Bespoke embroidery

There are not enough hours to my days, I just wish I knew how to make more. However I had to make time to share these photos with you.

A relaxed and happy Bride on the way to the church with her Dad.

This is a photo of the Bride enjoying her "Big Day" sitting amongst the bluebells.
The embroidery on her dress had a Scottish theme with Rennie Mackintosh style roses and the Scottish thistle and even more personal were hidden the couple initials.

 The back of the dress echoed the theme down to the embroidered buttons which held the train in place.

The Happy couple enjoying their surroundings and the sunshine of the day.

 Mum, Dad, Bride and bridemaids' all looking very smart in their outfits supplied by us. Thank you to them for letting me be there to capture these memories.

Chief bridesmaid doing her duties.

 It was the most beautiful day for a wonderful occasion and the lucky umbrella seemed to work!

 I am delighted to have been able to share these photos with you and I am not sure if it was this couples friends and family but that weekend my blog had 71 hits in one day, so thank you for taking the time to catch up with my news.

The bride doing what she does best enjoying herself, laughing,smiling and posing in her bespoke dress.

My May Inspiration 2013

I just love the month of May, it a time when "Hope" is rejuvenated. So after my disappointment in the Great Gatsby film it was great to get my batteries recharged. There is so much that happens in May that inspires me. We have the London Bridal Show, where you can go and see the next years collections from the bridal designers for 2014.

Retailers are spoiled for choice these days, there are loads of shows and exhibitions right through the year. However not only is it brilliant to catch up with my friends in the bridal industry there is a buzz in the air!! What's on in London at this time too, Chelsea Flower Show !! It's in the show windows spilling out onto the pavement you can't help but be inspired.

Embroidery in a garden at Chelsea 2013!

 Leather appliqued flowers like wall paper in the back ground of the flowers and foliage. It reminds me of last summer when I saw the fantastic embroidered wallpaper at Highgrove where Downton Abbey is filmed.

So much to see and be inspired by. This garden represents how brilliant nature is at regenerating after fire has destroyed it, how it is reborn, the colours go from blacks to bright orange.

 My husband always like the metal work in gardens, the rusty colour it goes with rain. Here in this Australian garden it is a perfect combination for both of us as I love trees and flowers with rock formations and of course some water, something sustainable. Is Australia still calling us?

 Here in the Japanese garden everything is plant perfection, it has stonewalls with water cascading over them, Japanese Acers and (look closely) the mosses are like pin cushions. 

But back to the Massachusetts garden. This garden draws inspiration from the works of Massachusetts-born poet Emily Dickinson and features huge leather panels sewn with beautifully intricate appliqued magnolias, foxgloves and irises. The panels sit alongside atmospheric planting including columbines, peonies, poppies and flowering dogwood trees. There is water too, an innovative leather "water" feature under glass and a dry stone wall to satisfy my Irishness. I love this conceptual garden, thanks Chelsea.

Costumes from The Great gatsby

It finally arrived the week for the release of The Great Gatsby. There was the promise of "Hope" but what was it really like?
Miuccia Prada had unveiled sketches and we had a glimpse of what was to come.

Daisy appeared in this dress in her very first scene, were she was all dressed up just to lye on her sofa!! This is also the dress that appears in coral in the films posters. The good thing is that the dress was more fitted than the flipper's dresses. Was this going to be the " perfect, adorable imagination"?

One of the four costume sketches that Prada unveiled.

My dream of the notion of the films fashion was more exciting than I found the actual film.

One of the 40 featured dresses adapted from the Prada & Miu Miu archive.

There were bits of costumes I liked, as usual the embroidery & beadwork, the hats and the shoes.

I enjoyed looking at the hairstyles, the headdresses and the jewellery. The film was very fast moving and it was hard to take in all the costumes. 

 Carey Mulligan, as Daisy Buchanan in the outfit she goes to tea to meet Jay Gatsby in. 

Jay Gatsby played by Leonardo DiCaprio, his "Pink" suit "Old Sports"

But to be honest I was dissappointed in the film in lots of ways, there was the promise of "Hope" but my dreams were shattered!

More May inspiration for 2013

This week the May blossom was blowing away or blasted out of the tress with the rain. We had the "Lucky Umbrella" out and thankfully it kept the rain away for our wedding.

This week coming if it is still raining you can go to the cinema and watch The Great Gatsby.

Watch and be inspired by the costume design in the Great Gatsby. Tipped to be suitably dapper,The Great Gatsby film is set to evoke your inner Daisy in silky frocks and a swish of pleats.

Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan in the Great Gatsby.

The Great Gatsby will bring the 1920's fashion back into style. I love the hair styles and the headdresses. The dresses are a bit shapeless for my liking but the detail excites and inspires me.

May inspire you!

It is the month of May, the trees are blooming with May blossom and there is inspiration everywhere. While some people are running the Belfast marathon I am enjoying sewing. and making sure I am getting ready for my weddings.

Blossom and Brides

one of my latest samples of embroidery

Just seeing blossom makes me think of May and summer weddings

Flowers made from silks and laces and buttons.

Love is in the air, an idea for your wedding invite.

An idea for your tables

A summer full of wedding ideas

vintage inspired veils

May inspiration

More ideas for flower girls

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something, blue… this ice blue silk faille flower girl dress is couldn’t be sweeter. The cap sleeves, Peter Pan collar and guipure flowers are a sugar rush of wedding style.

 This ivory silk shangtung dress with floral lace bodice is hand sewn to perfection and designed to help celebrate special occasions such as weddings and First Communions. Finished with a bow, and fully lined for a truly luxurious look and feel

The price tag on the blue dress with the flowers by Oscar de la Renta is $1590.

Latest ideas for flowergirls

After watching the three children at King Willem's inaugeration and seeing Queen Maxima in the blue dress instead of the usual ivory, I thought I would show you a silk blue flowergirls dress of mine.

Blue silk dupion dress with floral embroidery detail on the bodice

Another blue silk shot with a emerald green, this time a dress with sleeves

Gold flowergirls dress with detail on the neckline with beading , something similar to the work on Queen Maxima's dress

Two tone red flowergirl's dress with collar idea and sleeves. The three children's dresses had collars and sleeves.

The children Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange (front, L), Princess Ariane (front, R) and Princess Alexia (C) greet the crowd on Dam Square from the balcony of the Royal Palace Amsterdam.