Everyone, thanks for carrying on without me being involved so much… My days seem to be very busy…again, I’m not sure why it’s taking so much time with only a simple small wedding… maybe it’s because of the short amount of time to plan it… Once they finally met, they just didn’t want to wait any longer…and I don’t blame them.
We all went to the place today where the wedding is going to take place and it was just as pretty today as it was a few weeks ago when just Rebecca and I looked at it. We drove around in zippy golf carts to the various places where pictures could be taken outside… the photographer met with us too to see all the places and get a feel for what she might do… We’re just praying it won’t rain…
I also worked on my dress for the wedding… Rebecca found it on Poshmark and I loved it the moment I saw it…but when I got it, it was WAY too long… like 4″ puddling on the floor… so today I took it apart at the waist and moved the whole skirt up about 10 inches… I still have to hem the lining, but that’s another day’s work…
Here’s something else I did… I dropped off some things at the Goodwill, and of course, had to run in and see if there was anything I couldn’t live without… I spotted these 2 little girls… Mini Felicity and Mini Emily. It’s the first time I had ever seen the American Girl Mini dolls in person… I was hoping I could make things for Navi that would fit them too… but I’m not so sure… Navi is quite a bit skinnier than the mini’s.
Okay, time for Alina’s pictures from Poland. This is what she emailed me…
“I wanted to show the sisters from the couch what my young couple this year looked like; my son Jan and his wife Monika. The wedding ceremony and reception was on May 28, 2021. I greet everyone.” Alina
Thank you Alina, they were lovely pictures and your son and new daughter in law looked very much in love!
Well, that’s all I can fit in today…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, that dress is going to be just lovely on you!! It will be most appropriate for “mother of the bride”–but I can see you possibly wearing it for other special occasions, too, in the future. Win-win!!
And aren’t you glad you sew?! We have such an advantage in that we know how to alter something so it will fit the way it should, and we don’t have to rely on someone else’s time schedule to get it ready!
Lucky you, to find two mini-AG dolls! Yes, they are a bit chunkier than Navi, but it will be good to have them to compare, in case someone should ask.
Alina, thank you for sharing your son’s wedding pictures with us! They look very happy, and are a good-looking couple! I really love her wedding gown, too–the fabric is beautiful, and the style is so nice.
I want to thank everyone for their concern and kind comments, and especially for the prayers! They will be using two kinds of “contrast” tomorrow, one kind I drink and another kind that goes into an IV, so I’m a bit nervous about those, as well as whatever the scan might show! I imagine it may be a few days before I know for sure, but it could be my doctor will just call me when she finds out. I will let you all know.
Again, thanks for the concern and the prayers. This is one special group!
Hi Charlotte,
I’m glad you like my dress. I hope I will too when it’s hemmed and I can decide what shoes to wear with it.
There might be some things that would fit both of them…we’ll see.
I pray you survived the tests today and hope you get good results soon. Waiting is so hard.
Thank you Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
I’m going to comment somewhat backwards here, so will start with Charlotte. Charlotte, I wish you successful testing tomorrow and that they find your problems. Better yet, that they find out and FIX it! Nothing worse than not knowing. Prayers for you from me, dear friend!
Alina, I loved seeing your son and daughter in law’s beautiful wedding! I love how she had that pretty coverup for the church ceremony, that flowed so beautifully around her arms. Your church looks quite modern, not what we would think of a church in Poland! What a sweet picture of the newly married couple showing off their rings! My they have a lifetime of happiness!
Jeanne, your dress will look wonderful on you! I probably would not have that trouble with it being too long, it would probably fit me just right, since I am tall. I always have the “other” problem of things being too short! The lace looks just beautiful and I think the color will fit right in with the fall color scheme!
Those two little mini dolls look familiar, because I too, have them. I bought about 5 or so of the 25th anniversary mini’s and use them for my dolls dolls. So THAT’S how small Navi is!
This is the Ark of the Lord church in the shape of Noah’s Ark in KrakĂłw Nowa Huta
Hi Linda,
I liked Alina’s daughter in-law and son’s picture of them showing their rings too! It was like they were saying, “look…it’s official!”
I think I cut off 10 inches…and I’m hoping it will be the right length…it was kind of tricky…you had to cut it off where there was less embroidery… and the mesh area as it was too bulky to gather at the waist..
I’ll keep the mini dolls and see what I end up doing with them…
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
I see two perfect dresses for the occasion of a wedding. What a handsome and beautiful couple, Alina. They look so very happy ❤️🥰! Are we seeing you at this end of the table with the pretty hair and lace dress? What a pretty baby who looks happy to be included in the day.
Love the ♥️ on your lace dress. Being able to sew is truly a blessing. My lace dress for my oldest son’s wedding was never worn again but wish it had. Yours looks adaptable for other occasions like your anniversaries. I’m excited too to “go” to another wedding, Rebecca’s, and to see more of the sofa sister wedding pictures. Thanks, Alina, for sharing.
