From Sofa Throw to Jacket

I'm the kind of person who can look at a piece of virgin fabric and visualize it already made into an article of clothing.


For instance . . . when my eyes fell upon this awesome, 100% Woven Indian Cotton Throw at 

Stedman's in Haliburton for $7.00 each, that looked like THIS to everyone else .thats 

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I saw . . . THIS:

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Can you imagine how much time and thought it took to get this jacket to look like this ... Working ⁷

with only a of 1fabric, measure 4 times, cut ONCE - no margin for error ... can't afford to screw up ... at all!

Now you're probably wondering what happened to those beautiful diamonds at the top of the fabric? The sleeves were a perfect place to display those.

This picture was taken with the sun shining on the garment, using a flash on the camera.

It just dawned on me that the pictures I posted here are pictures of the jacket before I even had the edges sewn together or the lining in it. I will post the finished product when I find the disc I've stored those pictures on.This is only one of the Throws I made into Jackets. I'll post the rest another time.

It's late and I have a busy day tomorrow.

Be Well, my fellow Artists!

From a Little Girl's Dream ... to Reality

Years before Becca was ready to graduate Grade 8, she had a vision in her mind of exactly what she wanted to look like on the evening she participated in this "Right of Passage" ceremony.

This beautiful, delicate, ivory lace creation is the culmination of hard work, God-given talent and decades of experience to make her dream a reality. 

At Grandma Ross' house, Becca would spend hours dreamily mesmerized by her Grandma's Royal Dalton figures. She had at least a dozen lovely Dalton ladies in Victorian garb, each in a different pose. I'm certain Becca's Grandmother has a Royal Dalton figurine who is, wearing almost exactly the identical gown, posed in exactly the same way as you see Becca in this photo.

Now... on to the story of how this dress came to be.


"I want it to look like I just stepped out of the mid-1800's, Mummy!" she said with a wide, knowing smile.  

Having just told her I'd laundered the beautiful set of Belgian Lace Shower Curtains my sister had bequeathed me some weeks earlier, I thought nothing of it when she asked me what I had done with them.

In a flash, Becky was gone from the kitchen table where she'd been enjoying a cup of tea with her sister and me.

I turned around at the sound of Rebecca re-entering the room, and the only sound I could muster to mask my shock was ... WOW!

This tall, stunning, beautifully-coiffed young woman . . . seemingly pictured from right out of the 1800's, is dressed fit to attend a Ball, or The Opera, or spend an enchanting Summer's evening with friends, over cocktails aboard ship.

Seeing my mouth drop open in total awe, my sweet daughter, Rebecca, huggingly informed me that THIS was the Gown she wanted to wear 'For Grade 8 Graduation'.

How could I possibly refuse her, looking as magnificent as she did? How did she manage to wrap the curtains just so to produce such a stunning silhouette?

But ... the real question racing around in the back of my mind was ... exactly HOW am I going to pull this one off ? 

And, from my sister's lace shower curtains, of all things?  Well, both of us knew in our hearts, that if anyone could accomplish this task, it would definitely be 'Mummy'. 

I admit, I am talented with my sewing machines and Sergers, but this vision of grandeur and loveliness before me, would truly test those talents, as both Designer and Seamstress, to the MAX!

After combing through the reams of dress patterns (and I have tons) I possessed nothing that even came close to this vision in Becky's mind. So, it was up to me to find a picture of a Gown I knew she could see in her mind ... 'The Gown' she wanted to wear to her Graduation. And, I would make it for her, from however many patterns I had to use, to put all the pieces of her dream Gown, in place.

Here, a flatteringly-feminine, just low enough, peek-a-boo key-hole neck Lace Gown, with a delicate decolletage, which accentuates the positives, and hides the lumps and bumps girls don't like boys to see ... at any age.

Naturally, her attire would play the starring role of her Grade 8 Graduation experience. And here is where it all began - side by side pictures of what she wanted to look like, and a picture of the Gown I was magically going to create, to make her this vision of loveliness, and having it look exactly as she had hoped in her heart that it would.

Here, Aunt Marie is stitching Becky back into her Gown as in her haste to get it on, popped one of the seams just above the side zipper. So, only moments before she was to appear at the Ceremony, while I was getting ready, my wonderful sister and awesome Aunt Marie, repaired the seam that split while putting her gown on. 

