Wedding Gown Zipper Trauma

This is almost embarrassing - though I'm SEW THANKFUL that during the final fitting of daughters' wedding gown - just to make sure everything was OK...I had trouble getting that invisible zipper to go up. Now...all along it had been 'testy' - but this time, the zipper slide tore away from the zipper coil!

Thank the Lord, it didn't rip the fabric OR the lace...
Sew...guess what I did last night???

Very, very gratefully re-inserted - BY HAND, that invisible zipper! No way was I going to get back into it on the machine. However, true to the previous insertion experience - and, I ask myself, HOW MANY Invisible Zippers have I put in over the years...let along taught others how - I really fought this one. I DID do the first step of pressing the coil roll out flat. But, I just couldn't get it to not show -

Now realize, I have the 18 or so covered buttons still stitched onto the left side of the 'ivisible' seam...darned if I want to take all those off and sew them back on!

Anyway - I finally decided to stitch it in - NOT trying to go all that close to the coil with a very small back stitch - and THEN, I pretended it was a hand-picked zipper, and once the 'roll' of it all perfectly covered the zip - and those buttons actually rested right on the seam nicer - THEN, I pinned and stitched with a prick stitch through ALL the layers!

Worked like a charm. I know I took up a bit - teensy bit more width in doing it this way - and she'll (obviously) try it on again today... but it looks fine, and it goes up and down without any problem.

Thinking back on the challenges of getting that zip up and down in previous fittings, I think this challenge was 'brewing' for awhile.

Lesson: ALWAYS do a final 'for sure' fitting on important garments!

Again - thank the Lord for it breaking NOW and giving me a non-stressed evening to fix it!

What I'm Up To

12 Days to the Wedding and Counting............

See the bathroom project - designing floating flowers and candles in clear vases for table centerpieces. All done and packed carefully for transport 2 hours away to wedding location. The crib is almost empty of wedding paraphenalia. Gowns are all done - though waiting for final fitting/bridal approval. (Though I've told her it is TOO late to make any changes - she still wants to try it on again!). Cotton (PURCHASED!) bridesmaids gowns are at drycleaner for a wet starch/press to 'perk them up' - with my fingers crossed this will work as well as we think it will. AND, I have my prayer warriors all praying for NO RAIN IN INDIANAPOLIS area on June 6! Daughter lived through the bachelorette party safely - so at least at this point, she won't be on crutches coming up the aisle from the planned mechanical bull ride...or so she reports.

The dining room is back to a dining room, but before I made that transformation,I got myself into a much bigger project than I could have imagined creating some baby shower gifts for my niece.



5 Bibs and a Growth Chart. I was proud of myself for realizing that a bath towel would be an quick and EZ backing for the bibs. That worked well. I hadn't appliqued in so long - I'm not thrilled with my 'technique' - but then it's the love that counts sewn in, eh? It seems my machine needs a trip to the service shop as I fought breaking thread and tension the entire time. However, look at the neat effect upset tension gave the antennae on the butterfly....



I've now moved all my creative mess back to my basement studio/shop area where it belongs - convinced forever that as messy as I am when I sew - it MUST stay hidden. It drove me crazy on the first floor where I like to keep things reasonably neat and clean and presentable!


This holiday weekend found me cleaning, organizing, hubby assembling some bady needed shelving for shipping boxes, show supplies,and my stash of fabric that is organized in paper boxes by color. What a treat that organization will be!

AND - I'm about ready for the filming session tomorrow for my newest DVD -
Londa's Refined Embellishments for Creative Clothing
that I hope to have available for my next show in Cincinnati the end of June.




Meanwhile - enjoying #1 Grandson as always....planting the garden, flowers, etc. I introduced him to worms, and he loves hunting and playing with them. What a joy to be a boy when 'nature calls' and your cothes are all dirty and wet...

American ONLY June 4-July 1

Just read this email and whole-heartedly agree!!!!!!! I"m supporting the BUY American for June 4 to July 1 - and hope you will heartedly and patriotically join me and many others...
pass it on.......

For my part - I'm reducing the price of the USA Comfort Color Sweatshirts - MADE IN THE USA $5 for the month of June 4-July 4. AND INCREASING the cost of the Authentic Pigment Sweatshirts made in CHINA $5. AND stating my reason both in my customer email AND on my website.

