Colleen's Column

Carole's Special Moments is an adorable little shop about a half-hour south of where I live that will be closing at the end of September. The owners, Ed and Carole Miller, have had this shop for at least 30 years. Some of their products are vintage, but others are quite up to date and overall they have a staggering amount of very nice wedding supplies. Everything in the store is at 60% to 80% off the marked price! Here's just some of the things they have: Veils Tiaras Jewelry Floral headpieces Some bridal gowns - mostly vintage Embroidered bridal handkerchiefs Candles Bridal party T shirts Toasting glasses Crinoline slips - the big pouffy kind! Silk flowers Bouquet-making supplies Ringbearer pillows & Flowergirl baskets Cake toppers Cake cutting sets Guest books ...and every time I turned around I was seeing more wedding supplies! If you are looking for more traditional-minded wedding decor, I would HIGHLY recommend you go there. Then, on top of all the...

Here they are, finally!  I made this dress for a ball on May 6, 2013, but since it was a little dark in the hall I didn't get very many nice pictures of it.  It has a dropped waist, princess seams, and a sweetheart neckline.  All the overlays are organza, with the embroidered organza being a darker color than the plain.  I used the same color blue to layer under all of them to tie the slightly different blues together. The back laces up and there is no zipper at all.  The puffed sleeves mimick the dress overlay. I wore gloves to the ball but it was very hot while we were taking pictures, so I didn't wear them the whole time.  The blue hair ornaments are little flower rosettes with a circular ruffle of tulle underneath.  I don't like to wear headbands, so it made for a headband look without the headache. This dress makes me feel like Cinderella!  I've always loved this color blue - even though my eyes are green - because it ...

I've been invited to go down to Cincinnati for the St. Gertrude the Great Girls Camp and give a talk about modesty on one of the days (July 10-12).  We haven't settled on the day and time yet for the talk, but I'll probably be in the area for at least 2 of the days. If any of you Cincy people have alterations you want marked, or want me to take your measurements, give me a call or shoot me an email and we can set something up while I'm in your neighborhood. 

Last week at work I was asked to come up with a poster for the campus art exhibit in May.  They said they would put it up on the website, but I was surprised to see it up the same day I submitted the final version!  Top of poster visible at middle right It switches out with another announcement, so I noticed it when it moved.  Here's the full version, which you get when you click on the poster on the website:  The original is 11" by 17,"  with an antique paper background overlaid with burlap.  All the butterflies are public domain photos - aren't they pretty?  I know I've seen the same species as the largest one at the Detroit Zoo butterfly house.  I also like the slightly darker blue ones with the white fans at the edges of their wings. I'll probably end up submitting something to the exhibit, just don't know what yet.  Maybe a dress on a dress form?  I don't know if I can survive without it for a week!  I'll have to see....

Congratulations to Liz and Jimmy Buckley, who were married last month!  I can't believe it's been that long already!  Here are some pictures from the ceremony and reception - and the prep: Christina hard at work Christina and I went early to help the girls get ready - 3 bridesmaids, 2 moms, an aunt, the bride, and the 2 of us running around with curling irons and bobby pins.  It was a lot of fun.  We also had to put together the bouquets, which were Queen Anne's Lace with some burgundy mums, purple sparkle sprays, and baling twine for Liz.  Very pretty. I actually missed the entry into the church because Becca Buckley and I were tying off the last bouquets, and I suddenly realized I was still wearing my snow boots....so I snuck in as soon as Mr. & Mrs. Harvey and Liz were far enough up the aisle.  Here comes the bride!  Liz wore her Mom's veil, which has a lace headpiece and a double layer veil.  It has changed color slightly with ...

This is a full page poster-style advertisement that I will be sending to various churches and organizations over my Christmas break from school.  There are matching 1/4 page pieces that go with it.  The stained glass window is an excerpt from a historic church in Iowa.  The closeup of the beading is from a different wedding dress I made.  There have also been some updates to the website - you can now find info on pricing, measurements, and ordering there, plus it is linked to this blog so if you can't remember how to get to the blog, just go to the website:  www.colleensmodestfashions.com .  It also works to google "Colleen Eldracher." Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Our church has a golf outing every year and they always look for businesses to sponsor holes.  I've never been able to go to the outing before myself due to work/other commitments/lack of transportation but this year I ended up taking my younger brother and sister and going golfing.  I haven't golfed in close to 10 years so I was pretty lousy at it....and we didn't hit any geese...but it was fun.  However I was rather sore the next couple of days... I originally wasn't going to be able to make it, so I sponsored a hole instead.  Here's me by Hole #12 with the sign at the tee-off place.  It took us a couple holes to figure out that there was a separate tee for men and ladies.  Then Christina and I decided we were going to definitely use whatever handicap we could get.  Vincent managed to get in some practice time prior to the day, so he could actually hit the ball pretty well...except it kept going into the trees.  Vincent posing by ...