Rehearsal Dinner Dress

This is an antique dress, probably 65-70 years old. A bride wanted to wear her deceased grandmother's dress (92 years old)at her wedding rehearsal dinner. It was in a fragile state when I recieved it and was too small for the bride. I first removed the straps and partial zipper at the center back. I used the straps to create loops to replace the zipper closure. A 6 yard purchase of antique white satin cording was used to create center back lacing and new shoulder straps. The hem also needed help. The trim edging was pulling away from the skirt in various places. I raised the trim about a half inch around the entire perimeter of the skirt. After my work, the dress will be properly drycleaned and pressed. There are fading marks and minor stains but these will become less noticable after the cleaning process. This dress has much meaning to the family and will be worn in memory of a dear grandmother by the bride to be.

Invisible Zipper Replaced

This blue cocktail dress needed an invisible zipper. Charl Gabel at the Encore Consignment Shoppe, Vermilion, OH asked for the repair so it could be available for sale. And so it is, this pristine dress is ready at present for your next formal event and don't forget to check out how nice the zipper looks.

Vintage Lace Embellished Skirt

Inspired by the popup boutique on Cleveland's near westside, with its excusive repurposed art, my daughter and I are embellishing simple gathered skirts with vintage lace, just for fun. A foundational layer of muslin adds extra body to what at first starts out as a 40x20 inch rectangle. The bottom is hemmed; lace is layed; center back stitched; elastic casing secured; and viola the skirt is complete. Very simple project! You might try it, just for fun .

Summer time green dress, alteration

Great looking summer dress required a sideseam adjustment and shortening of shoulder straps.

Grandmother of the Groom Dress Alteration

This dress set required removal of shoulder pads and a sleeve lift to narrow the shoulder width. I also shortened it. It makes a lovely dress for a grand mother in a wedding party.

Dress Rescue and embellishment

Here's Madison modelling a rescued dress. It originally had too low of a neckline. I took in the shoulder seams by 3 inches and solved the problem. The necklace is made out of recycled t-shirts. I dyed the old t-shirts, cut them into strips, formed into rosettes and then attached to a brown shoe lace.

Two more prom dresses

I ended up getting a couple last minute prom dresses to alter. It was the usual, side seams, straps and hems.

Zipper Rosette Pillow

This is a 15 inch pillow with an invisible zipper and feather form. I hand stitched zipper rosettes onto the pillow front as I was flying to Florida. The zipper rosettes are made from used zippers that I pulled out of jackets. I added a printed fabric strip to combine some color to the zipper and then formed it into a hand stitched spiral. Very fun to make! It took about 5-6 hours to make, due to all the handwork.

Door Prizes & Auction Items

I am donating an embellished purse, fabric flower and gift certificate as a door prize to the Vermilion Family YMCA for the Vermilion Festival of the Fish Jay Hershey 5K Run. I added a new outreach page to my website. If your organization is in need of a door prize or auction item, I am happy to donate. Go to the Outreach page on www.sewingbymaudy.com.

Wreaths with handmade flowers

I am ever determining new ways to display my fabric flowers. Here are pics of some wreaths I made featuring the flowers. These wreaths start as a metal frame and are wrapped with vintage lace and ribbon. Flowers compliment the lace and ribbon color and are attached by stitching.

Very fun to make!

The end of the prom dresses

Prom season is coming to a close. My last dress was out today and I didn't even take a picture, just too tired. My total this year was 35. Here are a few more pics of formals. Enjoy!

Extended Bodice

This shirt was getting too tight for it's owner. She needed a little more room and rather than throwing it away, I suggested a front insert. I moved the buttons to the edge of the insert and now she is more comfortable. If you have a similar project or need, please contact me. I would be happy to sew for you, www.sewingbymaudy.com.

Dress Converted to Skirt

A client came to me with a very special dress. It was one that she had worn to see her daughter graduate from college. The dress was a light weight crepe, whispy,a tank top dress with spaghetti straps. Now the same client plans to attend her grandson's graduation and she wants to wear the same dress. But alas, style and bodies change. So her solution was to turn the dress into a skirt and add a lining. And that is exactly what I did. You'll notice in the picture the top has been cut away from the skirt. She plans to loose the spaghetti top and add a stylish blouse and jacket with this timeless and tasteful lined skirt. If you have a similar project or need, please contact me. I would be happy to sew for you, www.sewingbymaudy.com.

Dress 30

This sequenced pink dress was like a corset on top. It was a challenging project. I removed the center back zipper and added loops for lacing as it was too small in the torso. However the dress was also too big in the bust, so I padded it out with additional cups and did a back running stitch along the front to edge to create a drawing in effect. If you have a similar project or need, please contact me. I would be happy to sew for you, www.sewingbymaudy.com.

Formals 22-30

Eight Formals in two days, it was intense but I did it. Most required hems, strap adjustments and side seams. The sequenced pink one was a little more challenging. I removed a zipper and added loops for lacing as it was too small in the torso. However the dress was also too big in the bust, so I padded it out with additional cups and a back running stitch.

center;">

Fabric Flower Favor Bouquet

As I was getting ready for the Avant Garde Craft Show in Westlake, I came up with an additional way to display my flower clips. I made them into a favor bouquet. What is special about the bouquet is that it can be dismantled at the end of a special event and each flower can be given away as a favor to attending guests. The flower clips are attached to ribbons which crisscross a styrofoam sphere. Green silk leaves mounted on wires fill in the spaces in between the flowers. It was really a fun thing to make. It could easily morph into a pomander or handheld bouquet.

Yellow Fabric Flower for Wendy

A client asked for a yellow fabric flower, so I made several and she would have a choice. These flowers are the orgami petal fold and most of them are double petals. Very fun. She picked the one with the purple center.