2014 Bridal Headpiece Collection is here!

Hey everyone!  So...I have been working really hard on my 2014 Bridal Headpiece Collection, and it is here!  I will also have 5 gown designs that will be available January 2014, but let's just take it one day at a time.  :)  So before I reveal the beautiful photos I must give credit where credit is due.  The photography was all done by Mel Klemz Photography and it is absolutely superb!  Thanks also to Michelle with AKM events for volunteering her family's land for the shoot and helping me get the headpieces placed just right on our beautiful model Kayla!  And as for the gorgeous hair and makeup, my awesome sister in law Stephanie Hauser donated part of her afternoon to do that, so thanks lady!

Ok...I think that's it....

So without further Adieu, here it is.

2014 Bridal Headpiece Collection by 27 Dresses Designs

Golden Goddess Bridal Crown

Art Deco Inspired Double Band

Satin and Lace Vintage Flower Bridal Comb

Ivory and Champagne Bridal Cap (Veil Alternative)

Satin and Lace Boho Bridal Headband

Gold Birdcage Veil with Champagne and Gold Floral Fascinator

Set of 3 White and Champagne Cherry Blossom Hairpins

Cherry Blossom and Peony Tulle Headpiece

Beaded Blush Boho Headband with Chiffon Peonies

Vintage Style Flower Trio Bridal Comb

Vintage Lace and Chiffon Boho Bridal Cap (Veil Alternative)

Well, I hope you like these labors of love!  My heart and soul goes into every piece.  Please stay tuned for the gowns!  Mwah!

Your Little Hands Are Always Doing Something

For as long as I can remember, I've had this burning inside me to create.  My grandmother always used to say:  "Your little hands are always doing something."  (Wow, that just made me tear up.)  I have to say though, at times it's been a blessing and a curse.  And I guess it's only a curse when I  have my days where I just wish I was a "normal" mom that was totally satisfied with devoting every moment to the kids.  The hubby.  The house.  Please don't misunderstand me though.  I love my husband and my kids immensely.  God has blessed me with more love than I can sometimes handle when it comes to adoration for my family.  I think that's why I cry so easily.  Sometimes I'm just bursting at the seams with how much I love them that it has to come out some way.  :)  I'm just saying that even with all of that...I have to create!

It's taken many years to get to where I am at.  But I have finally found a love in fashion and even more specifically bridal fashion.  I know part of that is because I love weddings for what they stand for...2 people committing themselves to eachother before God and all the ones they love most in the world, but the other part is the beauty, drama, and romance that bridal fashion can really be. I mean it's really no surprise that the little girl in her bright red bow slip on shoes (that she thought went great with everything btw) and ruffled dresses grew up to start a design business.

Well this summer, Michelle (AKM events owner and one of my new besties) and I traveled out to Chicago to assist with a 20's style vintage photo shoot by the lovely Esther Gallarday Photography.  It was so great to see Michelle in her element.  She made magic like this happen...

I feel like everyone should have the luxury of seeing what this girl can really do when you give her a task and let her loose...

As for me, I kind of took the bull by the horns with the fashion side.  I crafted some 20's style gowns  for the bridesmaids which now all my girlfriends want to borrow... lol!  And of course my real pride and joy was designing the head pieces.  I actually designed about 10 looks for this shoot, but we used the 3 that worked best with the gowns and the overall look for the shoot.  In all reality none of the designs are a waste though because they can always be used on my etsy page and become available to brides all over the world.  :)

I was so excited Michelle asked me to be a part of this and working with an uber talented photographer always opens doors when it comes to everything bridal.  The proof of this statement came in a beautiful package called Le Magnifique Blog bright and early this morning!  The Styled Shoot got a feature!!!  I am feeling so blessed that I was a part of such a beautiful project and very humbled by the recognition.  :)  I knew that we were going to be featured, but I wanted it to be a surprise.  I have to admit that it's been pretty hard to keep my mouth shut for a month and a half but I did it!  Go me.

Anyway, without further adieu...See the feature here.

