This summer we were on the hunt for a cheap short dress that Whitney could wear to Homecoming. The dance was scheduled to be outside at the Snake River Landing and with the weather being warm a short dress was the best choice. We found a dress for $75 on the internet that was worn for twenty minutes and we thought all we needed to do was put sleeves on it.
Wrong! There were no sequins on the back and the dress had been altered and poorly done may I add. I am no seamstress but I guess I'm going to learn.
The torso was altered and the black belt made the dress look short-waisted. Plus we needed to add something to the back. So we went to the store and was on the search for fabric that would match the dress for sleeves. We decided to change the entire look of the dress by getting rid of the black and adding a brighter color to jazz up the white. Brinley found a bolt of pailletes (oversized sequins) 80% off so we bought 4 yards for under $3.00. The little girls unraveled and separated the sequins so they would be loose and then we started to cut, sew, cut and sew and let me just mention sew.
Nothing is ever easy! We added little sequins all over the dress to give it shimmer. They were the opalescent that can give off a pink shimmer. We were lucky to purchase those on a day when they were 50% off. Whitney used this dress as one of her Young Women projects. Divine nature learn a homemaking skill from your mother. Why didn't she pick to learn how to shop. I have great skills there. Whitney helped with the dress till school started and then she had no time so I finished it. We ended up cutting the length and adding fishing line around the hem to give the curly affect. I had four layers to sew fishline around and each one I had to cut out and redo twice the dress got shorter and shorter as I was learning how to use the rolled hem foot and and the tension on the thread. Sewing on the sequins was fun but it was a test to use clear monofilament thread when your loosing your eye sight. I ended up using Rick's headlamp flashlight to give me more light even during the day and bought a pair of magnifying glasses to see. Sorry Alan I need to come in and see you again my contacts couldn't cut it. With 10 minutes to spare she was able to wear the dress. She used the bridesmaid shoes from Brianna's wedding that matched perfectly. So with taffeta, satin, tulle, 4 yards of pailletes, three packages of clear sequins and three spools of thread we spent under $100. I was so worried it wouldn't look good and then I was worried that she would be embarrassed to wear it or say that it was sewn. She actually was a little apprehensive a month ago But then as it was coming together she was more excited and then in Acapella she was talking with another girl and she said she bought her dress off the internet for cheap and they were beading it. Guess what? At the dance they saw each other and it was the exact same dress. Kelsey ended up sewing a halter top made of black material, left the belt because it wasn't altered, left the length and added more black sequins. It was cute.
Nothing is ever easy! We added little sequins all over the dress to give it shimmer. They were the opalescent that can give off a pink shimmer. We were lucky to purchase those on a day when they were 50% off. Whitney used this dress as one of her Young Women projects. Divine nature learn a homemaking skill from your mother. Why didn't she pick to learn how to shop. I have great skills there. Whitney helped with the dress till school started and then she had no time so I finished it. We ended up cutting the length and adding fishing line around the hem to give the curly affect. I had four layers to sew fishline around and each one I had to cut out and redo twice the dress got shorter and shorter as I was learning how to use the rolled hem foot and and the tension on the thread. Sewing on the sequins was fun but it was a test to use clear monofilament thread when your loosing your eye sight. I ended up using Rick's headlamp flashlight to give me more light even during the day and bought a pair of magnifying glasses to see. Sorry Alan I need to come in and see you again my contacts couldn't cut it. With 10 minutes to spare she was able to wear the dress. She used the bridesmaid shoes from Brianna's wedding that matched perfectly. So with taffeta, satin, tulle, 4 yards of pailletes, three packages of clear sequins and three spools of thread we spent under $100. I was so worried it wouldn't look good and then I was worried that she would be embarrassed to wear it or say that it was sewn. She actually was a little apprehensive a month ago But then as it was coming together she was more excited and then in Acapella she was talking with another girl and she said she bought her dress off the internet for cheap and they were beading it. Guess what? At the dance they saw each other and it was the exact same dress. Kelsey ended up sewing a halter top made of black material, left the belt because it wasn't altered, left the length and added more black sequins. It was cute.
The final result I thought she looked like a million bucks!
Her friends say her trademark on her dresses are huge bows in the back. The last two dresses had large bows as well.
Weston asked Whitney to the dance by dressing in a Scream costume. I answered the door and he didn't say anything then he held up a sign that said Whitney. I hollered for Whitney to come down and he gave her a poster that said "I'd scream if you'd go to Homecoming with me. He gave her two containers of Dryers ice cream and his name was under the lid of one of them. The best part about it was that 5 minutes earlier she was complaining that we had no ice cream in the house and that this was a first and she wanted ice cream so she was thrilled to get to eat ice cream.
Whitney answered with a Halloween bag of candy that said Scream Mix on it and then gave him a Halloween trophy for Best Costume that had a severed hand. She wrote a note that said "I gotta give you a Hand that was the Best way to ask a girl out. It will be a Scream to go to Homecoming with you." We wanted to borrow our friends headless Annie costume and say I was so so excited I lost my head. But we were going out of town for four days. And couldn't round it up quick enough.
They went rock climbing for there day date and then they went to the school and had a food fight in the field with pancake powder, eggs, and syrup then they went and jumped into the canal and swam and washed off. I wish I had pictures of the food fight it sounded hilarious. 
Weston was voted Prince of the Junior class and the princess left for a volleyball tournament. Weston asked Whitney to escort him on the field during half time. She called Friday morning panicked I need a dress tonight and I know you won't have my dress done what should I wear? Thankfully we asked Amy and borrowed Brianna's gorgeous coral dress. She looked amazing out there. The dress was amazing. Thanks Amy! She had to change in the parking lot because we didn't want to get it dirty in the bathroom and you can't drive in it. That dress was a crowd stopper. Everyone came up to her and complimented her. When she was walking down the street people were jumping out of the way and making such a big deal about the dress. It was comical to see the reaction of people.
1 comment:
Whitney looks BEAUTIFUL!!! The dress is adorable, you really did a great job!
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