Robin's Handmade Wedding

I got to help our friend Robin plan her wedding, which incorporated as much handmade and DIY as possible.  The venue was a converted farm, so everything was very country-kitsch. These re-purposed pallets were painted with black chalkboard paint for use as directional signs.  The lettering was done with chalk pens.

Another friend of hers makes beer, and so made them a custom brew for the wedding.

Instead of a traditional guest book, Robin elected to do a signature quilt and a thumbprint tree.  She and I went together to pick out her fabrics, then I cut all the squares and brought them to the wedding for the guests to sign.  When she gets done reading them all, she'll send them back to me and I'll get it all put together.  (More on that later.)  For the signature tree, yet another friend of hers drew a picture of "their" tree in Michigan, where Matt proposed.

Our friend Sam, who also did the flowers for her wedding last summer, made the burlap roses using this tutorial over the winter.  Then they ordered fresh flowers from a local wholesaler.  Sam did all of the flower arrangements the Friday and Saturday before the wedding.

 

Robin and a few of her bridesmaids made the bouquets.

And of course, I did the jewelry.

As always, I had a lot of fun designing the jewelry with the bride.  I know I've said it before, but I love working with someone on a custom piece.  Sadly, the photographer hasn't finished with her official wedding photos, so we'll have to make do with the ones that I took.

But you get the idea.

The wedding itself was lovely, if a little cold. 

 I was honored to be able to be such a big part of it all.

Congratulations, Matt and Robin!  Here's to a lifetime of happiness for you both!

Sam's Bridal Jewelry

I know I posted a few pictures of Sam in her wedding finery when I posted about Brandon's trip to California, but now I have a few more official wedding shots to share!

Designing bridal jewelry is one of my favorite things to do.  Working with each bride to produce exactly what she wants for her day pushes me beyond my comfort zone, and encourages me to try new designs, styles, and combinations.  Sam's necklace was the most challenging and the most rewarding project I've taken on.  I love that I was able to have some part in putting that wedding together, especially since I wasn't able to be there in person.  Thank you, Sam, for that opportunity, and congratulations to you both!

Sam's Bridal Set

Sam, initially a college friend of my sister-in-law's, and Tony, initially a friend of my husband's from high school,   have been welcomed into the Gager family as honorary members. They met through their mutual connection to our family, discovered that each nurtured a secret tendré for the other (with a bit of help from my MIL), and started dating.  Fast forward about three years, and Sam and Tony will be tying the knot next month in California.

her gown, minus the gloves.

As much as I desperately want to go I'd like to be there, for the wedding itself and the party, I won't be able to go.  A trip for 4 to California just wasn't in the budget. Brandon is a groomsman, and will be going alone.  My consolation is that I got to make Sam's bridal jewelry, so a little piece of me will be there with them when they say "I do".  We discussed a number of different designs, but she settled on this as her inspiration:

She found it on Etsy, and asked me to try to duplicate it, with black cabochons and beads in place of the blue.  We worked together to choose the settings (Pinterest to the rescue!) and then I got everything ordered, and got to work. (Ok, there may have been a gap between ordering and working.  Sorry, Sam.)  This is what I came up with:

I am in love with the result.  It's a nice necklace in blue, but it is strikingly elegant in black, especially with the more ornate setting for the cabochon.  The earrings are the same as the drop hanging from that cab setting on the necklace, but I added a single pearl at the bottom, to tie it all together.  (You can see them pretty well in the left-hand photo, below.)  I love it love it love it!  I have duplicates of some of the findings...I may be making one for myself.  Nevermind that I'll probably never have a chance to wear it, I need to have one.  Did I mention that I love it?

After the wedding, I will be rabidly stalking keeping an eye on Sam's Facebook for wedding photos, and I'll share some of her whole ensemble when I can.  I'm not sure exactly what she's planning (I think there may be a black sash somewhere in there) but I know it will be lovely!  Oooh, I can't wait to see those pictures!  I so wish I could go.  Anyone want to come distract me that week?  Otherwise, I think I may be living in Rebekah's back pocket for a week...

The Brides in Their Jewelry

Kelly is now officially Mrs. Rapanaro:

Peguy is now officially Mrs. Tallack:

Peguy's Jewelry

Ok, here are the pics of Peguys' wedding jewelry, modeled by the bride herself:

This one is option A for the bride, and this one,

is option B. This last one is what all (10!) of her bridesmaids will be wearing.

Peguy is just as pleased as I am with they way it all turned out. She can't even decide between the 2 options we gave her, so she's taking both of them! I think that she's leaning toward the one with the larger pendant, and is planning to give the other one to her mother.

Some Recent Creations

Kelly's Bridal Jewelry
My friend Rex is getting married this summer, and I offered to make the bride's jewelry as a gift for his fiancee, Kelly. After chatting back and forth with her a bit about colors and design, this is what I came up with:

I sent her some pictures of everything (before it was tied off) for approval, and she gave me the green light so now they're done. All I need to do now is to pack them up and get them in the mail to the lovely bride. I can't wait to see pictures from the wedding!

Aunt Monica's Necklace
While I was home this winter, my Aunt Monica found this pendant...

...and asked me to make it into something for her. I've been sitting on it since then, waiting for inspiration to strike me. It struck this weekend:

I'm thinking I'll send it to her for Mother's Day.

Wedding jewelry

A friend of mine got married this past weekend, and she finally got some of the pictures posted. (I had been checking daily!!) I was lucky enough to get to make her bridal jewelry for her, and it felt like some piece of me was there even though I could not physically be there for her. She made such a beautiful bride! I sure do love weddings.