I had stayed up all night, sewed all day, and then sewed right up to the last minute, just to make sure that my dear, sweet Becky, felt as wonderful as in her Graduation Gown, as she looked.

Rebecca would be totally embarrassed by this Blog were people at the school to find out her Gown was made from a very expensive pair of lace Shower Curtains, and a great many yards of lingerie satin, and pebble georgette for the gathered flounce under the lace skirt, at the front of the gown.  But, I don't think her friends read my Blogs here, so our secret is safe, for now, at least.

Anywayzzzz . . .

Here, Becky accepting her Graduation Certificate from her favourite Teacher, in the Whole Wide World ... Mr. Abdelkerim. This is a Teacher who's passion for teaching was not lost on Rebecca!  The Principal of her school, standing behind smiling as she accepts her Graduation Certificate.

The look on Rebecca's face as she descends the Graduation Stage, through the archway, says it all, as she so elegantly lifted the folds of her Gown, so as not to trip on her way down the stairs. 

My heart swelled with pride as I watched my Sweetheart float from the stage, with that beautiful, glowing smile on her face... 

Becky and her Date, Jordan. 

She wore flats exactly because she didn't want to make him feel self-conscious about her being taller than him.  Jordan was a perfect Gentleman at the Dance, and throughout the evening.

And here ... My Bestest, Belle of the Ball, Rebecca! 

Rebecca was the only student who wore a full-length gown to Graduation, while just 3 years ago, all of the girls wore  at her cousin Melanie's Grade 8 Graduation from the same school.. 

Rebecca, AFTER being re-stitched into her Gown.  She was a vision of beauty and I think you can see how pretty she felt that day, in her new gown. I think the smile on her face here, is worth the 1,000 words I would have had to use, to express how lovely she looked at her Graduation.

And such a lady, lifting her train out of the grass and leaves, so as not to drag them all around for the entire evening, stuck in the netting of her lace gown.

Becky was thrilled with her updo hair style, which she felt totally completed and complimented her look altogether.

While I prefer not to do 'Bridal', I am more than capable of working with all of the fine fabrics to create such dresses as these. 

Here are the girls, 3 & 5 years old, dressed in the Halloween costumes I'd made for them that year.

Halloween had long since past, but they didn't care about that! They loved these dresses and would play Dress-Up' for hours and hours on end.

This is when all little girls HAD TO BE Princesses! Cinderella turned into one, and so did every other little girl in our neighborhood! The dresses pictured here, dealt with all of these same fine fabrics, only in smaller proportions.

As a Stay-At-Home-Mom, I enjoyed both the resources and the time it takes to make such garments. I made most of their clothing when they were that age. It was this time I spent with the girls is what solidified the bond I have with my daughters today.

Til next time,

Be Well!

In Light and In Love,

Stitch <3

Grade 8 Graduation Sure Has Changed!

Unlike when us 'old people' graduated from Grade 8 in the early 70's, students these days, have quite the celebration! Graduating from Grade 8 in the 70's was like a double-edged sword.

While we looked forward to leaving behind our childhood for school as almost an adult, we also faced being tortured by our elder siblings and their friends, upon our arrival at High School, as we had now become"Minor Ninors", the lowest of the low! There we became the youngest students, of a much larger population called ... High School!

Sofa Throws Jackets ...

As a Designer and Seamstress, it is not uncommon for me to visualize a completely finished garment, merely by viewing a piece of fabric.

In the late Fall of 2002, I came across an awesome SALE, where I purchased this incredible 100% Indian Cotton Woven Sofa Throw, one of the 5 Throws I'd purchased that day.

Upon spying this most amazing, hand-woven, Oeuvre d'art ... most people would see ...

... a lovely Sofa Throw.

Me? I saw a warm cozy Jacket! A lovely, warm, Jacket that made a statement, and one which could be worn throughout all 4 Seasons!

Upon espying this beautiful work of Art, that was transported thousands of miles and a culture away, I was determined to make it work!

Sweet 16!

My daughters, Emma on the left, and Becky on the right, are all dressed up to attend their friend Amanda's "Sweet 16" Birthday Party.

What seems like just a few years ago, they were playing dress-up in Mommy's closet, with my high heels and fancy dresses... now they are actually wearing those high heels & fancy dresses!

I made the two dresses they are wearing here, because, that's what Seamstresses do... sew for their kids!  Only now, my kids are no longer 'kids', they are almost grown women!