Hmmming about Halloween

I have found a new blog that I love called, Sew Many Ways.  Today she posted a "Thoughts on Thursday" about costumes that she made her children over the years.  It got me thinking about some of my favorite designs. Ah sweet memories!

Sometime in the early 1980's, I made these homemade Care Bear costumes for my two cherubic boys, (and then made heads for Dad and I as well - he was Business Bear and I was Work Out Bear.)  The only picture I could find was of Kevin ....(stay tuned for the story that comes later about Kevin.)

The kids looked adorable, and when they were all grown up, they tried the heads on again, including Dad's head, and they looked even more adorable.

And then there was the year I made them astronaut costumes because I found a great price on ironing board fabric. I don't think they LOVED the astronaut costumes (not exactly superheroes in the 1980's) but I thought they were ROCK STARS!

I loved making those costumes, and I miss those little boys.  Last year, Kevin asked me to make him an Elmo costume, and his girlfriend a Big Bird costume.  Yippee!  I'm back in business.

This past summer Elmo and Big Bird married!  I know that they will have many beautiful costumes together.

McCormick Ranch Wedding

Bridal Shower

All things yellow and yummy, thanks to family aunts, grandma, and cousins!  What a lovely bridal shower they created this Saturday for my future-daughter-in-law.

 Entry table, invitation and engagement photo

Outside to the beautiful long table, adorned with yellow, white and green floral arrangements

Flowers gathered from the garden and some from local market. What I think I recognized:  Forget-me-not,  White Trilliums, Fleabande Daisy, Casablanca Lily (my favorite flower), Delphinium, Viburnum, and Hydrangeas.

 Flower favor for each guest to take home.

Bar menu, Mango Lemonade, yellow peonies and jelly beans

 Sideboard with silver bowls of yellow taffy.  Love the simplicity of it.

Table begins to fill with luscious treats.

 What are those lovely, lustrous plates, I see?  That is no contemporary porcelain.

 Limoges Haviland France, unpainted white. Perfection in design, delicacy and craftsmanship.

Cupcake tower made by putting two cake plates on top of one another. Why did I never think of that?!

The food table complete with croissants, deviled eggs, pineapple slices, and chicken salad.  Lovely.

Behind the food table, the hostess displayed mounted photographs of wedding photographs of the bride and groom's parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great-grandparents.

We all stand on the shoulders of loving families that began with loving marriages and weddings.

Wedding Runner Project

My lovely future daughter-in-law asked me to make runners for the 8' long tables wedding reception tables.  The wedding will be an intentional juxtaposition of elegance and family picnic.  The setting is a beautiful 1800's ranch home surrounded by avocado groves and flower gardens.  The day will be filled with elements of whimsey and fun but still formal and lovely.  She chose a couple of fun paisley fabrics for the runners that will go over deep eggplant purple tablecloths.  I wanted the runners to have weight and a little sparkle so I found lining material in solid light weight cotton poplin and 1/2 amber bead trim.

Today the cutting and sewing commenced.

My artist husband lent both hands for the cutting out using quilting roller and straight edge (he is much more precise than I.)

The runners are 14" wide and 9' long.

The first sewing step - attaching the bead trim.  Use scotch tape to adhere trim to fabric, then sew using a Bernina #4 Zipper foot, designed to allow you to stitch close to the edge. Sew right over the tape.  You lift it off when you are done.

Pin (always pin!) the right side of paisley to lining, then sew on top of the trim sew line.  Pin sides together and sew all four sides leaving four inch gap on one side so that you can turn it right side out.

Iron your seams flat. TIP: Good sewing means good ironing.  Take the time to press your seams toward one side so that when you press the side seams, they are neat and crisp.

 Next, spray with starch and press runner flat, Then top stitch close to  edge.

Finish runner hanging over door with purple fabric underneath.

 Runner folded to show lining.

Here's what it looks like on a mock table with china from a previous post.  Love wedding details, preparation and dreams.

The metamorphisis continues but getting started on one out of sixteen runners is a start!  More to come.

Posh Hats for the Royal in Everyone

I have always loved hats and sometimes been bold enough to wear them. It does require a certain panache and confidence.  Once seen as demur, the woman wearing the hat now seems to shout "look this way and check out the woman under the hat!"  I don't do the full Halloween costume while at work, but I do sport a Halloween hat. 

Of course, a Royal Wedding also presents not only a hat option but a hat mandate.  While I have not received my invitation from Kate and Andrew, I do plan on watching it on the telie later in the day.  And I will wear a hat. According to Hello Magazine, Kate Middleton has commissioned Philip Treacy to create the headgear for the special day. The award-winning milliner also designed both of the headresses Camilla wore on her wedding day in 2005 (pictured). I would wear this hat.  I would.  I don't know where, but I would totally feather up.  We all have an inner Royal that needs to occasionally come out to play ... and wave to the people.

My favorite hats-worn-to-weddings movies is the delightful Four Weddings and a Funeral.  Hat Bling-Bling!  Love Andi McDowell sweeping hat - PANACHE - and Fiona's devilish bonnet - POSH!

Easter always presents a hat option.  Do I wear one or let it go this year?  Will I need a hat because I'll be out in the sun for the big egg hunt?  Then, yes. 

Do I hat up for a wedding because I just had a chemical peel?  Recalling that Sex in the City episode where Samantha did that, then, yes.  

Because unlike Kate, you may not have a milliner that you prefer, so I did a little hat shopping to support the Royal that exists within us all.

Fabulous $200 hat from Neiman Marcus (taken before they asked me to leave. Yes, they did.)

 Another posh hat from Neiman's.  Can't you just imagine wearing that on Easter Sunday?  Pass the salmon, please.

 I almost bought this beauty.  Sweet salvation!

 From Nordstrom's for the outdoor event that calls for panache under $100.

 Nordstroms's for $66.  I may go back. Really awesome hat. Very Andi McDowell.

 Another Nordie's hat. Apparently the model is shielding the sun from her eyes or is covering her face because she just realized she is only wearing a scarf....and a hat.

Totally fun hats from Macy's Nine West $44 each.  Who says you can't be posh on a budget?  Love these hats sitting on top of Pashmina shawls in equally delicious Easter egg colors.

 Then a little boutique window featuring the ever popular headband hat.  Adorable.

Or you can watch this video and make your own! Check out this inspiring video below on how to make your own hat suitable for a Royal Wedding.  It really is quite good.  Do it!  You can.

How to make a Royal Wedding Hat video

And just after Neiman's told me to stop taking professional (?) pictures, I saw this fab couple.  They were both rocking the hats. Royalty indeed!

Style on!