Peppermint Swirl Dress

I have been saving this fabric for about a year now for just this purpose. Other things came up and I just now got around to making this dress. Also, there was quite a bit of prep work and it just seemed daunting to me. It needn't be. Everything worked out great!
(The Peppermint Swirl Dress from Candy Castle Patterns.)

One adorable dress, and kid.

So much fabric!

Another thing my dress-lovin' girl likes is a dress that can twirl. And this is the perfect dress for just such a thing. 

She has a little growing room as well so she will get some use out of this dress. 

Even if you are sitting, the dress is beautiful! Love these photos.

My dress-lovin' girl should be very happy with awesome Mommy-made wardrobe for the summer.

I have a few more outfits that I have made for her to share as well. I am very excited about them because they are awesome!

Stay tuned!

Simple knit dress: Brown dots

I just love this adorable knit fabric. Brown with white dots. So simple. So cute. I knew instantly it would make a wonderful "First Day"-like dress. 

The top is like a t-shirt and the skirt is mostly a circle skirt. I didn't have much fabric to work with, so I just had to make it work. And it did!

It goes perfectly with cowboy boots. Fun!

This whole outfit just screams simple country girl. 

Good thing we live on a dirt road. It goes well for a country girl look.

It is a wonderful, all around, great dress to play and jump in.

Just remember, you can always run home little girl.

The Long Dresses

As much as my girl loves a dress, she will ask for a dress that goes all the way down to the floor, you know, like princesses dresses do. Well, ok, I can do that. So I did.

Neither of these dresses sport the best sewing job. Practice is definitely needed in this area. A happy girl is a happy girl either way.

She now has two knit, long dresses perfect for the warmer weather. I have one happy, happy girl.

Happiness in a dress.

Summer Chevron

I love the easy simplicity of this whole dress. As much as I would love it if my girly girl would wear skirts, she prefers the dress. What is a sewing mama to do?

So, I attached a skirt to the bottom of a tee and voila! Instant dress.

I cut off a couple of inches from the bottom of the tee so that the skirt piece would be in the proper place.

I love it so much!

And so does she!

Reliable Internet

Just checking in. I swear I have projects to post, but the schedule has not worked in my favor recently for reliable internet access, thus making it hard to post or look at anything online. 

Anyway, things in life are winding down. The end of school countdown is on, which means my downtime will be filled with kid time. Not so bad. There are many summer plans in the making already and the wait is on. 

Enjoy the sunshine (finally!) and have an awesome week!

Random Kid Moments #6

They busy-ness of life is in full effect. Lots of projects going on, school finishing up with lots going on there as well. Summer is approaching quickly, with lots to do as well. All in good fun though. I have more to share with you with what I have been sewing and creating. I will share as soon as possible.

For now, I will leave you with these tidbits from my munchkins...

Only hearing pieces of a conversation between my kids...

Girl: ...and it doesn't have makeup anymore. I'm too pretty for makeup.

Me. LOL

Girl: What? That's what Daddy says!

Me: I know, Honey. He's not wrong. :)

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She also said the other day on the way home from church that she felt like she was going to be married. Hmm. Apparently she will marry one of the kids from daycare who is five years old. Lately she has also been saying that she wants to have two babies growing in her tummy. Twins. Both girl babies, and that she is going to stay home with them. 

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The boy is learning a difficult lesson about making choices. We have been unhappy with some of his behavior at school. He got yet another note sent home, this time about having a difficult time talking and playing. I told him he was free to make any choice that he wants, but that he was not free from the consequences of that choice. He is not happy about his consequences at the moment. Hopefully it will be a lesson learned. 

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Bathing Suit Pattern Tester: Bahama Mama

Yep, you read that right. 

To be chosen as a pattern tester is astonishing to say the least, but to then have the pattern be for a bathing suit? What was I thinking, right? Swimsuit fabric...photo shoot...in the suit? Never done that before....Crazy!

I was sort of thinking that I wouldn't be chosen, because I have entered tests before and hadn't gotten picked, so I just kind of put it out of my mind and went on with my day. Lo and behold I checked my email the next morning and discovered that I was indeed chosen as a pattern tester! Shock and amazement all around!! Oh, I wanted to share it with everybody. But I had work to do.

The pattern is the Bahama Mama color block tankini and boy shorts from Peek-A-Boo Pattern Shop. I tested the xxs size. (Stop hating. I'm naturally thin, and don't work at it. We are all beautiful and different. The way we are supposed to be.) I'm even in the lineup for photos on the website under each pattern. I'm famous, y'all! :) Not really, but I do feel a little bit special.

I went to Hancock Fabrics to get the swimsuit material because it was close to where I was working that day, and JoAnn's didn't have anything for adults.

never did use the nude for the lining, I used black instead.

I wasn't thrilled with the fabric I chose, but it wasn't for a kid, and the pattern reminded me of water so I bought it.

Then, I got to work cutting out the pattern, and the fabric, and getting everything ready for sewing.

all the pieces!

I used my serger for most of this project. I had never really done that before. I had zero issues with using the serger to sew swimsuit fabric.

I loved how it came together. I love that it is something for me since I sew so much for the kids. I loved the print even more as the project went along.

The final result....an awesome bathing suit that I made...for me!

I had my son take the photos since I couldn't find a friend who had a half hour to help me on the one nice day we were going to have the week I needed to do photos. 

He did a pretty good job with little direction from me. The ladies in the test group were impressed and said that their husbands could use some lessons (especially if my hubs had been the one behind the camera). Way to go, Son!

yes, I have an outie. :)

great coverage

I love the fit of this suit and the pattern was easy to follow. Never sewed with swim fabric? No worries. I hadn't either, really. I had no issues at all with my fabric and my machines. Everything went very smoothly.

My husband thought I did a good job on this project, but did say that it didn't show enough skin. Heehee. Sorry, sweetie.

If I ever get a chance to make myself another suit, I think I will go up a size in the top to make it easier to put on and take off. It's like you almost have to be a contortionist to get in to and out of those things.

The bottoms are fully lined. The top is lined as well, and has a shelf bra. My swim fabric was a nice quality (thick/dark) so I probably could have left out the lining and just used the shelf bra. I might do that next time as well. And maybe lengthen the shorts a bit. I am just long all over and a bit more coverage would be ok with me. The suit was very comfortable to wear and walk around in. No riding up or plumbers cleavage. 

If you are looking for a great bathing suit pattern, this is it! Sizes range from xxs-xxxl. You can mix and match your sizes to get the best fit for you.

Sew yourself a suit! You won't regret it. Promise.