Fall, Halloween and Holidays

It is the middle of October already and such a nice day today.Ii have been working on holiday items and getting ready for a craft show. Summer went by to fast and it seems like winter is trying to get here fast it has been very cool in the evenings here. Illinois winters are bad and I hate the cold
I have been making Halloween bags this is one of my favorite holidays I love to see all the little kids dressed up in costume and i miss my kids being little and taking them trick or treating.
i have sold a lot of these bags and I love to give them to kids that need a trick or treat bag.
They are a big hit at the craft shows and I always end up selling out. Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here soon and I will be very busy with the holiday items I will have them up on face book also.

Weddings

June is a good month for weddings and there are a lot of them going on. I have had 3 brides bringing in dresses and their bridesmaids dresses too. I love to look at the different styles of dresses and the fabrics are always so nice. I made a dress for a friend and she looked really pretty. Her wedding is the end of may I hope the weather is nice since it is a out door wedding. We made the flowers for her and her brides maids also did the wedding planning I wish her well and hope her a lot of happiness in the years to come.
Wedding planning takes a lot of work to make it a nice wedding, One thing I always tell the bride is to make sure she wants to include her mom and the brides maids in the planning so they are not at odds with each other over the dresses and
to decide on weather or not they want real flowers or silk. A lot of them are using silk flowers so they can keep them.
The mother of the bride can be very help full I so far have not ran into one that is not in agreement with her daughter.
If your wedding gown is going to be white or ivory, you will not have any problems with the color of your bouquet. But what if you are going for a colored dress? A little more thought needs to go into the color of your bouquet. Here are 3 ideas for you.
a) Use the Same Color A pleasing effect can be obtained by using flowers that are shades of the color of your wedding dress. For instance if your dress is blue you could incorporate flowers that include intense deep blue through to paler blues. This is sometimes called a monochromatic color scheme.
b) Use a Complementary Color Using a complementary color provides a natural color harmony. If you have a red dress you could have a bouquet that was predominately green (the complementary color to red). The other complementary colors are yellow/purple and blue/orange. Complementary colors are colors that are opposite each other on the artist's color wheel.

c) Use White If you are struggling to decide on colors for your bouquet, white wedding flowers will always look good against a colored dress. Just think that a white tulip bouquet looks wonderful against the red wedding dress and black cape.
Every bride wants her wedding to be perfect and this is what we want also. We strive to please her and will do everything to make her big day the best!

These wedding flower bouquets are especially for the bride who wants to make a statement. They don't follow any set design and can be artistic, flamboyant as well as unique.
So let your imagination run wild, or really put our creative skills to the test.
Whatever flowers you select, final arrangements should be made well in advance of your wedding date to insure availability. Confirm your final order and delivery time a few days before the wedding. Have the flowers delivered before the photographer arrives so that you can include them in your pre-ceremony photos.And determining the size of your bouquet, consider your gown and your overall stature. Carry a smaller bouquet if you're petite or if your gown is fairly ornate. A long, cascading bouquet complements a fairly simple gown or a tall or larger bride. Arm bouquets look best when resting naturally in the crook of your arm. If you want to preserve your bridal bouquet, consider having your florist make a smaller, less expensive bouquet specifically for tossing. This will be the bouquet you toss to your single, female friends toward the end of the reception. Tradition has it that the woman who catches the bouquet is the next to be married. We can include a few sprigs of fresh ivy in the tossing bouquet to symbolize friendship and fidelity.

The maid of honor's bouquet can be somewhat larger or of a different color than the rest of the bridesmaids' bouquets. This will help to set her apart from the others


BRIDESMAIDS' BOUQUETS

The bridesmaids' bouquets should complement the bridal bouquet but are generally smaller in size. The size and color should coordinate with the bridesmaids' dresses and the overall style of the wedding. Bridesmaids' bouquets are usually identical.

