The Periwinkle Wedding

I was completely shocked and honored when I was asked to be a sponsor/matron of honor for a friend at church. This would be my first wedding where I hadn't been the bride, or an obligatory participant as with my sister's wedding. We started discussing her ideas for the wedding, styles, colors, ideas. She had settled on a very winter-esque wedding- ivory, silver and periwinkle.

Periwinkle is a very lovely, and difficult color, especially when attempting to coordinate it for a wedding. Right now, it's not a very popular wedding color, which made my task even more difficult. None of the bridal shops carried anything periwinkle, or even close. The nearest color to the delicate purple/blue was a pink-purple they called " Lilac" So, we went another direction to provide dresses and accents for her wedding- the fabric store.

I shopped through the 4 local stores, hoping to find something acceptable. Finally, we managed to find the  color in a custom dyed collection of lace, sheers, satin and gabardine. We decided on the design, purchased the required materials and headed home with 2 months to make dresses, sashes, wraps and linings for baskets. She found 2 daughter's dresses at the bridal shop, which left only 2 dresses. What a relief!

I managed her oldest daughter's dress with ease, and she seemed very pleased with the outcome. My dress, however was another challenge. Through all the years I've sewn, I have yet to figure out how to fit my own garments. I realized I had to have help. So, with a great deal of packing, measuring,transporting and discussion, my wonderful mother helped me fit the top. The skirt worked itself out, and hung perfectly.

The Bride and I had also discussed her flowers. Having experienced an expensive florist and having access to wholesale flowers, I couldn't bear to have her make the same mistake I'd made for my wedding. I still shudder at the mistakenly placed bright "hot pink" carnations in my romantic english garden esque arrangements. We went to the wholesale shop and selected the flowers and accents, planned the arrangements and made notes to order 2 weeks before the wedding. We didn't need many flowers, but they were adequate.

The ceremony handout

The weekend of the wedding arrived, and we started the compilation. The dresses fit beautifully, sashes and wraps were tested and received approvals. Shoes were compared and eliminated, and we went to retrieve our floral order. Almost everything had come in except ....our periwinkle colored flowers. The gentleman assisting us had great ideas for replacing those flowers, and we wound up with a better bouquet than we'd originally created. We trekked back to the church with our fragrant load, and then, I received the best news I could have received.

" Did you know the groom's godmother is a professional florist? She's offered to do the flowers."

The Altar table, with beautiful flowers, candles and crowns

Someone could have told me they'd given me a million dollars, and it not have meant so much to me. We were set! I explained our thoughts, laid out our supplies, and off she went. Before the hour was up, she had arranged the bride's bouquet. Those ivory flowers, silver leaves, and rhinestones became the most beautiful arrangement of bridal elegance I'd seen- I think it rivaled the arrangements in the couture bridal photos.

Her flowers- they had rhinestones that captured the candlelight beautifully.

Not long afterwards, the bridesmaids arrangements, corsages, and table arrangements were completed in sparkling elegance. With that the last thing to complete, the winter wedding was well on it's way to being successful.

We're all ready! Her girls were gorgeous! She was breathtaking. Beautiful wedding!

Wedding day was a fury of excitement and herding the bride and her 3 girls into hair, makeup, and nails. We commandeered a Sunday school classroom, set up stations, and began the rounds. The result, a great big giggly girl party with the photographers hovering, nails drying and hairpins flying. Needless to say, we had a great time!

The girls hair was all similar. Gorgeous! 

Pre-wedding photos began, and 20 minutes before the wedding, the bride says " I don't have my toes painted!" So what were we to do? Yes, 10 minutes before the ceremony, we painted her toenails. What a hoot!!

yes, really we painted toenails moments before walking to the church!

Our Periwinkle Party

The wedding went off without a hitch, unless you count the missing cufflinks- later found under the seat of the car. We had some extra buttons from the flower arrangements, and a creative godmother that came to the rescue.

The Bride and Groom on their trip around the Gospel

Father's Blessing

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Briday Party left to right, Sophia, Susanna, Julianna, Paul Constantine, Rosy
Front- Adrianna, Victoria

On to the reception- we had such fun! The bride had chosen a wonderful, mostly vegetarian buffet with greek chicken. Her cake was lovely, and looked very much like her dress, and cheesecake was laid out on marble slabs. Earlier, we had ordered custom m&m's with their name and date, and put them in sheer ivory bags. They were a hit!

Bride's cake

The groom's cake was cheesecake- it didn't last long! We decorated one of his award trucks. Too Cute!

Her daughter and I decided she should throw my bouquet, so she wouldn't knock someone out with hers.(That thing was heavy!) And who should catch the bouquet? her daughter of course! Such a sweet moment.

So, a few weeks after the wedding, Im taking the last of the periwinkle fabric and making a wedding pillow for them. I'll embroider their names and dates on ivory in periwinkle, of course, and fashion them into a cathedral window quilt style pillow. I hope it comes out as well as I'm hoping.

Mr. and Dr. Morrison

And next time, we'll know where to find periwinkle!

Presenting the St. Symeon Choir

O Holy Father Symeon, intercede to Christ our God


Here it is. The long-awaited clips from the St Symeon CD- Fire and Light.

One thing to say...

A friend of mine posted this. Thanks to her extraordinary description. I'll let the image say the rest.

Ice is melting, temps in the 40's are coming along with spring, according to the daffodils in my front yard. I'm wishing I could feed them fertilizer, if it would bring spring a little faster. The kids are finally back to school on a regular basis, and the periwinkle dresses need the buttons on them and they're ready to go. Good thing, since we're within the 72 hour countdown for the wedding!

Winter Wonderland?

I live in the south for several reasons. Southern hospitality, grits and really good ginger ale, nice warm summers, and not too cold winters. If it snows, it's in strange times, like March, or April when it will melt soon enough.

