April Sewing Event!

OK, so it is set!!!  Spread the word!  Our next event will be April 10 at Church of the King in Lake Charles.  We will be trying this open house style so that more people can attend - feel free to come and go as you please :-)  We will be there from 10 am - 4 pm being very productive!

I also wanted to update everyone - our final dress count from the last event (b/c there were people working on some on their own) is 70 dresses!!!!!!  How FANTASTIC is that for our first event!?!?!  I am so amazed by this, and God, and by all of you!  Thank you so much.  Please spread the word, invite people, and continue to work on those cute dresses. 

What a glorious sight!?!

See you in April!

April Event...

Ok, so we will be having our April event on April 10.  So, gather some pillowcases, material, and dress-up shirts and we will get together and make a bunch of really cute dresses.  I haven't decided about time yet, so I will keep you all posted. 
Get creative with the materials...ask around for donations...ask your kids schools, your church, etc. for donations or to have a "Pillowcase Drive".  And, come with a spool of white thread loaded and ready to go! 

March Delay...

OK, guys.  I am very sorry for this month.  It kind-of slipped right past me.  For those of you who do not know, I found out the week after our February event that I am pregnant with our 3rd child.  My first sign was the fatigue :-(

I don't want anyone to think that I have dropped the ball.  I have just been so tired that I have found it hard to function.  So, I am sorry to say that we will not be having a sewing event this month. 

I encourage each of you to keep sewing at home and spreading the word.  I will be getting my ducks in a row for an April event (early).  I will let everyone know when we have a set date.

Also, if anyone has any dresses that they have been making at home, Rachel is home from India now.  So, I will be mailing these dresses mid week this week (like March 18).  So, get me your at home projects.  You can bring them to me at church, at Kohl's, or at my home.  Just let me know!

Much love to you all.

Our First Dress a Girl Around The World Event!

Well...We did it!  We had our first Dress A Girl event in Lake Charles!  It was a success. 

We had about 25 people attending the event...

Some of our friends came with dresses already made, so our overall count was 53! 

I want to thank everyone who came out to support our venture and share our vision of dressing little girls all around the globe.  I would like to give a special thanks to my dear friend, Natalie (above), who drove in all the way from Slidell (3+ hours away) to be a part of our event.

Also, a very special thanks to all of my supportive co-workers...you were a HUGE help and a blessing to this organization.

There was something for every one to do...Thank you, Janann, Lexi (above), and Kelly (below) for giving of yourselves.  I pray that your young lives will continue to be led by God and serving others...

Here are a few of the dresses, modeled by Janann, Joanna, and Lexi.

I am looking forward to the next event. 

***Just a note...we will not be sending the dresses until March 10, so if anyone wants to continue working at home, let me know so I can get the finished dresses from you March week 2.***

Button-up shirt dress pattern

Well, I am gearing up for next weekend.  We will have our first gathering in one week.  I am begining my pregaring.  Plus, Amber came over today and spent the afternoon working on some dresses.  I finally got my sewing maching serviced. Thanks Lake Charles Sewing... they were very fast and helpful!  So, we got 6 done today, and I will finish the 7th tonight!  I am going to share with everyone all that we did.  Amber's friend showed her how to make dresses out of dress shirts.  I want to show everyone the steps...  I got these shirts at C.A.R.C.'s Treasure Chest for only 50 cents each (They have 50 cent day every Wed. & Thurs.)

1 - Lay shirt very flat

2 - Cut "pillowcase pattern" from dress shirt

3 - With right sides together, sew side seams then press seam out.

4 - Press 1/8 inch seam under arms.  Press under one more time for finished seam.  Stitch.

5 - Make Ribbon casing for front and back - press under 1/2 inch fold.  Press again 1 1/4 inch for finished seam.

6 - Stitch as close to the edge as possible to fit ribbon.

7 - Cut 2 lengths of ribbon 1/2 - 3/4 yard long.  (I like to burn the edges to seal the ribbon)

8 - Use a safety pin to feed ribbon through casings.  Feet one ribbon through front and one through back.  I use a small stitch in front and back to hold ribbon in place.

Be Creative and have fun!  Different size shirts make different size dresses.  You can finish it with one bow on each shoulder.  We also used the button holes in some to put the bow in the front!  So Cute!!!  Amber's 2 girls, Austyn and Addyson, are on the outside.  My girl, Janann, is in the middle. 

Getting Started

Ok, so here we go.  My name is Tricia Bruns.  I am a mother of 2 and firefighter's wife.  I learned how to sew when I was about 10 years old.  My Granny taught me how to sew in an attempt to create a bond between us...and, boy, did it!  She was amazing and I strive to be more like her.


When Granny was too old to travel, she and my aunt made a slew of dresses to send with my cousin when she went on a mission trip to Honduras.  It only seems fitting that when my wonderful friend, Natalie, told me about this organization that she heard of that was making dresses and sending them across the globe, of course I was interested! 

Dress a Girl Around The World is a division of Hope 4 Kids International.  They believe "Every girl deserves the dignity of owning at least one dress."  So, groups across the USA get together and sew pillowcase dresses that are hand-delivered to little girls all across the globe.  http://www.dressagirlaroundtheworld.com/

I have done some research, talked with the directors and partnered with some friends and we are starting the Lake Charles group of Dress A Girl Around The World.  We will be meeting monthly to sew dresses and have a great time! 

I am REALLY looking forward to our first "Sewing Party"!  My church has offered their facility to us to acheve these goals.  I am So greatful for Chruch of the King in Lake Charles for their support  http://www.churchoftheking.us/

We will be getting together on Saturday, February 20 @ 1:30pm.  We welcome anyone who is interested to come, bring your machine and some snacks for everyone to share!  We will be having a GREAT time!

I am planning to keep this blog updated to inform anyone with our group that is interested in keeping up with our upcoming events, also sales and deals here locally that can help us to offset the cost of making these dresses. 

Right now, Hobby Lobby has all of their ribbon 50% off.  So, if you plan to come or be a part of this, head over there and pick up some cute ribbon.  1/2" - 1" works best!

Also, a friend (Amber) has just been given a lesson in how to make really cute pillowcase style dresses out of button-up woven shirts!  I am really excited aobout that!  I went today and grabbed 8 at CARC's Treasure Chest today (because today is 50 cent day).  So, I am super excited about being able to make some really cute dresses for almost no cost!  Hoping Amber can teach me so we can teach everyone on Feb. 20!  So, if you want to grab some shirts, bring them too! 

My 6 year old daughter, Janann, and I made her first Dress A Girl dress the othere day.  This is a picture of the finished product!!!  (I know...I am a proud Momma)

I will be posting pictures and hints/tips as often as I can! I encourage you to check out the links I just posted on here!  (some great information)

I just want to thank Heather for all the help and encouragement.  Also, Rachel for the inspiration.  I feel so blessed to have so many amazing people surrounding me!