More things!

A bride reconnected and asked me to help her with a gift for her husband for their 2nd anniversary. The traditional 2nd anniversary is cotton so she left it up to me. She told me that he loves to cook and enjoys good wine. My suggestion was a wine bag to use when they go out to dinner at a BYOB. She liked the idea and asked me to personalize it like this:

She filled the bag with some of his favorite good wines. Nice gift!

One of the most unconventional brides I have met is the curator of an historical museum in Philadelphia. She has 4 bridesmaids and gave each of them pashminas with a Liberty Bell on the corner. Another unique idea!

She even had me make one for her. Her liberty bell included her wedding date.
Congratulations Dena and Pat!

Testing, 1-2-3

I just received this new tool for my website and I am "checking that baby out"!
So far, it doesn't appear to be working the way I thought it would but, oh, wells....I am still learing. Don't shoot me yet!
Also, I am not using it in my website until I get it figured out; it links back to WeddingWire (where Finesse received the "2009 Bride's Choice Award").

Read all of our Unique Wedding Services Reviews at

I'm on a roll!

Wedding season is kicking my butt this year.
Here are a few of the projects that have been keeping me busy.


This was, without a doubt, my biggest challenge of all the bridal hankies that I have done. I think I threw away at least 3. This bride wrote a poem for her mother and one for her father. They were very touching but the words were difficult to fit on the hanky without distorting them and making them hard to read. I think I put in about 90gabazillion hours on each one! It was worth it in the end because, as usual, it brought tears to some well deserving parents; tears of joy.

She must have liked them; I was invited to the wedding!


Another custom order. Another challenge.
This bride had a hanky made to pin to the tree next to her fiance's mother's grave. She wanted butterflies on it. When I sent the proof to her, she liked them so much, she ordered 2 more; one for her mother and one for herself!


This bride asked me if I could copy the design on the invitation to her Miami wedding. It was a pretty pink and rose floral design. What do you think?

SURPRISE!

I haven't been here much because I have been crazy busy. So I had may as well get right to the surprise.

When this mom asked me to make her baby's bedding, I was thrilled! She is very special to me and that made this project even more important. Since I am a Paralyzed Perfectionist, this project took a little longer than I (and the mom) hoped it would, but I am pleased with the result.

So, without further delay, here it is!

Bumpers are teal on the inside and the monkey print is on the outside. The tiny print is the trim and ties on the bumpers and crib skirt is fashioned to match the window valance which folds back to reveal an applique palm tree; the folds are held by buttons, covered in the trim fabric.






The quilt is teal on one side and monkey print on the reverse. Of course the trim makes the cording and it is hand tied. The monogrammed pillow was made from the left over teal.

I am so happy with how this project turned out and mom was too!
I just can't believe that I didn't get a picture of Baby JT in his new room.

Ok, so it would have been a little difficult since I was holding him the whole time!

Super Secret Project

So, this is to be a surprise. Except, I am not one being surprised! AND it is so hard for me to keep secrets! But I promised, so I will.

Here's what the surprise will be made from:


Can you tell which one of these people will be doing the surprising?:


I will post more when the surprise is finished! All I can tell you now is that, so far, I love it!

New Blog Announcement.

Remember Doug?

Well, His wife is coping well on the outside. I can't vouch for the inside but she has started blogging in the hope of dealing with her grief and helping others to deal with any grief that they might be experiencing. She would love for you to stop by and say hello or chat.

Find her at Denyse Starting Over

Best Wishes, Nikki

Nikki contacted me about 2 weeks ago. She wanted hankies for her mom and future mother-in-law. Here is her sentiment (I get so choked up sometimes):


Mom, When I say "I am going home", it means to where you are.

Vote Here

The easiest way to vote is to click on "change button".

All Star Game...FINAL VOTE

The World Champion Phillies were hot tonight with a 10-0 lead at the top of the second inning! The game ended in a Football score. 22-1; more runs than scored in the last 6 games put together!

But I digress.



There is a campaign going on in Philadelphia, and even elected officials are doing all they can to send their man, Shane Victorino, to St. Louis.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter walked the streets of South Philadelphia with Victorino on Monday afternoon, knocking on doors -- literally -- to solicit support.

"He left whatever he was doing, running the city," Victorino said. "I should go to the budget meetings and sit there and be like, 'No, I don't think that'll crunch. Those numbers don't crunch.'"

You can help make Shane Victorino the 33rd and final roster spot for the NL with the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Final Vote. Please cast your vote on the right side bar.

PRESS RELEASE!!!

I am so excited! I received an email the other day, asking me if I saw my WeddingWire Storefront. Apparently, I won an award! The following is the press release:

"2009 Bride's Choice Awards presented by WeddingWire Wedding Cakes, Wedding Venues, Wedding Photographers

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that FINESSE CUSTOM EMBROIDERY has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards™!

