17th March 2023 Spread the LOVE on the world wide web

 On this special day, when Irish celebrate around the world, I thought I would share with you some of the work in my sewing room today.

One of the many things that I love to use in my designs are flowers and shamrocks, so today of all days I thought why not let you see what is on my work bench.

Designs and sketches with my Irish shamrocks featuring.

They are a quiet way of saying what I really want. 

Learn more about St Patrick, the saint the Irish celebrate today all around the world, wanted to spread christianity. His idea
was to use the shamrock as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity.

In my work I rarely touch the subject of religion as it is too contentious a topic. I prefer to make people happy rather than cause tension. For me the idea of the shamrock being made up of 3 hearts is the perfect emblem to celebrate the coming together of lots of love.

A St Patrick's blessing I want to share with you 

"May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow. And may trouble avoid you wherever you go"

Wherever you are in the world today you have probably heard of St Patrick. But research and learn more about him! He didn't wear Green! He wasn't Irish! He was enslaved!

So please use the WWW to learn more about everything and learn understand what is Fact and Fiction, who to believe and who to watch out for. People need to learn to love and to share and look after this world. By looking by listening by using our brains and skills we can do better. Maybe by being together we can improve each others ability to achieve their best. I hope greed and evil become extinct while love and wisdom flourish.

This year St Patrick's day coincides with Red Nose Day. Let us come together to fund raise for programs to end child poverty, keeps children safe, healthy, educated and empowered.

Bridal Inspiration 2023

 

Brides often only hear a year later what is on trend. But in the world of fashion designers and manufacturers are deciding what direction they want to go in. I try to predict what folk are going to be looking for in the future. 

I'm lucky because I can design and make what we want there and then, it means I can help my brides to be ahead of the retailers.

Expert advice on the hottest trends withe photos and updates on the latest fabrics are thankfully at my fingertips. years of bring in the Bridal world means that I get up to date information from the top people in the wedding world. 

Icons and game changers help with the latest trends and inspiration.

However ultimately we can be influenced but it's what we do with what inspires us. 

 Vera Wang designs

So last night we had the Oscars' and this Vera Wang dress catch my eye. The diagonal pleats on the hip area are so flattering, even that bit of a break between the bodice and the skirt appeals to me. There is something with the black hair, black choker and the black bodice in contrast to the orange colour that makes a strong statement.
Personally the bodice isn't quite long enough for me, I think it would have been more elegant to be longer.
Fascinating for me, it seems that last night it was often Vera wang dresses that appealed to me. What was your favourite?

This dress I liked the back but not the front. Strong contrast colours seemed to dominate the night. Flowing trains and splits were evident. 

I have just finished a formal dress for one of my flower girls from a few years ago. 

Cody knew what she wanted so I just had to listen to her.

She wanted a cerise satin dress with a slit at her leg for freedom of movement and a cross over back to keep her dress secure as she enjoyed her night. Just goes to show Cody wasn't far from what we saw on the Oscars' red carpet tonight.

March Madness 2023 in the Wedding World

Have you ever read the poem by Rudyard Kipling? “If you can keep your head when all about you" This is the time to think like this.

 “Did you know in the Wedding World the 1st March is National Wedding Planning. The holiday was created by “The Knot” in 2017, and if you are thinking of tying the knot check out their website for ideas. 

Weddings are one of the most joyous celebrations of mankind and traditions vary from culture to culture. However, it is also one of the most stressful events to plan. The planning usually takes a toll on both the bride and groom, bringing them down from the proposal high, especially if there’s no one helping to ease the process. 

I ask myself all the time why I do the things I do? 

I’m just someone who helps brides find the right dress for them. If I haven’t got it “ready to go” then I’ll make it. That’s what I have done for years now and some how we always get there. I’m just someone who left college, wanted to put my heart and soul into making things as a living. Sensible people thought I should be an art teacher. Was that me? 

I’m glad I do what I do!! It’s scary, exciting and rewarding. I meet the most amazing diversity of people. Recently one of my clients is actually an Art teacher. She’s super clever, super sensitive and super at helping her pupils work out what’s good for them. 

One of the things I have learnt about my job is that being good at sewing is not necessarily the most important thing. I have to know when I’m designing for someone what makes them happy, what gives them confidence and how can I help them. 

Another thing I know is in life you are always learning but experience of life helps. 

People often ask where my inspiration comes from, well that’s easy I have always had to my ideas. It’s my clients, the people I come in contact with and the things around me that inspires me. 

Inspiration

These days there seems to always be such tragic news from around the world and the thing that keeps me sane ( if I am sane!! ) is my work. 

On my Twitter feed I noticed that the inspirational Ukrainian people are doing so too !!

I don't know whether my school studies of history (with Miss Mc Cleland at Glenlola School ) of world wars or the fact that my homeland Northern Ireland has had to endure over 30 years of terrorism but I want the Ukrainian people to know they have the support of the sane people around the world who believe in justice and peace. I'm sure on twitter people seeing a simple sewer sitting in Belfast giving a ♡ they are thinking WHY? But I want people to know I CARE.

So while all around you seems to going crazy KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON!! If I can help ask me. 

Tomorrow is National Dress Day 6th March

If you are a bride and you buy a dress from me I will give an agreed percentage to help Ukrainian people and if I can't help you with dress please at least think of buying a dress from a Ukrainian dress manufacturer !! "Actions have consequences"

PS my best tip is write things down.

Oh Yes And here’s what Rudyard Kipling wrote:

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!