1989…my first bridal commission. I found these photos while trying to organize my sewing clutter this morning.
She had been my children’s babysitter for a summer and her mother I had worked together at the bank. We all attended the same church in our small, very rural farming community.
I had just transitioned from working in the sewing room which we converted from a porch in our farmhouse while watching over the sheep in the pasture outside my window to opening a small shop in town.
Mother, daughter, and I drove three hours to a fabric shop in a converted school to purchase the beautiful bridal satin, tulle, nylon net and lace trim. Over a period of 3 months, I constructed the gown. Each lace medallion was hand-stitched in place and embellished with tiny pearls. The veil was also embellished with randomly applied pearls. Bias satin covered piping along the drop-waist seam.
The bride purchased the fabric for the bridesmaid’s dresses in the city where she was living and working – beautiful jade green silk shantung and matching lining. There were 6 bridesmaids, 5 local which allowed for measuring and fitting. One lived out of state and sent her measurements by mail. I did the final fitting on hers 2 days before the wedding when the girl arrived in town.
The wedding gown was beautiful in its simplicity. I don’t have pictures of the bride wearing it, but she was beautiful as she walked down the aisle in our little country church.
No Body's Perfect 