Jeanne, have you heard anything from Jean and Bithar’s family after the earthquake? I’ve thought of them any number of times but forgot to ask. Hope they are all okay. Also thinking of Charlotte today and hoping for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Thanks Susette,
I really hadn’t noticed that there was a heart on the front of my dress… but now I can’t NOT see it when I look at it!
I did hem my dress off the floor so I “could” wear again sometime… I probably wouldn’t have if I had left it longer…
I also see your comment there about Jean and Bithar… They aren’t in Haiti right now… they are here and Bithar has been studying to get her LPN here. Back in Haiti, she worked in a prenatal baby unit… she was supposed to have been finished by the end of August… She’s been busy studying, so I haven’t bothered her…
Thanks for asking about them…
Blessings, Jeanne
The dress will be perfect when you’re finished with the alterations. Funny, but I did exactly the same thing with the skirt part I wore for daughter’s wedding. Brought it up to a much better length on me without messing with the hemline. Aren’t you 5’4″? As that is my height also. So, are we having a name the dress color contest? Is it smoke gray? or hazy blue? Definitely not agreeable gray. Ha ha. Thanks so much for sharing the dress. Glad you found something you liked and quickly too. It will be perfect.
So glad Alina shared her son’s recent wedding photos. Such a cute couple, lovely church, and great venue. 🙂
Great find on Goodwill dollies. When I first looked, I thought that some child had been playing doctor and put casts on their legs but then realized that they were the price stickers. 🙂 Keep an eye out for those tiny shoes as they are quite pricy.
Wind changed last night so it looks like the latest huge fire will be blowing smoke our way. This one is in the sierras south of Tahoe so not close to us, but lots of homes burning. The worst for me is seeing lost bear cubs wandering around looking for their mother. So sad.
HI Joy,
Yes, I’m 5’4″ and my dress was dragging the floor, but it was a bit tricky because of the heavy embroidery pattern. I had to get it above or below the heaviest parts so the mesh netting could gather up nicely without added bulk…
The color in the description of the dress was gray/blue and that’s about right… In the original pictures it was much lighter… I like it better this darker color..
The little mini dolls need to be cleaned up and I need to see how their hair was originally… they are both quite messy.
Sorry about the smoke coming your way… Keep your windows closed and sew! :o)
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
I love your mother-of-the-bride dress! I was wondering why you had to shorten it at the waist and then I saw the second picture and realized it was the only way. I go for “smoky gray” for the color. I too am vertically challenged at 5’4″. I have two beautiful pairs of slacks that I have not worn yet because I can’t figure out how to shorten them and still keep the wonderful border print, which I will lose if I shorten them from the bottom. Being pants, I can’t shorten them at the waist and there is no way to recut them. Any ideas?
Alina’s son’s wedding pictures are lovely. Monika was a beautiful bride and they make such a handsome couple. Pretty baby! The reception looks nice and relaxing. Thanks, Alina.
I have two of the mini-AG dolls, Julie and Molly. Pixie Faire has patterns to fit these small dolls.
Joy’s telling about the effects of the horrible forest fires makes things a whole lot more personal than hearing it on the news. Two things that will always break my heart is seeing children and animals suffer. They are both so vulnerable and dependent on the good will of others. When that does not exist they have no recourse. I guess adopting a bear cub is out of the question. Seriously, hopefully there are provisions being made for them if they can’t find mom.
Barbara, thought I’d chime in. I’ve seen border prints shortened by folding up from the top of the print and making an inside tuck all around. It might require opening the inside seam to sew it more easily, but that is a piece of cake. Don’t know if that might work for your pants or not. 🙂
Hi, Joy and Barbara! Joy is right. Even this nonsewing gal has done this pretty successfully! I cut the border part off, allowing for your seam allowance, and then resew it back on and iron the seam open. It might require a little more jiggling with the shortening part especially if the pants are tapered. Good luck!
Sounds like we are all about the same height…I am 5’5”.
HI Barbara,
Yes, unfortunately, the dress did have to be shortened… and in between the heaviest embroidery areas… I could only shorten it in 10″ sections, because that was how far the repeats of the pattern were, and it was going to have to be a little lower than tea length or above my knee. I didn’t want that… so I was thankful it was as long as it was to begin with…
I saw Joy’s comment below and was thinking something along the same lines… your could possibly make some pin tucks above the top of the border or if they are really long, just 1/4″ tucks… if they are longer than that, you’d have to make several 1/4″ tucks… of course you’d have to probably take the inseam undone to do this and measure to get the rows straight… OR wear 4″ heels! :o)
Thanks Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, the dress is lovely. It is amazing to me (the non-sewer) that a dress can be taken apart and raised. I thought one just cuts off the bottom. I can see the sewer Sofa Sisters cringing in horror (laugh). I am learning new things at Jeanne’s School of Clothing Design.
The little dollies are cute. I have Addy. I don’t think they can wear Navi’s clothes.
Alina’s wedding photos are so sweet. I am moved by the joy on the faces of the bride and groom.
HI Dorothy,
We’re going to make a “sewer” out of you yet!!!
I’ll have to work on a pattern that might possibly fit both of the dolls… but I’m not sure it will work.