The additional $5 I make from any of the Authentic Pigment Sweatshirts will be added donated to a family that I've been involved with through my church through a local Christian benevolent organization, the Empty Tomb. I've been helping out at the house - organizing, teaching organization, and painting - and have told the lady of the house I"ll teach she and her daughter how to sew a bit as a help them 'decorate' the new kitchen with some curtains.



"I WAS BUYING FOOD THE OTHER DAY AT THE COUNTRY MARKET. ON THE LABEL OF SOME PRODUCTS IT SAID FROM CHINA.FOR EXAMPLE THE "OUR FAMILY" BRAND OF THE MANDARIN ORANGES SAYS RIGHT ON THE CAN FROM CHINA I WAS SHOCKED!! SO FOR A FEW MORE CENTS I BOUGHT THE LIBERTY GOLD BRAND OR THE DOLE IS FROM CAL. TAKES FOREVER JUST TO BUY FOOD AND DO LABEL READING ! ! Are we Americans as dumb as we appear --- or --- is it that we just do not think? While the Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets , the media wrings its hands and criticizes the Bush Administration for perceived errors. Yet 70% of Americans believe that the trading privileges afforded to the Chinese should be suspended. Well, duh..why do you need the government to suspend trading privileges? SIMPLY DO IT YOURSELF, AMERICA!! Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it says ' Made in China ' or 'PRC' (and that now includes Hong Kong ), simply choose another prod uct, or none at all. You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without. Who needs plastic eggs to celebrate Easter ? If you must have eggs, use real ones and benefit some American farmer. Easter is just an example, the point is do not wait for the government to act. Just go ahead and assume control on your own. THINK ABOUT THIS If 200 million Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor...fast!! The downside? Some American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory. Wahhhhhhhhhhhh The solution? Let's give them fair warning and send our own message. Most of the people who have been reading about this matter are planning on implementing this on June 4, and continue it until July 4. That is only one month of trading losses, but it will hit the Chinese for 1/12th of the total, or 8%, of their American exports. Then they will at least have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness were worth it. ! Remember, June 4 to July 4. EVEN BETTER. . . START NOW.

Send this to everybody you know. Let's show them that we are Americans and NOBODY can take us for granted. If we can't live without cheap Chinese goods for one month out of our lives, WE DESERVE WHAT WE GET! Pass it on, America"

Dancing with the Stars Designer interview

As ballroom dancers ourselves, my hubby and I LOVE Dancing with the Stars.
Did you notice ALL those gored skirts last week for slim at the top and full at the bottom?
I love, love, love the costuming - and when logging onto the Threads Magazine site to check out the sleeve finish on the latest Threads magazine cover (workign onmy new Embellishments DVD) - I saw this on their Blog - VERY interesting!
http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/7025/interview-with-dancing-with-the-stars-costume-designer
Enjoy....
Londa

Political Gripe - Why isn't having representation enough?

Just got one more email - and I'm sure the mail box will have at least 2 more appeals for money for whoever to fight more crazy government control and takeovers and pro choice stuff.
THEN - picked up the phone and called my congressman, and zapped off some emails to representatives to share my opinion.

WHAT I THINK is that if everyone would just voice their opinions - first at the ballot box, AND THEN CONTINUALLY to combat the effect of the lobbyists on their representatives in government, that this Democracy of ours would work just fine. If they don't represent my feelings, I just have to wait and vote them out next time.

If I sent $25 or whatever off to every appeal - it is just like another tax! I can't afford that - and they money they spend in the mailings - ughhh! Then you're made to feel guilt when you don't send off money. The ONLY money I will spend is a bit to support a candidate I believe in. Period.

That's the way our government works. The only change I'd make is TERM LIMITS!!! Perhaps 2 terms for any and all positions. Period.

Off my soap box.....and to listen to fair, balanced, and reasonable on FOX NEWS!!!