Options: To personalize your bridesmaids' bouquets, insert a different flower in each of their bouquets to make a statement. For example, if one of your bridesmaids has been sad, give her a lily of the valley to symbolize the return of happiness. To tell a friend that you admire her, insert yellow jasmine. A pansy will let your friend know that you are thinking of her. Things To Consider: Choose a bouquet style (cascade, cluster, contemporary, hand-tied) that compliments the formality of your wedding and the height of your attendants. If your bridesmaids will be wearing floral print dresses, select flowers that complement the floral print.
Options: You may consider using artificial flowers for the hairpieces as long as they are in keeping with the flowers carried by members of the bridal party. Since it is not always easy to find good artificial blooms, other types of hairpieces may be more satisfactory, durable, and attractive. Things To Consider: Flowers used for the hairpiece must be sturdy.FLOWER GIRL'S HAIRPIECE Flower girls often wear a wreath of flowers as a hairpiece. Options: This is another place where artificial flowers may be used, but they must be in keeping with the flowers carried by members of the bridal party. Since it is not always easy to find good artificial blooms, other types of hairpieces may be more satisfactory, durable, and attractive.
You may want to consider wearing a corsage on your going-away outfit. This makes for pretty photos as you and your new husband leave the reception for your honeymoon. We can create a corsage which echoes the beauty of your bouquet.
The groom is responsible for providing flowers for his mother, the bride's mother, and the grandmothers. The officiant, if female, may also be given a corsage to reflect her important role in the ceremony. The corsages don't have to be identical, but they should be coordinated with the color of their dresses. Options: The groom may order flowers that can be pinned to a pocketbook or worn around a wrist. He should ask which style the women prefer, and if a particular color is needed to coordinate with their dresses. Gardenias, camellias, white orchids, or cymbidium orchids are excellent choices for corsages, as they go well with any outfit.
Things To Consider: The groom may also want to consider ordering corsages for other close family members, such as sisters and aunts. This will add a little to your floral expenses, but will make these female family members feel more included in your wedding and will let guests know that they are related to the bride and groom. Many women do not like to wear corsages, so the groom should check with the people involved before ordering the flowers.
The groom wears his boutonniere on the left lapel, nearest to his heart. Options: Boutonnieres are generally a single blossom such as a rosebud, Stephanus, Freesia or a miniature carnation. If a rosebud is used for the wedding party, have the groom wear two rosebuds, or add a sprig of baby's breath to differentiate him from the groomsmen.
Things To Consider: Consider using a small cluster of flowers instead of a single bloom for the groom's boutonniere.
USHERS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS' BOUTONNIERE

The groom gives each man in his wedding party a boutonniere to wear on his left lapel. The officiant, if male, may also be given a boutonniere to reflect his important role in the ceremony. The ring bearer may or may not wear a boutonniere, depending on his outfit. A boutonniere is more appropriate on a tuxedo than on knickers and knee socks.
Things To Consider: The groom should also consider ordering boutonnieres for other close family members such as fathers, grandfathers, and brothers. This will add a little to your floral expenses, but will make these male family members feel more included in your wedding and will let guests know that they are related to the bride and groom.
Bridal Flowers Arrangements



A wedding is a formal occasion, which is replete with several customs and traditions. These customs and traditions have been practiced for generations together and people still follow them with great reverence. One of the most discussed features of the wedding is the bridal costume that has several finer details associated with it. Every aspect of the bridal costume reflects grace, beauty and classic touch. The white wedding gown, the white netted veil and the wedding flowers are all the integral features of a bridal costume. Yet another component that completes the image of a bride is the bridal bouquet that is carried by the bride while approaching the altar. The bridal bouquet has a special significance and selected by the bride herself.
Bridal Bouquet
Flowers have always been associated with human emotions and hence it is not surprising that they are an integral part of a wedding ceremony. Every silk flower or artificial flower stands for a specific attribute like roses stand for love, freesia represent trust while ferns stand for sincerity.
The task of creating a bridal bouquet is eagerly awaited by every bride and a great thought is put into selecting the right flowers for the bouquet. The bridal bouquet also carries a special significance and represents the blossoming of a young maiden. Also after the wedding is solemnized, while leaving the venue the bride throws the bouquet over her back among a group of unmarried girls and whoever catches it is the next to be married. Brides usually select their favorite flowers to incorporate in the bridal bouquet. The most commonly used flowers are roses, orchids, dried lavenders, lilies, geraniums and poinsettias.
Once the flowers have been selected they are clubbed together by adding fresh grapevines, ferns and leaves. These are the most natural elements that complement the flowers in the bouquets. Apart from these, the bouquets are also decorated with silk Flowers, laces, ribbons and silk materials that lend a royal touch to the bouquet. To enhance the bouquet it must be accessorized with these embellishments so that beauty of the flowers is accentuated.
Making the Right Bouquet

