like a warm blanket...

My grandma passed away today. We watched her slip from this life into the next within such a short time. I remember getting the call just 6 weeks ago while I was at a wedding that something was wrong. Now she is gone and there seems to be an empty space.

The last few weeks have been filled with visits to her hospital room in between weddings and the normal jugglings of life and little ones. I have yearned to have her teach me all she could, share stories I have heard before just one more time, to tell her I love her more over and over, knowing that she may not hear me the next time.

I got a call late last night to come quickly. My brother Micah picked me up and we drove to San Clemente as fast as we could and stepped into a house that flooded us with memories, one that has been filled with years of Thanksgivings and crowded Christmas' with the family, of Easter egg hunts in the yard and Pac Man in the garage, hidden toys and cabbage patch dolls in the closets, family dinners and cousins running the stairs....and laughter...so so much laughter and love. This night there was a little less laughter in the house but no shortage of love. ..and still family, always family. Grandma has given us that. She has loved us dearly and greatly and always believed in us. She has taught us to take care of one another and gathered us together often. Where Grandpa has been the duct tape, Grandma has been the glue. She has never wanted more than for each of us to be happy and to share life together with all it brings. She understands what it means to be sealed to each other. This family is one of the greatest gifts she has given me.

Her life again gathered us together last night as we sat near her bedside and I took her hand that had been held, and kissed her cheek that had been kissed many times before that week by everyone that loves her, and that I love too. Grandpa sat in a chair in a room near the bed and I snuggled up next to him. I have always loved cuddling up next to him from the time I was a little girl and he has always had the best hugs to give back. I was worried about him tonight. I can't imagine what it must be like to watch your wife, who has been your companion and by your side for all of what you can remember lie in a bed with tubes and wires preparing to leave this life. But....she was beautiful still. Her fingernails and toenails perfectly manicured from her last visit before she went into the hospital just weeks earlier when they discovered the cancer. She wore a purple nightie that my Aunt Susie had picked up just this last Saturday for her with a cake, as my grandma and grandpa celebrated their 63rd anniversary. 63 years! Last Saturday, just days ago she was able to talk. By Sunday she was not able to get up or speak much. When I told her I loved her, she was able to whisper " I love you more". This night however, she lay quiet and unable to speak but gasping for air. ...and still, she was beautiful with her soft gray hair falling around her face and the soft lines on her face that represented years of concern and love for each of us.

It was good to be with each other. We read from Grandma's journals and family history that she had kept of each of us as music played quietly in the background. We learned that she saved every letter and card that any of us had sent her....every baby announcement, every wedding announcement. She kept up with each of her 5 children, her 20 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. She never forgot a birthday, she wrote us while on missions, hand-crocheted hats and scarves for us at Christmas and she prayed for us, always prayed for us. Tonight we continued to pray for her. Grandpa kissed her and told her that it was her time to go. She seemed to want to hold on a little longer. She never was one to want to leave a party or her family.

I returned home late and slept wrapped in the blanket that she had made for me at graduation, that had offered years of comfort through home-sickness and being away from home for the first time, through heartache and heartbreaks, through a mission, through my own marriage and births of my babies and the occasional flu. It has been there through all of it just like my Grandma. It is soft and somewhat worn but it will always be what I have to hold on to...with the many memories of a woman who has changed my life and taught me to love a little deeper and that life is truly about what we leave behind and what we teach our children and how we love them.

I will miss you Grandma.

Couture Wedding Gowns 2010

Many brides tend to wear my mother's wedding gown - - This was their special feel the love between mother and daughter, it also shows the endless ties. As well as emotional reasons, but also because it saved money, this definition has been growing among today's young bride. This definition has been influenced by our culture now, we also use in the future to find a way to preserve a wedding gown is. Couture wedding gown for the first time the same fabric and style, even after years of use can be used in new, stylish exterior. Therefore, I first selected the brand's special naleulwihan gowns, we recommend. Second, I tell you this article here, at the top of your wedding gown preservation to suggest a few ways.

You clean your gown is that it specializes in conservation and the first thing that you can decide. This dress is clean of dust and other marks will help.

Described above in order to complete the first step, your profession and professional dry cleaning must be first. You all dry cleaners to clean a silk gown and a dress that can give good results, remember that. Therefore, the most valuable and expensive clothes, wedding dresses totally unbecoming from everyday clothes to clean, because the dry cleaners does not rely on. Silk and the horrible destruction of the water is not its lining, can cause the reduction of dissolved sequin dress provides expert.

Third important thing to remember in your dress is not to avoid a vacuum sealing. Storage methods are outdated and useless for doing anything good, instead of extending the life of the gown, and in fact have time to fade before it is damaged.

Conservation is the best acid free storage space. It is then carefully cleaned, acid-free cardboard box, reversible coat. Lab coat and your organization the size of a pack that gown in the appropriate box to confirm that. An indication of this method, if any, I'll tell you it was not long lasting. You will need to change the box every 5 years as acid free materials and the professional and the organization will begin to absorb moisture will start to lose a cardboard box, the dress is damaged.