Finishing up Wedding Attire & Spray Can Hint

YeA!!!! Every stitch is done on my dress! I must say - it looks better on the body than on this hanger - butat least it is done. Friend/expert Tina convinced me NOT to change the top - so I didn't. She said a friend in movie sewing uses panty liners as dress shields! So - think I'll try that to asuage my worries about perspiration. Did a regular double fold as you go fine hem on the chiffon layer AFTER I had shaped and pinned the under layer of satin back crepe. To hem that, Tina suggested the rolled hem foot - so that's what I used. Worked beautifully - but just didn't work on the chiffon. What she did was pin a row of pins 10" from the floor with the dress on and my heels on - that gave me a design referenc point. I kept it longer in back, and then it cuves up tothe dress' left side front interest. Especially for having lost an entire back chiffon skirt piece, I think it turned out pretty well. Cross that one off my list!

I've also finished the white polka dot dress (see last post for pics) for her Rehearsal Dinner dress. We both like it. Now to just take a slightly wet sponge to make SURE all the cat hair is off it so she doesn't sneeze all night! What a terrible mother I am to have 2 cats I love to keep me company during the day!!! The inside of this one is lined in silk. I'm putting up the remaining 5 yards of silk lining on my website soon...don't need that around.

Just a bustle loop to put on the back of that Bridal Gown....and I even stitched the 3-D flowers on the veil the other night. Yes, I said STITCHed. Every one of them...

Now have some baby bibs to make - for my sisters' daughters' first baby due in July. That will be fun and a change of pace!

AND - to clean up the dining room. I'm a bit tired of seeing it as a workroom - all messy as I seem to have to be to get anything done!

Also sprayed some white hydrangeas with a bit of pink spray paint this morning...and reminds me of something to share about keeping spray cans from clogging up. Years ago, I managed a craft store - and the owner was vehement about every time we used a spray of any type, that we tip it upside down, and spray til nothing came out - thus clearing that little tube. I've done that ever since,and it really does help cans not get 'clogged'. Try it...

Wedding Excitement & Sewing Boo-Boos

Here's my smilin', gorgeous bride-daughter at her wedding shower last Sunday. Many told her she looked like 'Barbie'! Such fun...
The 2nd picture is an extra special gift - a Bridal Basket glassware antique from my parents. At 86 this year, it is very special that they are both still alive and hopefully will get to the wedding with my brother's help.
Here is my project of yesterday - and I was reminded what therapy sewing is. ALAS - good thing those 4 pie-shaped skirt pieces were symmetrical, as when I went to sew them together, I realized I hadn't flipped the pattern pieces when cutting them out! I was obsessed with matching the border-effect of the polka dots, and plum forgot.
I must say, too, that this dress 'put me in my place' - oft times sewing just isn't that easy, and directions do NOT make sense. I had even fitted a muslin top before I cut out the dress itself - then used that 'muslin' - actually silk tafetta left over from the wedding gown - as the underlining for this fabric. Sew...should have fit perfectly - eh? I thought the stable tafetta would have more than acted as 'stay' along the diagonal front neckline lines. NOT! I had to take it up - 2 times at the shoulders to get rid of the majority of the neckline gap AND slide the overlapping tops down into the midriff piece about 1.5" TOO.
The invisible zipper on the left side seam goes from arm pit through midriff, into the skirt, and I lined the bodice and midriff with silk batiste - and it was amazing to me the sewing that doing that entailed. I've left the skirt unlined, as she's 'borrowing' one of the bridesmaids' full crinoline type slips to wear underneath. Besides - I wonder if this dress will ever be worn more than at the Rehearsal Dinner. She absolutely loves polka dots - so we were thrilled to find this at Hancock's. It is actually a satin, but I convinced her that sheen = larger, so we've used the backside tafetta side as the 'outside' for the dress.

Just have the hem left - and also hems and a few nips and tucks on the bridesmaids' dresses. The finish I did on the tie back sash will work great on these dresses' hems as well as this full hem...Here are the steps:

1. Stitch 5/8" or so from the hem - single layer, regular length.

2. Roll the stitching just a hair to the wrong side. Stitch again, right on top of that stitching.

3. Trim CAREFULLY the excess hem allowance right up close to this stitching. I use an Applique Scissors for this task!

4. Roll one more time to the wrong side - stitching on top of the stitching once again.

So - you have actually 3 rows of stitching to accomplish this hem, but it works like a dream. Not a new technique - just one in my arsenal of tricks - and it should be in yours too.

