A very special project.

Photos: Greg Pacek

Kristina is a lovely lady from Toronto who brought to me a family heirloom wedding dress from the early years of the 20th century. Though the dress itself wasn't quite wearable, it was decorated with some exquisite chantilly lace--the kind you just can't get anymore--in a perfect shade of mellow antique ivory. The dress also featured a sweet pearly beaded trim, stitched by careful hands almost a hundred years ago (you can see it making an appearance at the waistband of Kristina's dress). Making the most of two in-person meetings (one in San Francisco, one in Portland), Kristina and I collaborated on the dress you see. I used almost every inch of the original lace to embellish the bodice and an underlayer of the skirt--the smallest scraps were fashioned into flowers with lace and silk organza petals, which were appliquéd on the bodice. The skirt is organza and tulle over silk shantung--the gauzy layers helping to harmonize old and new materials. I truly loved working on this dress, and she wears it beautifully. Thanks, Kristina, and best wishes.

Working on something pretty.

A custom dress. For Brooke. With the prettiest lace ever.

My, Mai.

Once in a while, if you're a very lucky designer, you get a dream client. What makes Mai so dreamy? Hm, let me run down my wish list: stylish in a totally personal way, sweet natured, confident, full of fun and brimming over with great ideas.

 

When Mai first described all of her ensemble (I'm responsible for the dress, sash and organza shrug), I wondered how her bright flowers, hair accessory by Twigs & Honey and her shoes (you can't see them in these photos but they were these, if I recall) would work together. All I can say is, Mai knows what she knows. So! Fun! Thanks, Mai! I loved working with you.

Dear photos from Tasha's wedding at the Cornelius Pass octagonal barn. Her dress was a labor of love and I really did love making it...the perfect project for the patient days of winter. On a damp, dark January morning early this year, I began collaging together dozens of bits of hundred-year-old lace, stitching them one by one over a floating layer of tea-dyed silk organza. A truly handmade dress for a special girl. Thanks, Tasha.

Fall crush.

Photo: Patrick A. Wilson

This is my favorite photo from the set Amber sent over from her wedding. I customized her dress by embellishing the bodice all over with antique lace flowers and appliqués. I love how the delicacy of the lace is punched up by all those gothic grape and berry tones, the luscious fall flowers, and her va-va-voom lipstick. Spin that color wheel, o Brides of 2011. There is life beyond Blush and Bashful.

Dots and dahlias.

Photos: Emily Gutman

So excited to spy Lisa's wedding on the Flora Grubb website. I custom made her dress from a very special swiss dot cotton I found after weeks of searching. As fellow fabric nerds out there know, there is swiss dot and then there is real swiss dot--fine weave, soft hand, woven dot, you know it when you see it. The lovely Lisa flew up from San Francisco for her fittings and was an absolute dream to work with. I'm crazy about the whole look of her wedding and her super stylish, informal-yet-modern bouquet. More photos of the exquisite florals here.

Best wishes, sweet lady!