Not to toot my own horn, but I think the headpieces added so much to the overall look of the shoot.  It was a proud moment realizing that...that doesn't happen everyday.

I feel like my designs are getting better all the time and I can't wait to keep sharing more as they come.  I would love to design for you!  In the meantime, check out these websites of the peeps involved...And make sure you go with AKM Events if you need help planning your big day.  I promise she will make it magical.  I've seen it first hand.  ;)


Photography: http://esthergallarday.com/
Event Design: http://unveilbyakmevents.com/
Florals: http://my.sociopal.com/fleurishlyin
And Headpieces: http://www.27dressesdesigns.com/

At it again.

Hey all!  Hope everyone has had a good week.  It's been a crazy one here at my homestead.  It's been one of those "I have the best intentions" sort of weeks without anything working like I planned it to.  Today I still have to go to the third grocery store of the weekend to pick up the things I forgot at the first 2, and this morning I gave the hubs his gift of an unfinished frame with a picture of the boys in it.  It was supposed to be an awesome mod podge collage frame that I made, but instead it's plain raw wood.  I was going to make it for him Friday but he said he was coming home for lunch...which turned into 2 o'clock  and so by the time he left it was time to pick up the pictures I had taken of the boys.  At least they turned out cute.  I still can't get over the fact that I took them with my phone.  My galaxy 3 is the bomb!  Yeah that's right...the bomb...I'm bringing it back...

Aren't they adorable?

This is the one that went in the frame.  :)

Anyway, after picking up the pictures, shopping and wrapping the pictures, I was off to my gig.  A ton of friends and family came that I have been missing dearly....And even Johnsie got to come thanks to my awesome mom watching the baby.  I have to say it was one of the best times I've had playing music in a long time.  You know it's going to make for a special night when people actually clap for you.  ;)

In other news, I finished some hair pieces for Anna...She's one of Michelle's "vintage" brides which we will have a little series highlighting her wedding coming up in the next few weeks on our youtube channel.  I made her a couple things because she wasn't exactly sure of what she wanted...This is how they turned out.

Pretty huh???

The little shiny middle pieces, and the little sprig coming from the flower on the right, were taken from her grandmother's wedding headpiece that's over 60 years old!!!  I thought it was so nice that she trusted me with such important pieces.  :)  Fingers crossed!  Hope she likes them!

And last but not least...The second youtube vid is up!!!  It was a day I decided to show Michelle some of my design tricks and she needed some last minute supplies for an upcoming wedding expo....So we decided to invade hobby lobby with the kids.  Yikes...  Anyway, Hope you enjoy it!

 

Happy Fathers Day!!!

Music, Dresses, and You Tube, Oh My!

Hey peeps!  So I have been so behind and I totally appologize for that.  I last blogged in March and it's now June.  Yeah.
So needless to say, from time to time I procrastinate.  Please don't let this reflect on my business.  Believe me that's what's usually keeping me from doing things like keeping up on my blog.  I'm not the most organized, but I do get the job done  :)

Anyhoo, here's the 411 with what's been going on...
I have so much going on right now.  If I ever wondered if I was a "jack of all trades, master of none"...  I've answered that lately with a definitive (and exhausting) yes. For those of you don't know, I am a musician.  Since my 2nd son has been hanging out with me in the world, I've gone back to gigging at local bars and restaurants to help make ends meet here at the homestead.  Making a few extra bucks and taking what pressure I can off my awesome husband as he has become the main bread winner around here.  I've even talked to my awesome partner in crime Michelle about doing music for some weddings in the near future.  I actually have done quite a few weddings, and thought maybe I should put myself out there again.  Help a friend all the while taking a few extra dollars  home.  So there's that.