Though I made some boo-boos, I got a new supply of 'Conquer Mentality' - an 'upper' I definitely needed. On top of that, watched some uplifting DVD's as I sewed. Beautiful day outside - so I'd gone on a walk to clear my head to start the day - and snatched some lilacs that I had at my sewing table enfusing the air with God's magic. If I could carbon copy a day like that and give it to every woman, that would be a wonderful thing...

Wedding duds MOST done...

YES - almost there! You can see my gown finally basted together, top to bottom. I had a fitting on it with my bride,and I WAS able to get it on and off - without extending the zip into the skirt. YEA!! I think I feel svelte in it - but I'm afraid of perspiration under the arms...may change that yet...and need my hem pinned. Tina - here I come!

Here's my bride - after a trying day as a preschool teacher,and then going through all the plans for the wedding once again. She was so cute - 'enjoying 'being a bride' - taking it all in. The veil made me cry. She's going to wear the blusher down - and so that means the little flowers will have to be sewn on both sides on that portion of the veil - and we'll need to take care where they go around her face. REally only have left then the veil, the buttons up the back, the bustling loop, and some beads replaced on the bodice and straps. Fell asleep re-doing some of the lace border work last night in front of the TV...then was time to quit! I do feel I have it all under control now though...

Such fun!!!

Wedding Gown progress

Don't let a bride tell you she is going to exercise and lose weight! Weight - maybe - but if she's doing 'planks' and 'core' exercises, she may well GAIN girth in her back - with MUSCLE! Ask me how I know......

Well - 2 NEW center back pieces created, and integrated into the top bodice of the gown - I think I'm ready to continue... and now, having convinced the darlin' that she won't be losing anywhere it will matter in the fit of this gown - I can go ahead and FINISH and get on to MY dress! Then...of course, we went shopping yesterday for something for the rehearsal dinner - and the entire town scoured, found NOTHING. Sew...guess who is making yet another dress? Love it - love it. More on that another day.

I'm now an expert lace clipper...last week being spent clipping and shaping the lace at the hem. See below on the left what a straight lace edge 'does' on a curved skirt piece. Sew...the border of the lace was clipped apart from the lace skirt, and hand stitched up into place - just so, so that it just peeks over the edge of the gown skirt. I had to work this - first pinning into place with it hanging from the doorframe, THEN on her body - where, of course, it changed some - over top of the crinoline. Tonight will be the final fitting on that - on her body, and so today I need to pin it again exactly at the hem, and then work it up on the skirt, so I know exactly where to hook the lace skirt to the skirt at the bodice line. THEN, I can clip away the excess netting to the lace below the border. I've been tempted to do that already - but kept resisting the temptation, just in CASE I had it to short somewhere - heaven forbid it would be too short! We do want it to drag in the grass of course...just kidding!











































The Bodice is gorgeous too, if I do say so myself... see the picture below that shows the lace edging attached the same around the top of the bodice...
It yet gets straps - which I have done now and attached. I created them out of some of the sides of the lace - without embroidery. Stuck sheer stay tape inside, and then hand stitched on one of the scallop borders. I'm glad she wants straps on this 'old-fashioned' looking dress.



What you sticking out below is the inner corset part - which will actually ride between the outer dress and the lining - which I also have in the bodice already too. At the side back seams, the waistline grossgrain ribbon stay exits to fasten tightly around her waist. All this technique is in Susan Khalje's book - Bridal Couture. I understand it is not out of print - but you can probably find it on Amazon.


Neighbor bridal seamstress extraordinaire Tina loaned me her covered button making machine - the "Happy Button Machine" to create the covered buttons for up the back of the invisible zipper. Experimentation proved that the tafetta needed to be underlined with the pink for the buttons as well - so I fused the layers together with Misty Fuse. Worked great. You can see grandson Cole 'helping' with this chore here...

He claims is is one of the mice helping with his Mom's 'Cinderella Princess Dress' ! I'm obviously limiting that 'help', but this was one chore that he could assist. He is excited about it - and since I read him Cinderella - he 'gets' the picture...I think. He, of course, will be the Ring Bearer.

