U.S. Marshals

It is a beautiful day! The spring is running past our house, it was cooler today, which is always a nice change in August, the boys are cute, and the lawn is mowed. What more could I ask for? Here are a few picts of the kids being U.S. Marshals. Thought you might like to see how big they are getting.

feathwers

I ordered feathers for a dress and they came twisted up like flowers. This is actually yardage of feather trim. They were so beautiful out of the shipping box, I had to take a picture. Of course the photo doesn't do it justice, but I will post anyway.

By the way, one of my brides was published on a wedding blog. If you want, you should check it out. It is www.snippetandink.blogspot.com. It is a few days back. Just look for the vintage carnival theme. The boys and I were lucky enough to go to this wedding. They now will feel all weddings should be like this one... tailor maid for two cute boys. They were in heaven and so were all of the adults. It couldn't have been a more beautiful wedding! Hayley Anderson was the bride. She has done a lot of my images on my web site. She is a talented photographer and evidently a gifted wedding planner as well.

That's what I'm talking about!

So for a diversion and because the timing is right, we are making a few changes to our rental home. I say a few changes, because, in my mind, that is all it is. I realize now that others view the project as a big one. I am starting to believe it myself. Have I told you how much fun I am having? Well, this stuff is great! I have been getting sub contractors out to dig around the foundation, cut window openings through the foundation, having windows installed through out the house, and getting Questar gas to move the meter. This is just scratching the surface.

My dad has been very hard at work redoing the bathroom. He has fixed the floor by putting up sister joists next to the old ones. He is also the electrician and plumber for the site. I call him the "enabler" which is to say, he is the only reason I feel empowered enough to do any of this. Yes, I know it, I am lucky! It has been great to work with him. Anyone who knows me knows there is nothing like a good project with my dad. After he is through with the bones of the bathroom I get to learn how to tile. I know it takes him longer to get things done when I am around, because I am wanting in on it all and am using the opportunity to see how the plumbing works and such.

So I thought I would share a few photos with you before I get deep into sewing wedding dresses again. I took 1.5 week break to start on this house. After two dresses, I will get to work on it again.

By explanation, the first photo is the before shot of part of the house. The rest are various shots of the work in progress. I have no after shots, that will be about a month in coming.

Whew!

Thought I would post these flowers. Ash, the bride with the silk dress that didn't harm the silk worm, used these flowers for her bouquet. They are so very cool. They are made with clay. Who would have thought? With the help of a very talented person on Etsy, Ash was able to pull off an incredible bouquet without killing the flowers. She is much better than I.

In other news, I enjoyed ripping out a bathroom in our rental home today. I was able to take out a shower layer by layer, grossing out along the way. Boy do I love a project! I will try to do some before and after shots of this house. If things go as planned, knock on wood, we will get some new windows, sealed up basement walls, big windows in the basement, new bathroom, tile in the dining room, and carpet in the rest of the house. Yes, just listing everything makes me believe I will have to forgo something. We will see.

Courtney's Bridals

So I was checking out nicolecarman.blogspot.com and saw these great shots of Courtney's bridals.

For those who know me well, this is the "Gweneth" bride.
Now do you see what I mean?

Anyway, I had a great time making this dress. I love unique details, Courtney chose a blush pink silk shantung. The perfect pink if I say so myself. I was also able to meet some of Courtney's friends and family, all who were great! Her photographer, Nicole, is so sweet. The perfect personality to be a great photographer. So you should check out her blog.

Just a note, I love the shape of this dress. They couldn't get a full shot of it on account of the rain and mud that day. Rain seems to be the story lately.

Soon you will get to see Courtney's sisters dress, Ash. This family is having two, yes, two daughters, within the same summer. I am excited to start on the next one!

Flowers

Here is a little shot of some half made flowers. I am into texture right now in any shape or fabrication. It is something that I am trying to keep in check. Therapy might be in order. We will see how well I do.
The other shot is one Hank took of my while sewing. I am not good at photos... I always feel pretty darn awkward. My siblings claim I stand a weird way. That is probably true but I am incapable of changing it. Maybe Hank needs to take the photo and I need to be sewing for it to be real.
I have quite a few dresses to show you, but will have to wait til the whole wedding thing happens for most of them. I have really enjoyed these projects and sewing for some great people. I am lucky!

The best days I ever have with the boys always end up with kids looking like this.

We took a quick vacation to Southern Utah to spend one day in Zion, my most favorite place on earth, and to visit with my brother and his great family. It was one of those perfect vacations. If anyone knows me, they know that vacation means gaining at least 2000 feet in elevation while biking or hiking, swimming in a desert swimming hole, and then finding some great food to eat. Well, because I don't want to be reported to child services, we skipped the elevation gain. We did get a great bike ride in with the kids in the bike trailer. Scott got a workout, because he was the puller. I rode beside whistling a tune and eating bon bons. We biked up Zion canyon, which, thanks to the shuttle system, was traffic free. We hiked up to Hidden Canyon, promising all the way that there would be sand for the boys. What ever motivates, right? After the hike, we played in the water. Then we biked to Springdale for ice cream. We ended up having Thai food and watching the shadows of one canyon wall climb up the other wall. The perfect time of day in the perfect place.
We drove back to my Nicki and Randall's home.... which is in itself a work of art. The next day we spent with family. We hiked to some lava flow tubes, swam in a great swimming pool in Vajo(tiny town 20 minutes out of St. George), and finished with dinner at Nicki and Randall's "to die for" restaurant. I am not bias when I say that Randall has a gift for food. I am so overly proud of Nicki and Randall and what they have created in "The Painted Pony".
All that day, we got to watch cute boys having cousin time. They sure get along well! It is pretty unbelievable. Hank and Sam were playing, whispering to each other, and mastering water guns at the pool. Slade was ordering poor Jack around, "Jack, look at the camera!" said while turning his head toward the camera. "Jack, keep going!" while trying to hike with him. Hopefully that is a little phase for Slade.
One of the best things about this trip is hearing Sam and Hank whispering in the car about something important. Also, how Slade took to his uncle Randall and became his shadow.
There is nothing like a trip to the desert!