Also....I am pretty sure I am going to veer off into...dare I say it...bridal gowns.  I know it seems crazy to put more pressure on myself, but I feel this CRAZY strong pull to do it.  It will be a while before I unveil the collection because I want to take my time and get the designs and details right, but I am very excited.  They are probably going to appeal more to the "bohemian" "risk taking" bride.  I am starting with 5 designs that I can somewhat easily mass produce just in case it takes off better than I had imagined.  And I may even throw a few re-vamped vintage gowns into the mix.  I'll be on the look out for some older gowns anyway.  Vintage will always be my first love.  :)

And last but not least!!!  It's here!!! Today Michelle and I will be cutting the ribbon on our very own you tube channel!  So I guess if I am leaving you in the dark here on my blog, (Which I am going to try and change for you this summer... You can head on over to our channel and see what's up.  This is one thing that I have kept up on for the most part.  I think having Michelle help with ideas and encouragement has been a Godsend!  And so with that said...  Take a look!  Also, feel free to leave questions or comments.  I think in the future I am going to try and set up a Q and A episode, so your question could be featured!  Pretty cool huh?

http://www.youtube.com/user/SatinLaceDirtyDipes

Thank God for good friends and a pretty family

So last week I had a photo shoot for some of my newest designs!  It was so exciting.  I got to spend some quality time with my nieces and sister-in-law (aka my models) and also got to see my friend's (aka my photographer's) talent in action.  It was an awesome day.  Unfortunately, that night the horrible flu that everyone has been talking about and I thought I was going to bi-pass...hit.  Ugh...I probably haven't been that sick in 10 years.  It got the whole family!  I will spare you the gory details and just say, I think it's behind us.

So last night I finally got to update my Etsy page with the amazing new photos added to it.  I am really excited about the new looks and I have to say I pride myself in offering designs that are a little non-traditional.  I hope you appreciate that too.  :)  Again though, these are just designs I've created...I think through this process I have been proving to myself there isn't much I'm not capable of doing.  So all you brides out there with custom ideas in mind, please don't hesitate to challenge me with them!

And thank you to my beautiful nieces Morgan...

Madison...

And last but not least, my awesome sis-in-law Stephanie...

And a HUGE thank you do Brian for taking beautiful pictures!  

If you would like to see more of my designs, please visit my Etsy page!  Wedding season is coming upon us quick...Tell all your friends!!!

For information or custom orders, please email me at:

27dressesdesigns@gmail.com

www.etsy.com/shop/27DressesDesigns

   

Dream on

Have you ever thought about what it's going to be like when you're "old"?  Not like the kind of thinking you did when you were 12 where you think about the big mansion you'll live in with your rich doctor husband, but the kind where you already have your husband (who isn't rich, but his dimples make you melt when he smiles at you so it's ok), and you wonder what life will be like together?  How both of you will be as a married couple down the road? It's kind of a reoccurring daydream I have a lot.  I go there in my mind because it's a good feeling for me.  I feel like we'll be a "cool" older couple.  Maybe a little quirky too, but cool nonetheless...

Although I would make a pretty stellar Walmart greeter, I think I want to work at hobby lobby...for the discount.  :)  And Johnsie (my cute dimpled better half) will probably be in some sort of customer service field as well.  Hmmm...maybe he'll be the Walmart greeter.  He loves people too much not to be around them.  I will probably have some cute short hair style, platinum in color, and he'll probably wear denim shirts like the ones he currently makes fun of dudes for wearing.  Some days he'll take me to lunch and flirt with the young waitress only so he can get her attention long enough to tell her (and anyone else who will listen), how much he loves me, and brag about how we are just about to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary.  Then he'll whip out his wallet and show off his grand kids, hoping that the little waitress really cares about his story and not just her tip.  I think about sitting on the porch drinking coffee...playing guitar together when our hands are wrinkled and arthritic...I think about kissing him when I'm 70, and still feeling butterflies in my tummy.

Sometimes I think these daydreams give me a sense of sanity in this crazy world.  So for all of you brides-to-be out there, I wish you many years of these daydreams.  Don't believe the lies of this world.  Marriage is far from disposable.  It is sacred and it is beautiful.

So dream on.  :)    

Queen Corner Cutter and Proud of it!

