My son has recently gotten engaged and the wedding is being planned. My dilema is that the bride's mother speaks no English and I speak no German. We are renting a large home in which to spend the week prior to the wedding, and we will need to do some cooking together. I want to make her feel welcome, but wonder how I can do that (using embroidery and otherwise).

Bump

Thanx for posting, couldn't help, but LOVED reading all responses!!! Congrats to your family and your son! Hugs, Judy

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by jacquipaul 11 Jun 2010

Thanks Judy; it is fun when I don't think about all of my questions. God will work it all out though, so if I just turn all of the concerns over to Him, we'll all be fine.

1. electronic translators
2. google search

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by jacquipaul 10 Jun 2010

Fabulous; why didn't I think of that? Well my son and DH have I phones, so I wonder if they have a translation program? Hmmmm....

by psssst 10 Jun 2010

I think there's an app for that ;)

You have some great answers and I am just going to wish you luck and leave you with a flower my dear.

1 images:[1]

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by jacquipaul 10 Jun 2010

Your website will be of a great help since I can save some time by having the expert make angels for me.
Thanks Shirlene; *4u!

You have already been given great ideas, but I wanted to add my congratulations. Be sure to post the embroidered items. I would love to see what you have come up with for the Special Day.

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by jacquipaul 10 Jun 2010

Thank you; I can't wait to see what we come up with either. Am now less worried and more satisfied that we'll do the right things to keep her family feeling good for the week that they are here.
*4u!

I think the towels idea sounds good. My DH and I moved to Dominican Republic about a year ago, we live in a German community, we are the only Spanish/English speaking. and I know it is hard when there is a language barrier. My DH found some sites to learn German but they speak too fast for us, you may want to check them out.

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by jacquipaul 10 Jun 2010

Thank you; that's a great idea. I'll try to find one! *4u!

http://www.windstarembroidery.com...

http://www.windstarembroidery.com...;Submit=Search%21

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by smithandsmith 10 Jun 2010

found these for you

by jacquipaul 10 Jun 2010

Thank you Lee-Anne; I really appreciate all of the help. They have some lovely designs.
*4u!

How exciting!! I love your ideas of DOW on kitchen towels in German and MOB and GOB hankies! I think you should put "Mother of the Bride" in German and maybe a simple German flower on it (white on white is so lovely). Oh, please keep us posted on what you will be doing!!! What date is the wedding? Hugs, Laura*

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by jacquipaul 10 Jun 2010

The couple is locking down the wedding date now. They thought they had it, but the owners of the home decided to use it themselves that weekend, and now I'm encouraging them to get a contract with the realtor before more plans are made. It will be in early fall.
I agree that white on white is a lovely look, and a simple flower will look beautiful.
With all of this help, I feel that we cannot fail.
Thank you; *4u!

Jacqui,
Sandy has offered to translate any phrases you might want....I am offering to do any text you might need, just PM me with your requests, and I will do my best to make them for you.

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by jacquipaul 10 Jun 2010

Oh, how wonderful! You are such a wonderful digitizer and I'll be thrilled with anything that you can do.
Thank you for your generosity. Of course we can share them with the Cuties, in case someone else could use them.
*4u!

You say you will be doing some cooking together? How about matching aprons? You could put wording on them in your respective languages, and then you would be able to see the translation right in front of you as you're working.

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by jacquipaul 10 Jun 2010

That is a clever idea! Thank you so much for thinking of it. We'll certainly be able to learn a little by reading our aprons. They will be necessary, since rental homes probably won't have several aprons available for cooking. The wedding will be held at a lake, so a lake/ boating/ beach theme would work also.
Thanks for your ideas.

I am first generation Canadian - both my parents were born in Hamburg. However, I can not write German very well. I can understand the language best and read it a little bit. My parents (especially my mom), after living in Canada since before I was born, used to speak in half English/half German sentences. Of course I knew what she was saying, but my friends always had puzzled looks to them sometimes - LOL!

Anyways, I like the idea of doing Kitchen towels with days of the week - but how about doing something really unique? How about having the words in English AND in German?

Also, for something fun, maybe make up soem flash cards that have both English and German words for soem things around the house that you could just tape to. For ionstance, you could make up a flash card that says "bathroom" in English and German and tape it to the bathroom door. You could do this with all kinds of things around the house. Some kids do this with French words to help them learn the language in school. You could tape signs to the fridge, stove, bedroom door, shoes, stairs, garage, window, chair, table, it's endless. You would be able to find tranclations on a website on the computer. You could also write out some basic cue cards to have them on the fridge (like ksgram1 said) like you're welcome, please, thank you, good morning, good night.

These are just some thoughts. Hope they help...

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by jacquipaul 10 Jun 2010

Thank you for those great ideas. I can imagine the quizical looks on your friends faces when your Mother spoke in both German and English. The bride told us her Father does that too. It will be fun to hear.
Love the idea of putting both languages on the towels and or aprons. That is great. And I love the idea of the flash cards taped to everything (especially the restrooms!)
Thank you for your wonderful suggestions. This is beginning to sound like something I can manage!

