Bridesmaid Dresses: DONE!

I went to Tennessee for 10 days, from June 10-20th. Jennifer had her wedding and I wanted to have a short vacation. I sewed every morning, all afternoon, and even during half the night every day until the wedding. Then I had a day and a half to relax. It was NOT long enough. At all. It never is.

But I'm happy these dresses are done. I'm glad I had the opportunity to help Jennifer out and design and make her bridesmaid dresses from her wants and the ideas that came out of my little brain. In our first conversation about them, she told me she wanted them to stand out and just really pop. That they did!

Looking at how they turned out, there are things I would have changed about them and they would have looked better. Had I used my time more wisely I might have had time to actually make those adjustments as I realized them, like putting boning in every dress, not just the maid of honor's.

Overall, I think they looked great, and really made the wedding party look how Jennifer envisioned.

 Kaitlyn, the flower girl loved her dress.

Everyone really liked the zebra print lining.  

Erica, the maid of honor, really liked her dress. I was so glad it fit her perfectly--I hadn't had a chance to do a fitting for her until three days before the wedding! Luckily, I didn't have to make a single alteration.

I was also happy that Erica's dress fit her so well because she was bending over and fixing Jennifer's dress all evening. I'm glad it was high-cut enough that she didn't fall out of it or have a single problem with it.

Look at how adorable this shot is! Those dresses looked great, as did all of the girls, especially Jennifer.

Wedding Dress Alteration

I have this sign in my front yard advertising that I make bridesmaid dresses and formals. I've had it there since January, maybe longer. It never really seemed to do anything for me except look nice and professional.

Then last week a girl called me because she sees that sign in my yard nearly every day as she walks up to campus.

Yay!!

She was actually wondering if I could put some sleeves on her wedding dress.

The last time I did something like that..... They didn't turn out very well. (Sorry about that, Trina. But I did it for free!) If I'd known then what I know now, they would have turned out a LOT better...

Anyway, she came on over and showed me the dress and extra fabric she'd gotten from the bridal store, and told me what she had in mind. As it turns out, she originally was going to have a bolero made by the alterations specialist at this bridal store, but when it was made, it just was not what she wanted. They altered it, and didn't do anything that she'd asked them to do. Then they wouldn't make the bustle for the train like she wanted. She finally just gave up, frustrated at how expensive it was and how it was all for nothing. (It's not the first time I've heard complaints about that specific bridal store or fixed something they messed up on another wedding gown.)

Then she called me.

It's a pretty easy job, really. Well, for me it is. It just takes a little time, especially since I'm sewing some lace onto it by hand. It's just about done, so I took pictures.

Before:

After:

I actually like it with the sleeves more. I think wedding dress designers just design sleeveless gowns because it's easier. Sleeves can be tricky, but these ones weren't difficult at all.

I hope it's what she wants!


As if that wasn't enough, that same day another girl knocked on my door wondering about bridesmaid dresses for her wedding in August. So much for slowing down after this month....

I guess Heavenly Father is answering my prayers about how we'll earn and save enough money to move to San Diego.