What your wedding dress says about you

Whether vintage or new, the shape and silhouette that you choose says something about you, or so says an article on Forbes.com article.

If you'd like to make a very special gown for your wedding, then come and visit the The Tailor's Apprentice and for the price of a 10 week course you can make the gown of your dreams. 

Tiered says you're ... Ready to Party

Dresses with masses of ruffles give off a flamenco dancer vibe.

This silk satin V-neck gown with silk organza graduating ruffles--from New York-based design team Birnbaum and Bullock--looks fetching with a flower in the bride's hair. The beaded wasitline adds definition.

Sheath says you're ... Modern

Carolyn Bessette Kennedy's simple satin sheath Narciso Rodriguez changed the face of bridal wear. Since her marriage to John F. Kennedy Jr. in 1996, more and more brides have opted for beadless, laceless looks that show off a trim figure. The double-faced silk wool that forms this ivory, bibbed mermaid shift from Vera Wang makes it ideal for early fall nuptials.

Empire Bodice says you're ... Old Fashioned

If the double-wedding scene in Sense and Sensibility is your vision of perfection, then a dress with an empire waist will fulfill your period-romance fantasies.

This silk satin and tulle embroidered empire gown from Reem Acra has a scalloped neckline and off-the-shoulder capped sleeves. Reem Acra "Mon Amour" dress, $7,480.


Or you could make a real Regency period gown with The Tailor's Apprentice for the price of a 10 week course, $1,200

Halter says you're ... Practical

Halter-strapped bodices show off the shoulders, but unlike strapless dresses, they stay in place without frequent adjustments.

Sleeves says you're ... Modest

Very few women choose dresses with sleeves these days, but they can add a lovely vintage charm to your wedding gown.

Short says you're ... Unconventional

Very few brides choose a knee-length or tea-length dress, but those who do tend to be a bit quirky. Also, as weddings become less formal, dress lengths continue to rise.
If you'd like to make a very special gown for your wedding, then come and visit the The Tailor's Apprentice and for the price of a 10 week course you can make the gown of your dreams.

Beltane

Happy Beltane!

Beltane signals the beginning of the bright half of the year. It means “Bright Fires,” or “Brilliant Fires.”

If you are marrying this weekend, 

Blessed Be!

Beltane is the best time to get married in the Celtic Pagan calender, it's the ancient Celtic fertility holiday that celebrates the rites of spring, fertility and love with much frolicking and fun around the May Pole and Beltane fires.

Many Australians are preparing for Halloween, preparing to dress ghoulishly and to go 'trick or treating' but in Australia, the great wheel of the seasons has turned to spring, the start of summer and the season of heat, light and fire and Sunday is Beltane - the festival of fire - summer, fertility and renewal, not that of autumn and endings.

So this weekend, forget the ghost and ghouls, celebrate Beltane by renewing your vows with your partner, with fire, candles, champagne cocktails and a toast to love - celebrate the god and goddess's great marriage, welcoming new growth, fertility, love and light into your house and your lives.

I was once the Tailor's apprentice...



Travel in time, to a pre-industrial world, when a gown couldn't be bought, it was something special to be embroidered, beaded and threaded by hand, just in time for the ball.









Create garments from history...

   
• Regency (pride and Prejuduce)
   
• American Civil War (Scarlett O'Hara)
   
• Suffragettes (Emily Pankhurst)
   
• SteamPunk,
   
• Tweed Rides,
   
• Cosplay
   
• Victorian Crinolines,
   
• Edwardian, Flapper, 40's auterity, 50's extravagance
   
• 60's mods
   
• Contemporary couture

Now its your era

With Lorna, you can share the experience and love of creating a gown that fits you perfectly.


Classes


One-on-one or group sessions are available.
Classes are run throughout the year in my Blue Mountains studio.












Contact me
enquiries@offbeatceremonies.com.au
or 02 4701 9345 for bookings and enquiries.

Aromatherapy ~ what’s in it for Brides to Be?

Julie Nelson of Aromatique Essentials shares her expertise with you to keep you relaxed and beautiful for your wedding day.

Aromatique Essentials specialises in pamper packs and  'Girls Day In' packages, a lovely idea for you and your girlfriends, why not try it as your 'hen's weekend' treat? 

Getting married is a big step in one's life and with it comes many emotions ranging from excitement, feeling on top of the world because one of your dreams has come true! Nothing can stop you now! To feeling overwhelmed as there is much to do and organise, with that in mind we find that then comes stress, tension, anxiety, self doubt and fear that drifts in and out...

