that betray their real per
sonalities.
Whether you approve yourself or
not. it's Mrs. Matthews idea that
YOU express your own individuality.
so many people initiate some one
else-inSide and outside. All you
have is an unconvincing copy" she
pointed out.
The coloring and temperament of
a person usually harmonic. she has
found. If the temperament is in
congruous to the coloring, it's probs-
blv because the natural tendency
has been aborted by affectation of
another's personality or frustrated
by environment, according to Mrs.
Matthews
Disturbed by Discords
It is usual. Mrs Matthews has
found. that a person with black hair
and contrasting bright eyes is more
abrupt. more metallic in character
and chooses combinations of pri-
mary colors that don't blend.
If a person dresses contrary to
her real self. Mrs. Matthews imme-
diately is conscious Of it. 1t dis
turbs her quite as much as a dis
cordant note upsetS a musician.
Il think the wrong effect regis
tiers on most people without the
same sense that have" Mrs.
Matthews explained. They ex-
perience an unexplainable repulsion.
for which they don't attempt to
account. It's really due 10 an artis-
tic reaction to an inappropriate cos
tune"
She has difficulty often when she
designs clothes for other people. for
they frequently can't agree on the
complete idea.
Many times their original ideas
are good, and then they add some
thing that detracts from the becom-
ing effect" she said.
Il try 10 interpret the personality
sof my subject and forget myself
attempt to draw out their individual