OMIGOD, the tulle is BACK

Maybe you can explain that the columns are weight-bearing and thus necessary and that most people will notice them less if they are left alone than if they are covered with miles and miles of black tulle. Black? At a wedding?

When I was planning my wedding, I had altogether too much to think about to come up with craft projects. LOL.

Good luck, Sunny

What I did to hide columns was to cut tulle longer than the length of the column by about a foot. Layed the tulle on the floor and gathered it around the bottom of the column with the bottom edge of the tulle pointing to the ceiling. Tied it off w/ a ribbon. Then pulled the lengths up and tied around the top of the column. The bottom edge of the tulle was hidden as it was folded under the long length of the tulle. Kind of looked like belly-dancing pants.

I also happended to use a garland of silk flowers around the top as this was the only decoration in the whole room. And I only had eight columns that were 6" in diameter and 8' tall to do. This might not work for what you are doing...

HTH...

Cappy Edgewater, MD

Oh no, we're waaaaay past saying "no". Right now we just say, "How?"

Hahahhahahhaha!

I never meant to imply I thought this was silly. I'm just not very good at sewing tulle.

Cindy

That's what I was thinking of too! I need to talk to her before she cuts any more.

Thanks, Cindy

Sorry, but I just need to ask... Why is it necessary to hide columns at the reception hall?

Pam (with an inquiring mind, I guess)

First of all, who is the bride in relation to you? Sister? Cousin? Friend??

Second of all, why does she want to hide the columns?

Third of all, why BLACK? I realize that different cultures have different views of black at a wedding and I truly hope that I'm not be ... culturally insensitive ... but BLACK? If she has bridesmaids I think I would have gone with a color a shade or two off of what they're wearing rather than such a dark color ...

But most of all, it kinda sounds like your good nature might be getting a bit taken advantage of ... spending oodles of hours creating bridal favors is one thing, but redecorating a room with 100 yards of tulle sounds a bit excessive ... especially when the solution/method isn't cut-and-dried and has to be fudged.

If I had a nickel for every long-distance acquaintance who found out that I could sew and just wanted a "little favor (which wasn't little at all)" I'd be the richest woman in the world! :)

The last "little favor" was for a Mariner's Compass quilt - king size - from a friend of a friend of a friend! :) Needless to say, I had to beg off!

Start now, and be freaking annoying about it.

Sombody has been reading "The Gothic Martha Stewert"

My inerpretation is she wants it gathered top and bottom, so it fans on the ends and bellys in the middle. She is going to paint the dowels herself right?

This needs to look good for one day, not fit somebody perfectly or last a lifetime or several, right?

If she has the right length, all you need do is sew some quick and dirty pockets at the appropriate spots on the tulle. Cut some strips of whatever is cheap and black in the remnents section. Cut them at about three and 3/4 times the diameter of the dowel. Use a narrow hem foot and slam a hem onto your strips, or serge, or overcast the edge, whatever is easiest for you to do. Fold the strips in half and sew it down at the appropriate spot on the tulle, following the line where you hemmed or edged on the strips. Done. Remind her to hot glue the pockets onto the ends of the dowel or Murphy will prevail.

If she has blown the measuring, two choices as I see it. (1) She goes out and gets more yardage and does it right this time. (2) You cut all the pieces to the shortest length. Then SHE goes out, gets some lace yardage and hot glues lace to the bottom of her curtains. Lace on the front, glue from the tulle side, no you won't sew it for her. You sew, you don't glue, glue is her responsability.

You can also blow off the bottom dowel by doing the lower gather with a big ribbon, which is then taped or glued to the tulle, and using tape or sticky putty to stick it to the column. No messing around with weights then. Plus if you have to lengthen the tulle it can cover the join.

That will totally work on the bottom, but as I said, she will have to stick it to the column for stability's sake. The top will be taking more weight so a dowel (or anything a bit solid) there is actually a good idea. More to have a solid hanging than anything. Otherwise Uncle Klutz will pull half of them down by accident before the night is over.

NightMist

I'm sure you have suddenly developed a severe allergy to tulle - right? Right? I'm sure I heard you say that the last time you worked with it!

Ummmmm with our crowd it could be to keep the drunken peoples from walking into them!

This is a basement of a municipal auditorium. It is the only place in our area where you can have a reception with 500 people. It is very utilitarian (we have our quilt show there) and not terribly attractive. These columns are the bane of every wedding designer/friends decorating for you. It's hard to make them unobtrusive so sometimes we make them the showpiece.

Cindy

The groom's mom is one of my best friends, we've been through a lot together in the last 30 years and she's just one of those people that I never had to wonder if she'd be there for me. She's closer than a lot of sisters are.

See silly answer above!

Ooooo, no, it's beautiful! Her colors are stark white, black and pink. I've seen some of the decorations and they are just gorgeous. Very sophisticated. The last 2 weddings DD has been in, she's had a black dress - one long, one cocktail length. I know, I was shocked the first time I saw it too.

Umm Connie, that may have been a exageration when I said 100 yards. More like 10 yards, I think. I'm kind of prone to... hyperbole! Yeah, that's the ticket!

Yeah, we've talked about it before. Everyone thinks if you sew, you can do this - no problem!

Well, I'd hope to shout! That to me is something you would make once in a lifetime! For yourself!

Cindy

My fear is she wants it straight and not bellied in the middle - that's why I'm worried about how well she cut it.

She better - Cindy don't paint.

I love you , Nightmist - can you come stay with me for a few weeks?

Cindy

Yes! Yes, a rash - I broke out in a rash, remember? Great big honking welts. Thank you so much for reminding me.

Cindy

I would want to bring some of the yards and yards of silk I am currently working with, and what kind of notions would that give your bride?

NightMist

Omigod, we will have to hide it. I hope she never hears of silk. She told me last night she is looking for dragonfly fabric for curtains for their daughter's room... I didn't say anything, but I think I see curtains in my future. I hate to make curtains.

Cindy

Unless you really want to do curtains, nip the whole thing in the bud NOW! Next time she mentions fabric for curtains, say something like "I hope you find just what you are looking for. I'm really sorry, but I absolutely HATE to make curtains (or whatever) so I wouldn't be able to help you with that project. I'm sure you understand." Make sure you look her right in the eye when you say this -- you can smile just a bit but be FIRM AND polite. This is called being assertive AND honest. Remember, assertive is when you tell folks what you want/need, etc. but do not hurt their feeling when you do so. You can say NO -- honest, you really can :-). It won't hurt much at all the first time either -- ask me how I know LOL. CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

{{{{{{{{{Cindy & Family}}}}}}}}}} I'm so sorry to hear about your DMIL but I'm very pleased to see that you must have had a wonderful relationship with her. As for the camo fabric -- makes me LOL. I once made a garter & bride's "dollar dance" bag out of camo fabric!! This was for a girl who loved to hunt & camp with her DH to be so it was quite appropriate. It did look odd under the *very* traditional wedding gown the bride wore :-). We won't even talk about what the camo bag looked like hanging on the bride's arm while she "danced for dollars" at the reception -- LOLOL! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

When people find out that I used to have a dressmaking/tailoring business, I receive request to do "just a tiny alteration - it won't take you any time at all". I just look them in the eye and say - I am a quilter now - I don't do anything else!