Still Sewing

I'm still sewing, just not as often. The craft show/ handmade business portion of my life is winding down, but I can't stop until I use up more of my stash - there's way too much fabric in this house for me to be a lady of leisure yet.

While I can knock out production sewing - multiples of the sme item, even if in different fabric - without thinking about it, I still like custom orders the best.

Because most are made with provided fabric or garments, each one comes with a story. Todays' bear is no different.

I was contacted by a woman who'd seen my work in a local shop. She's getting married in October and asked if I would make a bear for her mother from the mother's 1980s wedding dress, some of her wedding dress, and a few items belonging to her dad. I said of course, I'd be pleased to do it!

She showed up last week with a poofy meringue of a gown in a trash bag (just the way her mom had stored it), several strips of fabric from her gown, a few patches from Dad's school athlete days, a bracelet of her mother's, and a name patch and pin of Dad's. What I did with them was up to me. Mom wasn't particulary sentimental, she said, so it didn't have to be very "bridal" unless I found a way to make it work.

I think I did.

Body from Mom's gown (only the sleeves). Ears and feet from daughter's gown. Patch on belly, bracelet and pin like military medals. On the back, Dad's name, surrounded by "wings" made up of appliques from hte sleeves. I added another applique to the bear's forehead to hide the join where I gave her a tiny bridal veil, made out of the exaggeratedly large puff of netting which was the sleeve shaping. (I said 1980s, and it was). There are two further tiny floral appliques on the feet.

I think it came out adorable, and she's coming to pick it up very soon. I hope she's pleased. Even more, I hope her mom is pleased.