It is important that the bride follows a few tips while designing her bouquet in order to get it perfect. She can select the conventional, seasonal flowers or even artificial flowers, which would make her bouquet, look different. Sometimes brides also prefer wild flowers to give an exclusive look to their bouquets. It is also important to ensure that the bouquet matches the gown of the bride and also easy to carry. The bouquet must be compact and well covered so that it does not get damaged during the wedding. The modern trend is dominated by bright colors and exotic flowers like orchids and tropical flowers. The classic bridal bouquets comprise of flowers like roses and carnations usually in light pastel shades like pink, yellow or peach

There are various types of bouquets available for brides like entire-rose bouquet, multi-colored bouquets and even white bouquets. When brides customize their bouquets, they must keep in mind the color and size of every flower. Brides can also consult a with us to make her bouquet the most beautiful and charming assortment











Everyone wants that magical wedding where everything looks perfect, but not everyone knows where to start. Some banquet halls will have caterers who are experienced in wedding planning, while other halls will leave everything up to the bride and groom. Either way there will be a lot of questions to ask during the planning stages. When deciding on your decorations keep in mind how much of your time everything will take, because your time will be at a premium in the days leading up to the wedding when most of the decorating will need to be done. There are three main ways you can dress up your reception tables, and all three have a big impact on the atmosphere of your wedding reception.

Linens - think about what color you want your tablecloths and napkins to be. Do you want everything to be white? Or do you want white tablecloths with napkins to match the bridesmaids or the flowers? Keep in mind that tablecloths and napkins in the same color will wash each other out. And if everything matches the bridesmaids dresses, they will be washed out as well. A neutral tablecloth color mixed with a complementary napkin color can give a sharp look to your reception. Also consider whether you want (and can afford) chair covers. They can be expensive to rent, so make sure it's really worth paying that extra money to cover up chairs that may have seen better days.

Centerpieces - most weddings have a centerpiece on each reception table. Some halls will allow you to rent centerpieces, which means they don't go home with your guests. In most cases, however, the centerpieces will be up to you to provide. There are many options to consider when deciding on your centerpieces, such as whether they contain flowers or candles, as well as what color you want to focus on. Sometimes the easiest way to make the biggest impact is to keep it simple. Try to choose centerpieces that can be made ahead of time or assembled on site by the caterer.

Favors - many couples give favors to their guests as a take home gift. The favors are usually set at each place setting and contribute to the decor of the reception. They don't need to be in the same theme as your centerpieces, but just make sure they don't overpower the rest of the decorations. Large favors will block your centerpieces and you'll have a lot of things competing for attention on your tables. For a different twist, try combining the favors to make a centerpiece. If you have eight guests at each table, put eight votive' s where the centerpiece would be, and the guests can each take a votive home at the end of the festivities.

If you can, talk to your contact at the reception site. Their advice on decorating the tables can be invaluable since they likely have seen a lot of different things done. Bring along a friend or family member to the hall and describe what you're planning to get a fresh perspective. They may be able to think of something you missed, such as yellow napkins not matching very well with the pink walls, unless you really are going for the Easter egg look.

Reception table decorating doesn't need to be stressful. Keeping it simple will minimize the time and money you end up spending on your wedding tables.

What colors are you using for your bridal party? Do you want them incorporated into your centerpieces or do you prefer the traditional bridal white? You may also want to consider a combination of color and white.





Are there any other colors that compliment your bridal party colors? If your bridesmaids are wearing lavender dresses you could incorporate light pink or blue into your centerpieces along with some lavender.