In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. That means FINESSE CUSTOM EMBROIDERY is one of the very best.

Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews.

"We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community,” according to Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”

FINESSE would like to thank our past clients for speaking on our behalf and helping us win the 2009 Bride’s Choice Award.

Note: See the award at the bottom of the page.

I've been busy...sorry!

The holidays have long since long passed. The decoratrations have been stored away for another year. Things are back to normal; whatever that is. So, where have I been? I can't really say...We did paint the family room and do some redecorating. We did go to the mountains for a few days.

Ah, yes!! Wedding season is approaching. Quickly!

I have been crazy busy making lots of brides happy; at least I hope so. Look at some of the cute ideas they have come up with in addition to the usual ones.....

This bride called me and asked if I could do a poem on a hanky for her flower girls. It took some doing but I finally got it to fit without compromising the lettering. It is a little difficult to read so, here is what it says:













"When I was just a little girl
about the size of you,
I dreamed one day I'd fall in love
and then get married, too.

So now that I am all grown up
about to be a bride,
I want you for my flower girl
to be right by my side.

This hankie is a bridal gift
to use and store away;
a keepsake you can carry on
your happy Wedding Day."

How cute is that?

This bride had me busy for quite a while. I think she is giving hankies to everyone she knows!

A couple of weeks later, she asked me to make some tank tops for her bridesmaids and the infamous "Soon-to-be" hoodie. I love seeing their wedding pictures with my "stuff" in them!

I love this idea...


"Mother of the Bride" and "Father of the Bride" with the names of each of their three daughters with the bride's wedding date and room to add the sisters' date later.

Cute idea!

The Christmas Gift

My BFF, Jean, and I sat on my back porch this past summer.

We made our "Bucket List".

Today, I am able to cross another "to do" off the list.

Find Jason & Kyle

When I got Jean to join Facebook a few months ago, I thought we would have fun but I never imagined the good that could come from it. Christmas night, I found out; Jean made contact with the sons who she was seperated from 10 years ago! Faith has seen her through these past 10 years; she has never given up the hope that they would reunite someday.

A mother's love for her children will always overcome the heartaches, hopelessness, and despartion felt when those children are taken from her arms.


Jean, I am so happy for you and I hope with all of my heart, that this is not the last of the answers to your prayers.

Jason & Kyle, I hope that you can know how happy you have made your mother, simply by answering her prayers.

Just when I thought I knew everything about my mother....

Last night I saw something that really touched me. I wasn't really surprised; just kind of taken back a little.

I drove my mother to meet a group of her friends whom she sees about once a year. The trip necessitated driving North on I95, so it was a nice long drive (if you consider hearing gasps every few miles, and having your arm clenched and scratched by long, perfectly manicured fingernails, nice) with some good conversation.

We reached our destination in about 1-3/4 hours; a little over an hour longer than it should have taken. The holiday traffic was crazy and I changed my route several times so that we wouldn't be late.

She had a good time catching up with her friends and we had a "so-so" dinner at a restaurant that we had high expectations of. I think that may have been because we used to live right near the restaurant many years ago when it was one of the best in the area. The dinner was actually a huge disappointment. Perhaps that is why we took more than half of it home with us; something I rarely do.

On the way home, we have to go through the edge of the city to get to the bridge to cross the river. When we reached the underside of the bridge, we were stopped by a red light at a spot where it is not uncommon to see people hanging around. I must admit that I have gone past this spot so many times that I must have become oblivious to it. This night, there was a homeless man standing in the middle of the street with a sign that read, "Homeless, Hungry, Disabled Vet. Can you help? God Bless."

From the passenger seat I heard another gasp; this time it was not due to my driving but from the sight of that man in the street. My mother started to reach for her handbag, hesitated, reached again.... Then I reached in the back seat to find our carefully secured doggy bags (actually, they were nice styro containers, holding in the heat). When I came up with the box, the man was already standing at my window, as if he knew what I was doing. When I looked at him, my heart sank. I opened the window and he took the box from me and said "Thank you very much and God Bless You."

When the light turned green, I pulled away and as I looked back in my rear-view mirror, I saw the man in the car behind me, also offering something. I turned the bend and headed over the bridge, and out of sight.
We go to the city for the theater, dinner, shopping, fun times. We are so busy that we never look around us. Maybe seeing the city at night, in a different light, makes us more aware of things. Things I didn't realize. My mother had never seen a homeless person!

The crossing was silent. When I reached the other side of the river, I looked over at her face. She was crying. I think it really shook her, actually seeing, first hand, someone so down, so alone, so desperate. My mother was a young child during the Great Depression, still, she was touched.