Yes, didn’t the bride and groom look like they were on cloud nine?
Thanks Dorothy,
Blessings, Jeanne
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I hope everything is okay with Anne in NZ. I don’t think she’s been on in a number of days. NZ in back in lock down due to Delata surge. Praying she and her family are safe and well.
Charlotte, I pray that your testing goes well tomorrow and you get some answers and treatment that helps you get back to your normal self.
Lovely mother-of-the=bride dress, Jeanne. The heart ion the bodice is lovely. Nice find on the mini dolls.
Thank you for sharing your son’s wedding photos, Alina. Monika is a beautiful bride and they both look so happy.
HI Laura,
I hope everything is okay with Anne too… maybe she’s just busy…
Thanks for the compliments on my dress Laura, I was glad Rebecca found it and ordered it for me… I would have liked to have made my dress, but time is not on my side right now…
Thanks for your pictures too, Laura… keep watching! :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
Hello, Sisters!
Jeanne, what a terrific dress for you that you might get more mileage from than many “mother-of-the-bride” dresses. On my iPad, it definitely looks like a dusky blue. Well, hurrah! You have your dress! And two more little dollies. I only have a mini Samantha that came as a “bonus” with something I probably spent too much for on eBay years ago.
Dear Alina! Thank you for these pictures. Lovely couple, beautiful dress, happy faces, and gorgeous red hair almost like Rebecca’s. I always wished I had red hair and a long neck like Monica’s. This appears to have been a very small wedding, too. All my best wishes to your handsome son and beautiful daughter-in-law for years of good health and joy.
Charlotte, before you know it now, the tests will be over and may there be some workable answers. We look forward to your report. Sending a hug and prayer.
Joy, I hope the smoke isn’t too awful. You are so right about the poor animals, and I feel so for the elderly who don’t want to evacuate until it’s too late. I am really afraid for our grandchildren. Mankind has not proven to be good stewards of this planet.
Wishing you all my best for today (and every day!).
So it must have been a small wedding (50 people) due to the pandemic. It took place unusually on Friday. Additionally, it was the first day they allowed wedding parties to be held.
Thank you Sally,
I’m happy with my dress for the wedding too…it’s very comfortable and that was one of main “wants” in a dress… not stuffy and uncomfortable… It’s a stretch lace mesh so it’s very forgiving and easy to move around it.
I thought the same thing, Sally…that here is another small wedding… but a very pretty bride and handsome groom!
Thanks Sally,
Blessings, Jeanne
Your mother of the bride dress is lovely. Susette is right about being able to sew. And you will be able to wear it again. Will the extra 10″ be usable for a doll dress? The color would be pretty for Julie or Chrissa.
Alina’s pictures are so nice — I keep wanting to say “especially” but found that I liked them all “especially — in the church — is the church as big as it looks? Outside the church, with that lovely sweeping curve backing Jan and Monika, their happiness as they showed off their rings, and the beautifully decorated tables, with the baby buggy reminding us that weddings are for families. I liked Monika’s dress and the cover-up for church. I hope there will be other occasions suitable for the dress, and that jeans have not become Poland’s national dress, as they have here. Theater? Opera?
Now let’s see if my sister can find a picture of my nephew’s cake.
My granddaughter Maja is in the pram, and my daughter-in-law Klaudia is sitting next to her. Maja’s dad – Grzegorz is standing.
I forgot to say how much I like the mirrors in the restaurant.
A student of mine described pre-pandemic Polish weddings here, with polkas danced until no one wanted to hear another polka for a year.
HI Marilyn,
I think the embroidery work it too thick and heavy for a doll dress, but I was considering making a small purse out of it… that I could use with my dress. that might be too much… I’ll have to see…
Oh yes, we need more cake! :o) I am planning to make some small individual cakes for Rebecca’s wedding… I’m hoping I can find time for them…
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
Charlotte your tests will be over before you know it. 🤗 Then hopefully they will know what to treat to make you feel better ASAP! ((HUGS))
The wedding pics are …no other words for them…beautiful. That dress is memorable and such a handsome bride and groom! The pic of them outside the church couldn’t be lovelier.
Great dress Jeanne! That will be so perfect! Love the lace, the style and the color. One less thing to worry about! Your mini AG dolls are sweet. You will have them looking good in mo time.
HI Kathie,
You never saw anyone so grateful as I was when I tried the dress on and it fit except for being a little long… I quickly looked underneath at the lace and realized it wasn’t going to be a hard job to fix… just a little scary cutting off 10 inches and “HOPING” you got it in the right spot and long enough…
Thanks Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
Puppet: I would like to boast that I received a RRFF doll, admittedly small Kelsey but very cute. Time to make little sweaters.
HI Alina,
Thanks again for the wedding pictures… they were just beautiful and you all looked like you had a nice time… cute granddaughter too!
Congratulations on Kelsey… she’ll be donning sweaters for you all the time… I hope you enjoy her!
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Congrats on Kelsey. I have Callie. Love the size. They are so sweet. 🙂