These buttons are the really nice ones with the cloth backing for stitching on - so they lay closer to the fabric. Source for them is: Burgess Manufacturing Corporation. 3600 Windsor Park Drive, Suwanee, GA 30174 770-932-1111.

Though there was a chance my special pearls could be the something old and borrowed, we couldn't find any earrings to match in hue, so yesterday we selected pink-y pearls for a siple one-strand necklace and drop earrings. My girl has definite, specific taste, that's for sure! Hmmmm wonder where she picked that up???????

Though I'm sewing love into every stitch, I'm afraid the tears will start soon - as my girl and my little guy will be moving 3 hours away. I cry just writing that! While I know it is right, ordained, and just life - AND that many grannies would give their right arm to have the little ones that close, it will be far away for me! Also - a number of my close family will not be attending - and that is a very sad thing for Carmen and me that we're trying to deal with. Feelings! Yea - I make own my feelings, but darned, they hurt sometimes! I'm sure this is a common thing of weddings - and perhaps particularly 2nd weddings, but nonetheless - part of our experience.

Heard an appropriate sermon last week on anger management at an appropriate time... 1. Admit your anger. 2. Restrain your response 3. Locate focus of anger 4. Analyze options - releasing distgorted anger to God. 5. Take constructive action. confronting or forgetting. Trying to figure out where in this process I'm even at!

Actually, I'm determining to just pray, pray, pray - and to ask for continued restraint...I think! This week should find the dress pretty well done...I think I hope so anyway...

Creative Ideas from Customers!

Gleaning Ideas Galore from Customers' Clothing...is one of the best parts of doing these shows. This potholder purse grabbed my eye

It's creator shared that it was from potholders her kids wove as children - which she resurrected and turned into a purse by looping together leftover COTTON loops (hard to find!) and then knitting - on large needles - the gusset and long handle. It was just TOO CUTE! Especially attracted my eye as making potholders was my very first business when I was in - about the 4th or 5th grade. I made them like crazy and then went door to door selling them 1 for 25 cents or 2 for $35 cents. Guess kids can't go door-to-door any longer (but back then we did the same with GirlScout cookies for $.50 per box too!), but there's always the internet..........

Here's yet another idea - just an extra T-shirt cut into leaf shapes, and stitched onto an existing shirt with straight stitch down the center... I'd seen this earlier on a ready-to-wear top myself and made notes - but a picture is worth a thousand words. This idea WILL turn up on a Creative Sweatshirt Jacket - and people will ask how I can come up with these ideas - well: from RTW to a large degree! Ideas are plenty for the taking...
This smart gal had taken the color que from her great shoes - and you'd never believe how this shirt complimented her shoes!

The little things of life can serve to excite us these days .....

Common Sense Government

An email from 'my man in politics' - Mike Huckabee sent me an email today saying what I'm pasting below. See if it doesn't make sense to ya, and if this isn't what you'd LOVE to be hearing more of from our 'leaders'!

"Dear Worried American,
As a child of the Great Depression, my mother wasn't able to go to college -- but I swear she was smarter than the educated people who are running the country right now.
And if Mom were alive today, she'd probably give our leaders the same scolding she used to give me: "You have a champagne appetite and a Coca-Cola paycheck."
That was her way of saying that, when you want something you can't afford, you have to work hard and save up for it. But if you try to live beyond your means, you'll end up with nothing but big debts and a bad reputation.
Advice like that used to be common sense, of course. And it still is, among the vast majority of "Main Street" Americans who work hard, pay their mortgages, and rely on themselves -- not government -- to provide for their families and their retirement.
But in what I call the "Wall Street-to-Washington Axis of Power," different rules apply. Your bank is failing because you lent billions to unqualified borrowers? No problem: Here's a multi-billion-dollar bailout to cover your losses -- and to pay yourselves obscene bonuses. Your trillion-dollar budget has no room for a new set of big-government entitlements? No problem: We'll just print a few trillion more dollars -- and worry about inflation later.
That may not be the "change" that many Americans voted for last November -- but it's the change we're all getting. And we're stuck with it for at least a few more years. "

He then goes on to recommend an investment newsletter for those with money to invest which you can find HERE

As a Christian, I put my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - and that, knowing all, He will return at the point in time that has already been determined. However, the direction our country is going definitely concerns me, and I spend time each day it seems writing to my legislators. Regardless of your opinion - I hope you do the same. We can't stand by and say nothing...

