Monday, January 31, 2011

Wedding Dress Inspiration Gallery

One of my favorites!
Bride and bridesmaids



from dolly couture




 
J Crew





Princess Alice


vintage Christian Dior snagged from Etsy several years back.





from Victorian Trading Co.

a Tirelli  movie costume dress.
I love the silk bands on the skirt.


Vintage 40s lace dress 




Do you have a favorite?

Of Brides and Dresses

So, my previous post commented on the disgusting modern trend of 'seductress' wedding dresses.


My main gripe against the modern wedding dresses isn't even the immodesty (although that is a big deal too), it's simply the dishonor shown to the husband through what the bride chooses to wear. It's like she's saying it's all about her - her being as 'beautiful' as she can be, her being the center of attention, even at the expense of her own dignity and the respect due to her new husband.

But - even worse than that - weddings are supposed to represent the union of Jesus and the church! Weddings should honor God first and foremost. That is a pretty big responsibility - and it's completly missing in a majority of wedding celbrations. How can they when there is such a blatant lack of dignity and purity??

It's not a matter of dress style or skirt length - its a matter of attitude.
So, until attitudes are changed - dresses are going to just go along in the same horrid trends - or even get worse.
But - attitudes trends can be changed, and it can start with you. (whether it be everyday dress or wedding dress)
So - on that note, my next post will be a gallery of inspirational pictures of actually lovely wedding gowns, whether they be modern, vintage, or historical.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Brides: Then and Now


Brides.......

Then:





....and Now:




 
Seems that something very precious has been lost over the passing years.....
(and I don't just mean yards of fabric....)

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

the sketchbook of the sky

A few pictures that we borrowed from the sketchbook of the Creator - the sky-


I think He does amazing work.
 


What is man that God is mindful of him?
 

All the things that seem important and worrisome as we sit in our homes, seem like nothing when we look at the vast sky and realize that no matter how things seem to us, locked into time and space as we are, God is still in control and we have the promise that if we have the blood of Jesus as our plea - we will triumph in the end. I think that is an amazing comfort.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Faces from the Past II

So, after the recent post about my CDV collection, I ended up searching 'cdv' on Etsy - not a good idea. There were so many cute ones - several in particular which looked like they needed a loving home. So - how could I refuse? Meet the newest members of the collection:

These two are from Etsy seller maclancy
(she even added in an extra 1870s CDV for free!)


{C. Dart, Bennington, VT.}

'Ruth' has a smart outfit of pinstripes (notice the bit of trim following the pointed waistline) - finished off with  starched white cuffs and collar, a broach, and a hairnet trimmed with a ribbon bow.



{JAs. De Maus, Photographer, 25, S Hanover Street, Edinburgh}
This picture of "Flora" is all the way from Scotland!

She's quite a beauty with her glossy light brown ringlets and fashionable dress.


I wonder what book is on the table?

Notice how her sleeves are slashed and piped, to show the white undersleeve peeping out, then buttoned to the cuff. The bodice also has a pleated peplum in the back. The front is trimmed with fancy black lace and braid.

Penned on the back is 'April 1865'




The three are from Etsy seller Happy Steiler


{A. Hickcox Gallery of Art, Binghamton, NY}

Little Alice who is very proud of her grown-up hoopskirt.
She has short, unevently cut hair, a gathered bodice, bishop sleeves, and a pleated skirt with a very mod braided design over the growth tucks.


This is actually a tintype, not a CDV.
Since there is no paper label on the back, I don't know where she is from.
She is lovely, though, don't you think?
Her name is Elsie.
She has a cute, plump sweet face topped by a fashionable pillbox hat and a cluster of pink blossoms.
Notice how the dress fabric is darker in the folds, and quite light in the smooth areas? This could mean it was a sheer dress - dark dotted sheer fabric on top of white petticoats showing through.

{A.M. Allen, Photographer, Corner Center and Market Streets, Pottsville, PA}

Now, this is a rather humorous photo.
John, on the left looks bored, little Mary a bit frightened of the stern photographer, and tragic looking Jesse seems to be ready to burst into tears if he has to stand by and not muss his good clothes for another minute.

Look closely at the detail on baby's dress - lots of ruffles and I can even see some cording or tucking on the underside of the petticoat. Velvet cape, fur muff, and a knitted (?) hood. Cute!

One boy wears a shirt with a pocket buttoned to the waistband of his trousers, and the other has a smart little vest and coat, knee pans, and a crooked striped bow-tie. :^)

Also check out this great post on CDVs by Robin's Egg Bleu

Monday, January 3, 2011

New and Improved 'Tangled' Dress

Recently I've been busy making dresses inspired by the new Rapunzel movie 'Tangled' for the Etsy shop.

I'm always trying to find new fabric and techniques to bring the desgin closer to the movie dress, so here are pictures of the most recent version:



Fitted  princess seamed bodice that laces up the front with pink 'mousetail' cord. Small puffed sleeves with appliqued pink stripes. 3/4 length lower pink sleeves trimmed with white daisy lace.



Bodice fabric is a light lavender satin, over skirt is a darker shimmery purple/blue satin, and the under skirt and bodice are a deep plum satin. Skirt front is trimmed with embroidered sequin organza ribbon.