Vintage Re-Done Wedding Gown

Here is the before photo of this late 1960's silk organza and lace wedding gown.
Here the sleeves have been removed and I'm starting to develop the neckline.
The sleeves in this photo are still attached and I'm beginning to remove the lace from around the neck to see what it looks like underneath.
The sleeves have been removed and neckline lace is off, revealing a nicely shaped neckline and much wider without the lace. A little more attractive I think.
The lace on the dress is actually quite nice. The cheap lace around the neck is being removed. to reveal quite a pretty dress.
I'm beginning to remove the lace.
In developing the neckline, I'm deciding it would look good with straps instead.
Now I need to cut the neckline and re-shape the lace on the bodice.
Lace is cut and pinned in place.
I need to peel back the lace at one point to decide where the neckline should be.
Here is the side view of the gown as I'm shaping the neckline and changing the style.

Above you will find the beginning of a gown remodel. The dress above has about 6-8 hours of work in it already including the tub soak it took after I received it from the Ebay Seller. I still have some more work to do before it's finished, but luckily it's just bodice work and a lot of hand sewing. This dress has a terrific detachable train.

More photos to come as it evolves.

Big Table Farm / Love & Squalor

Emma & Clemantine at Big Table Farm
Collecting Eggs on Big Table Farm
Houston the Human Whisperer!
Emma Riding Hummer Bareback!
Moo!!!!!


Mom - Photo by Emma Serr
Matt Berson - Photo by Emma Serr
Clare Carver and her artwork along with Family wine- Photo by Emma Serr
Big Table Wine - Photo by Emma Serr


Wine Sample - photo by Emma Serr
Emma and Clare sorting egss for the CSA.
Angie washing dishes from Lunch.
Emma filling egg crates for the egg CSA.

Art by Emma
Angie and Matt's livingroom
Baby Roxy in a great outfit picked out by Emma - leg warmer's and all
Playdate Pdx- crazy spring break day.

I recently ventured to Portland Oregon to visit some very good friends. Not only are they wonderful people filled with live and good humor they are amazing cooks and they make wine! What a great combination. My daughter Emma and I spent a week with Angie, Matt and baby Roxanne for Emma's Spring Break from school.

We visited our favorite Portland Restaurants (Broder & Pho Van) and Vintage Store (Xtabay). The supreme Mr. Gabe the Pomeranian was summoned from home to visit Xtabay just for Emma which was quite a treat and offered me a few extra minutes of diversion so I could entertain my vintage fantasies and purchase a wedding gown for re-purposing. Later in the week we even ventured downtown to Play Date Pdx just for Emma and Roxy. It was a little crazy but totally fun.

The highlights, however were wonderful wines - Lots of Love and Squalor Riesling and a new Wine from Matt - Behemoth (coming soon), which is a rich full bodied red, ripe for indulgence.
We were also fortunate to taste a lovely Pinot Noir at Big Table Farm - Spicy and delicious!

Ok, so I have to admit, I'm a bit of a farm junkie and Big Table Farm was one of the most enjoyable I've ever been to. Emma got to collect eggs, ride a horse bareback and help me save a chicken from unfortunate demise (which unfortunately, no one photographed). I hope you enjoy these photos of our wonderful Portland experience.

Franie and the Midgets

My grandmother Frances (grandma Fran) lived quite an interesting life. Not only has she been my style icon from day one, but her life was rich with such interesting stories. This one is about her time with the Singer Midgets in the 1930's.

For some reason related to the fact that her father was a wild animal dealer, my grandmother and her brother Bob (Frances and Robert Heger) were assigned with the task of entertaining the entertainers, when they came to town. Apparently over the course of the years, they became quite good friends. My grandmother would hang out with them off stage and in their dressing rooms. She told me tales of squeezing her waif like frame into their tiny costumes which made everyone laugh. She was particularly fond of a fellow named Gabor, who is pictured in one of the photographs with Fran.


The diminutive size of these wonderful "little people" made them a delight to all, however, I think they must have struggled quite a bit and were bound for a life of entertainment. Because of this all of their clothes were hand tailored and fit like a glove.




It always pleased me to hear the stories my grandmother would tell, especially after seeing the Wizard of Oz. She was particularly keen on me watching the film and I did, on TV, in her living room on her golden striped velvet divan. It was a wonderful discovery to come across all these pictures, once again, after she had passed. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.