Hello Jacqui,

I don´t know if you already know: but I can speak German really good :o))
for this I can translate you every phrase you like.
Unfortunately I don´t know sites in German that have designs ready to buy or for free.
But if you need help by phrases, invitation or any other thing - let me know, I will be glad to help you !!
And of corse I will search the web after designs for wedding in germany:o)

un abrazzo
sandra

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by jacquipaul 10 Jun 2010

Thank you Sandra; you are so generous! I'd love any help in translating, as we are doing the invitations ourselves and can do custom made ones for the German relatives.
After having a wedding for our daughter, we thought we were done, but things are different in Germany, the bride tells us. So we are much more involved than I expected. It's so hard for her when her parents are so far away. She and I went to a bridal show last weekend and she was floored with the huge cost of everything.
Thanks for your offers to find designs I can buy in German. I guess it would be impossible for anyone to digitize in German, unless they had German alphabets or German machines.

Jacqui,
If the house has wifi, you could have your computer with you to do alot of the translations. Both of you could use it. Could be a fun (but slow) way to communicate.
I love the idea of the DOW towels for her. But maybe even in English. Being an American, I would love them in another language.
I'll think more about this today and get back to you.
Have a wonderful day! Nancy

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by jacquipaul 10 Jun 2010

Thanks Nancy; was just wondering if they have wifi at the house. If not, I may miss a lot here, as it's too far from anything to get home quickly. Hey, maybe I should do the towels with both German and English DOW.
Still have not phoned your SIL but will when I have my head around what needs to be done.
Hugs

Jacqui, may I suggest that you learn a few words in German.(welcome, please, thank you, good morning, good night) Nothing makes one feel more at ease than knowing somone is trying to learn their language. As a personal gift, what about FSL angels? They could be done in the wedding colors. I very much like the other ideas mentioned as well. Also, be sure to show photos of your son when he was growing up. That will help make a special bond between you and the MOB. Bratwurst, hot(not spicy) German potatoe salad and Pumpernickle bread would be a good meal to serve, along with German beer if everyone embibes. Relax and just be yourself.

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by jacquipaul 10 Jun 2010

Thank you; what good suggestions! Surely I can learn to say those few words in German! Love the idea of the FSL angels too, and of the photo album of our son as he was growing up.
My future DIL, the bride, is looking forward to preparing food in the large kitchen at this rented house. She does love to make lots of pork dishes, and loves the whole grain breads.
Hugs.

Hi Jacqui,

I made these gorgeous little lacy bags and my mum puts a hankie in it or tissues etc.

They were purchased from Embroidery Library - I even made them for my Annual Christmas ladies luncheon last year and they were a huge hit.

You could make them in any colour - with it being a wedding - white will always look great, but if you know what colour the Mother of the Bride is wearing you could co-ordinate the colours. THESE ARE ABSOLUTELY STUNNING AND EVERYONE - AND I MEAN EVERYONE WILL WANT ONE!!!!!!

Love and blessings Chris.

P.S. I agree with everything everyone else has recommended, but I really think these would be a great gift.

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by jacquipaul 09 Jun 2010

Thank you for the idea and the link Chris; these are charming and very feminine; they look lovely in different colors, and would look wonderful in white also. The bride cannot decide on flowers or colors for her bride's maids yet, and has not suggested colors for her mother's dress or mine. We are hoping she can find a dress for herself this week.
Thank you for this lovely idea. I'll start practicing on my FSL.

by anne55 10 Jun 2010

These are so gorgeous, I bought them! My excuse is I had already put the SSue and FFred designs in my cart to purchase and anyhow all design packs are 50% right now!

by jacquipaul 10 Jun 2010

Thanks Anne, for the reminder about the sale! They are great, aren't they?

All of those sound like good ideas. If you have an editing program for your embroidery, you could take a design and add the day of the week in german. There are translation guides on your computer, or at the library, there are translation dictionaries that would be easy to get the correct spellings from.

I like the idea of the hankies with the names and dates on, also it would be nice if she could take back a doily, christmas ornament in FSL, or maybe a FSL bowl.

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by jacquipaul 09 Jun 2010

Wonderful ideas! I love the idea of a Christmas ornament (so many of our Christmas traditions come from Germany), or of a doily or a FSL bowl. Thank you for the idea of adding the DOW in German, too.
Thanks so much for your help.
*4u!

First of all congratulations!
Now make sure you have a computer/laptop near at all times, thank goodness for technology. You and she will be able to communicate perfectly if you just use a translator online.
I love the idea of a MOB hankie. It is a definite keepsake.
You choose the design (wedding theme flower?)
I think just their names and the date is sufficient.
Maybe make organza 3d flowers (again the flowers for the wedding?) as the corsages?
Small handbags?
As far as a gift for her to take back home with her how about a doily? Being the mother of the bride (years ago) if I put myself in that position I think something that is heirloom quality and a treasured keepsake is perfect. Towels get used and after time it shows. I hope I helped a little bit.

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by jacquipaul 09 Jun 2010

Thank you so much SS. Which do you prefer being called; first or middle name?
Have not tried contacting her by computer but I guess we could give it a whirl. At one time my son set up a skype account so that they could communicate.
Love the ideas that you have of the corsages with 3D flowers, the small handbags, and such. Want to include the GM, since she and GF won't be able to make this trip, but may be visiting in the future.
Had not thought of towels appearing 'used', but that's a good thought.
Had thought of hanging kitchen towels with German words in the kitchen of the rental house we'll be sharing.
Thanks for your ideas; PM me if you think of others, and this message gets lost in the shuffle.
Hugs.

by mops 10 Jun 2010

When you put on dates, make sure you use the day-month-year order and not the American mm-dd-yy.

by jacquipaul 10 Jun 2010

Oh, thank you Martine; had not thought of that but I'll keep that in mind. Don't want to confuse anyone.