Seeing my mother so vulnerable is what touched me.

They're dropping like flies!

Here I sit, on Thanksgiving Day, blogging my heart out. You are probbly thinking I A) Have nowhere to go, or B) Am going to someone's house for dinner. WRONG! I had place(S) to be! I am NOT going to someone's house.

Yes, I am cooking on Thanksgiving and have time to sit, wine glass in hand (half empty- or is that half full?- bottle sitting nearby) aimlessly surfing the web. We turned down 2 invitations in order to have dinner at our house, and we did include the "inviters", who became the first flies to drop. That's ok, we still have my parents (whom I only last week found out that they were not going to the sibling's, as usual; what's up with that?) and my other "spawn with family".

My daughter always attends the "Command Performance" at her mother-in-law's; wouldn't dare suggest otherwise. That's ok with me because I get them for the entire Christmas celebration, beginning on Christmas Eve and ending somewhere after Christmas dinner. This is something which I came to accept early on. I learned how to pick my battles with the in-laws!
Another last minute game call-The Kid's mom has to babysit her younger brothers while her mother works, and she refuses to bring them here. Can't say I argued too hard on that one.
So, we are down to 5. That's fine with me-I still cook for 100. I have never, even after 36+ years of marriage, been able to figure out how to cook for 2. BUT, wouldn't you think that everyone could be a little bit early to watch some football or something? My mother has a long history of lateness. I remember once, when I was first married, having Thanksgiving at my Grandmother's with the whole family. Of course Big Daddy and I were there way ahead of time so that we could visit and have fun with my cousins before dinner. I know it was a 4 hour drive, but if I could do it, couldn't my mom? No. They arrived about an hour after dinner was set. I still can't figure out why she was annoyed that we had eaten without them; we did save them some. She complained that they left the dark meat (she likes white), the potatoes were cold, and there weren't any rolls left. Oh my!

I would never start without her but, she had better get here soon because I don't do this often and I want it to be good. Not only that, I am really hungry and I refuse to eat anything now and miss the pleasure of gorging myself intentionally later.

Besides, she has the pies!

I've been busy!

Well, I had some major technical difficulties last week but I am back and in full swing!

Today was really busy and the day flew by.

I had some towels to monogram for a Bridal Shower,

Taggies for a Baby Shower,

Custom blanket for the same shower,

Christmas

bib

And this is just too cute NOT to show.

I had a bride ask for something for her Flower Girls; This is what I came up with:

While You Wait

I don't know about you but, I hate waiting. I am impatient and I must have instant gratification. I had lots of that today.

I had to take my embroidery machine in to fix a self induced problem. The repair man told me to give him at least a few hours. No problem; I was in my old neighborhood (an hour away from home) so I planned to meet a friend (Just An Old Fashioned Gal) for lunch and maybe do a little shopping.

While I was shopping in Home Goods, I found a basket full of items, each one was right there waiting for me. I found a beautiful tablecloth and then found exactly 2 packages of 4 each, napkins, in the clearance aisle! Then I walked over to the toy aisle and found the perfect toy for The Kid--a balance board with a picture of his favorite thing, a duck!

After that, I turned around and there was my friend (she said she was tired of waiting for me)!

No waiting continued at the checkout line (no line). While I was paying, my phone rang and it was repairman letting me know that he had finished and my baby was ready!

We were pretty hungry so we jumped in our cars (yup, you guessed it; right in the first space) and went to a restaurant just down the street. Table for 2? Right this way! 12:30 and no waiting? Our food came out before we even had a chance to catch up.

This is what happens when you try to take a picture of yourself!

So in all, my day was great. After I left my friend at the restaurant, I was driving toward home when I saw the funniest thing. Well, it may not be funny to everyone but, it struck me so funny, I had to take a picture with my phone. I hope you can see it. Ok, it's too far away to see but here is what it says:

(Whoever)'s Art; Tattoos while you wait!

Since I hate waiting, I won't be going there anytime soon!

Oh, Yeah!!!!!!!! World Series, Baby!

No words needed!

Family Tree?

Many years ago, I was really into Geneology, tracing my mother's family back to 1700's Switzerland. I learned a lot, such as the difference between second cousins (the people in your family who have the same great-grandparents as you, but not the same grandparents), and cousins twice removed (there is a two-generation difference). It is all very confusing but eventually, you get the hang of it.

There is one family relationship that can't be explained, however.

My daughter-in-law's first child gave birth so that would be my "Great-grand", right? So far, so good.

Now, here is where it gets tricky. My mother adopted the little girl, so that would make her my "little sister"?!?

