Fit for a Princess

I might as well start with my favorite picture. I love this little girl!  We had a lot of fun putting together her ruffly Easter dress. She picked out the colors of fabric she wanted - with a little guidance. (The red flames were nice, but...) And in the choosing process we both realized that Nicole had never seen lace before! Now she loves it and wears it well.

Yes, the monkey got a matching dress again. All the layers, all the lace. That is one spoiled monkey. The girl isn't spoiled though - she has thanked me a hundred times for it, even after she helped make it. Last week when it was her turn for show and tell in kindergarten, Nicole took Monkey to school with her and wore her matching dress. She even promised she would stay off the tire swing.

Monkeys like sitting in trees.  Have I mentioned that Nicole is a goofball?

Okay. So if the monkey gets a special dress, what about me?!?!

I did it this year. I actually did it. I made a dress for myself! I am really picky about fit so I rarely wear dresses - I mostly wear skirts and tops to church. But noooow.  I did it! First I shopped around for styles I like (for months), then bought a pattern and changed it to how I want it (of course), and voila!  It's not perfect, but it's me:

It's navy blue (not black) if you can't tell. And I don't generally take a picture of my backside, but I was so proud of doing a full zipper that wasn't all wonky! I even perfected it so that the zipper doesn't show- only fabric. See?

I'm not sure why I enjoy sewing so much. Most people find it frustrating but I find it very calming. I just love to create.

I'm super excited that I just got invited to be a regular tester for the pattern company I like so much.  Create Kids Couture will be changing their name soon, since they're expanding into Tweens and Women's sizes. (That's where the testers come in.) I tested a women's pattern yesterday but I can't post pictures until it has been released. I'm not a big fan of wearing flowy dresses like a lot of theirs are, so I might be borrowing  friends to model some of them for me. A familiar face may be on that website someday.

Today as I was browsing through all of Nicole's dress pictures (187? Really?), I noticed something. She's starting to look a LOT like me... when she's not smiling.  And a lot like Ben when she is. Right?

So that's what the ladies have been up to, during the quiet hours at our house.