Connie with largest gown
Nan Nasser
Connie Sieverding moved from Wisconsin to SaddleBrooke six years ago. An avid sewer, taught by her mother to “repurpose” items, Connie joined a SaddleBrooke sewing group called Sew Busy Cut-Ups and introduced the members to her latest project, making Angel Gowns for babies who are called to heaven before ever leaving the hospital.
These are not just any type of garment, but are made from donated wedding dresses. Dozens of tiny garments can be created from one gown. There are many Angel Gown Charities around the country, but none that Connie could find in Tucson. A program that aired on Good Morning America introduced Connie to the concept. After making a connection in Phoenix and offering to be a seamstress she received information and within two days had a gown in Tucson ready to be reconstructed.
Angel Gowns by Connie was born. The Golden Goose Thrift Shop will donate unsold wedding gowns; word-of-mouth results in donations and information over the internet is helpful. The tiny outfits usually include the ornate details of the original gown, are generally all white but other colors can be added, such as a blue vest for a boy. If you’ve recently got married and you’ve got a lovely wedding dress at home, don’t leave it to collect dust for the next 50 years. Donate it to these lovely people who can put a smile on someone else’s face. Just think, your https://winniecouture.com/ colllection gown can make a little girl smile as much as it made you smile on your special day. Or, if you’re still shopping for your dress for the occasion, you can reach out and let Connie know about it well in advance.
Each outfit sports an angel wing charm and is delivered with a card that says the gown was made by Connie from the specific person who donated the original dress. Connie is currently researching Tucson hospitals with neonatal programs that would benefit from her creations.
The tragedy of such an unexpected birth often makes it very difficult for families to make necessary plans for internment. Bereavement nurses can assess each situation, allowing parents to make a decision on an outfit, or that nurse can simply bring a couple of gowns to the family for its own selection.
More information about this project is available on the Facebook page Angel Gowns by Connie. You can directly contact Connie at [email protected].