Yeah, my mom took on the responsibility under protest by my dad! He said, "absolutely not!" when they discussed it. He thought that it was too much trouble, and would take up a lot of time and effort, and they would lose their freedom. But once her saw her, he fell in love. So they became proud parents. They dote. They fuss. They spoil. They adore her! (All ad nauseam, I might add.)

However, my parents like to travel and sometimes it is not possible or appropriate for my great-grand/sister to accompany them. When that happens, they slyly ask if she can stay with us. Of course I say, "Yes"; she is no trouble at all. She practically takes care of herself and she loves the cats (We have 3). Plus we have a big fenced in back yard to play in and I can sew little clothes for her.

When they arrive, so does her little bag containing her washcloth, towel, toothbrush, hairbrush and hair accessories, and special toys. Her pillow also comes along, as well as a thermal bag filled with individual daily servings of pre-cooked oatmeal (I gag thinking about cooking the stuff).

She sleeps with Big Daddy and me; she loves to snuggle. My mom is a little annoyed about this because now she won't stay in her own room at home. Oh well!

She's so cute with curly black hair and black eyes. One can't help staring at her; everywhere my parents go, people remark how cute she is--even with the rather dominant underbite. Oh, would you like to see a picture of her?

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I think she is the best thing that ever happened to them; she gives them another reason to get up every morning, and is going to keep them young.

The Fork War: The Final Chapter

Last week I did an embroidery job for an old friend (remember the Fork War?). She needed a gift for a 90th birthday. I suggested a monogrammed pillowcase. Turns out, the birthday girl also loves to cook, so in addition to the pillowcase, I made an oven mitt.


During that same week, "Kevmeema"'s mother passed away after a lengthy illness. It was a really tough year for her. Even though I have never met her in person, I know that she is a really tough, strong woman; one that I admire.



A couple of days after I sent the package with the pillowcase and oven mitt, I received an email telling me that the package arrived as they were leaving the house to attend the funeral, and she didn't open it until the next day. Her email went on to compliment my "talent" and then she asked me what she owed me.



What price do you put on friendship? I felt that I owed her more than she owed me. She was always there when I needed someone to confide in. She helped me brainstorm when I started my business. She made brochures for me. She gave me ideas, incentives, encouragement to try, when I had less confidence in myself than she had in me-someone she hardly "knew". Once, she even helped me accept a new chapter in my life when The Kid was born and I became a grandmother!



I asked that she make a donation to her Mom's favorite cause...The Jersey Shore Animal Center, in Brick, NJ, where they had requested memorial donations in her mom's name. I expected negotiations to begin but I guess she realized how futile that would be. She agreed and I was happy; it was a done deal!



Two days later, a package arrived at my house. Since I was expecting a shipment of handkerchiefs from a supplier. I put the package in my sewing studio without looking at it. Several days passed before I noticed that it wasn't from the supplier, but from Kevmeema!



Somehow I just knew what was inside, even before I opened the package. I knew that she would think of something so special; that's the kind of lady she is. So, I carefully ripped the paper off and yanked the top off the box and threw it on the floor. Inside was the nicest gift I have ever received. A gift from

the best friend I never met.

The forks have come full circle and so has a wonderful Internet friendship--one that must certainly evolve soon.

But one thing, E, it is YOU who is a special lady!

Tag! I'm "it"!

I've been tagged! Not by just anyone, either! I was tagged by Just an Old fashioned Gal.

I know Marialena, personally and I can vouch for her being an old fashioned gal. She is also someone I call friend. We may not be "hang-out-together-do-lunch" type girlfriends, but she is definitely someone that I am proud to know. We have had more than a few encounters but this is one of my favorites:

This HAS to give you some idea what a hoot she can be! I love her!

Now, on to the tagging thing (which I can also credit her for teaching me).

Here are the rules:
1-Link to your tagger and list the rules
2-List 5 random facts about yourself
3-Tag 5 people
4-If you're tagged, play along and pass it on!

Here's the link to that fabulous life that I warned you would come up now and again:

1-I was an only child for 16 years but I am not the typical spoiled brat (I never lie, either)

2-I have been happily married for 36 years to my High School Sweatheart (and they said it wouldn't last. The secret? He travels....a lot!)

3-I've been to more countries than United States; not terribly proud of that (even though I had some really great times) but I am working on changing that next Spring

4-I went back to college at 47 and graduated summa cum laude; not like that woulda happened when I was 20!

5-I have very few friends my own age; most are more than 10 years younger than me. Who wants to hang out with old people anyway?

Ok, now this is the fun part....I am tagging:
Superbef
Taking Chances
Mrs T Rod

This is as far as I go. I am still so new to the blogging world that I don't really know anyone else well enough to intrude upon them. Jeez! I hope those that I did impose upon, don't mind!