Until this year.

I've always heard the songs about a white Christmas, and had never seen them down here. There had been plenty at my grandmother's house in Ohio, but none here since 1963. Christmas was the day you got to ride your new bike, sometimes in shorts and a t shirt, unless it was raining. Christmas Day was the day to be outside with the new outside toys.

This year, the kids, young and old, had a special treat. When we left for church, there were a few flakes falling; nothing too impressive, and in fact, you could have missed them if you hadn't been looking. But after church, we heard squeals of delight from the younger ones, and comments of amazement from the older.

Snow at Christmas- who would have thought.... Certainly not this sweet innocent southern girl!

You know, the weatherman calling to check on you personally isn't a good sign.

Jack Frost started nipping at our noses

 After Divine Liturgy, again, I'm met with the hurried, and almost frantic comments making sure my plans included being at home before the bad weather hits. I'm not sure who was more concerned- my parents or the weatherman! Nevertheless, I was home by the appointed time, and watched the first drops of rain roll in.

Mother Nature turned the tables on us. 

Just rain. I listened to the resident naysayer comment repeatedly " It wont' do anything", and the argument that followed between my nephew and husband " I won't have school tomorrow!"  " Yes, you will"  " No, I won't"  " Yes, you will"  " No, I won't"

Old Man Winter blew in.


I opened the front door, and heard the telltale, almost metallic sound of sleet-like pellets... I knew what was coming  and added my two cents in " no, he won't- it's icing"  Then the argument changed to " It won't stick" ..
I've been down this road. April of 1993 to be precise. It stuck... OH BOY did it stick!

Frosty found his hat and started dancing in the front yard.

Contrary to my family's urgent pleas, it stuck. My nephew cheered, my husband groaned, and I emailed my storm spotter information to the weatherman. 2 inches of ice and snow had accumulated on our driveway by 7 pm. The next morning, it was more, but it had already compacted to 3 inches.

Unfortunately, nephew wasn't feeling well. When I brought in a handful of the wintery mix, he rolled over uninterested. It's amazing how a good night's sleep combined with the bright reflection of an unusually white ground can change someone's mind. He found his way out into the snow and ice, along with Liberty.

Liberty was another problem all his own. He didn't want to go outside, after he felt the ice for the first time, Poor thing couldn't even find his food bowl in the morning. He stayed in the garage looking at nephew like he was crazy! After 3 days of snow, he has learned to slide down the hill on his back, much to Nephew's sheer delight.

We weren't without some beautiful sites. We have pictures posted here . One of my favorite pictures made our house look very Narnian.

Our Lamp Post, near the city of War Drobe in the country of Spare Oom.... otherwise known as "The Compound"

So with that, we dig out of  "Blizzard 2011" and head on to other things, like a periwinkle wedding this Sunday. Hopefully, I'll have pictures to post soon!

And after the 12th day of Christmas...

The house is headed towards clean. The Christmas tree is bare, and still in the living room. The stockings and ornaments are all put away for next year, and the Christmas fabric has been re-labeled with new intentions.

Just in time for Theophany and Old Calendar Christmas.

So, as promised, here's a picture of the " Bishop bishop" with it's proud owner and her brand new bright red bow. I think she's a precious little gem, but then, I'm biased!

She loves her "princess dress and beautiful bow", and anything else I make for her!

My mom told me one of her friends mentioned I should go into business. I chuckled.

My wonderful hubby also schemed with my family and provided a treasured Christmas Gift.

Click here to see the wonderful gift! 

And, of course, the church CD. I'm surprised- we've gone through 100 cd's already! What a blessing to have such music in the car, on my laptop, and soon, on Ancient Faith Radio! We're working diligently with Concilliar press to make that happen. So, should you want to hear sound bytes- hang on a few days. I'm sure you'll have something soon!! Until then, if you would like a copy, feel free to contact St Symeon the New Theologian.

So, with the New Year in full swing, I look forward to my grandmother's 80th birthday party, and my dear friend's wedding. I'll finish sewing everything for her this weekend, and hopefully have pictures soon. Prayerfully, I'll have news on the job front soon, unless I have enough sewing requests to sustain us for some time.

I Love It When A Plan Comes Together!

The Christmas decorations are in place (at least everything that will go out this year- maybe more next year). The presents are all bought, and almost wrapped (the first year I won't be shopping on Christmas Eve! Progress!).  All the sewing is completed, and all that's left is to make cookies of some sort for the neighbors.

SO, it is with great pleasure, much anticipation, and huge relief that I get to do this ...

Are you ready??

( I'd make a great rock concert announcer!)

Release date- December 22, 2010.

I'm working on a few sound clips- we'll see how that goes.  Contact Webmaster@stsymeon.com for more information.


Project number 2....

I finished the bishop dress- but I didn't take a picture. I'll try to get one up before the season's over.

Project number 3...

Someone asked me to make a stocking yesterday. Short Notice, but it's done. I found cute fabric ( Christmas lights) and some gold beads, paired with some shiny red satin, and this is the result....

Here's the hanger

and the heel...

the toe

the cuff

Even on a box, ready to ship!

So, with that in mind, I'm off to get last minute food items, make a beard for my step-son's Post-Nativity drama at church, and dare I say it, Relax?  

More Christmas Music

I thought I'd share someone else's accomplishment today, since my Christmas Surprise might not arrive until  Jan 6.

I can't tell you how much I love this family. They are such a joy, always. Even though this is only a sampling of their talents, you can tell they had such fun. Hope you enjoy!

Click on people's faces in the photo to tag them.

The Ritchey Family -Songs By the Dozen

 

 

 

 

 

 to order: email-songsbythedozen@yahoo.com