Friday, 6 August 2010

Let me a-"Veil" you with a few ideas


 
I'm thinking with an alternative dress you wouldn't go for a traditional veil so here are a few of my finds.

I can't choose!
 

Ok so the feathers are a little out there!

A little vintage anyone?


or
you could go completely
GAGA !!!!


I hope you got some inspiration from these,
which was your favourite?



Ta Ta for another week.
xoxoxoxo
Your Modern Fairy Godmother.
LizieNellie

Wednesday, 14 July 2010

Alternative Wedding Bouquet's

As I explained in my last post, I'm not one for tradition and boring
when it comes to weddings, so I have put together a few
alternative ideas for Wedding Bouquet's.
I hope you like them as much as I do.
These Bouquet's feature fabric flowers and buttons, shells,
crystals and feathers.
Fabulous!
How about this one with Pine Cones?
Perfect for an Autumn Wedding.

This is a real quirky alternative
Parasols!
And so practical for a summer wedding!

And my favourite of all,
Butterflies.

Hope you got some inspiration from these
Alternative Bouquet's.
You could even carry the themes on through
to the other aspects of your wedding, like
hair accessories,
table centre pieces,
place settings!
I could go on and on.
But I won't,
Ta for now.
xoxoxo
LizieNellie

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Doily love xo

I've had a little play on eBay a few weeks ago and bought up a mountain of Doilies so now I'm wondering just what to do with them??

I never knew they were so versatile. Here's a few images I found whilst surfing. I have to say I can't wait to get crafting.

I especially love the rose and the hanger.

What a sweet hair band.

Now that's a Doily!!
Quell surprise! a wedding dress!
Which is your favourite?
have you any more inspiration??
xoxoxoxo
LizieNellie

Friday, 2 July 2010

Alternative Wedding dresses



Ok, admit it most of us have dreamed of a beautiful white dress on our perfect wedding day but not all of us want meringue's!
So, I've put together some ideas for alternative wedding dresses from the high street no less. (Kind to the budget too)
These tunic dresses would look great for an in formal summer wedding.



Are you a little bit rock n roll??
Bring back the 80's in these funky styles.









free your inner hippy with these romantic floaty styles.




Add some flower power with a pretty necklace.


Who say's it has to be white?



Just remember one thing......It's your day, relax and enjoy. Live, Laugh and Love.
xoxoxoxoxo
And a Modern Fairy Godmother can always be called upon to help.
Ta Ta for now xoxo






















































































































































































Thursday, 17 June 2010

Vintage inspirations



I have recently made an acquaintance with a very talented young jewellery designer, Lisa Chan from Lisabella.


Lisa designs and hand crafts hair jewellery especially for weddings and special occasions.


As with many small craft based businesses Lisa's Passion grew from a hobby and when a friend asked her to create something special for her wedding day Lisa saw the potential to take that passion and started her business.


Lisa most recently showed her Bridal jewellery at The Bridal Vintage Fair in Malone House, Belfast where she made many contacts with potential Brides.


check out Lisabella for more beautiful designs. I especially love the bird's nest veil.


Ta Ta for now ;o)





























































Wednesday, 9 June 2010

A Divine wedding

Photo by Adam Hollingworth

This was my first wedding dress commission and I'd love to share the journey with you........

I had met Natasha and Nick through my husband, we quickly became freinds.

Natasha rang me one day and delightedly told me they were getting married and asked if I would create a gown for her special day.

How could I say no?

So we set off to visit all the bridal gown boutiques we could find in Sydney. (and there were quite a few)

Natasha had started a scrap book of ideas she found in magazines.

There were a few different styles of dresses that she liked cretain bits of but none of her ideal gown.

"Working with Elizabeth was fantastic, she made the whole
experience memorable and fun.
I remember sitting in a cafe and
describing what my perfect
dream wedding dress would be. The whole time
she sat listening and drawing on her sketch pad. After I finished she showed me
a sketch of exactly what I had pictured in my mind"
Natasha quite unexpectedly fell pregnant and we had to atler her gown to a maternity style, all the while keeping the elements of each dress she liked.
We found a beautiful raw silk fabric that changed colour in the light like mother of pearl.

