Our Wedding Reception

We had a wedding reception for Hillary and Nicholas at Tibbet’s Creek Manor in Issaquah.Now you will see where all the hard work from my helpers came in. I am so glad I had family and friends there to help me set up, because we only had a couple hours and My mind was in a bit of a fog. I’m also glad I had written up plans for each display area or decoration. We had to go back to the house and were running late, and my family was already setting things up for me.

Remember all the sewing my sisters and I did? Well the majority of it was for the tent curtains, which looked fabulous inside and out.

And even better at night!

Hillary really wanted a chocolate fountain, and it was a big hit.

The cake was lovely too.

      Before the reception began.

One of the neat things we did was have a table of old wedding pictures from Hillary and Nick’s parents, grandparents, and great-grand parents. Hillary has a love of family history and I thought this idea would be a cool way to show that. I’ve never seen it done before. In the rush I didn’t get a clear picture of it, but this picture taken during set up will give you an idea until we get the professional pictures back.

Three of my sisters and I during the set-up. So many people worked so hard. I am full of gratitude. It was a very fun night.

-Lynnae

Five Days until the Wedding !!!!

…..And my head is a bit of a blur. I keep thinking of one more thing to check on, one more thing to do……

I did have a couple little work parties with some of my sisters and my sister-in-law and daughter. Last week was sewing…..

  And yesterday was all about sewing, ribbons, and flowers.

And a little sisterly craziness

Sorry AJ, even sister-in-laws have to participate….Thanks to Shannon assisting her with her laurel headpiece.

And a soft focus picture for one sister who commented that having three sons she’s never been surrounded by so much pink.

Thanks girls! I love my family! What would I ever do without you.

On another note, I’m so excited to post my daughter’s bridal pictures, but not allowed to do so until the wedding. SOOOOoooo, I’m going to try and create the post that will publish right after the wedding on Friday morning. Then, while I’m in the middle of my daughter’s busy and wonderful day, it will be like you are there with us. So check in on Friday.

-Lynnae

Day One, Jane Austen Society of America Annual General Meeting

Sneak Peek at my ball gown

This morning, after staying up late to put the final touches on my dress, I picked up my Mom at the airport and off we were on our road trip to Portland.

We were able to check in to out room at the Hilton early. We went to registration tables, saw some cute T-shirts, picked up our packets and headed up to out lovely room, where we dumped out our “Jane Austen- The Abbey” tote bags to admire the contents.

 With post cards, a book light, and chocolate. You can’t go wrong!

 Mom and I in our room.

Mom and I decorate our nametags And take a quick snapshot before unpacking or dresses.

 I unpacked a portrait of Dear Jane for our room.

After this we went down to our dance workshop. We practiced four English country dances in an hour and a half. Sometimes it was exasperating, but when the dance came together it was exhilarating!  I danced across from my mom, but after the first dance they encouraged us to change partners. A nice looking and friendly woman agreed to be my partner. I saw my mom introduce herself to her new partner, and thought I should do the same, but then upon seeing her nametag I got VERY excited and almost lost it. I was dancing with Laurie Viera Rigler, the author of ‘Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict’ and ‘Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict’! Oh! (I may need a moment)…..Do you know how AWESOME that was???

OK, composure regained.

After dancing and a great dinner, we went to look at ‘Milsom Street’, the emporium full of booths, books, and other items for sale. Here is a sampling of the ‘shops’

 Rebecca Morrison Peck of ‘The Thatched Cottage’.

 Kay Demlow, Designer, Dressmaker, and Fashion Historian for Lavender’s Green Historic Clothing

There were also some lovely historic dresses on display that I photographed for your enjoyment. But first, here are links to a few more of the vendors:

Vintage Passementerie

Jean Judy- Jane Austen Charm Jewelry

Charlene Ahern- Henry Was a Railroad Man Card Company

After a brief rest in our room we attended Angela Barlow’s “Jane Austen, An Actor’s View”, with observations, readings, and delightful observations about the characters Jane Austen created. That leads us to where we are now, enjoying the view from my window, exhausted.

And now for more DRESSES………….

See you tomorrow,

-Lynnae

Sewing Saturday

I decided to start off my ‘sewing saturday’ by sleeping in until 9:30. I had a blast at the Zumba Party in Pink last night. It was fun and they raised a lot of money for the Susan G Komen Foundation.

My Daughter, Me in the center, and My sister Cami on the right.

So after a quick breakfast I finished work on my under dress, and made several notes on my pattern for the dress I have yet to finish. Here is the completed under dress….On my dress form. You didn’t think I was going to show myself wearing it did you?

It does look a little saggy under the bust line. I don’t know why the pattern turns out that way, but I was glad to see it sag on the perfect dress form too , because I know it’s not just me!

Five more days until my Jane Austen Adventure!

-Lynnae

Busy Me!

Enter in to my (messy) studio.

It is in full sewing room mode. Yesterday I sewed for an hour only to have to unpick everything I had done. Funny how your mind gets clearer after eating dinner!

I am currently working on a chemise style slip. My pattern is the Simplicity 4055. For the underdress I am making view B except with the lower neckiline of view A. I am also making it sleeveless. If it is too tight to slip over my head then I will put a zipper under one of the arms. But all these changes and calculations are mixing me up and taking time.

The Jane Austen Society is less than a week away. Six days to prepare, not just for the trip, but to leave my daughter with a serviceable Halloween costume and give my husband any help he needs preparing for the festivities.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

And, in addition to sewing, life goes on. I’m going to a 2 hour Zumbathon tonight with my sisters and friends.

Tomorrow is Saturday, and I am going to devote the day to sewing.

-Lynnae

From Aprons To Austen to Ruby Slippers

Yesterday I taught an apron class for our Super Saturday at church. I’ve been so stressed about this class. Sometimes even if Something is not a lot of work I still will get stressed out about it, it’s just my way. And in the end things went OK,  but I do have to say that making your own pattern and instructions is pretty hard work.

  I made my daughters ruffled aprons in 2008 after making up a pattern and modifying it a little for each girl. Yesterday I was teaching one of those aprons but I had to make actual paper patterns, which I never had when I made mine.

So that has been occupying my thoughts and what free time I have.

I did take apart one of the old clocks I bought at Bad Girls Antiques going out of business sale (sad!)

And my daughter and I put up some Halloween decorations.

One cool thing about last week….I got the tags back from Karla Nathan’s Dorothy Tag Swap.

This was such a fun project. Thanks again to Karla for all her work. And it was a LOT of work.

Here are six tags from the swap plus one of mine and the one Karla Nathan made for everyone.

Being in a tag swap is wonderful. It’s like an art project and a birthday surprise all in one! I’ve done a couple swaps from blogs, and convinced the ladies in my family to do a Valentines Day swap last year. I would love to host my own internet tag swap, but I’m afraid I’m not that organized yet.

And now for Austentime………. 11 more days until my Jane Austen weekend with my Mom. I am so excited- but there is so much to do. I will keep you posted!

Thanks for stopping by!

-Lynnae