Hello Hive.
This is me doing what I love and what makes me happy. Rather than giving myself the best treat today, as it is my birthday, I decided to extend the love and joy to someone else who is also celebrating her birthday.
Before today I had hoped that I would sew myself a beautiful new dress, take some pictures, and give myself a nice treat, but this is me just getting off the sewing machine. I made a birthday dress for someone else either.
I have been looking forward to at least that one birthday where I would enjoy some peace, warmth, love, happiness, and maybe a little token in my pocket to enjoy myself 😄😄, but it seems that I never get to have them complete in one year. For a particular year I may find love while the peace and the others will be lacking, while in some other years the love, warmth, and happiness will overflow while the slightest token to purchase one cake will not be available. Poor me 😂🤣. I remember the year everyone rallied around me in the house; we laughed and played, and the children screamed for excitement. There was no cake, chicken, or pie; I eventually had to borrow a little token to get the babies some drinks and snacks to make their joy complete.
I think that the most important thing is that we are alive and healthy and grateful for the gift of life and privilege to witness another year, knowing fully well that our fulfillment and satisfaction can only be delayed but never denied.
Instead of wallowing in my own self-pity, I channeled the joy to make another happy. You can only imagine the joy I feel when I make other people feel happy.
Making the process of an elegant dress.
It has to carry all shades of elegance if it is going to be a birthday dress.
I started by cutting the off-shoulder front block for both the fabric and lining.
And then the lower part of the dress, which I pulled together to form a gather here
Before sewing, it is often advisable to add hair stays and paper stays, making the cloth firmer to fit one's body contour.
After that I proceeded with the sewing, turning the necklines and leaving out space for the buttonhole allowance.
Next I attached the gathers of the lower bodice to the upper bodice and began to work on the sleeves.
The sleeve is a puff sleeve with an elastic band at the hemming. Having turned the sleeves with a lining, I added an elastic band and then attached it to the dress.
Next I took the outfit to a designer here who helped me stitch the button holes where I will be attaching the buttons.
That was completed and you can see our gorgeous elegant dress. I'm currently waiting for some official birthday photoshoot pictures from my friend.