"The and result was a memorable dress that everyone raved about. They said it was every bit me, and one of a kind. It was like a fairytale, the dress was magical."
Natasha and Nick were married among the vines on a beautiful autum day surrounded by everyone who loved them wishing them a 'Happly ever after.'







A true Cinderella


Thursday, 3 June 2010

Take the 'Bag lady' pledge




I recently had the pleasure of listening to a fantastic woman who calls herself 'The Bag Lady'.

Shirley Lewis has cared about the environment all her life.
Shirley graduated from Trinity College, Dublin (BA Hons, English 1967). She then trained as a journalist in Northern England. Her work lead her to present for the BBC and Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Shirley lived and worked in the Blue Mountains, Australia for 20 years before returning to Ireland in 2001.
In her last year in Australia, Shirley initiated Australia’s first National Plastic Bag Awareness Week.
Funded by federal government and sponsored by two major supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths, and the Australian Retailers Association, it was run by Clean Up Australia.
Shirley’s character, Bag lady, appeared on the scene at this time to launch and promote the Week, in November 2001.
This project is ongoing and regarded by Australians as highly successful.

Shirley says, ‘My deep concern is that, while the talking’s increased greatly, the action is still way below the level necessary to stall climate change – if that’s even possible. For our children’s future, we must move forward urgently now.’
The Bag Lady is now urging everyone across the planet to 'Take the ASAP Pledge ' and tell the rest of the world what you are willing to give up and to take up to try to help the environment.
So if you have a heart and are looking for some ways you can make a difference, even in a small way, then have a look at what others are pledging.






Ta Ta for now xoxo



Wednesday, 26 May 2010

Are you being served?



"Imagine a bride walking into a bridal gown boutique to be told that there’d be nothing there to fit her? (She) (I walked out.) Why wouldn’t the assistant search the earth, to help find me the dress? And, then get it tailored to fit? Bridal boutiques aren’t selling dresses. They’re selling (insults) glamour. Unfortunately, many brides tell the same hurt tale. And, they aren’t going to make an expensive purchase after being harangued for not being the perfect size ten. They’re going to cross the road".
This is an extract from Social media guru, Dawn Bird's blog from Sensei- Learning and Performance, Business training.
http://www.sensei-winbeforehand.co.uk/
Check out the rest of the blog at: http://bit.ly/ct4h9o.

I have also experienced something similar. While working along with a bride,(lets call her Nicole), to create her magical gown, we paid a few visits to the 'higher end' boutiques to get a feel for the best shape to suit. Nicole is a tall, beautiful regular size 12. Small by today's standard. I can't tell you how many times we were told "We have nothing in 'your' size", or sometimes the look from the sales assistant (that's all they are by the way) was enough to make us want to crawl in to the corner in fear. This is meant to be the best time of your life, a wonderful experience to kick start the celebration of marriage, not to give you even more insecurities than you already have. And lets face it, we women are the best hands down at being insecure about ourselves without any help from crabid old spinster sales assistants!!
Phew! that felt good!
While Nicole was trying to squeeze into the size 6 sample (the only size available) I noticed a young, very size 6 woman standing in front of the giant mirror with an expression that said 'I'm so over this'. Not a great start!
She looked like she needed a Fairy Godmother, should have gone to see LizieNellie for her prefect wedding dress of course!!

Ta Ta till next time,
LizieNellie.
Your Modern Fairy Godmother.

Friday, 21 May 2010

The UpCycling ladyBird

For those of you who don't already know, I have just moved home to Ireland from having lived in Australia for 10 years. I first started LizieNellie over there. I also made one off handbags using mostly off cuts from the dresses I made or recycled clothing I'd find in charity shops. My lable for the bags is 'LadyBird Feet'


Well I've been on the hunt this week and found that my local charity shop 'Marie Curie', has a sale on their handbags!


