Easter Dress Mania!

I promised.

and I deliver. :)

So prep your mouth in that "oh" or "ooh" shape and take a look!

  

Easter morning-- girls in their sweet dresses, me NOT in mine (it wasn't finished), but still bright and spring-y!

Caroline's is a slightly altered See&Sew b6038 with quilter's cotton fabrics...I don't know which ones. a bunch of seemingly random selections in vibrant colors that work together none-the-less! Matching fabrics is honestly one of my favorite parts of sewing! Gwen's is a circle skirt attached to a top from the second-hand store in a jersey knit. Those vertical stripes were inspired by a pic I saw online, but there was no pattern. So I used basic geometry math to adjust the myriad of circle skirt tutorials out there and we just went for it. Turned out well!

They weren't too eager for a photo shoot. Gwen later discovered that her circle skirt was extra twirly, and requested another photo, but we never got around to it. 

 Weeks later, my Easter dress is finished. 

 It is a GORGEOUS mint eyelet from Michael Miller called Mist, lined with white voile, contrasting trim is bias tape from Joann's. I bought the mint invisible zipper online from ZipperStop (very affordable!) My o-so-fashionable necklace is from Volunteers of America, my sandals are the most comfy wedges ever because they are Crocs and I've got my Silver Floral on Magenta Jams on too! lol, Writing all that makes me feel like I'm a fashion blog or something (I give myself airs). 

 The dress has a high, modest back and this great lacing detail. (My apologies for the wrinkled view. I am new to 'fashion photography' and such) I added the pleats as a solution for the unflattering way the fabric was draping originally. It gave me more control over where the draping occurred is much more flattering now!

  The sleeves I designed completely myself!  They are raglan with gathering at the top and a sweet puckering pleat at the arm. I have little ones to chase around-- my own AND I am currently in nursery at church-- so I needed flexibility and mobility. The only thing I might do differently would be to add a hint of elastic at the pleat so that when I'm NOT raising my arms or putting my hands on my hips, the sleeve wouldn't 'stand up' on its own so far away from my torso.

Caroline totally wanted to participate in my photoshoot today... Though getting photographed was HER idea, she only wanted to make silly faces. 

I am BEYOND pleased with how everything turned out! Proud as a peacock, actually! I've got new projects in the works, but I am so happy with how these turned out!

Monkey Caroline is 5

My Crazy Caroline is 5 today! 

Hard to believe it was 5 years ago when she was so tiny and new.

She makes the strangest faces...

 

 but that shouldn't be too surprising, since at only a week old she was already practicing these exotic face contortions! :)

She her beautiful, adorable, "I'm-so-cute-you-can't-resist-my-whims" face is precious, though.

Then, and now. 

Her favorite color is yellow. It suits her personality too!

  She is an active, outdoor, mess-lovin, athletic gal who astonishes me with her natural physical talents! Besides her penchant for exploration of all things sporty, she has a wonderful gift for loving people---ALL people, complete strangers no exception---without reservation. She feels and shows her love generously!

  Sometimes she look... or even ACTS...like a gremlin

 but then she pulls out an exalted face like this and we can't help but be energized by her enthusiasm for life!

 She is a happy, passionate girl! Watch out world! She's 5 now!

Up To: Headboard Project

Blog post about our completed Easter dresses pending, but in the mean time enjoy this wonderfully brief post about our homemade head board! Yes, Eric and I have finally arrived as a married couple: we have a head board. Almost 10 years in. :)

Used these plans for our project; a nice Jacobian stain for a sort of walnut look, but with more warmth; and a satin finish seal. (note to selves: leave it to air out in the garage for a full week, rather than just 3 days. Whew, good thing the weather allowed us to open our windows!)

Added these pretty cool accents just for fun. 

We had a blast working on this together when the weather was too uncompromising for garden work or family walks. 

Gwen was a decent sander. 

Caroline and Emmett actually played well together while she pushed him around on the bike. 

Another evening when the car was in the garage and they couldn't ride bikes, the kiddos piled into the car and had a great time! Who knew a parked car held so many fun opportunities?

Such a great project to do together!

We LOVE it! Funny how I feel more legit as an adult somehow. :)

Braggin on my Gymnast

Sometimes a mom's got to brag on her kids. Mom prerogative. :)

My Caroline is a gymnast. She was pretty much born that way! It has been very exciting as a parent to see the natural talent (aka recklessness!) being shaped and formed into confidence and skills! Caroline has been taking a cheap-o class at the local rec center for a year and a half and her enthusiasm is beginning to bear fruit!

