Sunday, April 1, 2007

Girls in white dresses...

... with fun satin sashes!

Hopefully we won't be having any snowflakes on our noses or eyelashes! Believe it or not, it has happened before. It actually snowed on The Professor's first Easter when he was only a few months old. So cute and bundle up in his infant car seat, he looked like the best Easter basket ever!

Anyway, back to the dresses. Thank you to everyone who offered help and opinions. I can't tell you how much I love being a part of this blog community filled with such generous people! Here is what I ended up doing:

I contemplated changing out the satin underskirt for a couple of days. I even went so far as to pin a mock-up of what it would look like (gorgeous!). But I set that option free when I realized (thanks Michelle!) how much time and effort that would take for something they will probably only wear for a few hours at most.

Instead, I opened the side seams, removed the white sash and the bead work across the waist and resewed the side seams. I made a sash for each girl in the color of their choosing (pink for Sunshine, purple for Shortcake) and tied it around their waist. They were very long, very full sashes so their was a huge bow in the back and they looked very pretty, but... there was still the modesty issue. Even though it does get very hot here in Texas, I don't like for them to wear sleeveless dresses to Mass. I had a couple of little white crocheted sweaters they could have throw on, but those got in the way of the bow and made the back look... lumpy. Husband even agreed. So I took the sash and started playing around with it and ...viola!There was enough fabric to go around their waist, up and over their shoulders and tie in the back (did I mention these were really long sashes?) . The girls said they were comfortable and I thought they looked cute. And that is how the "Sashrug" was born. OK, maybe I need to work on the name before I call Christian Dior.

I also had to make the little flower pins to keep the sash from sliding off their shoulders since I couldn't find anything that small in the stores. Satin on satin is very slippery! The pins were made with the supplies you see below:The glue not pictured above is called "Jewel It" and it dries completely clear. I also took off the little white bows that decorated the beading on the bottom of the tulle and added ribbon to match.
I am very happy with the outcome and the girls are too. They definitely won't be mistaken for First Communicants and while they are a tad on the fancy side, I don't think they scream "flowergirl". And even if they do, I don't mind so much anymore. I love my beautiful, flowery girls!

Thank you again for all your wonderful suggestions!

13 comments:

  1. Very pretty! Good job on those dress makeovers. I'm sure your girls will love them and it's so nice to be able to wear those dresses some more.

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  2. They really turned out beautiful. Thanks for posting the "after" pictures.

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  3. Wow! I'm impressed! Those turned out really lovely!

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  4. How very beautiful! They will look so lovely on Sunday in their finery. They certainly are blessed with a caring, creative Mom!

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  5. Beautiful! You did a fantastic job.

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  6. Those are gorgeous! Wow! I'm so impressed...they will be just stunning on such a blessed day!

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  7. They came our splendid!! I love the wraps and I'm sure your girls do too!!

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  8. WOW!!!!!!!

    Those are completely beautiful!!!!!!!!!

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  9. I love these so much that I needed to come back for a second look. Sorry they needed to be covered, even temporarily, with winter coats, but I am sure they looked incredible in church!

    Happy Easter!

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  10. The dresses are lovely! You transformed them perfectly!!!

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