Anniversaries & Antiques & Alterations…

First of all, thank you so much for the Anniversary wishes for my hubby and me. If you missed it, we celebrated 35 years of “Wedded Bliss” yesterday and I do mean bliss. I’m one of the gals who pretty much got the fairy tale marriage. My hubby is so good to me and we get along very well… each letting the other one know how special they are. For instance… my hubby let me look in an antique shop for quite a while as he headed to the car when he was done looking at the tools. I followed him around in Harbor Freight and pretended all the tools were sewing notions… :o)
We had a good time… I’ll tell you a little more below, but wanted to sincerely thank you for the Anniversary wishes. They were wonderful…
Oh, and a big Congratulations to Diana J… she and her hubby were married 50 years yesterday! WOW!

We went to Paducah, Kentucky because it’s a favorite place not too terribly far away from home. We didn’t really have a plan for the day, just a few places we wanted to hit and check out…

They were having an Arts and Crafts Festival as they always do on Labor Day weekend. Here are a few pictures…

Vendors everywhere…

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…could I interest you in a canoe… handmade, beautifully constructed, only $1400?

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No? Well then how about a coffin? Only $85 and ready by October 1st…

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These sweet handmade dolls caught my attention and I had to take their picture…

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One lady had certainly been busy making doll clothes…she had a full rack of them and I felt sorry for her…it was the last day of the festival and she certainly had a lot left over… but then again, maybe she does the Christmas fairs and she just likes a lot of inventory…

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Part of the town is just so pretty… for walking around…

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We drove down a little farther in Kentucky and passed by the old hotel where we spent the first night of our honeymoon… It’s still standing, but it’s seen better days…I snapped a quick picture…

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Then we hit a big antique mall that my hubby likes… because there are TOOLS… old tools… hand tools… just like he likes…He was happy!

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That’s “half” of him in the picture I snapped…

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My sister, Cindy, told me I should put some vintage suitcases in my sewing room… I found this ballerina one and thought it was sweet but it stayed at the store…

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I saw this sweet doll and she asked me to take her picture… my grandma would have “rescued” her. She didn’t sweet talk me enough, I guess, because I didn’t bring her home…

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I found some beautiful laces in there, and bought a few, but will share them tomorrow… Here are some I didn’t get…

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In the same booth, I saw this very pretty christening dress, but it stayed in its booth too…

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We found a few of our favorite places were closed… :o( So we had to go with Plan B… just drive around. We drove down by the Riverfront and I took a few pictures of the murals painted along the wall of the Mississippi River. They are just gorgeous and I’m not sure how many there are..but lots!

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You should DEFINITELY click on this next picture and see it full size on your computer screen…they are so beautiful!

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We ended up having dinner at Olive Garden and enjoying the time just talking…
When we got out to our car after dinner, my hubby noticed the 1″ chrome trim was missing just above our back bumper. The sticky part was still there but the decorative trim was gone. We deduced that the car wash we had taken our car through just as we were leaving town had been so powerful it had loosened it and somewhere between Carbondale to Paducah it had flown off. When we got back in town, we went back to the car wash, hoping maybe, miraculously it had washed off in the car wash, but it wasn’t there. We even checked the trash cans, thinking maybe an attendant had found it and thrown it away… No trim… so we’ll be buying a new piece I guess. :o(

That was the only disappointment of the whole day…and still, that’s not much to be sad over.

My hubby wanted to end the day with ice cream so we went down on the strip and hit the Dairy Queen. It was yummy at the time, but now I’m too full… guess it’s finally time to start up the diet again… I’ve been a little lax lately…

I hope your Labor Day was nice…

I’ve GOT to get a bridesmaid dress altered for Rebecca tomorrow and totally finished up by Wednesday. That’s why I’m saving my lace pictures for tomorrow… as I don’t think I’ll get any sewing done on “Rebecca’s” Civil War dress and I’ll need something simple for my post tonight.
Rebecca paid $200 for this red chiffon long dress and it’s made terribly… The front is a surplice front (cross over front) and its’ so crooked I’m having to take it all apart to make it look half way decent…then I have to take in the waist and hem it… eek!

See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

27 thoughts on “Anniversaries & Antiques & Alterations…”

  1. Glad to hear you had a good anniversary!! I have one of those hubbies as well. 🙂 Sorry to hear that the trim came off your car. Hopefully, you can get it replaced.

    1. Thank you Christine,
      Yes, we really enjoyed the day yesterday… it was just fun to get away and see new things…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  2. I’m so glad you went to Paducah. Who would think there were so many things there to see, and that it’s so pretty to walk around in besides? Those are great pictures. You were wonderful in being so selective in what you bought. I hope George found a couple of tools to bring home.

    I really like the murals along the river. And no graffiti.

