Over the years, and especially while working at the Journal,
I’ve learned that I do some of my best work under pressure (that is, if I don’t
have a nervous breakdown first).
Thankfully that has been the case this past month.
During the past month and a half: I have started a business
with my best friend; baked for the Bull Bash; I (along with my “assistant” and
the best cousin in the world, Jarrod) baked for the Relay for Life; made a key lime trifle for a baby shower; Krystle and
I drove around Gainesville searching for just the right candy to be formed into
turtles for a Mother’s Day cupcake order; we made 100 dessert shooters and 75
cupcakes for the FFA Banquet; made two pillowcase dresses; baked for the CHS
Cheerleader’s cake auction; and watched my little sister graduate from High
school….
My head gets plum swimmy just thinking back on it. It has been busy!
And that list is not including the special project that I
had this past month…
I was very honored when my friend Lanie asked me to make her
wedding dress. My initial thought
was “It’s so sweet that she thought of me.” My second thought was, “Holy cow, I’ve never made a wedding
dress. What if I foul it up? I’ve got a dear friend counting on me
to make the dress for what’s supposed to be the biggest day of a girl’s
life…OMG!!!” Then (though I know it was silly...given Lanie's disposition), I started remembering hellacious Bridezilla shows...lol
Well my panic was certainly unwarranted and unnecessary, Lanie was the most easy-going bride EVER and the
farthest thing from a Bridezilla.
She was seeking something comfortable, and really liked the maxi dress
style. After many emails back and
forth regarding patterns, we found one that seemed to be exactly what she was
seeking.
We had a memorable trip to Joann’s, where we measured her in
the middle of an aisle, and we found the fabric. Now, let me just tell you, I fell in love with this fabric
the moment I saw it. It’s just a
touch off-white, with an embroidered and raised floral design. It. Was. Gorgeous. The best part? It was a specialty cotton. So, along with being pretty, it would
be comfortable and breathable…both very important to a June bride.
Next, I made a practice dress out of purple broadcloth. I wanted to test out the pattern,
and get a feel for what I was doing, before cutting the actual wedding dress
fabric. The way that the dress is
made, the most fitted section is at the bust, and because of the gathers at the
empire waist, the skirt of the dress is very loose. So, the top was the part had to fit correctly.
The first fitting that we had with the practice dress, the
top was entirely too big. So much
so, that rather than rip out and take up, I wound up just remaking the top a
size smaller. At the next fitting,
the dress fit, but I was worried that it might be too snug for the wedding (it
was still a few weeks away at that point).
I decided to go back up a size for the wedding dress and
take up as needed. Before making
this dress, I never realized how much a woman’s body changes week to week
during pregnancy; and when fitting for clothes, even small changes can make the
fit different at each fitting.
Finally I began on the actual wedding dress. It really didn’t take very much time
once all the pieces were cut.
One thing that I learned while working on this dress, is
that the raised, embroidered fabric can bring you a little more work. A seam ripper is a seamstress’ best
friend. I had to rip out some of
the raised flowers on the straps, hem, and back seam of the dress so that the
seams would lay flat and the fabric wouldn’t be too bulky.
Four fittings total and several hours spent, I am utterly in
love with the way Lanie’s wedding dress turned out. I was very relieved when I delivered the dress on Memorial
Day that the fit was perfect. She
looked amazing in it.
I swear, where some Grandma’s carry around little photo
albums to show off their grandbabies, I’m tempted to carry around a picture of
the dress… “See this? I made
it.” What can I say? I’m a little proud of my work :)
It was most definitely a labor of love.
Doesn't she look beautiful?
I would like to wish John and Lanie a lifetime of happiness.
**A special thank you to Polly Haldeman and Lanie for letting me use their pictures.**