For Such a Time as This...from Esther 4:14

For such a time as this... the Biblical quote from the heading is a well-known one - that many, I fear, don't even know the origins of.

Here's my summary of the historically true story.....Esther has been selected to be the Queen of Xerxes - King of Persia (Babylon...Iraq) back in 493 B.C. - after his original queen, Vashti, decided not to obey him and show up at one of his many parties (for which she was killed!). This really means that Esther was one of many in his 'court' (harem!). Her story is somewhat the same as Cinderella - search made for the loveliest in the kingdom, and the King selected her. After that, she was fed (fattened up because plup = pretty back then), and given all kinds of beauty treatments (spa, massage, facials, etc., etc.). Well - anyway - she was an orphan (living with her Uncle Mordecai), and a Jew - one of the many who had elected not to return to Israel when King Cyrus decreed that the exiled Israelites could return to Israel (this happened in 539 B.C. - remember, B.C. years work backwards!) after their captivity in Babylon. Sew...she had to been living and somewhat assimilated into that corrupt and pagan culture.



BUT, she knew from where she came, and kept true to her faith in the one, true God.

Well - as a result of her Uncle Mordecai refusing to bow to King Xerxes' right hand man Haman who is like Rahm Emanuel is to Obama, Haman has gotten the King to give a death order to all Jews in the land (yet approximately 9 months out in the future!).


Mordecai figures Esther might well be the way the Jewish people can be saved - and says to her: "Just because you live in the king's palace, don't think that you of all the Jewish people will escape. If you keep quiet at this tie, someone else will help and save the Jewish people, but you and your father's family will all die. And who knows, you may have been chosen queen for just such a time as this." Esther 4:13-14.



Sew...the lessons Beth Moore helped me see through this Biblical historical account ...
1. "Not only am I royalty (in Christ), but I am also placed in my sphere of influence, regardless of the size I perceive it to be, "for such a time as this."
2. God cut out the exact time and perimeters for me to live in - the time and the place. Acts. 17"26. That means I have a duty to not only seek what He wants me to do, but to do it!
3. I can refuse to do what I hear God telling me to do, but even if I do, He will still accomplish His agenda - despite my choices. I still have choices - because God grants us humans free will - that's where we mess up.
4. I want to be so close to God - that I have my will - the choices I make - be close to what He has planned. I realize that even when the hugest, most awful (in my mind) events happen - God will show up - perhaps not in my timing, but in His. (Wow, have my 57 years taught me that the waiting isn't usually fun!) I pray that I am beaten to a conviction that wins out over my self-centeredness.
5. When I face a huge decision - I want to be open to asking, What if this is a critical moment? What if this very thing, this very decision is the most important piece of the puzzle (that God has ordained) comprising my purpose?"

I just pray that during times of great struggle that I make the Godward decision over carnal, convenient earthly comfort.

Anyway - that is the story I've been studying, and some of the lessons learned. I pray it speaks to you too - "for such a time as this" - wherever you find yourself.

Wedding Gown progress!!!!! Granny fun.

I've been making HUGE progress on the gown. Most nights I dream about the next steps. It is turning into a more complicated project than I first thought it would be - but isn't that always the case! Last night - I even plunged in and cut out the lace pieces!

Pardon the layout of this picture - but I was trying to get her in the sunlight from the patio doors to reveal the ever so slight pink tinge to the gown - which we are both delighted with! If you've been following along, you'll know that is from layering the silk taffeta outer fabric over a pale pink batiste. I found when going to baste all the princess skirt sections together, that I couldstillsee the seam allowances, so I also added a layer of china silk under the pink batiste - so the skirt is 3 layers thick, then to be independently topped with our wonderful lace - as shown here. This photo will show the sloped empire line I worked and worked on - and which makes my darling daughter look VERY slim indeed! Please don't dwell on the drag lines - as this bodice is ALL basted together, and I don't have the boning in the side seams of the corset that is underneath all this yet - as OF COURSE, she is working on losing weight! I actually don't plan on stitching the side seams of the bodice at all, much less attach the bodice to the skirt finally until after May 9. The wedding is June 6 - so she's just gonna have to settle for that!