Well these are all very common feelings/emotions that most of us experience! Tis quite normal to have a myriad of emotions racing through your mind... Keep smiling! And remember to breathe... as all is good and know that you can get through this with support and the willingness to help yourself deal with whatever comes up.

How Aromatherapy can help you...

Aromatherapy is an amazing and beautiful way of working on ourselves to uplift our emotions, allay fears, anger and frustration, to strengthen our nervous system so we can manage our stress and anxiety levels on a day to day basis when we are feeling under pressure for whatever reason.

Did you know that it is one of the most widely used therapies for treating the emotions, and resulting in the desired outcome.There are very simple and effective techniques available to us that we can use without taking a lot of time out.

I know what you are thinking! ...But I already have too much to do!

Keep smiling girls because I have some fabulous recommendations for you to try...You have nothing to lose and much to gain...your sanity for one!

What scent attracts you?

When it comes to using Aroma as a smelling therapy the most important thing to consider is your smell preference.

What aromas do you prefer to breathe in and be surrounded by? For example citrus, florals, herbies, woods , spices etc.

There are many pure, natural essential oils to choose from and that is one of the beauties about Aromatherapy.

When choosing your favourite oil or aroma take notice of how it makes you feel... does it bring a smile to your face, does it evoke happy memories, and does it resonate with you?

When you take in an Aroma that you truly love it will dissolve any negative feelings and emotions. You will find yourself uplifted, balanced, calm and at peace.

What's the best way to apply your aroma?

There are a few methods of application that you can use and you may choose to use all of them depending on what is available to you and also taking into account your schedule.

One of the most indulgent ways to pamper yourself is Bathing... take the time to relax and enjoy. Having an Aromatherapy bath is so healing on many levels.

Setting the scene...

Gather some candles and strategically place them around the bathroom. Music is essential something relaxing and soothing, and of course your chosen essential oils. Adding rose petals and herbs gives you a more decadent feeling so don't hold back!

When using essential oils in a bath, 6 - 10 drops of essential oil in total is recommended. Add your chosen essential oils just before hopping in and make sure you agitate the water to break up the oils.

Bath recipes for you to try

• Geranium, rose and sandalwood 3 drops of each...
• Jasmine, neroli and rose 3 drops of each this is one of my favourites, bringing out the Goddess in you!
• Rosewood, geranium 3drops of each and finally 2 drops of vetiver.....
• Neroli, petitgrain and frankincense 3 drops of each...

Foot baths

Foot baths are a wonderful alternative to full body baths, especially as we need to conserve our water. They can be relaxing, stimulating and used for many different conditions for example tired aching feet, swollen feet and ankles, softening hard skin, relaxing, anxiety, stress and tension.

Try this for a relaxing, soothing foot soak; fill a heatproof bowl with very warm water not too hot, what feels comfortable for you add rose, sandalwood, rosewood and lemon, 3 drops of each. Agitate the water gently, pop your feet straight in and soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Be sure to have a towel handy for when you have finished.

Tip - when getting ready for your foot bath place a towel under the bowl, then pour in your water, add the essential oils and agitate before placing your feet in the bowl, relax and enjoy...

As an extra add some rock salt and fresh herbs.

When you are ready to take your feet out, place them onto the towel, move the bowl carefully to one side, wrap the towel around your feet and pat dry. Apply moisturiser or an oil blend, take your time and enjoy the process.

Use fresh herbs from the garden...

If you don't have any essential oils and feel like pampering yourself with a either a body or foot bath then use fresh herbs from your garden, calendula flowers, rose petals,  rosemary, lemon thyme, Marjoram or lavender. Add half a teaspoon of olive oil and some sliced lemon or lime.

This could be something you do with your girl friends and have a girl's day in! 

Natural facemasks...

You could also have fun by making facial masks with French clays and essential oils apply them leave for 10 minutes, while sipping on French Champaign.

When taking off the mask simply use warm water to compress it off, rinse, pat dry and then apply your moisturiser.

Scenting your home and reception room....

Using the aromatherapy burner is easy and effective 6-8 drops of your favourite oils and that's all you have to do...

Recipes for the oil burner

• Sweet orange, bergamot, lemon and cardamom 3 drops of each
• Rosewood, mandarin, geranium and sandalwood 3 drops of each
• Frankincense, neroli and rose 3 drops of each...

Room and body sprays are fabulous and I am never without them.... I carry them with me where ever I go and have them in almost every room in the house!

