A Christmas Wedding

My niece and her fiance were married on Sunday in a small town south of Houston. It's the one that I wrote about when I altered her wedding dress only two weeks before. We decided to drive in early to lend a hand where needed, and then to drive home after the reception. It made for a long day as Alvin is almost five hours' drive, but it gave us a chance to chat without interruption. Always a good thing! 

On the way to Alvin, we stopped in Lake Charles to attend Mass at St. Margaret of Ireland Catholic Church. It's easy to get to and the church is beautiful. 

Check out that organ! The organist knows her instrument and the choir knows how to sing together. They were flawless to my ears. It was a bit difficult paying attention to mass when there were so many distractions. 

Those stained glass windows, for example, are stunning. The glow on the top of the windows? Oh, that's the noonday sun shining through. Yes, they are that brilliant! There was also the multilevel altar. I've never seen one, so I was curious how things were done. I kept my eyes on every movement of the altar servers and eucharistic ministers and, of course, the priest and deacon.

Amanda and James

But the stop in Lake Charles was part of a bigger event: my niece's wedding. It was beautifully decorated in wine and white with touches of gold and many Christmas lights in the park were the venue is. The venue itself is an old train depot that's been transformed into a visitor's center and small wedding venue.

One thing is certain, my family knows how to do weddings. Even a small one (45ish people) is a big family thing. This is the bride whose dress I altered a couple of weeks ago. She was beautiful and poised and comfortable enough to close the evening still in the dress and heels. 

a toast to the bride and groom

Doug and Lee (mother of the bride)

Like all weddings in our family it was a family affair. Four of us eight girls were present and each of us had a chore. Angie served as official and as general mistress of ceremonies. Lee is the mother of the bride, so she was in everything. Laura is an accomplished photographer. 

Half of the sisters: Angie, Lee, Laura and moi

I was kitchen help, sort of. I just hung around the venue letting people in, putting out food, and whatever needed doing. I have experience with several weddings and proms and anniversary parties, so I know what needs doing. (Besides I do like to be bossy.) And there you go. 

Wedding dress finish!

My niece has a wedding coming up in a couple of weeks. Just before Christmas. So wedding  bells and Christmas bells will all be ringing. 

Anyway she contacted me with an alteration request. At the time the dress was too long, but in the weeks since she's lost weight, so the dress was also a little big. Just big enough to need a few tucks.

She drove the normally five hours in a torrential rain for this. The dress is well made with underpinnings and boning, and interfacing, and lots of other stuff all built in. However, the structure was such that the top of the bust gaped open and looked awkward. So we had an awkward conversation about those "big girls" and the likelihood that they would escape. It didn't take much convincing since, it turns out, she didn't know how to ask for help but had great concern. The irony!

I tried a couple of ideas: taking in the sides where the armseye would be, drawing in the center of the sweetheart shape, tightening the crisscross drawstring. Nothing made me happy. Either the gap shifted forward, the bust became too tight or I created bulges in odd places. 

Finally I suggested straps. Let's just try ribbon and safety pins. No harm no foul and maybe it will work. Well, lo and behold, that was the answer! She hiked up the dress, I pinned on some satin ribbon front to back and we hemmed and hawed. Then I changed the ribbon to create a halter top and we hemmed and hawed. Lastly I crisscrossed the ribbon in the back and the dress Behaved. With a capitol B, I tell you. Just like that the dress knew who was boss. And the big girls didn't look so nervous. 

So the white ribbon stayed pinned to the top and I tackled the hips. Just a tiny little adjustment took out one the finicky curve and we were in the business of finding a good hem length. I decided to cut an extra half inch off so that I'd have enough for my secret weapon.

After lots of measuring and two little panicky hot flashes, I cut and hemmed the dress. Then I used the pieces of fabric I cut off the hem to create the straps I needed for the top. Yes, there's always a place to steal fabric from the dress. This is my third time, so I know. (Alayna's dress is here.)

I didn't even sweat over the fact that there were curves in the fabric. Instead I let that work to our advantage and turned the straps so the curves are toward the neck and could follow the shape of the shoulder. That removes any stress or pulling against the shorter side of the strap and gives a snug, fitted look. Happy accidents are nice after panic stress. 

We tried getting the dress on with the straps pinned, but that was not happening, which meant I had to devise a way to remove the straps for dressing/undressing. A couple of little white buttons on the back side of the dress did the trick and don't show at all since they are on the inside. 

To make neat buttonholes, I added heavy interfacing to the end of the straps. It's going to take time to get this chick into and out of that dress, but she looks great when she's all buttoned and strapped and busted and SPANXed in. In other words, a typical wedding gown.

