Client Weddings

OMG, where does the time go? I am blessed that I have a busy and full life. Time just seems to run away from me.

Anyway, two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending two weddings. The great thing about weddings is that the bride and groom can personalize them as they wish. Each wedding was a bridal client. The weddings were at different times, so I was fortunate enough to have time to enjoy each of the ceremonies. Both weddings were very different, and both were very lovely. It was exciting and fun for me as I got to see my hard work in action, and could take in the many commentaries of how the brides looked.

The first wedding was a Scottish wedding. How beautiful to see the Scottish heritage being honored at the wedding. The male wedding party wore kilts. Pretty neat to see here in America. There were Scottish bagpipes playing and Scottish traditional dancing. The bride and groom looked lovely. I think it’s great that cultural heritage is carried on from generation to generation. The wedding dress was special, as it was the brides mothers dress. Part of my alterations was to match up dress material today, to fabric from years ago. Part of my challenge and fun that comes with the business.

The second wedding was a traditional formal wedding. What I mean by that is that the bridal party attire consisted of formal wear – gowns and tuxedo’s. Again, another lovely wedding. The best part about weddings is when the bride and groom are really enjoying themselves. I had a lot of fun at the reception – dancing, laughing. It looked as if the bride and groom also were having fun.


It’s nice to attend client weddings. As I stated, I love to see my work in action. And, when I hear complements, I really feel good about what I offer and contribute to my clients on their special day.

Wedding Planners

The majority of my clients are brides-to-be. It is fun and exciting to work with them, as they are full of hope and dreams. And, they are giddy in-love!

The other side of that is that during the wedding planning process, I have witnessed how the brides-to-be have become nervous, anxious, uptight, and a little short-tempered. They take it upon themselves to plan everything! There is so much to plan and coordinate – the reception, flowers, music, seating, culinary delights, gifts, dresses, shoes – the list can go on and on. After a while the pressure begins to show.

I’m a firm believer in investing in a professional Wedding Planner. A lot of people think that Wedding Planners are an additional cost. In reality Wedding Planners are an investment. It is money well spent. Wedding Planners have inside access to vendors and hospitality sites. They have a wealth of knowledge. They know the ins and outs of negotiating. They have the relationships built with vendors so there is less time wasted on phone and email exchange. They are the experts in their field, have established relationships, and get the job done. Cost can be measured in time, money, and emotional well-being. With a professional Wedding Planner, the bridal party will save time, will save on emotional distraught, and ultimately will save money.

What better way to celebrate the day, knowing that someone else has taken care of all the details.

Amethyst Gemstone

This past weekend I was in Springfield Massachusetts for the East Coast Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show. In addition to my profession as a seamstress in formal wear, I am adding to my portfolio unique scarves known as Châle (Shă-lă). These scarves are made from luxurious natural fabrics with natural gemstones designed into them. Châle’s channel positive energy around and through individuals who wear them.

While at the gem and mineral show, I was enthralled with the amethyst, a beautiful naturally occurring gemstone from crystal quartz. The amethyst displays a variety of beautiful purple coloration caused by impurities of iron or manganese. The color is as unique as it is seductive. For thousands of years, amethyst has been the gemstone of royalty. The rich and powerful have worn it as a mark of rank for hundreds of years.

In popular Greek Mythology, the amethyst offers protection against drunkenness. The Greek word amethystos, means not intoxicated. It was believed that Dionysus, the god of wine and song, was very angry and vowed to slay the first mortal who crossed his path. The unlucky mortal was Amethyst, a beautiful maiden. However, Artemis – goddess of virginity and the hunt – intervened and transformed Amethyst into white stone. When Dionysus saw what had happened, he repented and poured wine over the stone, staining the top of it purple. That is why the top of amethyst is purple and the bottom is white.

Another variation of the Greek mythology is that the Goddess Diana transformed the beautiful young maiden, Amethyst, into a statue of pure quartz in an effort to protect her from vicious tigers. The god Bacchus, angry because of an insult, decreed that the first person he met would be eaten by his tigers. Diana transformed Amethyst into crystal when the tigers sprang in attack. In remorse, Bacchus poured the juice of his grapes over the stone as an offering, thus giving the gem its beautiful purple color. The Greeks believed that Amethyst would prevent intoxication, calm anger and relieve frustrated passion. Amethyst has been used throughout history to guard against drunkenness and is thought to be helpful in overcoming addiction. It has also been used for hearing disorders, insomnia, headaches, and other pains.

Folklore attributes amethyst to many supernatural powers in different cultures. It was believed to protect crops against tempests and locusts, protect against black magic and dissipate evil spirits.

Amethyst is noted for its sobering and cleansing effect. The amethyst powers include dreams, healing, peace, love, courage, and happiness. In Tibet there were amethyst rosaries, as the gemstone was dedicated to Buddha and was said to promote clarity of mind. Amethyst, when worn is believed to make the wearer of this beautiful gemstone calm, gentle, amiable, and to uplift one’s spirituality.

I can’t wait to start creating the Châle with the amethyst gemstone! I’m excited knowing that something so simple and beautiful can envelope one with calming, positive energy.

Donation of Prom Dresses

I am a firm believer in giving back to the community. If you are reading my blogs, you know that I am a very appreciative and grateful person.

I love my personal and business community and try to support and stay involved in local events. An event that is now underway is donation of new and gently used prom dresses. A Second Thought is asking for gown donations so that women with development disabilities can wear them at the 25th anniversary Heritage Christian Services Silver Anniversary Ball. Men’s formal wear donations will also be accepted.

This is a great way to make someone feel special. Donating the gown is also very responsible, as it is “green”. How wonderful to recycle the gowns for continued use rather than have them hang in a closet gathering dust. And, there is no better feeling than giving generously and unconditionally.

Brides, Technology, and the Internet!

What an interesting world we live in. I have been a part of a cultural transition. When I first started in the business of professional seamstress, everything was pretty much by the book. What I mean, is that there was not too much deviation from the norm. Brides wore very simple white gowns with white shoes. Selection was very limited. Most purchasing of bridal attire was done within a 60 mile radius. And, most parents had a say in the big event.

How times have changed. It is now a global world. Brides are more sophisticated and independent. They are no longer interested in the norm – residing inside the box. Brides are interested in making their own statement about their special day. Brides and their wedding party are doing researching over the internet. There are many bridal sites available online. A favorite with my clientele is the website The Knot. Brides are buying their gowns online, which gives me the opportunity to tailor them! Brides get wedding ideas, decorating ideas, beauty, accessories ideas, and much, much more. Dress styles for the bride, attendants, and mother of the bride can be found online. Tuxedos styles for the groom is also available online.

This age of technology makes it easy to send digital pictures of the varied wedding attire to remote users. When trying on gowns in a local shop, a friend can take a digital photo using their phone, and then send it over the internet for viewing and opinions! The technology goes on and on. Brides can express their joy or frustration on websites such as FaceBook and Twitter. They can even set up their own Blog to express all they feel during the wedding planning phase.

Talk about using technology to share with others. Did you see the YouTube video of the JK Wedding Entrance Dance? I thought it was awesome! Weddings and marriage should be about celebration and love. It was refreshing to see such a happy wedding party. How many weddings have you been to where everyone walks down the aisle, looking sullen and scared?