The latest fruits of our labor

We have been busy filling the space opened up by several recent shipments to our clients.  Seeing the results of our labor is certainly the reward for all the hours we work!

As you may be aware, we process the transformation from donated dress to Angel item in a specific way:

A donated dress is deconstructed and cut into blanks (basic pattern pieces) and marked with the donator's name, if provided.  When possible, the placement of existing embellishments on the dress are considered when cutting the patterns.  The blanks are then packaged and stored until the sewing starts.

From dress donated by Leslie Eurton

When ready to sew, a few blanks are pulled from several different batches to be embellished and completed, still with the donator's names attached.  We are generally able to complete Angel items entirely from the same dress, as shown above, or from multiple dresses donated by the same person, and we identify them as such in our photos.

Lavender gown from dress donated by Sherri Theim

However, we sometimes receive dresses that are amazing in their simplicity but do not include embellishments sufficient for completion of the Angel items cut from the dress.  Our process allows each donated dress to be used to its best advantage as the blanks from one dress containing little or no embellishment can be combined with embellishments from a dress that had some to share or with trims that were purchased or donated as yardage.

from dress donated by Kathy Slorah

In this manner, we are able to maintain a variety of styles, embellishments, and colors to send to our clients in respectful anticipation of meeting the emotional needs of grieving parents.

We feel this process also allows us to do the very best for the Angels and for our seamstresses, allowing them to better incorporate a bit of their own creativity in their work.

Our decision to include color in our Angel items has been met with positive reactions and we will continue to incorporate pastels into some of our gowns and stronger colors for trim and vests on the boy gowns.

As a point of reference, we estimate that it took over 30 working hours to do just the seven outfits in the photo below.

I am thrilled to announce that a total of 35 sets were completed this month!!  

We are always in need of a person or group to sponsor the shipping costs as we get ready to mail the Angel items to our clients.

We also continue to look for additional clients (hospitals, birthing centers, and mortuaries) to supply with our Angel items.  Referrals are appreciated so if you know of a hospital or mortuary that could use our services, please let us know!

We are still unable open up to donations as our storage area is full and spilling over.  We continue to receive dresses from those who had previously recorded our shipping information so we have not been able to reduce our storage of dresses as quickly as we had anticipated.  We thank each and every one of you for your patience and for supporting us in our journey...  for the Angels.

They are just precious !

   I work on Angel items an average of two full days each week. 
This includes working on the Angel items themselves and the administrative work
(attaching cards, packaging, organizing, PR, and postcards). 

I create the Angel items production-style, working on up to 10 at a time.

 

 I cut the gowns and caps from many, many wedding dresses. 

 As I cut, I attach a note with the name donator on each gown/cap.  

 

I pull a random batch from the pile of cut gowns and caps,

which allows me to use different donated dresses in each batch.

 

Working the gowns in this manner results in a good variety of AngelGowns and Caps

for each shipment to the birthing centers.  
 

 I then start rotating through the batch, doing the same step to each one:

 stitching, pressing, stitching, more pressing, more stitching, etc, etc. 
 

 

As I decorate, I also note the donator of the ribbons, etc.
on the note reflecting the donator's name. 

Often, the embellishments from a donated dress will show up
on a gown that that is created from someone else's dress fabric.
 

I included a tape measure in some of the photos for scale.

These are just a few more ready for their sentiment cards to be readied for shipping!  

I can't wait to dig into this donation!!

Quilter's Market in Tucson, AZ sent us a wonderful pile of ribbons...

and a so-soft pile of minkie!



The cuddly minkie will be used in AngelWraps, which are used for the tiniest of Angels.

Quilter's Market, thank you!

Caps and Wraps

Tiny AngelWraps with minkie as the lining are ready to go. The satin is leftovers from assorted dresses and the minkie was donated by our friends at the Quilter's Market in Tuscon, AZ. 

These finished AngelCaps are a larger size (but still tiny) and can be embellished on the sewing machine.  Smaller sizes must have embellishments sewn on by hand.



We must realize that the donation of dresses, money, time, and effort is transparent to a grieving family when their baby becomes an Angel.  Please must also know that so many parents have shared, months later, that the AngelGowns items were such a blessing at a time when their grief was overwhelming.

I feel so very blessed to be a part of this project and to give to these parents something that I would have liked available to our family when my tiny brothers where given their wings.

Blessings come in odd shaped packages!

 

And the package just MAY look like a quilt shop!!!!

For some background info; my DS and his family live in Tucson, AZ.   They have quilt shops in Tucson..... lots of them.

 

That is a WIN - WIN situation for me....  time with the grandkids AND quilting!! oh, yeah, and the DS and DIL too! 

 

  

However, I have always thought that Quilter's Market In Tucson, AZ was the most delicious quilt shop I have EVER had the pleasure to visit.

 

I tell everyone that going in to Quilter's Marker is like going in to an ice cream store:

...the fabrics

...the samples

...the antiques

...the décor

...it is simply YUMMY!!!  

 

 

 

My 2nd visit to Quilter's Market in my 2 day visit to Tucson resulted in a FABULOUS announcement AND two new Judy Niemeyer patterns! 

 

So, without further adieu,

 

 

Effective Monday, August 4, 2014,

 

Quilter's Market in Tucson, AZ

will serve as a drop off point for dresses to be donated to AngelGowns

 

Thus, anyone in the Tucson area can prepare their dresses for donation according to the  instructions under the "to donate" tab, stop in to Quilter's Market in Tucson and drop off their dress.  The donated dresses will then be transported to Phoenix for transformation! 

Please know that Quilter's Market it going out of their way to support AngelGowns.  They do not receive any compensation for accepting donations, plus, they provide supplies to AngelGowns to facilitate the transformations.

When Lynda Luiten, the owner, accepted the roll of a drop off point for the donations, she gave of her shop space, her employee's time, and her heart.

Quilter's Market
7601 E. Speedway Blvd
Tucson, Arizona 85710

Hours:
     Monday – Friday 9 am – 5:30 pm
     Saturdays 9 am – 5 pm
     Sundays 11 am – 4 pm. 

You can reach Quilter's Market at 520.747.8458 or by email at quiltersmarket@hotmail.com.  Their website is https://www.thequiltersmarket.com/.

Stop by and say hi to the fabulous staff and Lynda  at Quilter's Market! 
You won't be sorry!

And tell them AngelGowns sent you.