Hiatus Over!

I don't even want to think about how long it has been since I last posted.  I do know that the last couple years have been incredibly busy and fruitful. Many brides have walked through my door, as well as their mothers and bridesmaids.

I have also begun doing contract alterations work for a well known local bridal shop. They keep me very very busy! 

It would be almost impossible to list and show all the lovely dresses I have been privileged to create in the past months; so I thought I would just show a quick slide show of my favorites!

Hope you enjoy looking as much as I enjoyed the creating!

This was a "Pretty in Pink" gown for a bride that had brought me a picture of a gown completely different form what we actually created. The only thing that really stayed the same from her original idea, was the color pink! 

Some brides want lots of color!  This bride did not want anything traditional! Red and black were her colors!  Its actually a short red and black lace short sheath, with a removable over skirt of cascading ruffles. The short sheath was necessary for her departure ride - on a motorcycle!  I put invisible zippers at the bottom of the side seams, that she could unzip for more freedom of movement.

A very good friend asked me to make her a beaded tunic for a special occasion. Simple construction, but it turned out so beautiful! The asymmetrical hem is trimmed in a beaded fringe.

This was a purchased gown that had a very long train, which I cut off, and created this pretty back drape with cap sleeves, to cover the open back.

This sweet young lady needed a flower girl dress for the wedding she was attending. She was such a joy to work with!  When she put on the finished dress, she teared up and said, "I am beautiful!"

In the first picture, here, you see a cathedral length gown that was worn several years ago by the bride, who brought it in to me ans asked that I take it apart and create 2 small flower girl dresses for her daughters, aged 18 months and 3 years. 


Okay - so this is certainly not everything I have worked on in since I last posted, but it will give you, dear readers, a small taste of what I have been up to! 

Next up - my recent fav's - both created and altered!

Dress Designs

I am finally taking a day to get caught up on my blog reading, my blog posting and maybe even clean up my Etsy Shop!
I had planned to spend ALL day doing this, but I got a last minute call last night on an emergency fitting, so I will have to take an hour off to get that done. Bummer. At least business is good - right?

About a week ago, I delivered another beach wedding gown to a very happy client! I didn't take any photos of it, because they just didn't do it justice on the dress form. She has promised me photos from her Hawaii wedding, which was yesterday. Can't wait to get them and share!

In the meantime, I have been working on a Drum Major outfit - it's kind of become a tradition. I started making them for the local high school about 4 years ago, and it has continued through the years since.
I've also been doing plenty of my regular alterations; although it has slowed down some. I can finally take a day or two off every week!

Lately, I have been playing with one of the pieces of fabric my husband brought me back from his first trip to Malaysia. I want to make my annual 'ICAS' gown for our convention in Vegas (December) out of this fabric, but the nature of the fabric calls for a special design. Here is where I need your help dear readers!
The fabric is an embroidered georgette, with a heavily embroidered border. There are about 8 yards of it, although it is only 42" wide, and if I remove the border it is about 6" more narrow.
In playing with it, I have come up with a few designs.

In this first draping, I have the border edge falling vertically in folds down the front, slightly off center. The bodice is a strapless draped silk doupioni.

Here, I have pleated the bordered edge of the fabric into a skirt, with the silk doupioni bodice in a sleeveless surplice style, and using the border trim of the fabric for the other side of the bodice.

These last 2 designs are similar in that they have the same bodice style, and the skirt is draped on the bias. In the second one, however, I left the border, which I like. Not sure about the bodice style on this one.

Ok - readers - I would love some opinions! Remember - these are just draped designs and by no means are they 'finished'!!!