Projects

I know this is crazy but awhile back I purchased a bunch of material that I decided would make beautiful napkins for the wedding.  I decided it would be a nod to being environmentally friendly (as they’re reusable), a wonderful keepsake for years to come, they’ll add a touch of soft decoration to the reception space and can be given as part of the many thank you gifts I’ll be putting together after the wedding.  There are so many wonderful people who are contributing to this celebration I won’t let them go unnoticed =)  

However, days after I brought my pretty material home I was offered a fantastic job that is now taking up much of my time, so if any of you ladies feel like making napkins some weekend you know how to reach me =)  I’ll post photos of the fabric soon, I think you’ll like it as much as I do!

Simple & Delightful

I’ve been a bit torn on the flower front.  I love flowers when they’re growing in the garden or a bouquet on the coffee table, but I’m not much of an “arrangement” sort.  They tend to look to fabricated and contrived (redundant, I know) that’s just how I feel about them.  However, a wedding just isn’t complete without a few of them sprinkled throughout the festivities.  I’ll be going the simple, handmade route using this tutorial (maybe add a few white poppies too).  Classy, beautiful, perfect.

via Project Wedding

Filler

Having not posted in waaayyy  to long, I thought I’d share this video as some filler.  I’ve always had a bit of a crush on this group and yet again they did not disappoint!

Enjoy!

Bridesmaid inspiration

So I’ve hemmed and I’ve hawwed, and I’ve hemmed and hawwed some more.  I’m currently crushing on this beautiful mash up of dresses…

The plan is to have all my girls in dark blue but in varying styles and cuts.  I’d love for them to look this distinctive too!

…isn’t that bride absolutely gorgeous!

Flowers…?

I’ve had a LOT of questions about flowers lately and thought that now is as good a time as any to post about them.  My ideal and most favorite blossoms would include:

My birth flower, Lily of the Valley

Toulousse Lautrec garden rose's

Juliet Garden roses

Persian Buttercup ranunculas'

and a few of whatever these beauties are

…I’m realizing that I have ridiculously expensive taste as I have just selected some of the highest priced buds, what’s a girl to do with such good taste?

I can practically smell their delicious perfumes just looking at their photos, can’t you?

*several photos were borrowed from Fifty Flowers*

Pattern Hunt

So I’m currently searching for wedding dress patterns and ideas as I type…there’s about 3 other tabs open on my screen while I hem and haw over what I like best…and I think I’ve found it.

Vogue Pattern

Now I know what you’re thinking, doesn’t look a bit dated and well..not very you, Genevieve?  But alas in my head I’ve fixed all these issues, bear with me.  Close your eyes (after reading this of course) and picture this…

Creamy smooth dupioni silk…a sweetheart neckline…No arm/shoulder/back covering…French chantilly lace discreetly stitched into the back draping train portion…now shorten the train and make it ever so much smaller.  Beautiful, no?

Alright my dears, your turn to weight in…what do you think =)

Baby projects

Taking a little break from wedding planning I thought I’d share a little something else that’s been going on in my life.  My best friend recently had a little baby girl who I got to meet this past weekend…let me tell you I’m one proud god-mom.  One of my recent sewing projects was a nursing cover/apron contraption for the both of them.

So here’s the rundown of a novice sewing project:

Sewing supplies and instructions that have very carefully corrected and detailed by my future mom-in-law.

Adorable curly-cue cotton fabric that she picked out a couple months ago and 2 terry cloth pocket pieces.

Ironing all the edges twice (first fold 1/2 inch and second fold 3/4 inch).

As I made a small hem around 3 sides of the material, I placed the pocket pieces into the edges I was sewing to build them into the apron.

On the top side (the side that I hadn’t hemmed yet) I placed the straps into the ironed edges, stitched them down and then folded them back up to the top and stitched them across the top again.

I inserted the boning in between the 2 straps and under the ironed edges…this creates a space for the nursing mama to look down at her little babe while remaining covered (especially helpful in public areas).

Then I stitched the top hem down ( encasing the boning in the hem so it won’t pop out) and the apron/bib/dodad was finished.  I now know a few things I’d do differently, but for someone who doesn’t sew to often I felt pretty proud of myself and the hour I spent putting it together.  Now to see if Mom and baby can figure out the contraption and whether it’s helpful or not!  I’ll post a photo of them using it as soon as I can find one =)

Thank God it’s Turkey day!

Thanksgiving is quite possibly my favorite holiday, but this year something just seems off.  Maybe it’s all the hours at work (anybody else have to work retail tomorrow…black Friday?), or my lack of planning for the season I’m just a bit underwhelmed…Oh well, there’s always next year, perhaps I should start planning now?  This year there IS much to be thankful for and I must keep reminding myself to focus on these rather than the negatives that come flying my way from time to time.

I’m thankful for my Mister (a wonderful man that loves our life together as much as I do…and I get to marry!), an incredible family (both mine and his), extraordinary friends with huge hearts, our loving pup Penny & kitty Smeagol, a roof over our heads, all the amazing people I bump into/read about/am inspired by on a regular basis.  Thank you, Lord, for all these things.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving, be safe in your travels and enjoy some delicious food…go ahead and indulge today, you know you want to =)

Gobble Gobble

Reception Site…check! Dress…check!

So it’s done, money has been paid and the reception site is officially ours!  This is such a relief…phew.  I had been getting a bit worried about time lines, as we all know sites and various locations are the first things to fill up and I didn’t want to be stuck with a school gym as our only option.  The other (fun) task that had me shifting back and forth was a dress.  I’ve tried on dozens of dresses and I’m not going to lie I was overwhelmed.  The wedding industry is just over the top, I love creativity and designs and all that, but there comes a point in time when there are to many options.  So I’ve finally solved the dress situation too!  My mama is going to make it…what a beautiful story that will make in the years to come.  She was a designer for years and has always dreamed of making both my sister’s and my dress.  We were hesitant in the beginning of all the wedding planning to have her take on such a large endeavor, but after all the gowns and fits and styles I’ve tried we’ve come to the conclusion that we can do it ourselves…and maybe even better.  Just the idea of a custom dress gets me all giddy and again incredibly relieved to have that “task” crossed off my list!

 

We’re Back

The Mister and I are officially back from our travels to Taiwan, over the jet-lag and back in the swing of things, thank goodness.  All this means that I am back to planning and dreaming about the wedding, albeit a bit pressured to keep up with all the “to-dos”.  I’m currently scouting out reception sites and wedding dresses as those are the two BIG things that need to be checked off my list, after that talking with a couple family-friend photographers and making our save-the-dates.  I’m excited to work on the creative stuff it’s the big logistics that get me worried from time to time, but alas I know that it will all work out beautifully in the end…it always does =)

I’ll be back with more updates and ideas soon!