Angel Gowns – my first transformation

This was the first wedding dress that I was given to transform for Angel Gowns for Australian Angel Babies Inc.  It was so beautiful that it made me nervous!  Then I felt a bit silly about being nervous … I mean … I’ve been sewing since I was 10 years old!  But there’s something about someone donating their wedding gown, and entrusting you with such a special dress, that brings with it a crazy range of emotions.  There’s the thrill of holding this beautiful dress, then the paralyzing fear that I might mess it up, then the mini motivational chat where I reminded myself that I’m pretty darn good with a sewing machine (I sew for a living, for goodness sake!), then the tiny nagging doubt that you can do it justice, and that terrifying moment when you rip that first seam as you take it apart.

But then something amazing happened.  This dress spoke to me.  The fabric told me which way it should go, and suddenly the way to embellish the tiny gowns I was making became crystal clear.  Before I knew it, and with a little help from my friend Sewing B, there were 31 tiny gowns cut from the dress, with lining left over to be used on wraps and other gowns.  Keeping with the beautiful and elegant simplicity of this wedding dress, I kept the angel gowns simple and elegant as well.

I desperately wanted to do nothing else but sew, but alas, work deadlines and family activities meant I could only do a little at a time.  All up it took 6 months to transform this dress, and at the end there was another mixed batch of emotions.  Delighted that I was finished so that this beautiful bride can see the transformation.  Proud to have finished this monumental task.  Sadness at the necessity of providing so very many angel gowns, and for the families who will use them.  Peacefulness that I can use my skills to help others.  You can view the full transformation on the Facebook page HERE.

I am honoured to be involved with this amazing organisation.  We have volunteers who help us with administrative tasks, seamstresses, knitters, crocheters, our keepsakes and deconstruction teams, Area Reps, State Managers and our wonderful Board members.  Then there are the incredible people who donate to us.  We are a non-profit organisation.  Nobody draws a wage for their services, and we do not charge for our angel packs.  Everything is made with care, donated without cost and sent with love to families grieving the loss of their baby, gone way too soon.

If anyone feels moved to help us in any way … well, there are so many ways to do so, big and small.  After being asked for suggestions for suitable donations, I’ve consulted with the Board and compiled a wish list.  We use a lot of white & cream and pastel colours, so things like thread, ribbon, lace and yarn are incredibly useful to our seamstresses.  For our two amazing HQ ladies, pre-paid post satchels help us get angel packs into hospitals and funeral services all over Australia.  Even the donation of a few stamps to the volunteer induction & mentoring team helps us sending training packs to our volunteers.

If you are a seamstress, knitter or crocheter and would like to help, it is so easy.  Just visit the website HERE, and click on ‘Become a Volunteer’ tab at the top.  There is also a tab for ‘Make a Donation’, and you can always contact me if you have any questions.

Crafting for a Cause – Angel Gowns

Last week, as I surfed around Facebook, a single page kept popping up in my newsfeed.  My friends had been tagging it, sharing it and commenting on it … someone even sent me a PM about it.  It was Angel Gowns for Australian Angel Babies who have Grown their Angel Wings … yes, it’s a quite a mouthful, that title … but it tells you exactly what they do.

You see … they were looking for seamstresses, knitters and crocheters to create tiny little outfits which will be donated to families who are grieving their angel baby, as well as NICU and SIDS babies.  I may not be much of a knitter, but I am pretty darn handy with a sewing machine and a crochet hook … so I signed up to help.

At the moment it is all consuming.  I am working on a particularly large crochet order, aiming for 100 keepsake pieces by the end of this week (and I’ve already posted 100!).  At this point I’d like to say … thank you Spotlight for your 40% off coupon … the timing couldn’t have been better!  I have also made some teeny tiny micro-premmie bonnet & booties sets.  They are smaller than you think.

This is a task which carries a large swag of emotions.  There is sadness for the families who are enduring such sorrow and loss.  There is satisfaction in every piece completed, knowing it will go to a family in need.  There is pride in seeing a community of crafters come together to help others.  There is despair in knowing how many pieces we need to make.  I have participated in a similar program with the FDAA (Folk & Decorative Artists Association of Australia), with their memory box program.  Sadly, I have seen first hand what it means to these families to receive something hand-made, just for them, during these dark times.  Seven years ago my best friend passed away, and her unborn baby passed the next day … that kind of grief can’t be imagined, it can’t be soothed, and it can’t be hurried.  But I will never forget how touched her husband and MIL were at receiving that handpainted memory box.  It wasn’t the best paint-job in the world, but it was painted with love, and gratefully & humbly received.  A little kindness and thoughtfullness goes a very, very long way.

And so … this is why I am now crocheting like a crazy lady.  I am also glad to have some computer skills that are helpful to Sarah, the amazing lady who coordinates this Australia-wide effort.

On the seamstress side of things, Angel Gowns also gratefully accepts donated wedding dresses.  These are deconstructed by hand, every piece cared for and collected, and they are turned into beautiful gowns & suits for angel baby girls and boys.  Many people donate their wedding or deb dress in memory of their own angel baby.  You can read more about the organisation on their website HERE.

If you are thinking that you’d like to do something to help … that would be amazing!  There is a page on the website where you can contact them about donating a gown, or supplies.  You can follow the Facebook page HERE and keep up with the latest news.  Sometimes there is an auction, with funds raised going toward postage costs and materials needed by the volunteers (like ribbon, thread, etc), and be assured that this not-for-profit organisation does not pay its organiser or volunteers.  We do it because we just want to help.  If you would like to volunteer, send them an email or a Facebook PM.  Don’t sew, knit or crochet?  No problem.  You can spread the word, let people know what this organisation is doing, make a donation of cash, a Spotlight gift card or things like ribbon, thread, crochet cottons.  There are lots of little ways that everyone can make a difference.