Progress is progress

Life has brought me additional challenges but I am pushing through, helping others how and when and where I can but also remembering to take care of me too.   If I don't nourish and feed myself, my soul, my heart, my mind, I can not be of any service to others.

I haven't researched it... 
because I like it so don't want to know if its untrue.. 
With that caveat, I understand: 

 American Indian culture (may) believe that women gain their strength from the Mother, Earth.

A little unfinished business

I have been away far too long.   I am back... and it feels wonderful. 

Based on the way I process donations, I had Angel items from many different donated dresses in various stages of completion when my attention was called away.  I am working on the usable organization of the studio while I finish some of them up.

April was a big shipment month!

So far this month, we were able to complete four shipments to new members of our team of hospitals and mortuaries: two shipments went out in the mail and two shipments were delivered in person.  I have two more shipments to mail and I am waiting to hear back from two more, all four new too!

I am thrilled about all of this for several reasons!!

January's work

During my days of Angel work in January, along with my standard office obligations, which include managing donations, shipments, and storage, here is much of what I accomplished in the sewing room:

Gowns, vests, and caps, cut out and partially assembled.

Three gowns were completed from a dress donated by Kathy Slorah and awaiting their Angelcaps.

Caps and more gowns matching the gowns above, all embellished and waiting for assembly.

Completed gowns and their embellished caps from Dena Gearhart's dress.  I neglected to get the caps into the photo....  (and the photo sideways - OMGosh!!)

And four additional dresses are deconstructed, patterns cut, and now waiting for their embellishment, assembly, and finishing.

It was a very good month. 

Iowa hearts...

Here are a few of the dresses that were dropped off in Iowa for the Angels.

Beautiful dresses from beautiful hearts!

I am in the Angel studio today.... 

I decided to work on a few dresses that were collected as a result of the story ran on KCCI about my mission.
  

Anonymous

Anonymous

Karla Day

Anonymous

Thank you to KCCI, the donators, the Grimes Community Center, the GSC coffee ladies, and ESPECIALLY to Amie Chumbley for managing the donations.  Without all of you doing what you do, I can't do what I do....  and its all for the Angelbabies.

April 2016 Donations

No name:  Anonymous

Celeste Johnson and her sister donated their mothers dress.
Marjorie Simon Tavernia was married in March, 1960.
There is a HUGE train of amazing candlelight bridal satin!  I LOVE vintage dresses!!!

This photo is not about Angel Gowns but fun, nonetheless.  Marjorie Simon Tavernia's dress came in an old box...  can you see the shipping date?  Oct 1968!  And it was a HUGE box...  but postage was only $.85.  Oh how things have changed!!

Celeste Johnson, Phoenix, Arizona

Jean Perraut, Cave Creek, Arizona

I love how things come full circle sometimes...  and things happen the way they are supposed to. 

I was our shopping and noticed a thrift store nearby that supported homeless animals so I stopped in.  I found some tennis balls for our chew happy German Shepherd, Daisy. 

I also spied a wedding dress. 

I asked about it and the manager said she had just taken it out of the window and was just about giving up on selling it.  I mentioned Angel gowns and she will thrilled to donate it to another good cause....  we found the lace shift below, which they also donated. 

I am not mentioning their name as they would not want to get inundated with requests for donations...  but suffice it to say that all involved were all thrilled with the transactions of the day.

These dresses were all donated

This lovingly donated dress includes an overlay with flowers that I plan to use on Caps and Wraps.

Carol Werkmeister donated this silver dress.  I have always liked silver for the Angels but its generally too scratchy for them.  This dress will be perfect.!

Dresses and heartstrings

Today, I am spending my "AngelDay" logging dresses and getting them ready for storage until their transformation brings. 

Most of the veils received with these dresses will be sold and all proceeds will go to Angelgownsbyjacki to help pay for shipping the Angelgowns to families and hospitals.

The dress below was left at the drop off location in Phoenix with no identification.  Please know that there are often drop offs, and sometimes more than one the same day, without identification. Thus, I don't always know who dropped off which dress. I sometimes get emails saying a dress will be dropped off, tracking down the donator can be an arduous process.  Please, PLEASE, be reminded that it is imperative that you identify your dress by attaching your name to the inside of the dress, whether you ship it or drop it off.

If the above dress was dropped off by you and you wish to be identified, please let me know as soon as possible.  


