And the winner is..........

Kathleen Grace

The winner of Aunt May's Cottage June drawing is Kathy Grace from MICHIGAN. I was amazed, when my daughter pulled her name from the hat, that the winner lived in my home state! I'll bet that won't happen again.

Congratulations, Kathy! Next month it may be one of you that wins! It's so easy to enter.....just go to my web site, http://auntmayscottage.com/, and sign my guestbook! It's as easy as that. The winner doesn't even have to pay the shipping! So rush right over and take a little look around. Then sign the Guestbook to enter.

July's drawing item will be this sweet little lamp shade! It's made from a bridal gown bodice from white satin and a lovely, very heavily beaded lace overlay. Also adorning the shade are several satin ribbon roses and pearl drops.

This shade has the heavy beading on all sides. It can be used on a boudoir lamp, a nightlight or a votive candle holder with stem as shown here. I've even used these on stemmed glassware with a floating candle! So sweet and a wonderfully warm glow.

Just look at the detail on this beauty! I love working with these beautiful fabrics. How can you end up with anything less than spectacular with fabric this lovely? All beading is done by hand and it takes hours to accomplish this look.

If anyone wonders why I make items from bridal fabric and trims, it's because I am addicted to them.

For over 22 years I designed and made bridal gowns and evening wear. I've always had a love for fine fabrics.....satins, silks, brocades, organdy, embroideries, velvets and lace of any kind.

In a day of career women, I was a stay at home mom. I wanted to see my children on and off the school bus, be there with milk and cookies when they got home and be available for any problems they might have and help with homework.

To make extra $$ for the "wants" of the family, I began sewing. First for the family, then for friends and soon for complete strangers. I lost count on the number of weddings I did, but I believe it to be around 240. A few were just the bride's gown, but most were the bride, bride's mother, groom's mother, maid of honor, bridesmaids and flower girls. Many included the decorations for the wedding and sometimes the reception, too.

More about my "sewing" days at a later time. I have dozens of stories about people for whom I've sewn and designed costumes over the past 40 years. Some of them are hilarious!