Something special

Before our wedding I went to my quilt group knowing we would be eating cake and have a couple of drinks to celebrate my impending marriage, and I was really looking forward to it. 

They gave me this

and sprinkled confetti all over me and my machine.

Each member of the group pieced a square, isn't it wonderful.  I was surprised, shocked, lost for words and loved their generosity.  I found out they had been having secret conversations and always without me knowing.

On my last day of work in came into the office to find this (taken with my phone)

 

Here's a close up

I'm still finding confetti and chocolates in my shoes, drawers, documents and who knows where else I'll find it. 

I love how much thought and creativity went into each of surprises, they will always be two of my favourite presents.

Thank you,

Gillian

Something borrowed

Our wedding photographer, Jeff Ascough has posted some of his favourite photographs of our wedding on his blog, < click on the link to see them.  We love the photos he has chosen to share.


As ever, I needed an image for this post and I have 'borrowed' a beautiful photograph of my niece in her bridesmaid dress.  This photograph was taken by my new sister-in-law, thanks Mel.

Gx

Something transformed

Once upon a time a visitor from the south of the land brought a box of sweets to bring Christmas cheer.

The hospitable hosts were very grateful for the sweets and viewed the box with interest and untold possibilities.  After Christmas it was placed on the top shelf of a very, very tall cupboard and forgotten about.

Time moved on.

One day she cleared the cupboard and with great delight pulled out the box.  They viewed it curiously and suddenly an idea popped into her head, "Do you think it's possible?" she asked.

"Yes, I think it is", replied he.

A flurry of painting ensued.

He traded some beans with a wizard who taught him to spin crowns and letters from gold and magically placed them onto the box.

They looked down with joy and no-longer saw a plain sweet box, it had been transformed into a post box, and it shall go to the party.

The End.

Something to do with a hen and a stag

Sorry about the title, I had to keep the 'Something ...' wedding post theme going somehow. 


Our hen and stag parties were full of activities.

I went to my very first ice skating lesson.  I have skated before but have never been on a lesson - something I wanted to do for years.   We learnt to skate backwards, in a circle, do small jumps and to skate on one foot.  It was brilliant, I recommend you try it.

On the train to the ice rink Helen passed me a package and said "Before you open this do you promise to do whatever is in it?" After some deliberation and making her promise it was not dares or a tacky veil with L plates or other 'things' on it (you can guess what), I said yes.

I had to wear a bright yellow tutu, bright pink fingerless gloves and bright yellow ankle warmers.  

Then they made me wear this outfit on the tram back to Manchester and as I walked through Manchester city centre, always walking a few steps behind me.  Strangely, hardly anyone batted an eye-lid, ha har.

We met the others at The Modern restaurant above the Urbis museum for a fantastic meal (I recommend the golden syrup pudding with vanilla custard) and more dressing up items.


In the evening we watched 'Charlies Aunt' at the Royal Exchange Theatre.  The play has been running since 1892, making it one of the most successful farces.

For the boys stag party his brother took him for a helicopter flying lesson as a surprise.  In the evening they met the others to watch comedian Al Pitcher and for a night in Liverpool.


We both had great days.

Something sewn

Last week was very productive.


I had my first wedding dress fitting and with my shoes I look very very tall, ordered my veil and my replacement engagement ring, we met with the registrar and had our last meeting with our reception venue co-ordinator.


The never ending rain made me finally finish sewing 3 new sashes for my flower girls dresses. Their dresses are white and even though the white sashes were pretty, they were lost against the dress, so I made green sashes to link the colour between the adults bridesmaid dresses and the childrens.

My oldest niece Holly will carry our wedding rings on a cushion inspired by the ring cushions on the Martha Stewart Weddings website.

And because I thought the backed looked plain in comparison to the front I added some ribbon and my late grandmother's brooch.

For both the sashes and the ring cushion I used a green lining fabric, although the lining fabric is fine for the sashes I thought it would fray easily under pressure and show every lump and bump of the cushion stuffing.  So I added an extra row of stitches close to the edges and lined the lining fabric with a light weight white cotton fabric.

There's still a couple of items I want to make... maybe if there's enough time.

Coming soon, our hen and stag parties.

Gx

Something new

Our wedding is only a month and a half away - eeek.

The boy and I decided to make a few handmade items for the wedding, I still have to make the sashes for the flower girls dresses, but I have been making the ladies favours on and off for the last few months.  

We have designed, made and posted the invitations, the boy even managed to source some FSC sustainable card, and I think they are great.  

A wedding magazine said if a bride normally wears her hair down like I do then she should wear it down on her wedding day.  Well, I am ignoring that little piece of advice, I want to look different, polished and elegant like Reese Witherspoon, Kate Beckinsale and Angelina Jolie.  My hairdresser tried out 2 different styles, sorry, no pictures until after the wedding.


These are my shoes for the big day, aren't they pretty!  I visited them for a good year before purchasing them, you see, I normally wear flat shoes, like, everywhere... and they add a good three inches to my height, so I really need to a. learn to walk in them, and b. break them in.  

I do have a plan b for the evening - bare feet, perfect for dancing.


Sorry I can't share photos of everything I have made yet, many of my guests read this blog and I want a few things to be a surprise.


Gx

Something old

There are many options for every aspect of a wedding day and with so much choice in the last few months I have started for forget my theme.  I always knew the theme was going to be vintage, but until two days ago did not have a colour.  I was waiting to see what bridesmaid dresses the high street brought out and as I am going to at least three other weddings this year, and a bridesmaid for two of them, trying to find a different colour was becoming a bit of a concern.

Two days ago I settled on green, and it feels right. 

To keep my theme on track I have made my own wedding mood board (courtesy of Dessy).

On a different note, if you are reading this post in a reader check out my new banner, they boy did it in about 2 minutes.  He's a star.  And I have enabled my blogs comments setting, if you want to leave me a message you now can.