Something Old, Something New

I have always said that we are in the most joyful business

ever.  And we have the most wonderful customers as well.  And one of my most creative challenges came from one of our lovely customers, Suzie B.  

Suzi brought in her wedding gown, worn 34 years prior, and asked to have two christening gowns created from it - one for her grandson, whom she will be welcoming in October, and one for the girl that will be.  Someday.

Oh. What. Fun.

Except for actually cutting into the most beautiful gown I've ever seen.   But I'll get to that.

And so, ta da!  The little lady's on the right, the young man's below.  Wow.

My goal was to incorporate the wedding dress into each gown.  The girl gown was mentally easier because, well, lace, pearls, netting, embroidery, okay.  The boy gown was a bit more difficult.  Suzie envisioned a simple gown with a smocked bodice, pin tucks  and an embroidered cross.  Challenge given! 

I used the fabric from the train for both gowns - just enough.  Believe that?  Just.  I turned over the front of the boy gown to mom, who pleated and smocked the bodice.  I think it took her about 6 hours to smock - could be a world record.  And it's tiny.  Tiny little diamonds.  Perfect!

The design came together on it's own.  As a boy gown, the collar and sleeve cuff were piped, as was the bodice.  I could not fit a proper cross on the bodice so it was embroidered on each sleeve, which really showed off the design.  I put the belt in the back to make the gown even more masculine and used the buttons from Grandma's dress.  Pin tucks added, all good.  But it needed something more from the dress to bring a bit more of the history in.  Aha!  I cut the bottom pleated edge down from 4 inches deep to 1 1/2 and added it to the bottom of the gown.  A little bit more tailored looking than the deep 4 inches, but in it's own way, it matches the girl's gown AND Grandma's dress.  Yea!

Okay.  Gown No. 1.  Gown No. 2 in the next blog!  With pretty pictures:-)

Make it a good day!

Mom & Jenny

Christening Gowns & Heirloom Sewing

Satin Batiste Christening Gown

We are on a tear!  Is that a good way to explain what it is when you're madly going about doing what you love to do with ideas exploding in living color and the studio looking like a tornado hit it and all the while having a wonderful time?!?  I call that a 'tear'.  No, not the crying kind, unless we're talking about tears of joy!

The Mere and I have ramped it up a bit - it must be the sunshine - and we're completing project upon project of unique and beautiful things, just for you:-)  Designs that we have wanted to make for five years now.  Like the white eyelet dress with the pale pink ribbons running through!  What little girl wouldn't look like a Victorian doll in a dress like that!


 
 
 




And we've completed four new Christening gowns.  We wouldn't be "us" if we didn't have Mere's pearl smocked gown, which we make a little different each time so that each gown is unique!  The Satin Batiste gown is new and adorned with beautiful French lace 'oooh la la'!  We even designed a stunning gown from organic cotton.  Are we having fun?  Yes!

And, boy, are we happy baseball season is upon us.  Actually, you are happy too, you just don't know it.  And you're probably wondering why you're happy, why we're happy, and what baseball season (Go Giants!) has to do with our 'justbaby.us' designs.  Sweaters!  Lots and lots of new sweaters because what else does any self-respecting baby clothes designer do while watching a baseball game???  Knit!  Mindlessly.  Hurrah for extra innings!  Mere turned out a sweater in three days - the white one below.  Actually, the Masters might have helped her along, but still.  Three days!

 

Yup, we're happy and creatively bursting.  More to come...the next project has been a dream of Mere's to do.  Anyone who has been in our brick and mortar shop has seen my father's quilt hanging in the back.  It's a beautiful applique quilt of the ABC's.  I could have sold it 1,000 times, but never.  But... we have recreated the beautiful 1927 quilt and will be showing it off very shortly.  It's whimsical, colorful and gorgeous.  Coming soon!

 

In the meantime, happy Spring, happy family, happy life.

Jen