Tea Party Maxi Dress

My cousin's wedding was last November, and I knew I wanted to make Ev a dress. (She continues to call it "my wedding dress!") 

I knew it would need long sleeves and I was excited to try a maxi length for the first time. I bought the fabric using my 1/2 Birthday Discount at our local quilt shop (The Pincushion). It is Art Gallery, but I can't remember the designer or line name. 

Checking sleeve length... James really doesn't like to be left out :)

Checking dress length... Someone needs to comb her hair!

At the dance! 

Family picture :) 

Pattern: Tadah Pattern's Tea Party Dress, with sleeve add-on and added length.

Now and Then: Dress-Up Edition

Last winter, Ev found one of my old dress-up outfits.

It's definitely been well-loved and is on the verge of falling a part. But it was fun to see her wearing it around my parents' house.

I received it as a Christmas present years ago... Too bad we don't have the accessories anymore! 

Preschool! (Two First Days in One Post!)

So, here is last year's and this year's First Day of Preschool pictures!

She loved Preschool last year... 

...and she still loves it this year!

Dress: Made for Mermaids' Brooklyn/Riley Mash-Up in Riley Blake Knits.

Dress: Sew a Little Seam's Juniper Dress in Michael Miller Fabric (more about the dress at this post)

Two Hollys

Last year before Christmas, I purchased a pattern that I hoped to use right away. 

But, as usual, things came up, so these outfits didn't get worn until after Christmas...

Pattern: Holly by Made for Mermaids

Flannel-ish, homespun type fabric made into a warm, winter top!

Look at that pose!

A Christmas dress that was worn on Epiphany instead :)

A fair-isle cotton from Walmart along with some random red from my stash.

This wasn't Ev's favorite dress... she preferred the "store-bought" (second-hand) Christmas dresses. But, she finally let me talk her into wearing it!

Just a couple of goofballs!

Michael Miller's In Bloom

Earlier this summer, I received the ENTIRE line of Sandra Clemons' In Bloom for Michael Miller Fabrics. One yard of each print (24 prints!)... just for winning a giveaway on Facebook - I felt pretty lucky! The giveaway was through Sewing Portfolios which is an amazing resource for anyone wanting to get more involved and connected in the sewing community online. I have come to realize that I have so much on my sewing to-do list, that I don't have time to PDF pattern test any more (but if the right pattern comes along, I may still apply!) Thus, currently, I use Sewing Portfolios to keep track of my makes and for motivation to keep taking "nice" photos of those makes. 

That sewing to-do list is the reason that I couldn't cut into the amazing fabric right away. I knew that I wanted to make E's first day of preschool dress, so I was able to start planning that, even as I finished sewing a pile of knit clothes for the two kiddos. 

Enter: The Juniper Dress by Sew A Little Seam

I used the Sunburst and Garden Patch prints from the teal colorway.

I didn't expect E to love-love it, due to the lack of PINKNESS, but surprisingly, she actually does love it! She asked me to make her Halloween costume just like it (she wanted to be a silver fairy, but after seeing this dress, she wants to be a *colorful* fairy... )

As for the rest of the fabric... I currently have 4 patchwork totes cut out (Christmas presents!!). James will eventually get a reversible vest (Schoolboy Vest by Sew Much Ado) from two of the linger prints and Ev's Thanksgiving Dress will be from the wine colorway (Magrath Dress by Sew Much Ado). 

Even after sewing up the amazing fabric, it is still hard to believe that I won this great giveaway! I'm looking forward to completing more projects with the beautiful prints that I have left.

Of course, since I had Ev all dressed up and fancy, I had to try to get a few nice portrait pictures of her. 

This one may be the winner! 

And now that her dress is done, she can start preschool tomorrow :)