    I’m looking forward to the lace for tomorrow, but what I really want are before and after pictures of the red dress. My sister-in-law and I altered my nephew’s bride’s wedding dress — it took us two days and we worked at two houses. In the first there were steps so that one of us could sit in on the stairs going down and supervise pinning the hem from floor level and the second one had a huge table with plenty of room to spread the dress out and sew. We were so lucky. My brother went out to find lunch for us both days — he knows the most amazing ethnic restaurants from his years of working for Public Service and being completely fearless about trying new food. I got to use techniques that I remembered from tailoring class in high school, nearly 45 years earlier. Of course I had paid attention in class, but I hadn’t realized how much attention. The best thing about the entire thing was the bride, who had no sewing experience but quickly figured out the things that she could learn fast and that wouldn’t show.

    I know there are way fewer home economics classes than there used to be, but I certainly have used what I learned in mine, though not nearly as much as you used what your learned in yours. Rebecca is going to be beautiful in that dress when you finish. I’m surprised you aren’t doing alterations for all the bridesmaids. Maybe I should just keep quiet about that.

    1. HI Marilyn,
      We did and saw lots of things yesterday. Paducah and The Land Between the Lakes is a really pretty area.
      I found a link for more of the floodwall murals down on the Riverfront, if you’d like to take a look…

      Paducah Flood Wall Murals

      It sounds like your alterations project was more fun than mine.. mine is boring, just plain ole alterations… I already had the dress taken apart at the neck, but maybe Rebecca will let me sneak in a picture of it as we work.. but no promises…

      All the other bridesmaids got their dresses done by other seamstresses, I guess….no one asked me and Rebecca didn’t volunteer my services, for which I was thankful…
      Thanks Marilyn,
      blessings, Jeanne

      1. What a *good,* *thoughtful* daughter you have. No sarcasm there — not volunteering you was as nice as it gets. She could have said, “My mom could alter them all so they all look just alike. She’s a really great seamstress, and she works very quickly. She’d be glad to.” And there you’d be, up all night.”

  3. I love to discover antique/vintage laces – but – I have so much, I don’t even let myself stop and shop anymore. LOL!! I’m a lace/trim addict….on withdrawal. It’ll be fun to ‘see’ what YOU found, tho! 🙂 (Belated Happy Anniversary!)

    1. HI Mary,
      If the laces had just been ordinary laces, I probably would have passed but these were vintage and they are sometimes hard to find. I like to use the vintage ones on my oldest doll dresses, like Felicity and Kirsten if I can.
      I might be a lace addict too… and a button one, and a fabric one… oh dear… I better stop…
      Thank you for the Anniversary wishes…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  4. I would love to have one of those canoes. Such beauties.
    And I agree with Marilyn, lovely murals minus the graffiti.
    Glad you had a fun day and look forward to seeing your purchases.

    1. Hi Joy,
      The canoes were absolutely works of art…and the seller certainly had lots of people looking at them. They were perfection!
      We did have a fun day!
      I just posted a link in my comment to Marilyn if you’d like to see more of the murals…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  5. What fun you and George had…and were together with the one you are closest to. I’m so glad for you, Jeanne, that you have such a great husband.

    Sewing is going to keep you busy. Trusting that (your) Rebecca’s dress turns out the way you hope it can.

    Blessings.

    1. HI Becky,
      Yes, it is nice to be able to enjoy the day with your hubby. I wish that for everyone.

      My alterations are coming along today. I’m waiting on Rebecca to get home from school for another fitting… chiffon isn’t much fun to work with…now I know why I enjoy doll clothes so much!
      Thanks Becky,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  6. Oh my, what an interesting and fun day you had—minus the missing car trim! I thoroughly enjoyed oohing and ahhing over the beautiful laces, the christening gown, and that beautiful canoe! I had a good laugh about the casket too—-ready by Oct. 1st! Paducah looks like a beautiful town, and I have been there but a long time ago. I think it’s time to go again!

    Oh, the hotel where you spent your wedding night, well, you should see mine! It’s falling down now, and has been closed for quite awhile. When we got married, you didn’t plan these elaborate and exotic honeymoons like they do now. We just left the reception and found some place that was open! We had no money, since he was in the service, but we managed.

    The murals along the riverfront remind me of the ones in Cape Girardeau, where I went to college. Have you seen those?

    I know you will get Rebecca’s dress finished, both of them!!

    Thank you for letting us all come along with you as you celebrated your 35th and many, many more!

    1. HI Linda,
      We were in Paducah for the Flood Wall Murals, Harbor Freight and ate dinner there, but we went down to Grand Rivers for the Arts and Crafts festival. It was at Patti’s Settlement where some of those pictures were taken.

      Our room was on the end and I remember the pipes knocking all night long… it was kind of annoying, but we only stayed there one night and moved our 2nd and 3rd nights to Barkley Lake down at Kentucky Lake. It was much better at Barkley Lodge.

