Wedding Give AWAY for you BUDGET BRIDES!

I've designed a few ring bearer pillows and now I need bride and groom to customized them! Here's the deal... Become a follower of my blog, post a comment with the bride and groom's names, and wedding date and an EMAIL ADDRESS where the winner can be reached!
If you are a bridesmaid, mother of the bride, Matron, or Maid of Honor, this would be a great little gift and the bride wouldn't need to know it didn't cost anything.
Great for a budget wedding, budget bride.

You may wonder why I would give away a free wedding item... Truth be told, I need a sample picture to use for my future listings. I could make up 2 bogus names, but then I still put the effort and materials into the ring bearer pillow.

Want something non traditional? So do I! I would love to do a black or chocolate brown pillow with contrasting thread... or a gold satin with baby blue thread for a beach wedding...The possibilities are endless!
Formal, informal, themed weddings, whatever, this will be a wonderful keepsake that WAS FREE!

I will be taking names and emails until June 10th, then I will announce the winner. You must be a follower of the blog! It's easy so go on and do it. :)



THANKYA! lora


beneaththewillowdesigns@yahoo.com

MY LOCAL FEATURE!

WOO HOO! I've been up to my eyeballs in satins and tafetta for weeks trying to complete the orders for custom prom gowns. All the while I hosted a spring book fair at Sun Vally Elementary. While chatting with Lynda Jo Staples, a reporter for the Daily Sun News here in Sunnyside, she asked me if I would like to be featured as the WORKING STIFF section of the paper.
I hesitated slightly at first, but thought, oh, what the heck! Lynda Jo followed me to a fitting for Melodie Casas. I still had some work to do on her fitted red gown so it worked out really well.
Anway, here is the link in case you guys want to hear some background on how I can to be a wedding gown designer, LOL Since Wednesday evening I've been swamped with calls. Some are just hemming, while 2 girls called wanting to know if I could make a custom gown in less than 24 hours!! GOODNESS! And I thought I was a procrastinator. :)
Sorry, girls, PROM is Saturday, TOMORROW, and you clock has just run out.

http://www.dailysunnews.com/DSNFeatures3.shtml

SPRING IS IN WASHINGTON!

Finally! The daffodils are blooming and the sun is shining! Maybe I will be able to get some outdoor pics of my next few sets! LOL The wind has been so fierce, and the last 3 days have actually been peaceful.
Kyla just had her 6th birthday so I snapped these new pics of her. She is wearing 2 of my best selling items for spring. This year I've gone with a little different color scheme on the peasant portrait set. Love the pink flower and the contrast of the blue background. By the way, that blue is my new studio! More on that later.



Also shown is my GOLDIE set. This fabric is VERY hard to find this year and I still have some in my stash from last years inventory.

PROM! My favorite HIGH SCHOOL function! Seriously, it's the first time in a girl's life where she gets to really GLAM it up! I've been knee deep in taffeta and chiffon for the last month. I LOVE IT! I'm finished 4 custom PROM gowns in the last 2 weeks with contracts for 3 wedding gowns for muc later. Many of these people find me by reading my ad in our local paper. I've met quite a few wonderful people.
Well, one more gown to go! I will post pics of all the gowns when Melodie's is all complete.

My latest read, HANDLE WITH CARE

I love novels. I can open a book and connect with characters very easily. I love emotional sappy plot lines that make you feel weak when you've read the last page.
The newest novel by Jodi Picoult, HANDLE WITH CARE was definitely a good read. This particular end caught me off guard though. I'm pretty good at predicting the possible outcomes for most novels, but this one knocked me on my butt. I won't spoil it for you and tell you how it ends. Here is the book description from Jodi Picoult's website. If you are in a book club, or just looking for an emotionally impactful read, she's your girl.
And how the heck do I make my links clickable??? This is starting to annoy me! LOL

http://www.jodipicoult.com/handle-with-care.html

ShadowDragon Dreams Give away!

WOOHOO! Wanna win something free? Jennifer of ShadowDragon Dreams is offering a free applqique tee in your custom size and design! Her appliques are wonderful! She has so much talent and you should check out her ANGEL OF MIDKNIGHT book blog. YUP, that's right, she is now an author as well.
To qualify, all you need to do is become a follower of hers and post a comment anywhere on her blog. GOOD LUCK! You know I'm doing it! :)


http://shadowdragondreams.blogspot.com

A few of my favorite things...

All over the house I have little scraps of paper with words to live by. A cute saying I've heard on tv, or a quote Ive read in a magazine. Last year I met a sweet woman neamed Heather who can make these quotes come to life with her Vinyl Wall Art.
You've seen it everywhere; children's room decor, Home is where the heart is sayings... I LOVE IT! I found Heather again this last winter showcasing her vinyl and she was personalizing Christmas ornaments. They were absolutely fantastic! My 8 year old son Damian had one done with his name in a flaming font.
In the last year I've bought about 4 designs from Heather. I finally put one up in my family room and the room finally seemed more personal. It went on so easy and STRAIGHT! HA! Now when I fianlly decide on a paint color for the front room and my sewing studio, then I will put up the rest. IF you are interested in ordering from Heather, here is a link to her site. Another thing, her turn around time is SO FAST!



http://heatherswordsbydesign.com/

Happy Birthday Dear Joey...

Today my younger brother Joey turns 23. i may be his oldest sibling, but he truly inspires me. He is FREE.
When I think of what he does, the way he lives and what he has to offer the world, I am in awe. It makes me think of my life as a little bubble and him a big bouncy ball, capable of taking on any obstacle. He has a quick wit, is charming and handsome. Nothing at all like the annoying little brother I grew up with (SORRY ABOTU DRESSING YOU UP AS A PRINCESS!). Today, he spent most of his day at college, studying, going to Starbucks and feeling uncelebrated.


for a pic of joey and his big sis LORA, scroll to the bottom of the screen. I think this may be the only pic that I have of us as adults. I just pulled it out of a drawer and took a picture of a picture! LOVE IT! :)