If you've ever had to buy metal work for bag making then you know it can be a little pricey at times but I managed to get 4 handbags at 75p each!! Yes! 75p and look at all the fantastic metal bits I got for a grand total of £3.00!








So now I'm of for a rummage in my boxes , which arrived from Sydney last Monday, to see what fabrics I brought.

Stay tuned to see what lovely things I come up with.

I might even just pop out and buy more 75p bags while they are there.

Ta Ta till next time!
LizieNellie your Modern Fairy God mother


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Monday, 10 May 2010

Vintage Recreations

Shopping with the girls.

What a wonderful Sunday morning, browsing the fabulously stylish wares of yesteryear at 'Frock around the clock' Vintage Fashion Fair' in Belfast.






They showcased fashions and jewellery from the 30's to the 70's.



I have to say my favourite era has to be the 1950's, they had style with a capital 'S'.


Although I love the style I am sadly not the 'right' shape.


This has inspired me to offer a Vintage Recreation service. Dresses and gowns inspired by yesteryear but with todays fit.


The faboulous fair is on every month and I can't wait untill the next one....

Vingate Bridal Show.... OHHHH! Heaven Dah-ling.


Ta Ta for now!


PS would any one know where to get good quality, long length of vintage fabric??











Wednesday, 5 May 2010

Lets start with me!


I was married in 1995, a lifetime ago it seems.

My wedding plans went relatively smooth with no real dramas.




I was having my hair curled so went to the hairdressers the night before.

He covered my head in these bright coloured spongy, bendy things!


We couldn't afford a planner so we ran around setting up the reception room ourselves.





Me and my sister with these Medusa head wear.

Well it started raining, my hair got soaked!

Next morning it was still dripping.


My hairdresser was ready to kill me,

I ended up with 4 girls around me trying to curl my hair with tongs.


Disaster #1 averted.


Time to get dressed

As you would expect I made my own bridesmaids gowns

and was very strict at the fittings,

they HAD to wear the underwear that would be worn on the day!


Common sense, right??

Right!!


BM # 3

(No names)


arrived in a brand new uplifting bra which meant

when she put her gown on she was popping out the top and

there was too much room underneath!


So there's me in my 'bridal under garments'

on my knees sewing her dress.

20 minutes before the wedding was due to start!



The saying that things happen in threes was never so appropriate.


The photographer couldn't find my mum's house.

He turned up 20 minutes after the wedding should have started

and spent another 15 taking shots.


The priest was none to pleased

and announced to our guests.


"If she wanted to be married a half past,

then she should have booked it for then".


and proceeded to talk faster than he ever had before!



We later found out he was meant to be playing golf with the Bishop!



All in all we had a wonderful day.

And a few stories to tell.


3am and we fell in to bed with a cup of tea and a slice of wedding cake.


No Really!


The honeymoon?


Well, thats another story.










Tuesday, 4 May 2010

LizieNellie is here!



Hey there!


LizieNellie here!


So who are we?


LizieNellie is my company. Me?


I'm Liz Corrigan. Business woman, Designer, mother, wife and like many women just a little bit crazy! But not always in that order.


Anyway back to LizieNellie.


With LizieNellie I create gowns and dresses to suit the personalities of you gorgeous, wonderful and sometimes slightly weired females out there.


So many friends and family members have moaned my ears off telling me how they are fed up being told what they should wear all the time especially when it came to their wedding dress.


In a nut shell I take those ideas you have fluttering away in your mind and make them a reality, hence the 'Modern Fairy Godmother'.




Over my many years of creating magical gowns I have heard some stories.


From cringe worthy disasters to heartwarming romances


and I would love to share them with you.


And


I would love to hear yours.


So if you would like to have a story featured,


and it doesn't have to be about you.


Drop me an email at...






But As I ramble on a bit you will probably get to know more


about my interests and my family as well.
Please charge your glass and
toast to many happy days
and bubbly nights!