She is thrilled with the silhouette of the back skirt - with the additional pouf we added from the donated crinoline as previously described. See it - well kind of - in the picture on the right below. Sew... this fitting was actually to determine - for positive sure - the exact hemline. I then transfered that info to the muslin skirt pieces - for which I had made one muslin piece for EVERY skirt piece - clearly labelled as to which was the OUTSIDE - and cut the muslin hem OFF at the finished hemline. That enabled me to then utilize those pieces as the pattern pieces when cutting out the lace. I could lay each piece with the exact hemline on the scallopped border of the lace. OF COURSE, though - realize that the lace is straight - and the hemline is curved. But that will be all 'fixed' with cutting and handstitching those lace borders up into place. AND, sure enough - the lace was not symmetrical - not horizontally - NOR vertically. One scalloped edge had a row of lace/flowers above it with 3 flowers, and the opposite scalloped edge had less flowers in the grouping above. SEW... we decided to do the front pieces along one edge and the back pieces along the other - and I will add flowers to theback to 'balance' it - as if anyone other than myself - (and all of you) would EVER know such was the case anyway..........! I couldn't decide on placement of the bodice pieces - which direction, or motifs to center - but I had plenty of lace left for that - so at 11 pm - I decided to wait on those decisions. I'm so glad though that narrowing the circumference of the skirt yeilded ample extra lace and border. We plan to create some delicate straps of the scallop as well.

The fun part then was cutting off the beading and 3 D flowers from the seam allowances of the lace. We plan to scatter the flowers on the veil a bit too (a bargain at $6 from Hobby Lobby on 50% off!).

Jewelry: she seems to see that a simple strand of pearls is all this dress needs - nothing more 'showey'. I have a very sentimental strand that turn out to be the perfect color. She took them along to see if she could match some drop earrings.

OH - and all this on a day when my precious grandson Cole was with me. We had a blast going out to 'puddle stomp' after the rain died down. We also went on a worm hunt - but to our surprise, there weren't worms all over the sidewalks. Sew...we had to dig in the garden. Found 3 - one for him (a white centipede), and then a medium worm he named "Mommy" and a big one he named "Dabee" - her fiance who he dearly, dearly loves. This granny must show a picture...

Oh - and in filling out an application - actually decided I needed to mark the 'grey' box under hair color instead of brown... WHAT A DAY!

Really must get to WORK! The 'Barney' van awaits - packing for the International Quilt Festival show in Chicago I leave for tomorrow...

Biblical Wisdom for Life from the life of Esther

On Maundy Thursday, I finished the ESTHER Bible Study by Beth Moore (don't miss her website - Living Proof Ministries as given above!). Challenged by our leader, Carrie Burns, to decide WHAT I would do the following morning for my quiet time, I decided to both review all the wisdom and concepts I learned in this study - but also to not only write them summarily in my journal, but to share them here on my Blog in the hopes that something might speak to you - help you - lead you in your spiritual journey to the one, true God as revealed to us through His son, Jesus.

I will endeavor to put quotes around words exactly from Beth Moore, but I also have changed the person to 'my' in most cases, as I find doing this points the words more to my heart. However, if in doubt - just give the credit for the words to Beth Moore - OK?

Esther is a book in the old testament...the words most famous are 'For such a time as this'. Esther's faith and courage and wisdom actually saved the Jewish people from extinction during the time of King Xerxes in Persia. It is a short 9 chapter long book and I encourage you to read it for yourself. Get a good commentary, or buy Beth's book that you can find at any christian book store. Right now I can't seem to find it on her website...
Beth 'sew' related all of the events and lessons to our womanhood - what it means to be a woman in today's world...

Sew...here is the learning I have had from this study...I hope it enriches your life and speaks to you. I am starting this April 14, and it will be continued as I have time and do the re-study...

"When I trust my life to the unseen but ever-present God, He will write my life into His story and every last one of them will turn out to be a good read. With a grand ending."

"The essence of oppression is punishing one by hurting many."

