Mirror assumes its post

It's been a busy summer in my kitchen. Oh sure, the usual get togethers with family and friends, the bustle of kids coming and going, but also fittings, fittings and more fittings! I usually would keep this mirror on hand in my sewing area and bring it up to the kitchen (where the fittings take place) so the person can view how the garment is pinned and weather they like it or if changes are needed. But since its' been such a busy summer for alterations, I never took it out of the kitchen! So, I think it's earned it's post as a permanent fixture.

This red dress for a teenage girl caught my eye and I thought it would be just the thing for this blog. The perfect length, a bright color to catch your eye, and all pinned and ready to sew. So here you are.

A Welcoming Reception

Some of the swatches I bought at Zimmans

And more swatches!!!



Skirt color will be Gold, and Meridian Teak
 (brown) is the color for the table top

Removable decorative top piece (optional).
              This is how it will look                      

A few weeks ago I received a phone call from someone asking me to make custom tablecloths for a conference/reception room. We exchanged a few emails and then met to discuss what the employer wanted and I was shown designs of what had already been presented as models, but were not considered acceptable. I accepted the task of providing what I thought would best incorporate color, style and elegance to the room. After taking pictures and considering all the elements in the room - pictures, woodwork, carpet design, textured walls - I decided on solid colors, rather than a print. The room was too busy already. Since there would be 13 tables in all, one being a stand alone, I also presented an accent cloth for that table, so it would stand out from the rest. These pictures show some swatches I purchased at Zimmans. After getting home and reviewing the prints with the photos I took of the conference room area , the only one I have considered is the top right paisley print, as the accent piece. I decided the rest weren't a good fit for the room and saw some other special order fabrics in solid colors, that I thought would be more appropriate. 

Design







Pictures from conference room

Editing a neckline

Finished dress

Original dress - plain neckline

Close-up of finished neckline

I was recently asked to change the neckline on this lace dress to a squared neckline. This was no ordinary dress, it was going to be someone's wedding dress, so it needed to be special. The bride-to-be showed me a picture of a style she liked on the internet while she was at my house, and we discussed how I would create it. I squared off the front and the back and used a satin trim. The end result was exactly what she wanted and the expression on her face with the final fitting said it all. She looked beautiful!

Refashioning a wedding gown





removed lace neckline and lace from top

I was contacted about 4 weeks ago from a bride wanting to use her mom's wedding dress, but wanting to make it her own style. When she brought it to me she also brought her ideas of the look she desires. Here are pictures of the gown before any alterations. She wants to remove the sleeves, the train and all the ornamentation above the bust and have an open back. I will make a new bodice with fabric from the train, using the lace and beading from the original top, and add wide straps that will cross in the back.







original lace neckline



lace from top, to be used on new bodice