Ideas into Tulle

Tonight I'm feeling optimistic. Optimistic from the past and optimistic about the future. As noted in my description, my first line of wedding veils is quite traditional. But I'm excited to start experimenting and see what develops for my next line.

Question is how well my ideas will translate into tulle. But the only way to tell, is to create. So let the games begin!

Lessons Learned

I promised to share my sucessful walks down the aisle of design or my stumbles. Well, as could be expected, there has been a bit of both. I've shared the successes with you: I have wedding veils hanging in TWO bridal shops, am working with 5 brides, and have sold 1 veil through the Tallahassee bridal shop.

What I have not shared with you are the stumbles. That changes tonight. No one likes to share the stumbles (as they feel like failures at times), but luckily mine have been bearable, though terribly frustrating.

Let's see, there was the wedding veil that was ruined after it was finished. Lesson learned: beware the HOT iron and ALWAYS test a scrap piece of tulle! Then there was the veil that was started 3 times because I just didn't like the look I was getting. Lesson learned: begin well in advance of the due date! Oh, and the veil where the lace edging was abandoned (after it was sewn around the entire veil!). Lesson learned: one must consider the shape of the veil, the length of the veil, the extremeness of the curves, and the shape of the lace. Side note: since this veil, I have found a lace edging that is simply GORGEOUS!

For those of you who know me, you know that I love "silver linings" or more appropriately: lessons learned. If you have to go through an unpleasant experience, you might as well learn from it so you never go through it again. And now you know my wedding veil lessons learned.

It's Official!

Today Embellish is official! As much as I've LOVED making wedding veils for my friends, there's something special about the first sale to a bride I've never met. Yes, sir, a bride chose my craftsmanship for one of the most important days of her life!

It's a veil that I designed the shape and my mom designed the details. Collaboration at its best! In the words of my grandma when I told her the good news: "I'm on my way!"

With a few tweaks, here is a detail of the veil she chose:

Embellishing Lindsay's Day

Lindsay was my college roommate both freshman and sophomore year. She is a woman after God's own heart. And so is her man! I cannot wait to celebrate their love and commitment come mid-August! I wish them all the best as they start their new life together.

Lindsay's dress is ABSOLUTELY beautiful!! I am very honored (and super excited!) to be making her wedding veil. Thank you, Lindsay, for letting me Embellish Your Day! XOXO

Here's a picture of us from the first week of college in 2001!

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Something Old: My grandmother's sewing machine. Okay, well, it's not all that old, but she did buy it a few years back and has passed it on to me. So sweet! I use the machine for the gathering at the comb, while the wedding veils' embellishments are hand-sewn. Here's a pic of "Maw-Maw's" sewing machine:


Something New: Lots of things. :)

Something Borrowed: My mother's embroidery machine.

Something Blue: Embellish's logo.

Final Fitting

So far, my favorite part of designing wedding veils is the interaction with the brides (and the sneak peaks of their gowns). To date, I've met with two brides in person (seeing them in their gorgeous gowns!!) and I've met with two brides via email (getting to see pictures of their gorgeous gowns!!).

Today was one of those days. Brenna (whom you met in my post on June 8) invited me to accompany her besties to the final fitting! What a great group of ladies, it was such fun! Her wedding veil is SO close to being done, I just have one minor change to make.

I cannot wait to start posting the pics of these brides from their BIG DAYS!!

Embellishing Nance's Day

Today marks the first day that a wedding veil has left the shop on its way to the bride!! It won't be delivered for a while, but it is in route! Nance, a friend of my sister's from Nashville, has given me the opportunity to Embellish Her Day.

I am yet to meet Nance but I can tell from her emails that she is just precious. I wish her all the best as she plans her Big Day in October. Look for pictures following the ceremony!