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!

Inspiration for St Valentine's day 2023

 

I try my best to keep up with posts and everything that is going on that interests me in the creative world and the wedding world, but there never seems to be enough hours to my days.

I enjoy learning new things and being creative, its probably why I live and breath my work 24/7

You have to be more than enthusiastic to be self employed.But where would I be without the love I get from All my clients.

So with Love being in the air I thought let's make something which would be of use to any of my clients.

So if you would like a red felt heart shaped cushion, either to give to someone you Love or you could use it as a pin cushion then all you have to do is FOLLOW me on FaceBook or Instagram and SHARE this idea with your friends and Loved 1's

LIKEand You are in with a chance of me sending you one.

Let me know what you think and don't be frightened to Comment on this my Blog or any of my Posts as it encourages me to keep doing this social media.

The ring my bride's groom made

My Bride & Groom

My idea of a ring cushion or a pin cushion.

Help me Grow & Flourish

thanks Joanne

Are you a New Bride, here's 3 things to remember.

 Are you a New Bride, here's 3 things to remember when coming in for your appointment.

1. I know you may feel nervous about trying on dresses for the first time, but I'm here to help and make you feel as relaxed as possible. You'll have the whole boutique exclusively for you and your guests.

2. Don't worry too much about your underwear, it is best if you have skin tone as this colour is best under everything. With most dresses you're likely to try them on you will get the impression of how it looks on you and with the right underwear and fit nearer your big day the whole look will be even better.

3. Some girls prefer to come to their appointment on their own and that's absolutely fine. It will still be really special, it allows you time to think what you actually want. I'll act as your stylist and your biggest cheerleader all in one. If you are bringing guests I suggest you bring no more than 3 people. This way you don't have too many opinions, but hopefully your guests know you well enough to help you choose. 

Just remember to relax and enjoy the experience. You are buying your dream dress and your appointment should be fun and magical.

A Wedding Dress in Weeks!

I have been creating wedding dresses for over 30 years, with passion, knowledge and skill. Whether a bride has a year to create her dress or as little as a number of weeks , with a will and a way , whatever the time frame it has to be ensured.

During these unprecedented and somewhat constrained times, I have been working with a number of brides who's plans have changed, but for who I will deliver. Brides who decide to get married in a matter of weeks, some who have not even started their search, are being carefully swept up, carried through the process and guided with the best practise.

"Though I usually ask brides to plan ahead approximately 9-12 months in advance to complete a bespoke bridal dress, I have always said that I would would never turn away a frockless bride. Now more than ever this is absolutely true. I love to put every ounce of energy and love into making a brides dress for her special day. If I say I can do it, and I'm not fazed you are in safe hands and you should trust that you can enjoy the experience."

You can start your journey with an online chat or a telephone call so that we can workout what is involved and what the timeframe is. This can speed things up and even as I work I can send photos of the stages of the dress and how it is coming along.

My sewing doesn't stop at wedding dresses. I can also make you a bespoke bridal veil, you can have your new initials or the wedding date monogrammed on. Also a headband or foundation wear can be made for you.

Please contact us on my mobile 07736069692 

Princess Beatrice chooses vintage, Norman Hartnell, for her wedding dress

For those of you who want to know more about the designer Hartnell here are some facts. 

Norman Hartnell was born in London on June 12, 1901. His parents owned a pub, the Crown & Sceptre, but he never much talked about that as an adult—pubs weren't exactly popular among his well-to-do clients. He caught the fashion bug while studying at Cambridge, first creating costumes for the Footlights Dramatic Club.

Having found his calling, he dropped out of university to pursue it, leveraging the connections he made at the elite university to find upper-class clients. At the beginning of his career, he quickly found his footing as a society designer. It wasn't long before he'd found international success, catering to both silver screen stars and high-society ladies.

In 1935, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester asked Hartnell to create her wedding dress, as well as looks for her bridesmaids. Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were among those bridesmaids, and their mother took a particular liking to Hartnell's designs. From then on, Hartnell would be a favorite of the Queen Mother's; she awarded him a Royal warrant in 1940, signifying his importance.

The Queen chose Hartnell two create the two most memorable designs she's ever worn, in 1947 and her 1953 coronation gown. In 1957, he was awarded his second Royal Warrant, this time as a dressmaker to Queen Elizabeth.

Hartnell didn't just design dresses for the monarch's biggest moments; he created many of the garments she wore to the more ordinary formal events on her royal calendar. The dress that Princess Beatrice would eventually wear to her own wedding has been worn by the Queen on at least three occasions, ending in the mid-1960s: a state dinner in Rome, the premiere of Lawrence of Arabia, and the 1966 State Opening of Parliament.

The Queen wasn't the only Windsor besides the Queen Mother who became a devoted client. Princess Margaret enlisted him to design, her royal wedding dress too.

Below are some photos of him at work and his designs.

I think my favourite part of the story is that years later Beatrice decided to re vape the dress.

My understanding is that the designer Stewart Parvin and the Queens dressmaker Angela Kelly restyled the dress for Beatrice.  You can see in this last photo that a band of satin was used to make it longer.  They added organza sleeves for Beatrices look on her special day. For me the sentiment means more than anything. What are your views on  her 

choice of dress?