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My introduction talks about making an heirloom so I think it's time to explain a bit about what I do. Please visit my website donalynndesigns.com to see completed projects and read details about how each design developed. I also have a little background article on there about me; my training, my journey, my beginnings. This blog however is skipping all that info and taking you back to the late 80's, my passion realized, the design and construction of my first wedding gown.

 

 

 

A 6' cloverleaf train, window paned lace appliques, heavily hand beaded, (one bead at a time....yes it took an infinity!) pure white luscious satin.

 

The bodice and sleeves were reflective of the treads at the time; puffy caps, sweetheart shaped neckline and abstract lace contoured over shear cotton netting.

 

I thank this beautiful 20year old for having more confidence in my abilities than I had in myself! She was patient as I experimented with techniques, she encouraged me when I showed doubt, and she honestly shared with me the experience of creating something that could never have been purchased at a store....together we brought a vision to life.

 

Many more young girls have entrusted me to dress them on their wedding day. Everyone of them  hold a special place in my heart. I am humbled to be part of  such a special day.

 

A wedding gown is not just satin and lace, it's a peek into the past.

 

 

my latest projects

So, yes in my very first post I posted a terribly messy picture of my sewing room. Hopefully once I share the stories of the completed projects that have caused the mess, you will be intrigued rather than turned off!

                       Presented by my little Wild Flower are a dozen or so super hero capes!

These capes were sent to Philadelphia and handed out to some very inspiring children with incredible super hero powers. All they were missing were their capes. My daughter and I worked together designing emblems, estimating sizes and joining print linings to silky solids. We made theses over a weeks time, I wish we could have made 100 more....sadly there are hundreds of superheroes without capes. I am not part of the organization called Capes 4 Heroes, but their mission is a great one! See what they are all about at capes4heroes.com

 

While I sew my little Wild Flower likes to drape 😊

 

 

She is a super hero in my eyes.

 

One more project completed last week was the first, of several, window treatments for my husband's office/showroom.

 

 

This was the beginning and below is the...

 

 

completed little topper.

 

It turned out cute. Made of printed burlap, underlined then backed with a solid cotton,. The pleats are held up with earthy neutral gross grain ribbons and attached to the window frame with Velcro.

 

As all you sewers know, every scrap under foot has a story. Like paint on an artist's smock, it's embraced as part of the process.

 

To see more of my completed work, please visit my website at donalynndesigns.com

 

Be happy, be grateful.

 

 

 

 

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my first post

My First Post

Welcome to my first post! I am excited to share the journey of a Dona Lynn Design. 2014 already has several projects on the schedule. a couple Christening outfits, a wedding gown and fresh window treatments for my husbands office/showroom. I am ready to get started, but before I do I thought I would show you around...

 

                                                     

       Welcome to my sewing room!

 

I considered cleaning up before posting this picture, but this is how my room looks most of the time, so if we are going to share in the process, we might as well be honest about the mess that creativity can produce. When customers come for their first fitting I have every pin in place, after that, I invite them to be part of the inner circle of trust. I find that when they see little scraps of fabric used in their project scattered about under foot they look at it as part of the process rather than "a mess".

 

 

 

Wow, I really do need to get my machine area red up a bit!

 

Do you work better in a "lived in" environment or one with everything in it's place? I'd love to hear from my fellow creative bloggers. I luckily have a door that when closed behind me, hides all the mess from eyes that see a room in need of a cleaning, opposed to a room holding the makings of something great!   

 

To see some of my of completed work visit my website at www.donalynndesigns.com....

 

I look forward to blogging with you again soon :)