So, maybe it's because my grandma's depression era mindset had a big influence on me as a child, or maybe it's that we never had a ton of money growing up, but I am one of those people that's always looking for a way to cut corners and save money.  As of now, I am currently wearing face powder that's...mmm...I don't know...I'd say 3 shades darker than what I normally would buy.  Hey!  It was clearanced down to $1.24.  $1.24 for mineral powder is unheard of and I will gladly wear a scarf to cover my white neck until I have used every last drop.  What?  Don't judge me.  I guess you can take the girl out of the trailer park, but...yeah you know the deal.

Anyway, this REALLY is who I am.  Sometimes getting my husband on board has been a feat in itself.  Hey, how was I supposed to know that the girls at Cost Cutters aren't quite the same as Hair Cuttery?  Cost Cutters put out a coupon...they've got to be good right?  And what do you mean that the razors from Aldi aren't comparable to Gillette?  It says right on the package "compare to Gillette".  Ah crap.

All joking aside, when it came to my wedding day I didn't cut corners on the way I looked.  I bought brand new make-up (all the right shades) that I don't think I ever used again. I bought the exact dress I wanted, and although reasonably priced in the grand scheme of wedding dresses, I most likely would've paid whatever they wanted for it.  For my hair, I swept up one side and adorned it with 2 simple white flower hair pins.  I think I paid $100 for them.  For 2 hair pins!  But you know what?  I look back on that day, And I don't regret a darn thing!  To me, it was perfect and worth every last cent.  I felt beautiful, and I could tell my husband felt the same way.

I guess the moral to my story here is to get the look you want.  I AM NOT condoning being up to your ears in debt.  No one wants to start a marriage off that way.  You should definitely have an overall budget and stick to it.  What I am saying is to get the closest thing to your dream look as you can, and if that means spending a little more than you're used to spending on yourself, it's ok.  It is your wedding day!  Live a little.  And if you're looking for that perfect hair accessory that won't break the bank...I know a girl.  :)

Who's that girl?

So hey everyone, and welcome to my blog!  I wanted my first post to be a basic introduction of who I am and what I am about.  I had a blog on here before which included a lot of insight about my home life and family.  I don't necessarily want that to come to a complete end, so I will definitely be honest about that in a way that it's not always the easiest thing to start a business and maintain the everyday life of being a wife and a mom.  I started 27 Dresses Designs in August of 2012, after a good friend asked me to design for her wedding!  I am super excited about it because I really feel it has been a God given idea, and as cheesy as it may sound, is "my calling".  I adore weddings and what they are about...The first day of your life as a unit.  Becoming one!

I remember watching a show where a guy was talking about his wedding day.  He said when his bride started walking down the aisle, his best man leaned over and said something to the effect: "This is the most beautiful she will ever look, so take it in."  Comical as it may be...I tend to agree.  Maybe it's because of the fact that, that's how it has been for my (poor) husband.  Hey, I have a philosophy...If I can't wear sweats, I don't want to go!  Just kidding...kind of.  But seriously, your wedding day is important!  And I think every girl wants to look more beautiful on that day than any other day of her life.  I want to be a part of that!  

Anyway, I have signed on with a wonderful wedding planner named Michelle.  She is the the owner of AKM events.  You can see her awesome work here: http://unveilbyakmevents.com/ 

If you are looking to get some much needed help with your wedding, I highly recommend her!  Seriously, she has a package in everyone's budget.  If I had to do it all over again, I would use her to stay on budget and just to plain old stay organized!!!  We became fast friends and she is a mom too, so we relate to each other in life and in business which has been a blessing.  This is a recent team up and we hope to keep you all connected with our shenanigans with a soon coming youtube channel.  I will keep you posted!  You can also see some of my work here: http://www.27dressesdesigns.com

Even if you don't see something that you would call "you".  We will make it!  Please remember everything I've made, was the first time I ever made it.  :)  I LOVE custom work and I LOVE making vision come to life, so please don't hesitate to contact me for a free consultation. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog, and I hope to design for your big day in the future!

Please email me at:

27dressesdesigns@gmail.com