My Next Major Project & A Winner...

You know about me making my mum's wedding gown recently, but before I started my blog, I also made this wedding gown.

In the spring of 2008, my eldest niece (and goddaughter) Jennifer, told me that she and her fiance', Kip were planning an October, 2008 wedding. She asked me to make her wedding gown.
Approximately three hundred fifty hours after I began (and only one fitting in a fully constructed muslin "practice gown"), this was her finished wedding gown. We called Jen "The Princess Bride". I also made the attendants' dresses for her sister and future sister-in-law, and the cummerbunds for her husband and her then-stepson (now adopted son), Carter.

When everything was complete, Handsome and I loaded up our vehicle and drove all the gowns and "extras" to Minnesota for the wedding. It was quite an honor for me, as she also asked me to dress her for her special day. (You can click on this link to see the photo album of the entire process - right through her wedding day.)
This is the fabric I used to make her gown...silk duppioni, Oscar de la Renta brocade (which was reversible), and beaded silk duppioni. I purchased extra fabric, because I'm one of those people who embraces tradition and family ties. I knew that some day, there would be a baby that would wear a christening gown, and rather than cut up her wedding gown, I planned for enough fabric left over to make her family's next heirloom.

I made Jennifer's christening gown when she was a baby, and have made gowns for nearly every child (or at least one for each of my sibling's families) since then. I've also made the christening gowns for our three grandchildren.
This was the gown I made for our youngest son and his wife's daughters. Both of them have worn it. This is the basic style I'll use for Jennifer's son, Liam. (You may have noticed on my birthday greetings for April, I welcomed little Liam into our family.) I'll modify it so that it has features that are reminiscent of her wedding gown, too.

So, this is my next big project. The christening is scheduled for July, but I'm attending a cousin's wedding in Wisconsin in June, so I'll make the gown early and hand deliver it to Jennifer and Kip. (Won't it be much more fun to see their reaction, than to ship it to them and settle for a phone call?)

Oh, golly! You're waiting to find out who the winner of one of my Hearts' Desire hearts is, aren't you? (giggling). I had to wait until midnight. Then, I went over to the Random Number Generator to get the winning number. Handsome is already fast asleep. Otherwise, I'd be asking for an official drumroll. So, without the drumroll this evening...

Congratulations to Connie of She Dreams Big!

Connie: Please email me your address so that I can mail your heart to
you as soon as I finish it. I'll be making yours in the pink silk rose design!

I really appreciate the sweet comments that each of you left. I realized from some of your comments that, unless you've already received one of these hearts, I've never told you what size they are. These hearts measure approximately 5" x 6" .

I decided (also from reading your comments) that I'll also be making them in a larger "throw" pillow size to sell. Thanks so much for helping me realize that I should make the larger size so that people will have the option of a large sachet size, or one to put in a chair or on their bed.
Thanks again!