Happy Easter!

I can't remember the last time we had a warm sunny day on Easter.  Usually, it rains.  At least, in our neck of the woods, anyway.  We had our egg/basket hunt, went to church (our service is in the afternoon), and then invited friends back home with us for dinner and socializing.  We had a lovely evening.  But now I'm tired and ready for bed.  I had fully intended on starting another sewing project this evening while watching the season premiere of "Call the Midwife", but I think I'll head to bed instead.  I've stayed up way too late for the past several nights, and it's starting to catch up with me.  Have you seen "Call the Midwife"?  If you like watching things about babies and childbirth and the 1950's, then you'd love this show.  The first season is out on dvd.  Get it.  Rent it.  Borrow it.  It's that good.  It runs a very close second to my favorite show, "Downton Abbey".  Seriously, that show is the BEST.  The problem with these British television series, though, is that they only run about 7 episodes--just enough to get you hooked and drooling for more--and then you have to wait about 3/4 of a year for the new season to start up again.  But definitely worth the wait! 

Anyway, I'll be starting on a doll dress tomorrow.  I've been commissioned to make a reproduction dress for a Patty Play Pal doll from 1959.  I've got the fabric and the pattern--just need to start sewing!  Hope you had a wonderful Easter Sunday.

Easter Dress...Completed!

I finished the Easter Dress!

 

And I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out.

 

I loved everything about this pattern (McCalls 5793), and it went together quickly and without a hitch.

 

It has simple, puffy sleeves.  All little girls should have a dress with puffed sleeves.

 

It has "twirl-a-bility".

 

I didn't have to make any alterations to the pattern.  Sophie is four years old.  I cut out a size four.  And it fit.  Perfectly.

 

One of the changes I made to the pattern was using buttons instead of a zipper.  It's just such a classic, little girl's dress, I felt that buttons looked better.

 

I wanted the look of a pinafore without having to actually make one separate from the dress.  So I simply sewed a panel to the front and back bodice, edged with cotton lace.  Since the overskirt matches the "pinafore" bib, it gives the look of a complete pinafore.  The overskirt hem is also trimmed with vintage, cotton lace.  Instead of using ribbons for sash ties like the pattern calls for, I made fabric ties.

 

Nothing says "Spring" like daffodils, does it?

 

And bunny ears.

Stay tuned for version #2 of this pattern.  I think it will look totally different.  I'm excited!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Easter Dress That Wasn't

I bought this fabric last year, with the full intention of using it to make an Easter dress for Sophie.  Well,  that didn't happen.

But I didn't stress about it--I just figured I'd use it for this year's Easter dress.  Wrong again.

Somehow, time had slipped away from me, and so had two Easters.

As I was organizing my fabric bins last week, I came across the neatly folded fabric.  "I'm supposed to be an Easter dress" it seemed to say.   But Easter was last month.  Surely I could just save it for next Easter?

But then I realized that if I waited one more year, there definitely wouldn't be enough fabric to make a dress for an almost 4 year old.  I had only bought a little over a yard of the pink bunny print because at the time, Sophia was probably half the size she is now.  I also bought about the same amount of the coordinating brown print.  If I was ever going to make a dress out of these fabrics, the time was NOW.  Besides, bunnies are cute.  They don't have to be just for Easter, right?

I decided on a simple sundress.  Of course, once I got started, I couldn't leave it very "simple".    I love frilly, fancy, and froofy!  I started with a basic bodice pattern, and then altered it to create a sweetheart neckline.  Because I didn't have enough of the bunny fabric for a full skirt, I also added side panels of the coordinating brown print. 

The side panels needed a "little something", so I decided to add strips of ruffles.  I also added an underskirt with another ruffle along the bottom.  This gives the skirt lots of body.

All in all, I'm very happy with how this turned out.  The colors are some of my favorites--soft, peachy pink, warm brown. and cream.  It has great "twirl-a-bility" and lots of visual interest.  The only thing I would change is the depth of the armholes.  They ended up being a tad bit too large.  Oh well.  Live and learn.  I did, however, use everything from my "stash".  I did not have to go out and purchase anything to complete this project, not even the buttons!  I just happened to find three, matching buttons in the right shade of pink in my button jar.  It was meant to be, I guess!

We are finally having enough warm weather so that Sophie can wear this dress without a sweater.  Now that is something to be happy about!

Happy Easter/Resurrection Day!

HAPPY EASTER! Or Resurrection Day, as many Christians are now calling it.

Because we don't have church services until the afternoon, we were able to enjoy a leisurely morning, finally coloring the eggs that were waiting for us. The colors just make me smile.

I know that some Christians prefer not to associate Easter with eggs and candy and bunnies, but I have such fond memories of all these things from when I was growing up, and I always knew the real reason behind our traditions.

Oldest daughter's nickname, since the day we brought her home from the hospital and I proclaimed how "itty bitty" she looked in her car seat.

Just the other day, one of my little ones asked me what eggs and bunnies had to do with Easter. I was so proud that they were thinking about it. "Well, nothing", I answered. "But eggs and baby animals remind us of new birth, and that's what we get when we trust Jesus to be our savior".

We have an egg hunt planned soon, church service, and then the rest of the day spent visiting my oldest son. He and his girlfriend are making us dinner! And the sun is out. On EASTER. It couldn't really get much better. Hope you're having a wonderful Easter Sunday with your family, too. Jesus lives!