Commissioned Crafting

Over the past few months, I've been picking up commissioned work here and there.  Usually it's something to the effect of a friend or relative needing something made, and suddenly remembering that they know someone who might know how, or a friend or relative seeing something I've done (ususally on facebook... I post a lot of my projects there) and tells one of their friends who needs something done. I've done a few commissioned paintings (nothing too fancy), a few arm slings for a friend's daughter who has a muscular disorder (and for some reason medical companies stopped manufacturing the type of sling needed for the disease, which I find very rude to those with the disease... anyway), and most recently, I have made/am in the middle of making a few wedding veils.  My first veil was actually sort of spur of the moment for me... My younger cousin was getting married and his bride-to-be needed a veil. She really wanted a birdcage-style veil.  My mom suggested she ask me to make the flower for it, and I ended up making the whole thing.  I had no idea how much fun it would be! This first one was fairly easy.... All I needed was a little thread, backing, flowers, the comb, and the veiling.  Here are 2 not-so-lovely pictures I took while making it, and one GORGEOUS picture taken by my extremely talented cousin:


 

This is one taken before I added the smaller flowers and finishing touches. The style is more of a half-birdcage veil rather than a full birdcage veil.

Almost finished.... This was taken to send to her to see if she liked it so far!

And last but CERTAINLY not least.... My "cousin-in-law", wearing her veil! Isn't she just stunningly beautiful!? She's wonderfully sweet too.. we're so blessed to have her in the family now!
This photo was professionally taken by my VERY talented cousin (who is the bride's sister-in-law), Hannah Wright (Hannah Grace Photography).

Now I'm going to take a few seconds to brag about Hannah. She's my youngest female cousin. She's 18 years old, and has been working on photography for a few years now. This girl had her own photography business established BEFORE SHE WAS OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL.  Between her sweet spirit, outgoing and bubbly personality, and amazing talent... I'm really not surprised. We're all so proud of her!


I'm also currently in the middle of making a second veil. This one is for the older sister of 2 girls I went to high school with. One of them saw Lydia's veil on my facebook page, and asked if I would be willing to do another.  I was STOKED. 
This one is a little more complicated. The bride wanted more vintage-style flowers to go along with her dress (the dress is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. Like... in my life. GORGEOUS). I was having a hard time finding pre-made flowers that had a vintage flair, so I made some! I started with a soft, satiny felt in cream, stitched a flower together, and embroidered the edges with a beige-yellow color (to give it kind of a worn, vintage look). I sewed faux pearls into the middle, and stitched the flowers to a backing. I then added some wispy white feathers and little white sprays with pearls. I haven't yet attached them, because I want to make sure the bride will like those touches. I'm currently waiting on the Russian veiling to arrive (had to order online because NONE of our local craft stores have it.... WHY??? EVERYONE WANTS RUSSIAN VEILING FOR WEDDINGS, AND LOTS OF PEOPLE LIKE TO DIY! Isn't that the point of a craft store??). It's undecided whether this will attach using alligator clips or combs. I'll get to that as I wrap it all up~ Anyway, here are some pictures so far. I'm fairly satisfied, and I hope she is too!

These are pretty self explanatory. Starting with just the flower, then all 3 flowers, stitched together, feathers added, modeled pictures, and pearl sprays added. I have 3 more very short steps to go... I'm just awaiting feedback before I make everything permanent!


So those are some recent/current projects. My mom said she has a friend who wants me to paint a window frame for her (not really sure about the details on that one yet), and a few other people wanting things done. I'd really love to do this for a living.... I'm just not sure of where to begin.  I'm a BIG scatterbrain.. if my hopping from topic to topic and constant wordiness doesn't already prove that. :) For now I'm going to keep taking those commissions as they come... It's so much fun to turn someone else's idea into a reality.  Maybe someday I'll get my name out there enough to branch out!