Yesterday was Shaina’s wedding day. I hope it was sunny in western MA; it was grey and chilly here. Either way, though, she and her sweetheart are now Mr & Mrs and a long happy life we wish them.

Here’s Shaina’s dress as of late May. It wasn’t quite finished, but you had to look hard to see the unfinished bits. There are 11 pieces all together, not counting the accessories. I showed you details of the ribbon roses several weeks ago, but promised her I wouldn’t post the whole thing until after the ceremony, on the off chance that Carl might check the blog.

Here’s the back view, with the gorgeous train and lace veil. Of course she made the whole thing herself. She and Wendy spent some time figuring out how to handle the pleated and piped petticoat hem, which was half an inch too long.

Courtesy of Betty (who took them) and Penny (who scanned them) I’ve got some pictures of the party Penny organized for Shaina last week.

Here’s Shaina being surprised. She was looking here and there, so this one’s a little blurry, but you can still see how pleased she is.

The next one is Penny and Shaina with their party hats on. In addition to taking the pictures, Betty, who is Penny’s mom, also put up all the decorations and generally set up the party.

Next we have a group photo - from left that’s Kate, who wears two hats, one as an interpreter in the English Village and one as the interim intern coordinator for Plimoth. Our new intern and volunteer coordinator, Denise, just started a week or two ago so Kate is passing the reins and getting ready to begin graduate school in the Winterthur museum studies program later this summer. Next to her is Kelley, who has been working in the Colonial Wardrobe department since January. From January to March she was working full time with us, mending and hand finishing garments. Starting in March she went back to work as an interpreter in the English Village and aboard Mayflower II but continues working with us one day a week helping to get the clothes ready for our child volunteer program, which we’re expanding this summer (sorry, you have to be the child of a Plimoth employee). Next are Ruth and Meredith, long time volunteers with the Colonial Wardrobe department. They’re all admiring photos of Shaina’s wedding dress, a Victorian tour-de-force she is making herself (it’s almost done). No, can’t show you till after the wedding. You never know, Shaina’s fiance might check in.

One last picture. These two are having just too much fun.

Penny and her mom, Betty, organized a send-off for Shaina which happened Thursday afternoon. Wendy came, and Tricia, and several people from the office. There were white paper wedding bells on the door and iced tea in a big punch bowl. Wendy sent me this note on Thursday night, but due to trouble with my home email I didn’t find it until today:

One of the most wonderful aspects about the the “Jacket Project” are all the individual staff members that those of us who come to stitch or lace have the opportunity to meet and work with. Shaina is one of them and sadly for us is leaving to marry and move on to the next part of her life…. You know the drill - spouse , mortgage bills etc…..

We had the delightful opportunity to send her off today, we greeted her wearing hats and smiles (her wedding invitations suggested that guests wear hats and gloves since it is a Victorian Wedding Celebration) and amid coconut cupcakes, cinnamon scones, lemon curd, decadent chocolate brownies and iced tea we all chatted about weddings and the way life changes.

I marveled again at the things that make us unique, the things that change us, the things that strengthen us and the things that we all have in common…….. The threads that connect us……….. Always have…….. always will!

Wendy

Here’s a picture for today. This kitten was a foundling on the Plantation grounds a couple of months ago. After a thorough search for anyone who might be missing her, we determined she was looking for a family. Shaina decided she’d make the perfect kitten for her new home and named her Izzy.

Izzy’s lounging amid the remains of the party Wendy describes above. (The silver dragees are all that were left of the awesomely delicious vegan coconut cupcakes Penny made.) We’ll miss Izzy around the office, although we won’t so much miss her Jekyll & Hyde mood swings.

Today was Shaina’s last day with the Colonial Wardrobe department. She spent the afternoon spinning.

She and Penny (who figured out today she’s been spinning for 20 years) have been planning for her to try it, but Things kept coming up, as they will. Today Penny got out some wool and a drop spindle and her (Penny’s) wheel, and look what happened!

Shaina didn’t like the spindle too much (they do call it a drop spindle for a reason) but she took to the wheel quickly. She spun some really nice yarn, not even nice for a beginner, but really nice. Now she needs a wheel.

We wish Shaina all the best in her new life, and trust she will come back often, now that she knows the way.

I know I’ve said this often, but there’s so much going on around here I’m not sure if I’m coming or going.

There’s even some actual coming and going going on. Tomorrow I’ll introduce you to our summer interns, who are coming. On Friday we’ll bid farewell to Shaina, who is going.

Shaina’s not only going - going back to western Massachusetts, where her family are - but also going to get married and going to move into a newly purchased house. She’s really got a lot going on.

And we’ve got more roses going on around here than just the embroidered kind. These were made by Shaina from ribbon she got from Tricia. I’ll tell you more about them, but for that you’ll have to check back, oh, in about a month.