Dressed To Impress

when you see it in print, it becomes a bit real!
I'm busy putting together all the class demonstrations and materials amoung all the other last minute work I am doing before Christmas!
I'm seeing a bride tonight - I've already done her dress - and she's bringing her bridesmaids for their fittings as they've been out of the country until today. She gets married Saturday. I'm thinking there may be a few late nights coming my way!
... Next week can't come soon enough!
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I'm so excited! I have been asked to run a beginners sewing course in January. I will be able to pass on all the knowledge and experience I have gained over many years to people who want to learn how to sew, but were perhaps frightened of their sewing machine and don't know where to begin.
I started my sewing journey back in 1988 when my hubby bought me my first sewing machine - which I still have! I didn't begin to sew professionally until 2004 when I formed Dressed To Impress taking what was then still a hobby to the business I have today.
I learned my trade at night school doing a course very similar to the one I will be running in January in Sway, New Milton. I am hoping my pupils get the bug and continue their sewing journey afterwards.

These are some memory cushions made from the client's late mother's clothing. I had 11 to make which is why they are quite small. Small teddy bears can be made as well with the name of your loved one on the back of the foot.

In a break from wedding dresses, I'm making a silk jacket for a client by using her existing garment as a pattern. All unpicked and pinned up ready to go. There are rather a lot of pattern pieces! Come on this journey with me and see how this jacket takes shape.

So what do we all think of the royal wedding dress? I much prefered it to Meghan's dress as it fitted so much better. I loved the neckline and the overall style of it.
I wished she had worn a veil, but not as extravagent as Meghan's! as I'm old fashioned but I am increasingly seeing less and less veils with brides I meet. I wonder if this style of dress will become popular for weddings next year or not!?

Not wedding dress related in the slightest but I do machine embroidery too. This is a stitch out I have done for a display in my caravan window. They are gnome houses with little tea lights on them.

Well this is true! I got married 30 years ago and it rained on my wedding day!

Now for something a little different. In any spare time I get outside working hours I turn donated wedding dresses into gowns for angel babies. I've had a few which have been donated recently so once they have been washed and pressed they get unpicked and made into beautiful gowns. This is the first if the ones I have been given. I may be gone a while as there's a lot of unpicking on this one!

The work I am doing at the moment just never seems to let up! I've had the busiest couple of months ever!! This was the hem I was working on earlier. The lace needed unpicking and then all the layers hemmed and then it delicately stitched back on again. So time consuming but so rewarding to do. I've also had a huge number of reviews come in this week on Freeindex as well so I am on a high tonight. Feedback like that makes my job so worthwhile and I'll never get tired of doing it.

I often get asked to box wedding dresses. It is amazing how small these dresses go! but a good steam the other end is always recommended just so you look your best.

Just had a couple more reviews come in. These really make my day and I am so proud being able to help brides make their dresses fit them perfectly. I really do have a dream job. Thank you everyone xx

This dress has been altered for a lovely bride and lovingly steamed and pressed prior to delivering it to her venue ready for her wedding on Saturday. Hoping the sun keeps shining for her. With the very best wishes for your wedding day x

I warn my brides that this is a possibility if you sit out in the sun prior to your wedding day. Hopefully most of them listen to me and don't end up with tan lines like this.

So pleased to advise that my details are now on as a supplier for the Facebook group Weddings, Brides, Dresses and More. An admin of the group has also reviewed my business. I'm also in negotiations with Bournemouth Wed2Be to be included on their list of recommended seamstresses as well as the Southampton store. Busy, busy times!

Goodness me this was a challenging commission! This dress was completely see through at the front and the bride wanted to make it look less revealing. She also wanted the back made into a deep "v" meaning all the applique had to be unpicked, the back re-shaped and then it all hand sewn back on. Hours and hours went into this commission but the result was a very happy bride. Pictures are of the front and back from the shop photos and then of the altered gown.

I'm now bracing myself for the influx of plain satin wedding dresses which need to be altered or even made since seeing Meghan's dress. A lovely timeless classic.

My last commission was to change the sash of this flower girl dress to match the colour of the adult dresses. It was originally ivory in colour. Then it needed pleats putting into it and the butterflies removing and reattaching. It sure looks cute don't you think?

This is a jacket for a mother of the bride made in her fabric choice with frog closures. It was an unusual commission as the poor lady has been in hospital for most of the time and I have done three of the fittings at her bedside. She is making remarkable progress and is now home ready to wear this on her daughter's wedding day at the end of the month. The ring cushion has been made as a surprise for her daughter. I hope they have a lovely day. X

This beautiful machine which I was able to buy with my late father in law's inheritance was named after him. A software update allows the user to name the machine on the screen so now I am reminded every day what a wonderful man Frank was.

Sue was brilliant. I bought my dress from Wed2Be and she was recommended by them and although a bit out of the way for me, I definitely went with the right seamstress! When I took my dress to Sue initially just to get some straps added I was devastated to find that after buying my dress a year before it no longer fit!! She immediately knew that a back conversion to a corset was the best way forward and whilst between my first and second fitting I was panicking that I would have to go on some sort of crash diet, I got there for the second fitting and it was perfect. I then had the straps added and some other minor alterations to make it exactly as I wanted and the finished product looked like it had always been that way.



Sue is so lovely and professional and I really trusted her advice, really put me at ease about the whole experience. Thank you so much.

Sue is an absolute perfectionist. Had my final wedding dress fitting yesterday and it's perfect. She knows exactly what she's doing and what needs doing. Thank you so much. Can't wait to collect. Highly recommend xx

Sue altered a bridesmaid dress for me at very short notice as I was heavily pregnant.



She did a fabulous job and the dress looked absolutely lovely, I would highly recommend Sue.

I have just received my stick people family frame from Sue and I absolutely love it!

The photos are good, but they are so much better in real life!

This one is a present for my daughter. Law and grandchildren but I love it so much that I'm going to get one for myself.

Really really pleased.

Thanks again Sue x

Sue was brilliant. I bought my dress from Wed2Be and she was recommended by them and although a bit out of the way for me, I definitely went with the right seamstress! When I took my dress to Sue initially just to get some straps added I was devastated to find that after buying my dress a year before it no longer fit!! She immediately knew that a back conversion to a corset was the best way forward and whilst between my first and second fitting I was panicking that I would have to go on some sort of crash diet, I got there for the second fitting and it was perfect. I then had the straps added and some other minor alterations to make it exactly as I wanted and the finished product looked like it had always been that way.



Sue is so lovely and professional and I really trusted her advice, really put me at ease about the whole experience. Thank you so much.

Sue is an absolute perfectionist. Had my final wedding dress fitting yesterday and it's perfect. She knows exactly what she's doing and what needs doing. Thank you so much. Can't wait to collect. Highly recommend xx

Sue altered a bridesmaid dress for me at very short notice as I was heavily pregnant.



She did a fabulous job and the dress looked absolutely lovely, I would highly recommend Sue.

I have just received my stick people family frame from Sue and I absolutely love it!

The photos are good, but they are so much better in real life!

This one is a present for my daughter. Law and grandchildren but I love it so much that I'm going to get one for myself.

Really really pleased.

Thanks again Sue x