It is Done!

The wedding gown is finished and it fits perfectly! Now, let's bring on the wedding.

I did have a mini-meltdown a day or so ago when I was doing some adjusting and wondering if I could really pull this off. I even called a professional seamstress, who specialized in wedding gowns, to inquire about her saving the dress. She was not too interested but did offer to take a look if I could not make it work. However, I decided to keep at it myself and my efforts paid off.

How exciting for my daughter to wear a wedding gown that was totally redesigned - and includes my wedding dress and her grandmother's wedding gown. Oh, if only my mother could be here to see it. She would be so proud of her granddaughter's imagination and creativity since she came up with the idea. She would also be very proud that I was able to pull it off.

Wedding Dress Update

I have made some progress with the wedding dress, but with the big day just a month away I need to step it up and finish it. I also need to make the groom a vest and the bride requested a wrap for when the night air gets chilly . . . so sewing will be my main focus for the next few days. As promised, I have included a few photos that show just how much fabric was in my mother's gown. And another full length photo of my white eyelet dress that I made (with matching hat!!)

My white eyelet handmade wedding dress, 1979.

My mother in her gorgeous ivory satin wedding gown in 1939

The pic before I added a ruffle all around, front and back

The back of the new dress is my mom's original button and loop section from her dress . . . but cut a lot lower. I hand sewed each button back on. There were lots of them and they were coming loose.

My daughter is not sure about the ruffle in the bodice, above, but I like it (it came from the two little shoulder "pads" from my mom's dress - they were not what we know today as shoulder pads (padded!), but it was just enough fabric to give the dress a bit of height in her sleeve. I guess I will loose it, since the bride doesn't like it.

My Biggest Sewing Project Ever

The most important sewing project I have ever tackled is underway. I am redesigning my wedding dress and my mother's wedding gown into a new dress for my daughter. The wedding is in July . . . just weeks from now.

I made my dress in white cotton eyelet in the late 70s. It was not a difficult pattern to follow and not too challenging for me at the time. My mother's dress was made from ivory satin and was created in the late 30s. It is an amazing gown, but no one in the family was ever as small as my mom was when she got married (a 17" waist) so it has never been worn in a wedding again.

My eyelet wedding dress (and my mom) in the late 1970s. 

My mother's late 1930s wedding

Vintage Bikini Fabric Sachets

When I was in high school in the 70s (San Clemente High class of '73) I worked part-time for Sunflower Swimwear, sewing bikinis and beach wear. At the end of each work week the pattern cutter would leave leftover stacks of small fabric squares on the edge of the table. We could take all we wanted. In a short amount of time I had managed to collect thousands of squares.

Recently, while looking through some old sewing stuff in the garage, I came across them and knew that the now "vintage" fabric would be perfect for Sew Eco Chic.

In the early years of saving them, I did create many treasures, including patchwork curtains for my boyfriend's VW bus and a quilt to name a few. Yet, nothing remains today from those early projects besides the memories.

I Saved How Much?

On a recent excursion to my local craft stores (JO-ANN and Michaels), I had two interesting things happen, one at each store.

In the days when I received the Sunday paper, I always saved the flyers for both stores, just for their coupons. But now I print them online. Both stores coupons have some small print, but I have never read it in full. Does anyone? I did know that the coupon could not be used for anything already on sale

Michaels was the first stop. I had no real reason to go there - I just figured I would stop in to see what was new and use the 40% off coupon. I selected a book and a rubber stamp. Neither were advertised as being on sale. When I got to the check out and handed the cashier my coupon, she informed me, "Coupons are not good on books, it is in the small print" - oh well, I really wanted to get the book. The stamp was on sale, but I really wanted it too. I spent almost $30 and left with my coupon in hand.

Scrap Potholders

My daughter's friend came over tonight to show us an old pot holder she found and asked if we could try to reproduce it with fabric scraps. So, just in time for the holidays, we've made eco-friendly pot holders and trivets out of our scrap pieces of apron fabrics!

These can be customized to fit any one's color scheme, and they're are a great way to save  bits of fabric from a sad demise. 

If you've got any old clothes, quilted place mats, or fabrics that you don't use anymore but can't seem to part with, I think you should send them to us so we can transform your nostalgia into something you can use everyday.  

My daughter had a favorite skirt that no longer fit . . . she loved it so much had it for so long. She'd clean her closet and put it in a thrift store pile, and take it out and put back in the closet. When we made these pot holders tonight, she realized a way she could put the skirt to good use and know it's still in her life!  She agrees it's silly, but it is really hard for her to throw out clothes. Can you guess which fabric was from the skirt?

Fall Aprons

I love the Fall . . . even in Southern California where it is a subtle change.  We know we have some of our hottest weather to come, with the Santa Ana Winds (and dang fire danger!) but we still get in the autumn mood.

My fabric stash (which consists of mens shirts and ladies skirts) is overflowing with the colors and patterns for fall: browns, rusts, olive greens, deep plums, golds, and lots of plaid. Since they are some of my favorite colors all year, it is no wonder that I found so many choices to put together the autumn aprons.

I am showing a few pics from the fall apron collection taken at the Beck Estate (La Vigne Grove.) We were there along with Lilygirl Jewelry designers: Denise and Lori . . . and Lori's dog, Lily!

Joel Navarro from Imulsion Imagery Studio was on hand to shoot for us. We were all very excited to be working with a pro. Joel shoots many types of events, including weddings. We highly recommend him!