I don't have an it's-finished-and-it's-perfect picture for you. That picture will have to wait till the wedding. Since it's only two weeks away, you won't have to wait long. The bride-to-be is happily snoozing surrounded by unwrapped Christmas gifts in our spare bedroom. She'll leave tomorrow with a lovely, well-fitted gown that is much less likely to malfunction on the important day. In other words, a fabulous wedding gown.

Gina's Surprise ~~ finished

Maybe I should name this quilt Mary and Gina's Surprise. I finished the entire quilt in only a few days, so I am surprised.

Gina, however, is the one with the really big surprise. She is expecting a boy mid-January. Gina is my niece and is about 32 years old. She has always said no children, ever. Plus, she has two nephews of her own that she's especially close to. I suppose you could say she helps in raising them and that was enough for her.

But, you know, things can change. A girl in her thirties can find the love of her life. They can find themselves enjoying a "no children, ever" surprise with a side of crow and a nice glass of blush. Still, Gina is having a grand time being "preggy," I think the word is now. 

Some of the quilting--I just switched
from one motif to another as I pleased.

Aother surprise is that some of the fabrics in this quilt are from my late mom's stash. Gina was really close to mom and often mentions how much she misses her. So when I decided to make a quilt for Gina, I thought it would be really special to include at least a few of mom's fabrics, even if they are really, really old. So I got busy looking. 

Several boxes later (I used the opportunity to  clean up and get more fabric put away) I discovered the one box that I knew had to be around somewhere. In it were three dusty but usable blue fabrics. She'd better have a boy! One is this pretty blue flannel. It reminds me of daddy since he always wore flannel shirts in the winter, which only adds to the sentimental value. 

Since there was only a little over a yard, I think mom bought lots and used up the amount necessary to make him a shirt. This is just what happens to be left over. And it just happens to be the right amount. The stars do align when grandparents in heaven are giving an assist.

Six and a half inch blocks, a Trip Around the World pattern and progressive free-motion quilting all made for a two-day quilt that is 44" square and very boyish. Since there was enough of the flannel, I decided to cut it on the diagonal and use it for binding. And for the label I stitched on small pieces of the two fabrics on the front so she could easily remember which ones were Grandma's. I think Gina will enjoy it.

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		Quilt Stats
	Name:	Gina's Surprise
	Size:	44 x 44
	Fabrics:	fabrics from mom's stash (and mine)
	Backing:	blue plaid flannel from mom's stash
	Binding:	same blue flannel
	Pattern:	Trip Around the World design
	Quilting:	Progressive FMQ
	Completed:	November 2, 2018

Link Ups

Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or Not Friday)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)
Busy Mom Quilts (Finish It up Friday)

Birthday blues

I am blue only because it's already gone, but I really enjoyed "my special day."  I spent most of it in the studio making a handful of these little bracelets.  

They are fun and easy, unless you get a bit carried away!

Which I may have done!  I'm making some to give away to my sisters and nieces.  It's occurred to me that I don't have enough.

  
So already I need to make more!  I may have to go with a different color scheme.....I'm a little over the blue.  But I did have fun and it was a great way to spend my birthday.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes.  I appreciate and love my followers!

Happy Quilting,
Mary

Progress and Progress!

Fleur de Lis Quilts Milestone: 550 POSTS

I left you on Saturday with a post about the wedding signature quilt that was in all manner of stages--blocks, rows, and half sewn.

Sunday I managed to get into the studio for a few minutes and before I knew what was happening, I had this:  

Oh yeah! An almost finished quilt top.  The blocks and rows are all together with the exception of one center seam.  That's because I need to press the two halves and it will be much easier to do if the they are separate.  Once the two are pressed, I can stitch them together and press the one seam.

Of course I'll still need to add the borders and serge the edges, but those won't take much time either.

Another progress I pulled off this weekend was a delivery.  My sister Lee commissioned a red and white chevron for her new college graduate, Mandy.

We went to a party for Mandy on Saturday night and delivered the quilt at the same time.

Mandy was supposed to be surprised, but her mom was forced to tell her when she talked about getting rid of her ULL red and white now that she's graduated.  Then, when I posted the finish about the quilt on Facebook, Lee commented, Mandy saw and questions followed.  Poor darling, I think she's pleased anyway.  She's really excited about the chevron pattern and her grandma's fabrics!

Another one done!

I finished Adrienne's ballerina quilt this afternoon. This despite not getting to work on it at all yesterday. 

I took these photos in the back yard in some of the most beautiful fall weather.  

 I sure hope she enjoys it. 

What do you think?