Do you want candles? Flowers? Something else?

Just because candles and flowers are popular choices for centerpieces doesn't

mean they are the only options. When deciding this keep in mind the lighting in

the hall and whether candles would create a more romantic atmosphere than

overhead lights. Is the hall bland and in need some freshening up with flowers?

Also start thinking about what resources are available to you. If a relative or

friend has a greenhouse, flowers may be an affordable and very sentimental

option for you.



Consider your personality - do you like simple or

elaborate? Colorful or subtle? You need to figure this out before you can narrow

down what you really want. Your centerpieces will be part of your reception hall

decorating and they should reflect who you and your spouse-to-be are. If you

prefer simple, go for ideas that require a minimum of fuss. A simple glass bowl

filled with water and decorative stones with floating candle might be just what

you want.



What season will you be getting married in? This will impact

what resources are more readily available to you and may help you pick a theme

for your wedding if you choose to have one.



Still stumped? Possibly

overwhelmed? No doubt! There are so many options when it comes to wedding

centerpieces. Take some time and work through this list bit by bit. Unless

you're absolutely sure of what you want, try to get down to a handful of

options. You'll find it easier to get to that one idea once you start looking

for supplies. Remember, it's still early in the game and you're allowed to tweak

Summer Weddings

Well it is getting warmer out and school is out we made it through the proms and now there are some weddings I need to get started on. June weddings are always nice and it seems that every one is getting in married in June. i had one bride that got married on the beach and it was very nice She wore a very nice dress that was very nice.

Crafts N More

Unique and personalized

Do you love hand sewn items but don't have the time or a sewing machine or don't know how to create those pretty little monograms and motifs??
Some items may include:



* Curtains for that hard to fit window or hard to match decor.

* Throw Pillows

* Fabric dolls or stuffed animals.

* Costumes.

* Nursery linens

* infant and children's clothing.

* Accessories for your favorite guy or girl , like neck ties, scarves, vests.

* hems, button and zipper replacement

I have the following items:



*Halloween bag's Table clothes with matching place mat's and napkins
Christmas Stockings and wreaths

All items are made from machine washable fabrics and batting.
All Pillows are stuffed with hyper allergenic material
Buttons, snaps and other embellishments are sewn on, NOT GLUED: Unless otherwise specified.
Dolls and stuffed animals

Clothing:
No post-Tailoring. clothing will be fitted according to pattern and child's measurements at time of order..
Anything is Possible!! Just Ask!!!!
I have an assortment of patterns to choose from.
and many fabric options.
Pricing varies per piece.
For more information or to discuss a sewing project, please send an email or call we will be happy to assist you!

Table cloths are made to order and so are the matching napkins. Sometimes we may have extra Halloween Thanksgiving or Christmas items already made for craft fairs and if a person wants they can purchase these.
We also do have Easter Table cloths and napkins
If a person wants they can purchase these.
We will continue to add new items and are open to suggestions for unique items. If you have an idea for your trick or treater or for a costume for your self let us know! feel free to ask about our specials!

Linda's Sewing Studio sewing and alteraions

Linda's Sewing Studio sewing and alteraions

Weddings and proms

I did not realize the month of April had slipped by so fast and now we are into May. some of the schools have already had their proms and there are a few that will have them this weekend and next weekend. Graduation for our high school is on the 15Th of May. Then the following week the school will be out for the summer.
It seems like the weddings are in full bloom and I have been working on some dresses for 2 weddings One of the brides dress has a lot of lace on the bottom of the dress and is very pretty. The other one is an antique and very elegant and reminds me of the Jackie Kennedy look. I wish the best for both brides and I know that their weddings will be perfect.
I have had a lot of prom dresses to alter and some of the girls have traded dresses which is a good idea and saves money for them too. I know one dress I made has been real popular with the girls in my daughters class and I was asked to make several dresses. So I have been busy sewing and it has been no picnic dealing with picky mothers and daughters that want it low cut and show most of their cleavage while their moms don't want that. Anyway we made it through the fittings and every one was happy which is what counts the most.
I can remember those days when my mom liked something that I didn't and we would argue but she always won. Or she would give in and then I would later realize she was right.

