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!  

Maria Barr and Anonymous

In January, Maria Barr of Tucson donated a large box of leftover dressmaking fabrics that she had been holding on to for a while...  Maria thought maybe the Angels could use the fairly good sized colored satins, organza, etc, as I had mentioned that I have had requests for more color in our gowns.

Shame on me for not photographing the box of gorgeous fabrics before I dug through them and separated them for use.  In the box were lavenders and pinks and peaches and blues, etc, etc.   I still feel the need for the AngelGowns to be basically white or light pastel but want to add color to complement the purity of the white and still maintain the spirit of the Angel being a baby.

Last weekend, I was perusing the offerings at a quilt show with friends and came upon a vendor who had trims for sale in bundles... and she had bins full of them. 

I took a chance and gave her my AngelGownsbyjacki card and respectfully asked if she would consider giving the Angels a discount on some of her trims.  She offered me a very nice discount, I thanked her, and began digging through the bins. 

Many of the trims featured colored flowers, hearts, etc,  that I thought would allow me to incorporate some of the colored organza, etc, that had been so generously donated by Maria Barr into the AngelGowns.

I took my 12 bundles to the register to check out and the vendor pleasantly surprised me by saying, "just put them in your bag"....  "no charge".

I am excited to get started on more slightly colorful gowns for the Angels.  I have received so many donations of dresses and blankets that we should have another shipment ready soon!