She rocks at back walkovers!

Has just recently become more confident and adventurous in her gymnastics jumps off the vault! About 75% of the time she does a "helicopter jump" and manages to land on her feet!

She swings around like a monkey on the bars

and touches her toes to the bar like a pro.

She's added a spring to her forward somersault.

Her form on the beam is improving

 She still insists on holding her teacher's hand, but races out in front of her anyway! Her teacher keeps telling Caroline that she can do it without assistance, but that will have to be our next accomplishment because right now she refuses to let go!

She is pretty excited about her beginning cart wheel

 and finishes it proudly!

Of course there is plenty of trampoline and running 

  and leaping!

Sometimes I still see this incredulous timid face, but most of the time she is gung ho about anything!

Check out her forward flip on the bars unassisted... and the awesome celebratory dance afterwards!

 

I'm proud of her for sticking with it and making such progress. It is exciting as a parent to see your child's self awareness and blossoming confidence. When it comes to gymnastics, she hardly ever says "I can't". It is a huge reward for ME to see her so self-assured!

Conquering a Fear...And the Beautiful Result!

Once upon a time a sensitive mother purchased yards of expensive silk brocade for her daughter as a pre-wedding gift... mostly because said daughter had been fawning over the Asian design and rich royal blue color for a long time and this mother thought it would go a long way towards soothing her 'day-before-the-wedding' jitters...and a kimono pattern so that yardage would go to good use. (Wait, at this point the daughter didn't even own a sewing machine! What were they thinking?)

Sadly, GUILTILY, the fabric sat in the daughter's fabric stash for 9 1/2 years because this gal didn't know HOW to read a pattern and was terrified of destroying the gorgeous fabric.

Until last week.

I am that daughter. I do sew, but the only clothing I've made were very simple/forgiving projects for my kids (costumes, straight lines, online tutorials for easy things, ya know)... Until I decided enough is enough. After all, the logical accusation was that I was wasting the gift just as much by NOT using it as I would be if I messed up the sewing. Time to put on my big girl pants and JUMP IN!

I decided I would rarely use a kimono, so why not try something I could wear more regularly? The brocade lent itself to a fit-and-flare design because of the weight of the fabric. I bought a pattern (Simplicity 1418), made a mock up in muslin first so I could learn a few things, and read and reread those instructions! I am really proud that I stretched myself to a) figure out how to read a pattern, b) sew darts, c) sew pleats, d) sew fitted sleeves, e) sew in a zipper and f) make adjustments to the pattern so that it was a custom fit! Weight loss not-withstanding, I still have my original body shape with which to contend, so adjusting the pattern to my specs proved a challenge indeed! I'm happy to say, I conquered! (and I think my next dress will be even better!)

and you know what? I've really been bitten by the fashion sewing bug! I whipped up this argyle peasant dress for Gwen for Valentine's Day (free fabric from a friend! Thanks, Rach!) and I've already got fabric and plans for Easter dresses... and even a couple more projects that should keep me busy into summer! Wondered where I've gone? Check my sewing room! I'll be there for a while!

Moral of the story? In conquering a fear, I've unleashed a monster!

Lovely Valentines Decor Projects

I've had way too much fun sprucing up our home for Valentine's Day this year! I can't seem to stop doing little projects!

I made this cute wall of free V-tines printables using thrift store frames. Gwen decorated those doilies and I wanted to use them around the house! Printables from Yellowblissroad, 18twentyfive, the36thavenue, and theredheadedhostess.   

Completed this adorable free printable candy hearts banner from sandytoesandpopsicles.

Found this 'house' at the thrift store and new it would be adorable for the girls little pet shops and princesses to have a Valentine's cottage especially for them! Painted it white then added in scrapbook paper to each hole. 

Burlap and felt heart inspired by Embellishinglifeeveryday.

Speaking of embellishing, check out Gwen's work on that doily!

These pink rose topiaries were inspired by the Idearoom.

Now I just need to finish up the simple peasant dress I'm making for Gwen (pink and green argyle-- so cute!) since she doesn't have a good V-tines dress and I'll be 'set' on the projects! Then I can add some more, or start on my St.Patty's decor, or begin their Easter dresses, or work on my spring hexie quilt for our bed! So many options! I LOVE having a project (or projects!) in the works! What are YOU working on these days?