Gail what have you done now???

Friday morning I awoke to my friend Gail dropping by on her way to her brothers funeral. I have known Gail for a few years and she has been a big help to me at times. We met online and we have a lot of the same interests. she came down to my house in October of 2008 to visit for a few days and ended up spending a week. I am glad tho that she came because I had a customer come in with curtains and she helped me cut and hem them. I tease her all the time about it because she was so particular about her work and she was very picky at the way I sewed them. Thank goodness we got it done tho. You have to love her even if we have differences about things.
Gail loves to garden too and she brought me some plants and I did not know what they were until she called me yesterday from her sisters home and I found out that she gave me black berry bushes and strawberry plants. I still have not figured out where t plant them. I think she will like what i have done to my flower bed when she gets back here on her way home. She had to drive Arkansas for the funeral and it is a seven hour drive back home for her. so she said she will stop here and rest before she goes home. I will be glad to see her since I have not seen her since last June.
When she woke me up she said she had a few things for me never did I realize that my yard looked like I was having a yard sale! there was boxes of clothes, books, dishes and a lot of other items. Gail is a pack rat if there is one. she has more stuff than anyone I know. I think she gave me just a tiny bit of what she has in her house. I for sure have no room for anything as I am living in close quarters right now. and trying to get rid of things I no longer use or need. I just hope when she comes by there is no more surprises like more clothes I don't need. One thing I really liked that she sent to me when I opened my shop was a set of sewing books that I have referred back to many times and they have been a big help to me.
Gail is a person that loves to help every one and will go out of her way to do it.
I think she is not appreciated by her grown children like she should be and they need to love her for what she is, a good person.
Gail came over today after going to her brothers funeral and when she stopped
in to see me she had this chest freezer strapped to the top of her car! Now I know when I have had to move before I have had to put things on top of my car but to travel with a chest freezer on top for 1,000 miles is way to crazy!!! To make matters even worse it is a rental car not hers. She is always looking to help someone but she needs to take care of herself first. I worry about her and hope she will be okay. One thing for sure she needs to stop these crazy ideas she gets when traveling .

Sewing on a day to nice to be inside

It was 78 degrees here today and I went and almost finished my flower bed. I say almost because I need a few more flowers to plant and then I had a customer come in and needed a dress altered for a dinner she is going to on Tuesday. So i started on her dress and when i finished it i decided to get caught up on my other clothes that my kids have been asking me to fix for them. Then I started working on the wedding dress I have been altering now all I have left on that is the hem. then I will start on the brides maids dresses. I love to sew and I like it when I can make nice things for family and friends sometimes I go over board and make a lot of items when getting ready for a craft show and it seems like I will have a lot of items left over then some one will call that needs a gift or something for their kids and I have it for them.
My daughter Megan helps me make the table center pieces we sell at Christmas time and she is not a person that likes to sew she does not even want to to learn. I can't complain she is my yard sale buddy we love going and hunting for bargains . My son likes yard sales too but going with a 15 year old sometimes is nerve racking when he wants to go when I am still looking at items.
Last year we went to a sale and bought a lot of material and sewing items and got really good bargains. i even found thread that was new and never used. it helps a lot when your operating your own business and you find fantastic buys like this. I watch all the time for sales and see if there is anything I can use for my shop. I have even picked up baskets that we have made center pieces with and sold in craft shows. A lot more people have been going to garage sales with the economy like it is i am betting even the rich will be yard sailing,

Christening gowns for the baby
I know how special it is to have your baby christened.
christening gowns are made to order and each one is made especially for your baby

