Thursday, April 18, 2013

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

 
It's late, I'm pooped, no narrative tonight but here are my latest photos of Brittney's Wedding Dress and an awesome arrangement made by our friend Sandy.  I LOVE the cabbage!
 



 
 
 





Friday, April 12, 2013

Zippity Doo Dah



It was beautiful day in North Garden.  The long range weather forecast looks great for the wedding on Friday a week and one hour from today.  Outside the grass is greening, the trees are budding, and the forsythia is blooming.  I left the door open today and soft breeze blew through the house. The long cold winter has made me happy to greet Spring.  I am almost giddy.  


I took the dress to town to get the zipper put in today.  I haven't sewn in a zipper in 35 years and figured that this is probably not a good time to practice so I put it in the capable hands of my friend Carla at Les Fabriques.  She is a multi-tasker, she put the zipper in, helped a customer and talked to me all at the same time.  It didn't take her long...I know that because I only put 2 quarters in the parking meter and there was still time on the meter when I got back in the car.

Look how pretty the scalloped edge matches up.  All I need is to put a little hook at the top of the zipper and it will be ready to go.



Thursday, April 11, 2013

Half Flower Woes


I have the most beautiful tulip magnolias blooming in my front yard that I have to share them.  The tree isn't very impressive but once a year it gives me these beautiful blossoms.

On to the dress...yesterday I pinned the lace on the skirt of the dress and realized that although it matches perfectly there really was not enough circumference for the lace to lay out right.  If I pulled it together in the back then the front didn't lay right so I decided that I would sew in a wedge at the train.  In the back of my mind I sort of thought this might happened so I squirreled away a piece just large enough to complete it.  This is no biggie.


Before I can put the wedge in the back of the train I have to sew the seams which I decided to do by hand.  When I hand sew there is only one thread and that is about as invisible as I can make a seam AND that is what I am going for.

Now the problem that I ran in with this seam is that it cut through some of the larger flowers and while it barely visible it bothers me so there is what the seams looks like at the seam.  See the flower that is cut in half?  This drives me nuts!


Here's what I am doing to solve the half-flower dilemma.


I used a little scrap of lace fabric and cut out all of the flowers.  Then I used my bottle of fray check to seal all the edges so that they won't unravel.  I've laid them out to dry overnight so they'll be ready in the morning.


I've put a pin in so that you can see where the half flower is and how it will look when I sew the lace applique in place.


I have 4 seams that I need to do this to so I am going to close and hop in bed...I have a big day ahead of me tomorrow and a lot of hand sewing.


Monday, April 1, 2013

Something Blue


Something old,
something new,
something borrowed,
something blue,
and a silver sixpence in her shoe.



Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride.  If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy.

"Something old" symbolizes continuity with the bride's family and the past. 

"Something new" means optimism and hope for the bride's new life ahead. 

"Something borrowed" is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family.

As for the colorful item, blue has been connected to weddings for centuries.  "Marry in blue, lover be true."

And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents wealth and financial security. 


When I got married my something old, and something borrowed were the same thing .  My mother-in-law Elizabeth lent me a cameo brooch, my dress was new and store bought, and my mother gave me a hankie with blue lace on the edge. 

Yesterday I printed out "Brittney & Jon April 20, 2013" with a washable marker on the hem facing of the dress and embroidered it in blue.  When you turn the hem up the writing is right side up and it will make a cute photo. 


I like something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue...but I really don't get a silver sixpence in her shoe...I know it rhymes but it seems to me that a purse would be more practical AND it wouldn't cause a blister.