Never Really Left But .......I am Back

So, with a new website going live soon, I have looked into all of the social media things I have and have decided that I shall put my main content in this blog . You could go on for ever with it all , and really , who has the time.....I would never be able to make beautiful dresses if I spent all day on the internet xx

I am Paula Goldstraw, and I am Inspired Brides . I am a home-based business in Wiltshire , UK . Beautiful part of the world , three miles from Lacock, where a lot of television/filming is done. Also five miles from Bradford-on-Avon, another beautiful place, and fourteen miles from the City of Bath.

I am a designer/dressmaker helping people create their ideas, of their dream dress.

On this blog I shall be discussing all things wedding, dressmaking, design related . Showing some of my work and sharing some tips . Would love for you to ask if there is anything specific I can help with , or if you would like to work with me to create your dream dress .

The website will be www.inspired-brides.co.uk
There is a fb page if you would like to have a little look at some of my work InspiredBrides-Wiltshire , eventually I will be putting things up in more detail on this page , but it all takes time xx

I look forward to writing , sharing and getting to know you.

Yours,

Paula Goldstraw

#Dressmaking   #Handmade   #wedding  #Inspired  #Wiltshire #Bride 

Extra Special Prom Dress

LOVE it when I get  some pics back.

I was not even sure this dress was going to get worn to a prom at all. 
This beautiful girl is the daughter of a friend of a friend. I was approached about making the dress, but before I got started, she was to be sent for emergency surgery, regarding cancer.
The operation was due 2 weeks before her prom, so they asked me to wait . However, I had already got everything prepared for it, because I had decided I would make it for her anyway.

She has a scar on the front of her neck, about 4 inches long, but my goodness, the surgeon has done such a fantastic job, I am sure it will hardly be noticeable in time.  She is doing extremely well, although a little tired at times, but decided she was going to her prom anyway.  She has taken it all in her stride and has to be thoroughly commended on her attitude.

Here she is .

I also made a matching tie for her date.

 She continues to go from strength to strength,  she seems to be on the mend, all is good xx

She had a thoroughly good time at her prom and loved her dress.

LONDON xx

I am not going to post too much about this, as I am sure most people who want to hear about the Jubilee, have already watched and read enough.

But, I was in London at the same time as it all.  I have family in London and I had not really intended to participate in any festivities, just visit my Aunt and Uncle.  I have nothing against the Royal Family, but coming from a small town, they do not really feature in my life.

However, whilest there, we walked along the Mall on the Saturday and saw them preparing everything, we went to Somerset House and wow, that is lovely , has a balcony that you can get drinks or bring your own. We sat and had a drink and basically soaked up the atmosphere, saw the tents of people along the riverside and enjoyed the sun, yes , I did say sun !!
My Aunty has lived in London for over 30 yrs and she said that the atmosphere in London had never felt so good.
Saturday night the weather turned, I was safely ensconced in my Auntys flat, but all I could think about was those poor people in their tents !!!!!

Sunday though, we decided to try and see if we might get by the Thames to see the boats, we managed to be in front of Somerset House, they had a large screen because in truth, we could see nothing, there were so many people.  We watched loads and what a fabulous surprise, we were opposite the building that the Warhorse was on, so actually got to see that.

We were lucky, yes the heavens opened, but we had seen most of it and so we left.

The next day we ended up in Hyde Park, watching the concert on the big screen, with thousands of people.  It was fantastic, and again the weather was great.  To say it was a washout, is a great big lie.  To say lots of people had a great time, is so true. 

Considering we had planned none of what we did that weekend, it was brilliant and a weekend I will never forget. 

LONDON is an amazing city and The British sure know how to party xxxxx

Prom Time

Well, bit like buses, you don't hear from me for ages , then two come along  !!! .

I have been being a Mum and visiting family.  Managed to do both at the same time. 

It is my Sons prom this year and we have family down in Devon.  My Nan and Grandad are both in very good health and it was lovely to see them , not many 40yr olds can say they have Grandparents and I feel very blessed. 
Whilest there, my Son and I went shopping for his prom suit in Exeter.  He tried on a couple, but fell in love with one from Moss Bros.  Funny, but we got it half price but it did not have anything on to say it was .
He wanted a 3-piece, its charcoal, and has purple lining .  We got a shirt and tie set in purple, to match, from Next
I know I am biased, but here is a picture of my gorgeous, grown-up boy.

I cant believe where the time has gone xxx

Upcycled Wedding Dress

I don't know where the time has gone !!!! I have not blogged  for so long. 
I have been working, being a Mum, taking trips to visit family, trying to sort out my son with a college and generally just busy .


I had a bride, who had bought her dress 2 years ago, at a charity shop.  However, when she got it out again, had changed her mind about the bodice design.  The bodice had lace and beads along the bodice top and around the bottom edge too.  I removed the lace and beads and we sent it off to be dry cleaned. 

My bride wanted a more traditional floral design so I used organza  and pearls  and created this design instead

This is the dress afterwards, although  we did pull the centre flower down a bit lower before she took it away. As an older bride she was a bit conscious of showing any cleavage, but was happy that the design was fine as I had said it would be.

Luckily the dress did not need any other alterations.  It was perfect and she was more than happy .

Just what I like to hear xx

Butterick 4657

(reference previous post )

I found a picture of the original dress I made, unfortunately I am rather annoyed that I did not taken one when she had it on.  It looked absolutely stunning on her with her tanned skin and dark hair.  It fitted her beautifully, unlike the model :(

The pattern needed a lot of alteration .  The lady came to me with the pattern and fabric from a shop.  Unfortunately, I do not think the shop employs someone who is a dressmaker and the lining was not suitable for the design, also, because of the pale colour of the chiffon, everything needed to be doubled so that it did not look washed out.  It took me a long time to work out how to alter the pieces and cut out the fabric so that it would all be able to come out of what she had bought !!!! 

I would always suggest someone speaks to a dressmaker first before they purchase anything, could save time and money .

It really is a beautiful dress, but if you are tempted to get the pattern, make a sample one first.

One of the things I did was to use a skirt size 2x bigger than was suggested so that the skirt folds were nicer.

I still struggle to look at this picture as I know how nice it looked on her.

  She brought the brooch with her, a friend of hers makes jewellry, nice to have friends like that :)

It finishes the dress off lovely.

If anyone does buy the pattern and needs advice, feel free to get in touch.

For the Wedding Dress I had to downsize a 14,16,18,20 pattern, down to a size 10.  Instead of a brooch I decided to put on lace and beading.  I also made the skirt long, with a slight train on the back and one day will take a picture properly :)  I am very pleased with it .

Happy Sewing x

Wedding Fayre

Uploaded some photos of the dresses , jacket and bag I took to the wedding fayre.

I made this dress before , in a pale peach chiffon and really liked the style of it, so I decided to do my own take on the original and create it in ivory, as a wedding dress.

However I did have to alter the original pattern by a considerable amount, to get it like this.  I also lengthened it from the original .  I added some lace, with beading and sequins.

The full length photo is a bit hazy as I left my camera in the car, where it was cold, and in Leigh park Hotel, it was humid, so that is actually mist on the photo and no amount of editing will sort that out !!

I also took some items I have shown before , except I have now made a clutch bag to go with the red jacket .  It really was a lovely day, even though outside it was a different story.  I don't think the rain stopped the whole time we were there. There were no cars or horses and carriages at this one !!!