Ahnalin Was A Flower Girl

Actually, both of my girls were in the wedding party.

The bride was a beautiful girl named Ashlee,

whom we have loved since she and India met

in the 7th grade.

India was honored to be Ashlee's Maid Of Honor

and she was so thrilled to be there for her.
Thankfully, I didn't have to make the bridesmaid
dresses for this wedding.

And Ahnalin was asked to be Ashlee's Flower Girl!

So this gave mama the opportunity 

to make a special dress for her to wear.

Ahnalin refuses to wear anything that scratches or itches

or is slippery or makes noise when she moves.

And the temperature was to be around 100 degrees

at the wedding.

So, that meant that I needed to make something 

that was comfortable for Ahnalin,

yet beautiful and "wedding appropriate".

I chose to make the bodice out

of one of Ahnalin's favorite styles.

As usual, I didn't use a pattern,

because I just measure her chest and 

waist and cut it out.

I had to made this dress in a short amount of time

(due to a crazy packed sewing schedule!)

and a very limited budget.

So, I grabbed my bolt of white Imperial Broadcloth

out of my stash, and started creating.

The vintage cotton lace had been in my stash 

for a while too.

I had purchased it about a year ago from 

a local crafting thrift store in Sebastopol

called"Legacy".

Ahnalin did not want a slip or any tulle

under her dress,

so I decided to make the skirt with an overskirt.

She wanted it to overlap like a tulip.

I added the lace at the hem as well.

Ahnalin felt that it made the dress

look more like a dress from

"Thoroughly Modern Millie".

She said she felt like a real bride in this dress.

I had these clear lacy buttons in my 

button jar just waiting for the perfect dress.

The bride had chosen silver accents

for the bridesmaids dresses she chose for her girls.

So the silver dots on the buttons were just right!

I also added sash carriers

so that the green ribbon 

would stay somewhat in place,

even with my active Ahnalin.

Ashlee had chosen silver shoes for herself

and her bridesmaids.

So I was very excited to find these

"Cinderella" shoes at the Disney Store

for a very reasonable price.

How very princess-like!

Ahnalin wanted me to take a picture with the 

lilies in our backyard.

Both of my girls looked lovely at the wedding

and had a wonderful time celebrating 

Ashlee and her new husband Jeremy.

Eventually, India tried to teach

Ahnalin a little line dancing.

But then Ahnalin got tired 

and asked if she could play games on my iPad

to chill out for a while.

The wedding was beautiful.

Ashlee and Jeremy are now "man and wife".

And we are back home in time

for school to start this week!

I am back to work sewing,

and have openings for customs again.

But tonight,

I must make a "First day of school" dress

for the little bridesmaid. 

Happy Sewing!

Sivje

Lovely Lace and a Little Bit of Pink

Over the years, I have been the very blessed recipient of many beautiful and needful sewing gifts. Occasionally, I have received lovely, old handmade laces. While I gratefully accept these precious pieces, I often wonder how someone could part with these treasures. I have never tried to make lace, and have tried, but failed miserably to crochet and knit. So I am in awe at the dedication required to make lace. It is beautiful. And it makes me so respect the women of these nearly lost arts. And I feel such a connection with these artists as I hold these lovelies, just as they held them during the many, many hours of labor.

After many moves, across the country and back again, I finally am going through the boxes, cataloging, organizing, cleaning, and restoring the many treasures I have been given. And I was just a bit terrified at the thought of cleaning these often delicate pieces. Some are small, some are shaped like collars, and some are several yards long.

Ever since seeing this dress in Sew Beautiful magazine, which was sewn by my friend Laurie,  I fell in love! I showed the dress to India and we started to plan for her own graduation dress. She will graduate high school in June, and she deserves a really beautiful dress! And so this lace will be a lovely enhancement to a beautiful dress for my gorgeous and talented daughter. Because I have so many patterns, and often design my own, I rarely purchase patterns. But this one, I ordered.

So, knowing that we are just 9 months from graduation, and those months will fly, I decided to put my fears away, and tackle the job of cleaning these laces.  I had read an awesome tutorial from another sewing friend of mine, Bunny,  and decided that I could do it! So......I did it! And it worked! I was able to get almost all of the spots out, except for two, and I never touched a drop of bleach! Amazing!

I love these. They are so perfect that I wondered if they were machine made. But as I inspected them, I found knots, in different places on each flower. And each flower or leaf is slightly different. But they are perfect. I can just see these on the skirt of the dress. Oh, so beautiful.

Thank you Laurie and Bunny for your wonderful inspiration. And I want to thank the talented artists who made these delicate pieces, and the kind people who gave them to me to appreciate. I wish I could remember who they are, but it has been many years since I received them.

Ok, now you get to see something rare. Well, I am not sure if this little toy sewing machine is rare or not. But, what I mean is the rarity of the purchase.  I am not a person who spends money on my self. I will purchase fabric and notions, but usually only to make clothing items for my children or clients, or for items to sell. I have a terrible fear of purchasing anything that could be construed as even remotely "frivolous". Money is almost always tight and I am extremely frugal.

Well, I love the color pink. And I have wanted a pink Singer Featherweight sewing machine ever since I saw one on another blog. Oh......I was GREEN with envy (another rarity for me). I am usually very content, and struggle with wanting things for myself when we have so many other places for money to be of use. But OH! I wanted that sewing machine!

So, I have been on the lookout for a pink machine. I do not need another machine. Really!

But since I have been selling my Bloomer Skirt pattern, I had some money in my Paypal account. Oh. Well.  You  do know that Ebay takes Paypal, right? Um.... So, I found this little pink TOY sewing machine. I HAD to have it! I was surprised even at myself! I mean, I am the kind of girl who has asked for wool socks and a new iron for birthdays and Christmas. I am practical! This little pink beauty is NOT practical. Not at all.

But it is MINE! I love it and am so happy I bought it. It makes me smile to see it.

So, I guess I had better get to work on the next pattern so I can make some more money, right? I may get that pink Featherweight yet!

Oh, and to reiterate yesterdays post, I am going to have another giveaway soon! And I want to make sure that I can reach the winner, when it is time. So, if you want me to test your email from your comments, just ask me to send you a test email.

I pray you have a beautiful weekend!