Carolyn Gawron

Carolyn Gawron of ME donated the dress she wore 46 years ago.   I especially love receiving vintage dresses!  I imagine that the bride or the bride's family held onto their love filled dress for so many years looking for just the right time, and reason, to let it go.

Staci Roybal

While all dresses donated touch my heartstrings, some pluck at them a bit more than others.  The dress above, donated by Staci Roybal of NV, is handmade.  Someone, possibly the bride, poured love and hope and prayers into this dress, making it for the bride.   Staci also donated her ring bearer's pillow to provide a soft place to lay an Angel's head.

Staci Roybal

Lisa Funk

Lisa Funk of NJ donated the dress she wore 39 years ago.  Lisa's dress included a touching note of which I will share just a bit...  "...I read an article about Angelgowns on Facebook and your mission has been on my mind since then.  I admire the talent, patience, and kind hearts of these women who creat the tiny beautiful garments for deceased babies.  It is with great joy that I now donate my wedding gown to Angelgowns.  May God bless you and each and every individual who is involved in this important mission."

Julie Beth Christensen for "Ella Grace"

Julie Beth Christensen donated her dress for the other Angels.  Julie offered the name of Ella Grace for her Angelbaby if it was a girl.  Julie feels in her heart that "Ella Grace" is watching over her.

Linda Ohlandt

Linda Ohlandt of NJ calls upon a personal experience to know that donating her dress to the Angels is right for her.  Linda, I pray that your donation will bring you just a little peace.

And just for fun, this is what my wall looks like when there aren't wedding dresses hanging on it :).

The dresses have been coming in steady enough lately that I am very behind. I have some health issues and must sometimes limit the time I spend on Angelgownsbyjacki.  I love every part of Angelgownsbyjacki and would do it every day if I could but I also need to take care of me, my health, and my family.  Thank you for your patience in this process.

The best intentions WILL get you there!

Sometimes, life keeps us from doing what we really want to do.   Sarah Bechtold Rogers had decided to donate her dress, and had collected a few other dresses, for the Angels.  We tried several times to get the delivery done but our schedules just didn't match.

Finally, we did it!

Donated by Sarah Bechtold Rogers:

Anonymously donated, delivered by Sarah:

Tools of the trade

 I can not express how much I appreciate the cash, gift cards and other donations I have received.


Your generous cash donations will sponsor postal shipments to hospitals, birthing centers, funeral homes and mortuaries in Iowa, Arizona, and throughout the country.  Cash is also used for any sewing machine repairs that I can not complete, which fortunately, isn't often.






Gift cards are used for sewing machine needles, packing materials, supplies, and other incidentals.


 

 

I receive packages of laces....

and ribbons....

and threads.... *

 Oh, my!!

 And so beautiful!

 

 

I am deeply moved and very appreciative of the prayers that often accompany the packages... 

Most recent:

"May God bless the work of your hands and that you will find favor with those around you."

Please know that these donations take a great deal of pressure off me regarding the ongoing support of Angelgownsbyjacki.  They allow me to concentrate on creating precious gowns for Angelbabies from the beautiful donations of dresses, laces, and trims and getting them shipped to be available for the families.

*Any items that I can not use or are not appropriate are traded or sold for items needed or more appropriate.

Today's finishes

I have been busy getting ready for the March 29th Sewing for the Angels event.  

I have a pile of gown and cap pieces ready to be embellished and assembled and I am working on  instructional samples to aid our sewers in completing their gowns and caps.

I also have a few completed sets to share with you.




From two anonymously donated dresses.
Seamstress: Ruby O'Brien and Ginger Gabster

From an anonymously donated dress and a dress from Amber King.
Seamstress: Ruby O'Brien and Ginger Gabster



Dress donated by Kathy Kauffman
Seamstress: Jacki Cohoon

Dress from Erin Pierce
Seamstress: Jacki Cohoon





Dress from Alyssa J
Seamstress: Jacki Cohoon

Dress from Alyssa J
Seamstress:  Jacki Cohoon

Beautiful Angelic Gown sets from beautiful dresses.

Its PINK day!

The first three AngelGowns created from an peachy pink dress that was donated anonymously:





The first two were embellished with leftovers from a wedding dress and the last was embellished with lace purchased at Joann's with a gift card donated by Susan Andersen.