Recipe for a body spray

Use purified water or good quality floral waters as your base

5 drops each geranium, rosewood and sandalwood, 10 drops of rose

Recipe for a room spray

Use purified water or good quality floral waters as your base

Lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, mandarin and peru balsam 10 drops each

Remember its possible to be allergic to anything, even natural scents and oils, so always test everything before you take the plunge!

Queer Beanie competition 2010 - the very first winners!

The first ever entries in the Blue Mountains Queer Beanie competition were fabulous, creative, innovative and outright queer!

We had knitted, felted, quilted and crocheted entries from beginners through to skilled and long term crafters and all of them are amazing!

The inaugural Queer Beanie competition was run in conjunction with the first ever Blue Mountains Pink Fest and the long standing Winter Magic festival.

It was a fabulous gala night in The Library of  The Carrington on Friday 18th June, one of our six fabulous sponsors along with:

Hazelbrook Healthfoods
Katoomba Collectables
Offbeat Ceremonies ~ Giving you the Alternative
Renommee: Quality recycled contemporary and vintage fashion and accessories 02 4784 3487
Summit Gear 


Our judging team of Judith Maitland, Rosie Mann, Rachel Mann, Jenny-Lee Heylen, Angela Lougheed and Mark Jarvis took their task very seriously and we thank them for their efforts.

Thanks also to our professional photographer, Elizabeth Walton of Who Needs a Secretary, however, the following photos are MINE as we haven't had a chance to GTG since Friday evening, LOL!

The entrants impressed the judges with their creativity and skills and it was a hard call to choose winners from such a wonderful selection.

 ... and the winners are ......

Queer category-Beginner: 

First prize: Julie Bargenquast "Baby of Twin Towers' - Prize $50 from Offbeat Ceremonies
Highly Commended: Julie Barganquast 'Twin of Queers - MV'

Queer category-Intermediate:

First prize: (two winners in category) Sharn Arcus 'Extermiknit' - Prize: $50 gift voucher from Katoomba Collectables
Highly Commended: Susan Robbins 'The Sorting Beanie'

Queer beanie: Intermediate

First prize (two winners in category): Lorna McKenzie 'Queer Battle Helm' - Prize $50 from Offbeat Ceremonies

 

Queer beanie category: Advanced

First prize: Lynn Burnett 'We are Family' - Prize: $50 gift voucher Summit Gear
Highly Commended: Gillian Hand 'Freeform'







Classic category-Beginner: 
First prize: Tilly 'Beyond the Fringe' - Prize: $50 from Offbeat Ceremonies
Highly Commended: Susan Robbins 'First beanie'

 

Classic category: Intermediate

First prize: Sharn Arcus 'Fair Isle'- Prize: $50 from Offbeat Ceremonies
Highly Commended 1: Sue Guy '12 ply classic'
Highly Commended 2: Kathleen MacDonald 'Landscape'

Classic category: Advanced

First prize: Lynn Burnett  - Prize: $50 from Offbeat Ceremonies

Reuse, Recyle-Intermediate (no entries in any other categories)

First prize: Lorna McKenzie 'Empress Dream' - Prize: $50 from Offbeat Ceremonies
Highly Commended: Judith 'Impromptu'
 

People's Choice:

Susan Robbins 'The Sorting Beanie' - Prize: a beautiful silk/wool Pashmina from Renommee: Quality recycled contemporary and vintage fashion and accessories 02 4784 3487

And here are all the entries in all their clever and skillful glory.....

Winter Magic in Katoomba 2010

Mid-winter revels in the Blue Mountains would not be the same without the fabulous, spectacular, dress-up spectacle of Winter Magic!

The gods and goddess of Yule blessed us this year with bright sunshine and blue skies, though the wind gave us a serious chill factor to contend with, but nothing that rugging up warmly didn't solve.

My 1880's Saloon Girl outfit worked perfectly, though I was more SteamPunk than authentic, the lime green leg warmers are definitely NOT period and my Scottish 'Laird' looked extremely smart.

My beanie was hand made by me as part of the inaugural PinkFest/Winter Magic Queer Beanie Festival 2010 and it was a WINNER in the Recycle, Reclaim, Reuse category - very chuffed indeed. A separate post is in order for the competition and the marvellous beanies that everyone entered.

Our day was hectic, breakfast with friends, then off to pick-up a Sydney arrival, then to watch another perform with the BlueMUGS, our very own Ukulele band, then the fabulous parade:

The best thing about Winter Magic is that it is a local event and we all participate, we all dress up and join in the fun, families, people of all ages and walks of life, celebrating the darkest time of the year and encouraging the sun's return!

May this Yule bring you peace, harmony, love, and increased happiness.