Sunday, April 5, 2009

Metamorphosis Monday


After our daughter Katy was married I asked her what she wanted to do with her wedding dress. Save it? Sell it? Give it to somebody? Preserve it? She decided that she didn't want to preserve it but would like to find something special to do with the dress other than keep it to hand down to a possible daughter some day.

This is a little closer look at the dress, but the detail just doesn't show up. After much thinking, Katy finally decided she would like to someday make a christening gown for their first child out of the dress. Obviously to be used by any other children that came along. So I saved the dress for such a time. Three years later, she became pregnant with twins! When we found out they were both girls we knew that we would need to get two dresses out of the gown. We talked with a seamstress at our church to make the dresses, however due to a injury to her wrist she was not going to be able to sew. My son-in-laws grandmother was asked and accepted the opportunity to make these gowns. She said it was really hard to cut into the wedding gown at first and she was a bit nervous because she hadn't made anything for a long while.

Katy picked a simple pattern because she wanted something plain, that would show the beading and embroidery of the material.

The two little gowns could not have been any sweeter.

Here's a close up of the material.


Even the little underslips are pretty. What a sweet and meaningful metamorphosis this was. I just love that these were made for the girls by their great-grandmother - what a lovely tradition and heirloom.

31 comments:

  1. What a wonderful thing to do with a wedding dress. The little christening gowns will be passed down for centuries. They are just simply stunning. I think this is a precious remake of a wedding dress. Thanks so much for sharing. Hugs, Marty

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  2. What a terrific idea. She did a beautiful job. Sweet Sweet.

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  3. How sweet! I love the idea. I thought about doing that with my wedding dress, I have two girls too. But they both wore MY christening gown instead! My mom was great at preserving things from my childhood. Love those dresses Martha! ~Kim

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  4. What a great idea -- a perfect use for a wedding gown and one that can be handed down for generations to come.

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  5. Oh, how wonderful is this! What a terrific idea for a wedding dress...I love this! They really turned out beautifully! Susan

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  6. Hi Martha...This is just about the sweetest recycling I've ever heard of...Your daughter had a brilliant iddea! ;-) Bo

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  7. This is such a fantastic idea! I love it! They are gorgeous, what lucky little ones to be able to wear a piece of their parents wedding day.
    ~Michelle

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  8. Those are just beautiful. What a great use for the wedding gown.

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  9. They are gorgeous! What a story to tell her children someday.

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  10. That is a great idea! I know they were so sweet and what a great keepsake to pass down. :D Jewel

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  11. This is the absolute sweetest thing I have ever seen...just the idea and the sentiment, not to mention how gorgeous they turned out. Thanks for sharing this idea and pictures!

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  12. That is amazing! Love them both. :)

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  13. That is a wonderful idea and a great keepsake!

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  14. Those gowns are just too precious! What a great heirloom. The pictures and story would make a wonderful treasure for the girls later on. Mary from Boogieboard Cottage

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  15. What a treasure! We have twin grandies, too, and they had to wear a christening gown from each side of the family. The one on our side has been worn by 4 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren! Anyway, your gowns will be a wonderful tradition! Linda

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  16. Oh, Martha! What a wonderful idea! The sweet little gown is beautiful.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  17. That is brilliant! What an amazing way to re-use a dress!

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  18. This was such a great idea. What a sweet and special way to preserve something that was memorable into something even more memorable. I love it. Debbie

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  19. I am stopping by via BNOTP. Great transformation! I bet the girls looked adorable.

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  20. Now girl this have to be once of the most beautiful and special reuse of a weding gown I have ever seen..I just love this and what beautiful details on the gowns..just PRICELESS...thanks so much for sharing..hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

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  21. These are truly a wonderful way to create a memory! Right now my Mom is in the process of making my grand daughter's Christening gown out of my daughter's confirmation dress. So baby Emma will wear a dress that was her Aunt Annie's at one time.

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  22. Hi Martha...

    Ohhh my goodness...this just has got to be the best idea ever!!! I just can't think of a sweeter way to preserve a wedding dress than to have it made into christening gowns...the meaning, the treasure is so precious! Just to be able to say, that my babies were christened in the same gown that their mama wore for her wedding!!! And...the christening gowns turned out fabulous! Now adding another sweet and precious element...the fact, that the grandmother made them!!! What a grand idea!!!

    Happy Met Monday!
    Warmest wishes,
    Chari

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  23. That is one fantastic idea. I wish I would have thought about that a few years age so my daughters could have done that. Unfortunatley they are both through having children but I will pass this idea on to some of my friends.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Connie

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  24. Beautiful dresses. And a fab way to reuse the wedding dress. It will mean so much more.

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  25. Those dresses are adorable! What a way to metamorphose!

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  26. How wonderful that the babies have these dresses with such a history. Is there enough left over for a beautiful Easter or First Communion dress?

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  27. I have never seen a more beautiful treasure made from a wedding dress in all my life...oh how precious..what started out as a symbol of love & a new life together....lives on as it dresses the precious proof of that love for generations to come...ohhh my word that is priceless!

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  28. beautiful, she did a fantastic job! this is what i had planned for my dress until it accidently went to the garbage, well that is what we think anyway as it disappeared. What a beautiful keepsake
    hugs
    janet

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  29. OH MY! This is such a fantastic idea, and the fact that they have family sewn through them is just spectacular! This really was a fantastic, and awe inspiring. Great metamorphosis!

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  30. That is the most beautiful and meaningful transformation. I LOVE that! Favorite.

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