      I’m not sure I’ve seen the ones at Cape. Would be down along Spanish Street? I’ll have to go by there some time to refresh my memory…

      Thanks so much for your Anniversary wishes to us… It’s wonderful to be with your best friend for so long… :o)
      Blessings, Jeanne

      1. Jeanne, you take Broadway all the way down to N. Water Street, which is the last street before the river, and that’s where the flood wall murals are. Spanish is not far enough down to the river.

        1. Hi again Linda,
          I’ll have to check them out… I’m not sure I’ve seen them…are they as big as the ones in Paducah? Now I’m ready for a trip to Cape. We go to an antique store all the time and it’s down by the water, but maybe not close enough. We’ll check it out next time we are there…
          Thanks, Jeanne

    2. Cape Girardeau! My ancesters were there. Eventually, settling in Mine LaMotte. Then to CA. I have a ton of distant cousins in Missouri. Unfortunately, I have never visited. My grandmother and mother were both born there.
      Had no idea the murals were on a flood wall. Guess from the Missouri River? Maybe you guys can clue me in. 🙂

      1. HI Joy,
        The flood walls in Paducah are to hold back the Ohio and Tennessee rivers. The murals span 3 full city blocks and are painted by one guy… Robert Dafford…
        You’ll have to come to Missouri sometime to see the walls in Cape Girardeau or come to Paducah to see the murals there…
        Blessings, Jeanne

      2. Joy, not sure if you will see this, but the painted flood walls in Cape are on the Mississippi River to keep it from flooding, which it has done in the past. Yes, you have to come back and visit!!!

  7. So glad you had a happy day, Jeanne. I love that you went to Paducah. I have always wanted to go there, not just because of “Hancock’s of Paducah” but because my Great-great grandmother was married there.

    1. HI Sissy,
      Oh, you should come some when the Quilt Show is going on…or not as it’s pretty crowded. The Quilt Museum is open all the time, but not quite as bustling as when the show is happening.
      Oh the Hancock’s of Paducah is a dream store… some ladies buy thousands of dollars of fabrics when they come there… not me… but some ladies! :o)
      How neat that your great great grandmother was married in Paducah… :o)
      Thanks Sissy,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  8. What a lovely anniversary trip you had, Jeanne! How nice that you and George could indulge each other in doing a little bit of what each one likes — and enjoying it. I think that must be part of the secret to a long and happy union. Congratulations again on celebrating 35 years together, and thank you for sharing some of your memorable day with us.

    Rebecca has definitely taken her bridesmaid dress to the right place. I’m confident the alterations will be flawless and the dress will fit perfectly, because I hear that new “Jeanne Marie’s Dressmaker Studio” is the absolute best! 😉

    1. Oh how sweet you are Anne,
      My new lighting is wonderful for seeing all the in’s and out’s of the inside of a dress. It does make it much easier to see in there.
      It would be nice if everything fits perfectly when Rebecca tries it on and I could just hem it and be done. I’m not fond of doing alterations, but sometimes it’s necessary.

      Thanks so much for your Anniversary wishes to us. We did have a really fun day…
      Blessings, Jeanne

  9. Happy belated anniversary. It’s nice to be able to get away from everything and spend the day together. I hope you both enjoyed it immensely. I love vintage lace, and can’t wait to see the pictures. Good luck on the alterations; as much as I love to sew, fixing ready-made garments is not my favorite task. I would rather make it from scratch than try to fix something that’s not well made.

    1. HI Carolyn,
      I am right there with you on the alterations… not my favorite thing to do either… I’m just like you, I’d rather make it from scratch than alter it… but I had no choice in this one…
      I did get the dress front fixed and she was very pleased with how straight it is now.. I was trying to get the chiffon pleats across the fronts straight… not easy in chiffon… and then trying to get the pads in the right place so she doesn’t have to wear a bra. It’s a halter dress and she wanted to just have some pads put in, but the chiffon is too delicate to stitch them too. They had to be stitched to the seams…it’s a little tedious… again..not my favorite…
      Thanks for the Anniversary wishes, Carolyn,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  10. Hi Jeanne,
    Happy Belated Anniversary, It’s so nice to hear that you are still so happy after all those years. Looks like you had a very nice day celebrating with your hunny. I love the civil war dress can’t wait to see it completed, the “brooch” looks perfect. I am very happy to hear you will be taking Sunday off. I think we all need to do the same. What a shame that someone would allow a dress to leave their shop in not perfect condition. Rebecca is very lucky to have such a talented mom that can fix what needs fixin` … Happy almost hump day : )

    1. Thank you for the Anniversary Wishes, Ingrid! We had a very nice day just doing whatever came along in the day.
      I’m glad you are liking the Civil War dress for Rebecca. I got it hemmed and something done to the waist to sort of emphasize it a bit…It’s coming along…
      Blessings, Jeanne

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