Oliver and S, Family Reunion Dress

Recently, I drug out my sewing machine, that had been in storage since before Caroline was born. My original intent was to whip up some very basic curtains for our recently converted playroom. Once I had it all set up though, I decided to make Caroline a dress or two, and then I would get to the curtains.

I still have not made the curtains. Sewing for my little girl is too much fun.

First I warmed up with a pillow case dress. It is way to big for my Skinny Minnie, but a great way to remember a few things about sewing.

Then I put together a peasant dress. I cut it much slimmer so it fits her better. I don't really love the color. Online, the fabric looked buttery yellow but in reality it is more of a golden, which isn't that flattering on my blue-eyed blonde. 

Next I decided that I wanted to make a real pattern dress. A dress with actual details. I chose Oliver and S's Family Reunion Dress because I love the pin tucks and I know that their instructions are very detailed (good for a novice like me). 

I chose a pink gingham poly-cotton blend with embroidered rosebuds from Joanne's. I had a 40% off coupon so it ended up being about $6 a yard. I cut a size 3T and that ended up being perfect for Caroline even though she is tall enough for 4T's. I like this a little bit shorter on her. 

The instructions were very detailed and I found a sew-along for the dress at http://www.lolapinkfabrics.com/blog/family-reunion-dress-sew-along/  There was only so much good instructions could do for me though and my dress has some pretty major flaws.

1. Sewing curves is much harder than in would seem. Let's not talk about how many times I had to unpick that front plaquet and the neck facing. 

2. My fabric was a bit slippery and that presented an extra challenge in getting the seams straight.

3. At the end I found out that the buttonhole function on my machine is kaput. No way was I going to manually make all those button holes so I decided to put snaps on the back instead. I think it is much better that way, actually. 

4. When it was all said and done, the back did not line up perfectly but that was my fault and and no one else's.

 

This is the way I learn though. Jumping right in on the things I want to do. If I had to work my way through tons of simple and boring projects I would lose interest long before I made it to this level. i am a lady with little to no patience. 

I do think my tucks turned out wonderfully though! Straight lines forevah!!!  I will make this dress again and I can't wait to incorporate what I learned the first time around. 

Caroline loves it. 

Next up I am making a skirt for myself. Simplicity 2052. Still no curtains. 

Wordless Wednesday: Easter Sweeties

Wordless Wednesday: Birthday Double

And then she was 3

When I woke up this morning, the baby that I so recently cuddled in my arms and nursed at my breast was suddenly a little girl. She was running and laughing and telling full, elaborate stories. I had to take a minute to remember every step along the way. It wasn't yesterday that she was first placed into my arms, it was 3 years ago. It seems such a short time and yet so long at the same time. We will celebrate extra today, but really every day that we have had her has been a celebration.

A prince and his princess

A few nights ago, my husband was working on setting up our new printer. Like many me, he was engrossed in his task and not really noticing the fact that Caroline was trying to get his attention. Finally, I snapped, "can you pay attention to her already?" He stopped what he was doing and looked at her.

"Daddy, you are my prince. Can you dance with me?"

And because who could resist an invitation like that, he did.

And I melted right there, into a giant puddle of mush. Every time I look at this picture, I melt again. I am goo right now.

This moment is what it is all about. This is why I wake up every morning. I just melted again. He is my prince too.

2013: The Year of Less

Happy New Year! As I said on my Facebook page, whether your 2012 was good or bad, I hope 2013 is better. I certainly have no complaints about 2012. We welcomed our little (big) Landry and nothing went too terribly wrong during the year. I call that a win.

Now we welcome in a new year and like everyone else I use the beginning of a new year as time to assess my life and make some changes. Of course, I want to lose weight, exercise more and all that jazz but really want in my life is less excess. Looking around at  my house is somewhat sickening. I don't mean the mess, well not entirely. I just mean the amount of stuff we have. Excess. In a four bedroom, four bathroom house we can't find a place to put everything?!?!? Our middle floor looks like Toys R Us vomited all over it. Our kitchen is full of food we'll never eat. My stomach is always full of food I didn't need. It's ridiculous. And we keep buying more. We keep eating more. We keep wasting more. Confusing need and want all along the way.

So this is a year of less. Less consumption. Less buying. Less spending. Less waste. Less stuff. Less eating. Less weight. Less stress? The Year of Less.

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” -Leonardo Da Vinci

Wordless Wednesday