Saturday, July 12, 2014

Happy Birthday Princess


Wow, how quickly the time passes when you are having fun! Princess is 4 today! Everyone gathered round for the birth of the first grandchild. Ever. Or we acted as if it were so. Marveled at every squeak and sigh.


Every move was documented. Hundreds of times.


You had a fashion sense early on posing as a ballerina your first Halloween. She still rocks this tutu four years later. This girl can get some mileage out of a wardrobe.


Such a happy girl.


You even dined in some of the finest restaurants. Here you are at your first Jazz Brunch.


Before we knew it, it was time for your First Birthday.


Then baby brother arrived. You weren't too sure. Now you are as thick as thieves.


Bubbles! Your second favorite thing after books. And books. And more books.


A close third is a slide. Oh how you love to slide.


You couldn't have been sweeter in your flower dress with Nanny Aim.


Growing up to be such a big girl.


And quite the little Diva.


A real party girl.


Your first day of school. A tough time for everyone. Not sure who cried more.


You have grown up so much. You love princesses, castles, dresses, *&Frozen, reading, being the boss and pink! Happy Birthday, sweet girl.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

With a Cherry on Top

 

Princess has a birthday coming up next week.  And Mimi had a birthday dress to make. I have written about the "Cherry Dress" before here, here and here. It is much beloved where I live and an iconic symbol of the St. Louis Women's Exchange. This year's birthday dress came about in a convoluted way.

Available at Pauline Books

For Easter I had given all the grands a sweet little board book. In there is a picture of some friendly animals having a picnic. Featured front and center of the picnic was a chocolate cake with cherries on top. Every time Momma mentioned her upcoming birthday, she immediately announced she was having a chocolate cake with cherries on top. It took some serious detective work on her mother's part to figure out where this idea came from. She would not be swayed that she was having said cake for her birthday. So when faced with an unrelenting soon to be four year old, Momma did what any mother would do, she decided a cherry birthday party was needed. So that is what was requested.

Children's Corner Inc

I used a well loved classic pattern, Children's Corner Kathy Kelly. This was one of the first Children's Corner patterns I ever bought. I made kelly green dresses for my two oldest girls the Christmas they were 2 and 5. That two year old is Princess's mother.


I substituted a peter pan collar for the lace or round collar to replicate the St. Louis dress. Ignore my "model's" uneven shoulders. I keep telling her to stand up straight. The dress is blue/white seersucker with poly/cotton pique for the collar and cuffs all piped with pink gingham piping. The cherries are three dimensional made from the gingham and stuffed with polyfill. The leaves are embroidered with two strands of floss.


I love pink and blue together. I did interface the button bands and placket lap with a bit of german interfacing. Like me, if it has been 30 years since you put a placket into a box pleat, Lezette Thomason's video on Youtube is invaluable.

Because I am a grandmother who has lost her mind---


A matching dress for Bitty Baby was also made. It did turn out awfully cute. I followed a friend's suggestion to make the chest a tad larger for Bitty Baby. I will let you know how it fits. I did use buttons for the dolly cherries instead of the three dimensional ones. Since I was on a roll---


Two more doll dresses were made. One is for our local chapter's doll auction in November and the other is for an auction at the Miracle Bash to benefit Huntsville Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The two additional doll dresses were done in the traditional white with red trim. Since I was making cherry dresses I figured I would knock these out while I was on a roll.


I sure hope Princess likes her birthday dress with dolly dress to match. I plan on enjoying a piece of that chocolate cake with cherries on top. I will let you know how it goes.

What are you stitching on faithful reader?
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