Party – Georgia-Style

December 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

 

 

After yesterday’s shall we say – heavy post – I’d like to lighten the mood. With that in mind, I send my very bestest vibes to my cuzzins in Georgia.

 

They’re gathering for a gi-normous party tonight, honoring Shady Grady and his beautiful bride, Susie. Shady and Susie were married this past summer, here in Cali. Many friends and relatives were unable to make the summer trip west, and tonight’s party is an opportunity for them to honor Shady and Susie, Georgia-style.

 

Though I’ll miss being part of that shindig, I’ll be sure and raise my glass to the happy couple. Cheers, y’all!

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Family Wedding – Coolest Thing Ever

July 13, 2012 By 2 Comments

 

 

Okay. So this is my final post about last weekend’s family wedding. Really. But I couldn’t not share this awesomeness with others…

 

The above photo is a detail of the wedding invitation sent out by Susie and Shady. Those are their silhouettes. It was truly a cool and unique invitation, and those silhouettes contributed mightily to the cool factor.

 

Anyhoo, when everyone arrived at the wedding reception, a few folks were looking for the guest book. Turns out, there wasn’t one. Well…

 

 

What was there was Sylvia. Sylvia crafted the silhouettes used on the wedding invites, and she was in attendance to make silhouettes of the wedding guests. After a guest sat for a moment and Sylvia did her thing, her assistant pasted the silhouette onto a page. Guests then wrote their well-wishes for the happy couple beside their corresponding silhouette. Later, the pages will be bound into a keepsake guest book for the bride and groom. Cool, right?

 

 

Mister sat for his silhouette…

 

 

I sat for mine…

 

 

Mister chatted with Sylvia a bit about her craft. He asked if her hands get tired. She said no, but did add that her brain gets tired. I can’t even imagine. After all, the hand-eye-brain coordination required for her art is beyond my scope. And for the record, it only took her about a minute to cut each silhouette. A minute. Seriously.

 

As if the keepsake book wasn’t cool enough, here’s what makes the whole she-bang the coolest thing ever: Sylvia cuts 2 silhouettes at once. One goes to the guest book and the other becomes a frame-able gift for the guest(s). How awesome is that?

 

If you get a chance, cruise Sylvia’s website. Her history is fascinating and her art is amazing. I can hardly wait to frame my own piece of her art!

 

 

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Family Wedding – The Big Day!

July 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

 

After a smooth rehearsal, after a 2-year engagement, after wishin’ and hopin’ and thinkin’ and prayin’ – Shady and Susie were married.

 

It was a beautiful, traditional wedding. The gorgeous chapel was only upstaged by the bride, and not a soul upstaged her. Love was swirling through the air and more than a few tears were shed.

 

The couple requested I read a poem during the ceremony, and I joyfully obliged. I have no photos of that, however, as it really wasn’t about me, yo.

 

Anyhoo, Shady and his grandmother – my great aunt Caroldyne – were stylin’ and profilin’ in a major way…

 

 

And Shady’s parents – my cousins Sam & Patty – were visibly joy-filled for their son’s happiness…

 

 

I’d like to tell you there’s some significance to this photo, but the truth is I started taking pictures of people’s feet at weddings some years ago. There’s no reason. I just started doing it and now I can’t stop. No, I don’t have a fetish. Maybe it’s just a fun alternative to posed smiles. You know – posed feet!

 

 

Once dinner and all the toasts were finished, the dancing began. And friends, I’m not gonna lie here – my young cousin Ian and I were dancing fools. I know he’s got youth on his side, but I’m betting he slept as well as I that night. I was flippin’ exhausted!

 

 

As I said in yesterday’s post, people came from near and far to share in this blessed event. I was fortunate enough to meet a couple of Southern Belles, Laura and Catherine. Whenever I meet beautiful souls – souls that shine and make the world a better place – I count my blessings. These Belles are two such souls and I am honored to know them. Besides, these gals are fuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnn!

 

 

At the end of the night, the bride and groom were whisked away in a vintage Rolls to begin their married life. There may be a bit of come-down from all the wedding hubbub, and that’s natural. But I pray there’s no come-down from the love. Because having your rock, having your best friend by your side, having the love of your life walk the road with you, well, you can get through anything. Absolutely anything. The comfort of that kind of love is truly a gift.

 

May Susie and Shady never know anything less than that comfort.

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Family Wedding – Rehearsal

July 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

 

Big goings-on here lately. A family wedding took place last weekend and it was some to-do, I tell ya. As it was in an actual church, there was some concern on my part over whether or not I would burst into flames. Thankfully, that didn’t happen. Anyhoo…

 

 

My cousin Shady was making an honest woman of his beloved, Susie. Friends and relatives convened – from all seven directions – in Pasadena.

 

 

There was a huge Georgia contingency, as well as a major showing from Northern California. Once that lot was mixed together, there was no stopping the party! Seriously, it was a lovely group of people and I like to think a good time was had by all.

 

My young cousin Ian was an usher. Shady gave all his groomsmen bobble-heads in their likenesses. Ian’s was my favorite…

 

 

After the rehearsal feast, Shady’s parents, uncle and family friend serenaded his bride with a touching rendition of “Brown Eyes.” This is a song they’ve sung since college, where the boys used to sing to the girls from beneath their balconies. I love the idea of that tradition. And I love that it was shared at Shady’s & Susie’s rehearsal.

 

 

When all was said and done, it felt like the rehearsal and dinner went quite well. It felt like everyone was prepared for the big day. It felt like love.

 

Can’t ask for more than that.

 

Tomorrow: the Wedding!

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Gifts for Mothers of the Bride and Groom

July 9, 2012 By 4 Comments

 

 

We just had a family wedding, and I made something for the bride and groom to give to their mothers: embroidered, linen handkerchiefs.

 

I found some vintage hankies at one of my fave shops, then I drew up a design. In one corner, the couple’s monogram and wedding date are embroidered. In each of the remaining 3 corners, I embroidered a rose. I also added a simple border.

 

 

The colors were chosen to coordinate with the dresses being worn by the 2 moms. The gray color was used to tie it all in with one of the wedding colors. I tried to mimic a rose printed on the invitations. No, it’s not quite the same. But it’s still pretty. And in the end, I love the way the vintage handkerchiefs look like they’ve always been here. Like there’s a sense of history.

 

I don’t know if the muthas see these as keepsakes or not. And it doesn’t really matter. It was fun to design and embroider these hankies, and it’s fun to give to others. Besides, I love art projects. So there.

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