Best Friends

Some people think they can only have one friend. over the years I have found several really great friends they are the ones that sit and listen and let you cry on their shoulders as they cry on yours. some of them might not even have all the same interests as you do, but that does not seem to matter once you start talking about your day or even your family because you always have that same bond that has formed over the years.
You might find a good friend that has a lot of the same interests and love the same things you do and can understand why you do the things you do. I have one friend that I met by chance and we were drawn together by the same things that happened in our lives.
We met by chance and became best friends. Her name is Linda and she also sews and loves to garden too. I wish we lived closer to each other so we could see more of each other. She lives in the country and has a really nice farm . She is my silent business partner and my life saver when I need advice on sewing she has most of the answers. Linda is always there when I have a question about sewing and helps me through it.
Her garden is beautiful she has so many different flowers in it and roses that are so pretty. there are a lot of different varieties of flowers that she has planted in her garden. I hope to go to her house again real soon and spend some time with her.
My other best friend Joanne and I have known each other for 35 years our kids have grown up with each other and have remained friends. Joanne also has a love for planting flowers outside and loves roses. there have been times when she has had so many flowers and plants in her yard that people drive by her house to look at her yard. lately Joanne has had health problems and is not able to plant everything she wants to. I hope she gets better and pray that she can get everything done she needs to.

Unique and personalized

Unique and personalized

Do you love hand sewn items but don't have the time or a sewing machine or don't know how to create those pretty little monograms and motifs??
Some items may include:



* Curtains for that hard to fit window or hard to match decor.

* Throw Pillows

* Fabric dolls or stuffed animals.

* Costumes.

* Nursery linens

* infant and children's clothing.

* Accessories for your favorite guy or girl , like neck ties, scarves, vests.

* hems, button and zipper replacement

I have the following items:



*Halloween bag's Table clothes with matching place mat's and napkins
Christmas Stockings and wreaths

All items are made from machine washable fabrics and batting.
All Pillows are stuffed with hyper allergenic material
Buttons, snaps and other embellishments are sewn on, NOT GLUED: Unless otherwise specified.
Dolls and stuffed animals

Clothing:
No post-Tailoring. clothing will be fitted according to pattern and child's measurements at time of order..
Anything is Possible!! Just Ask!!!!
I have an assortment of patterns to choose from.
and many fabric options.
Pricing varies per piece.
For more information or to discuss a sewing project, please send an email we will be happy to assist you!

Spring and warmer days

With Easter just a few days away and the weather getting warmer more people are cleaning out their closets and getting ready for the summer. I have had a lot of customers bringing in their clothes for alterations and young girls are looking forward to going to prom.
Last year I was working over time with hemming and altering dresses for the proms and also weddings. I am looking forward to it again this year because we are doing something new. I decided due to the economy and people pinching pennies to do a prom dress sale or trade. This is where the customers can bring their used dresses in and either sell or trade them for a different dress. I know some towns do a prom dress sale at their high school and that has gone over well too.
Right now I have been working on making mother and daughter purses for Easter and cloth purses for any occasion I have tie dye purses for teens and even some for the working mom that is looking for a nice bag to carry.
I have a lot of different material that my customers can choose from and they can also buy what I have in stock.
I also make custom bags for the bride to be for her wedding day to carry her belongings in or a small clutch bag for her wedding and he brides maids

Starting my business

I always wanted to run my own little sewing shop. then one day I got this phone call from a lady that saw my alterations add in the paper. she was wanting to retire and asked me if I wanted to buy her business. we talked for a few minutes and I made an appointment to meet with her.
After I met her I decided to go ahead and buy her business and start my own sewing and alteration business.
I then made my business plan, since I had been working out of my home I knew I would need more material, thread and other items. I also had to look for a serger with differential feed.
On September 13 2008 with the help of my son Adam and his friend Michael we moved into the shop and started getting it ready for opening day!
Not only did I have a sewing business I also added crafts to the store and also sewing classes.
My daughter Desiree also helped me and also learned how to interact with other people.
I make sure that everything I make is high quality and comes from a pet free and smoke free shop.
I have been opened now for over a year and I am working and making money doing what I love
My grandmother also was a seamstress and she used to make all kinds of things. I remember her making my sister and I dresses and out fits when we were little girls.
it is a sad thing that schools have to drop sewing classes. I think everyone needs to learn how to sew. making your own clothes is a real good feeling.