As usual, I needed a new dress for the next convention, as I like to have a new one for every convention I do. I knew my neighbour Debbie Trigg made wedding dresses and used to be an upholsterer, she makes all her own curtains and bedding! So I asked her in for a coffee and told her all about my secret life, she laughed at first, then looked at some photos and thought I looked incredible and agreed to make the dress.
I don't know why I decided on the one from 'Weapon', it's not my all time favourite, but it just stuck in my mind. I went to John Lewis yet again to buy materials, Debbie telling me not to buy anything for the collar, which I wondered about. She came into mine for fittings, a good thing really as she has 2 sons, aged 13 and 11 at the time, and so questions would have been asked!
On the final fitting, Debbie was carrying a box, which she put to one side whilst I put the dress on. Then she told me to close my eyes and hold my hands out. I felt something cold and circular in my hands, so I opened my eyes and there it was, a copy of the real collar! Debbie had made it out of a thick wire coat hanger and chicken wire, and threaded pearls and beads on to the wire. The twist of the tale is she knew of Blake's 7 but couldn't tell me a thing about the programme, but made this fantastic dress from just watching the video I leant her.