You can put the wedding dress box under the bed is the perfect place. Silk is damaged by high temperatures and wet conditions, the destruction of the basement to the attic Do not Do not.

Engaging: Lindsay & Thatcher

We know we are a year ahead, but we could not wait to post these gorgeous engagement pictures shot by the oh so talented Jill Thomas!

Another valid reason for posting these this far out-- we adore Lindsay to death! She is another one of our super crafty and creative brides. She has even taken on the task of sewing all of her own napkins for the reception. Of course we trust Lindsay's taste; Thatcher is an absolute sweetheart!

We love the story of how these two met! Lindsay was with her family river rafting, where she met Thatcher, the river guide. Not only did he keep her family safe, but he stole her heart!

Lindsay is so beautiful, just simply gorgeous inside & out. And if you couldn't tell by the pictures, the couple is quite outdoorsy!

Sorry to keep you waiting a year, but you will want to make sure and mark your calendars to check back and see Lindsay + Thatcher's wedding! Also being shot by Jill Thomas, expect to see vibrant colors, rustic elements, and flowers galore at the San Diego Botanic Garden. Congrats you two, we can't wait!

Sew in Love: the party

We loved sharing the details with you from the first half of Lauren + Michael's wedding and could not wait to get the pictures up from the rest of the magical night!

Simply gorgeous and delicious cake from Carrie's Cakes. This beautiful cake complemented the rest of the reception so perfectly, not to mention the bride's dress, which was part of the pattern on the cake!

The cake looks so divine in this picture!

How beautiful does the reception tent look at night? You wouldn't believe the party that was going on inside : )

The bridal party surprised guests, as well as the bride, with their hilarious choreographed dance!

The groom couldn't help getting in on some of the dance party action!

We are soooo in love with the ridiculously cute dress that Lauren changed into for their send-off! Can't believe she and her Mom made the dress themselves!

Thanks so much to Nicole Hill Gerulat for sharing these breathtaking pictures from the couple's big day! Best wishes, Lauren + Mike!

Sew in Love: Lauren & Michael

We had so much fun working with Lauren, the bride on this one! She is a beautiful girl who exudes femininity and class and we wanted to incorporate that style into her wedding. From assistance in orchestrating everything from vendors and vintage car rentals ...to design, we had a great time planning Lauren + Mike's wedding. Plus, they are just the sweetest couple!!

A little peek at Lauren's something blue. How adorable is that blue ruffle!?

One of my favorite elements of the wedding was the escort card display....knowing Lauren's love for jewelry and that she had a collection of vintage pieces that her grandmother had gathered for her from various travels and auctions, we suggested that we fill white ceramic trays with them to place among the escort cards.

I loved the way it added sparkle to the table and texture. We also created custom fabric and lace covered boxes to lift up the trays and cards and really showcase them.

The table sat in front of a beautiful satin ribbon wall that the bride and groom had created together. I told you these two were crafty!

We worked closely with Jen from Modern Display, who created the stunning peony filled centerpieces....and were they amazing! The flowers added so much softness to the space and enhanced all of the other elements.

Lauren's cousin, Annie, created the invites and paper elements that we just swooned over!

Kids were given a special space of their own with candy centerpieces in all shades of pastels.

We brought in gorgeous linens in soft shades of rose and buttercream and I located chargers, through one of our "to the trade" stores, that had a beautiful silver scallop edge. They seemed to make just the right statement.

We also created custom number stands to hold the embroidery hoops that Lauren's grandmother embroidered numbers on to for the tables. They added just the right amount of charm and represented Lauren's love for sewing.

The dessert table sat in front of a customized backdrop built by Modern Display and designed and hung with Frames by our Amorology Team. It was a big effort to get all of those frames hung in a day but the impact was amazing and made for an incredible backdrop for the head table.

Among the frames hung darling silhouette pictures of the bride and groom and as another surprise, Lauren's mother had given us a hand-painted picture created by Lauren's Grandfather of the lighthouse where Mike had proposed to hang as well. It was so touching to watch as Lauren and Mike discovered it on the wall and the thoughtful gesture that had been made.

Our team hand- glued cameos to glass candle votives affixed with soft rose ribbon to add another element and detail to the table. They turned out so cute!

Guests were pleasantly surprised to find delicious cake bites from Sweet Tooth Fairy. Believe us, no one was leaving these behind!

The dessert tables were filled with every kind of deliciousness by Culinary Crafts. As a surprise for the bride, we hand-stitched an embroidery hoop for the dessert station that read "Love my Sweets".

Stay tuned to see the rest of the reception, as well as how the party got started once the music was bumping! Many thank yous to Nicole of Nicole Hill Gerulat Photography for the BEYOND gorgeous photos.