If a man has to command a woman to respect him, then whatever 'respect' is so rendered loses its meaning. Those who can gainrespect and obedience only by holding enough power to command it live with the constant anxiety of losing it. This was froom her source 33 in the Bibliography - which is online is all I can figure...as it is not in the book.

I cannot amputate my destiny from my history! This = redemption.

God selected Esther (as He does me) for a task He appoints in my life - my time- my sphere of influence - not in spite of my experiences, but BECAUSE of them! Jeremiah 29:11

"Only a person strong in character and steadfast in spirit can follow someone else's instructions for long."

"Providence can be defined as times when God triumphs my perfectly good plan with one of His own...then seems to disappear from it...He's there. He's there right."

I'll be victorious when God and I have the same enemy.

"A true woman who cares apolgizes even if for nothing." In my book, I've recently done this, and God blessed it...

"'ll never be more prone to attack than when I'm on the way to where God wants me. " scarey thought... but true!

Beth had an entire session on "Mean Girls... read on

• Insecurity is at the heart of every rivalry.
• Only God can meet my needs. Not a man, a friend... The more I get from something or someone worldly, the more I will crave what they can't live up to. Only God can live up to my expectations.
• Anger is power to those who think they don't have any other source of it.
• Meanness always has a history.
• Meannness perceives a threat. 2 Corinthians 10:12
• Meanness catches like a virus.
• Meanness is curable. Romans 12: 17-21
• Mean girls let you hang with them as long as it's about them.
• Mean girls dig at other girls but don't admit to it - won't take responsibility for it.
• Mean girls dress provacatively around other girls' men.
• Coming in contact with a mean girl raises up my own mean girl.

A person close to God and His ways finds themselves in an awkward predicament when they discern evil in someone who other people esteem. (Many of us in our country today in relation to those in Washington!) We must be prayerful to search our own sin-driven souls.

Proverbs 18: 7-9 Words of gossip feed my soul. Lips are snares to my soul.

"Gossip finds an easy ear because my human nature, left to itself, finds sick satisfaction in the deluded discovery that someone who seemed superiour was inferior."

I should respond from my mindset - my soul: not my mood. Setting my mind on things above, not of this earth... Collossians 3:2

"I can get glad in the same clothes I get mad in."

God never takes His eyes of of me or off the clock ticking over me.

"Satan can't win and I can't lose. God always trumps Satan. Never picture the two of them as equal, but opposite authorities. "

"Sometimes, God uses the winds of a new threat to blow the dust off a past miracle that has moved from my 'active file' into the archives. I must always remember what God has done for me! "

"God designed conviction to be uncomfortable so that I'd hurry to repentance and find relief in restoration."

God as the "Ancient of Days" is defined as the fact that the same judge who sat on the throne when the wrong was committed will be the one sitting on the bench the day of sentencing. This is great to know for me because I have to belive that ultimately, justice will be served.

"One of the most important parts of fulfilling my destiny willb e my transparency. "

"When God asks me to make imporant decisions, I may well find myself alone. "

"It will often be a crises that God uses to pivot my direction." Wow - How TRUE this has been in my life! To be certain - in my family,and in my store - to change my career from a storefront to the internet, and my 'world' more back to my family first!!!

"All my crises are critical to the path God has for me. There IS human dilemna in destiny."

"Wherever God has given me dominion - He has entrusted some kind of power or purpose for me there. "

"Some crises are too important for saving face. Saving lives is worth losing face every time. In God's economy, saving is always worth losing."

If I forget God (and worhip others), He will still love me - but not shield me.

"Repentance is not my punishment. It's my fglorious right of daughtership to restoration (with God)."

"Guilt is a relentless mocker even if its misplaced."

"Most of my problems are a wold deeper than my appearance."

"Strength comes from muscle,and muscle develps with a workout. It is no different spiritually than physically."

"I am wise to force myself to keep differentiating between simple inconveniences and authentic tribulations." Oh - How TRUE!!! I think this is a main difference I see over and over between myself and younger people...but there are sure times I need to remind myself of this FACT.

"The more detached and SELF-ABSORBED I become, the more I mistake annoyances for agonies."

"To stand by and do nothing out of self preservation is to be dead already."

This refers specifically to Esther 4:14 - "For such a time as this..." which is SEW much the crux of this Bible Study, that I am going to make it a separate post...