India is Twenty-Wonderful!

Do you have any idea how much I love this girl?

India is the only treasure that I carried under

my heart for 9 months.

And she has been my joy for every day of her

21 years.

I am so grateful that she is mine.

She loves a good adventure!

She is goofy and knows a good cuppa' when she sees one!

She knows how to wield a fry pan when necessary!

And she is completely wonderful in every way.

Today,
as my darling girl is still battling
a nasty cold,
and awaiting news of her (hopefully!!!)
impending acceptance for another
term in the Disney College Program,
I pray peace and health for her.

I pray joy and love.

I pray tenacity and strength.

I pray trust and courage.

I am so grateful that
21 years ago,
God gave me the desire of my heart,
and gave me this jewel.

Happy Birthday Princess India.

I pray all your dreams come true.

Love,
Mommy



(Photo credits go to her darling friends Sigrid Forsythe
and Jayne McKenna)

My Ahnalin Was VERY Blessed!

Ahnalin received a package in the mail last week!

Inside was one of the most beautiful dresses

I have EVER seen!

A wonderful bloggy friend,

Jan Boyd

of Jan's Smocking Blog

had created this amazing dress for Ahnalin!

Ahnalin is crazy about it

and especially loves the sparkly 

crystal beads and tiny lavender pearls

smocked onto the bodice.

The smocking is truly exquisite!

And the fabric has a rich crispness to it

that feels very princessy.

This was one of the

many hand smocked dresses

that Jan entered into the Western Idaho fair

and won prizes!

She is amazing!!

I am so grateful that Jan chose to bless

Ahnalin with this treasure.

It is long and will fit her for a few years,

which makes this mama very happy!

Ahnalin wanted to make sure

this dress was shown off

in her "Classic Ahnalin" pose.

Thank you so much Jan!

WE LOVE THIS DRESS!!!

Pretty Bridesmaid Dress For Stesha

 

This lovely lady is going to be a bridesmaid

in her sister's wedding in a few months.

And I was blessed to sew her dress for her.

I get to sew her younger sister's matching dress as well.

They are both just gorgeous girls!

 They chose Butterick 5457 for the dress pattern,

and we made a few modifications.

I made a muslin for each girl,

and I am so glad I did.

According to the measurements,

Stesha would have worn a size 12,

yet a size 6 completely swam on her.

If the pattern had come in a size 2,

that may have been close to fitting her.

I am showing the dress on my child size 7/8

mannequin. 

I had to keep taking it in and taking it in,

so that muslin was pretty marked up

by the time I cut into the shantung.

I love how the bodice is tucked.

The pleats are sewn at the top and 

where the bodice meets the midruff,

but they are loose through the length of the bodice.

But the pleated bodice and rouched

midriff really make a lovely, feminine garment.

This doesn't show up very well,

but there is a small ruffle of shell pink organza sewn

to the lining under the skirt.

I love the ethereal look it gives. 

I cut 3 inches off the bottom 

of the lining front and back pieces.

Then I cut the ruffle strips 7 inches long by the full

width of the organza fabric.  

I sewed two strips together  and then

folded them over, encasing the seams, 

so the organza was doubled.

Then I slightly gathered the doubled strip

and attached it to the bottom of the lining,

serging it in place.

I took many notes on the changes I made to this pattern,

so I can reproduce it for the next dress.

I really liked this pattern, 

but I am so very glad I made a muslin.

I get a little frustrated with how inaccurate

the sizing is in the major pattern companies.

But the end result was a really pretty dress.

And I think it showcases Stesha's beauty quite well.

If you have not entered my giveaway for the current
issue of Sew Beautiful Magazine,
where you will find an article that I co-wrote,
go enter HERE.

Happy Sewing!