99.3%

I cut out the dress and slip Wednesday afternoon, sewed the dress Thursday and sewed the slip this morning. Everything is finished except for sewing on the tiny snaps. That'll take about 1/2 hour max and I'll be done. Yay!

I cut the pattern to XXS which said it would fit a baby up to 7#. Hmmm. This looks like it would fit a baby up to at least 8#, and that's a lot of difference on a baby. Evie will probaby swim in it. I'd rather it fit too big than too small, though. Jen gave me the pattern, and it LOOKS cute, but it's a Vintage 1952 pattern. Apparently sewing techniques have changed drastically in the last 60 years. I've never seen such a bizarre pattern. I'm just glad it's done. It wasn't hard, just weird.

Anyway, here are pix of the finished (99.3%) dress and slip. Pretty dress for a pretty baby. I'll take pix of her wearing it on  her blessing day and post them later.

I also ended up getting a lot of other things done Wednesday afternoon besides cutting out the dress. I made Chicken Pot Pie (from scratch) for supper, made a batch of Brown Sugar cookies, finished all the laundry and had a little more free time for myself. It felt good to get so many things done.

Motivation? What Motivation?

It's laundry day, the first batch is done, I've just finished reading "The Woman In White" by Wilkie Collins (The first detective story ever written) and I need to get started on Evie's blessing dress. The kids have decided to bring her home to our ward to have her blessed this weekend. I have been wanting needing to get started on her dress, but I just can't get excited about doing it.

It's not going to be hard, it's not going to take a long time, I have all the materials that I need to complete the whole thing, I even have the next 3 days to do it. I just can't get motivated to start it. Part of my hesitation is probably due to the fact that I need to get into the kitchen and do the dishes and wipe the counter and table so that I have a place to cut out the pattern pieces. It's Hailey's turn to do the dishes, she's at school and will probably have the excuse of homework when she gets home, (how do you argue with homework?) and I really can't wait that long to get started. I know that dishes aren't hard. I could get them done in 15 minutes or less. I just want to curl up in my chair and read another library book. At least the sun is shining today, and I don't think we'll get any snow or rain today, but this is Idaho in Spring, so who knows. Yesterday we had snow falling from a sunny sky. Go figure!

Simplicity Pattern #2900, size XXS, Dress View A (longer and without embroidery) with Slip View B (also longer and without embroidery), white batiste fabric, lace by Wrights (I think).

Can It Be?

Today was a beautiful day. It was a true spring day with warm temps, blue sky and just light breezes, not the gusty weather with precip that we've been dealing with for the last 38,000 days. It's enough to make me want to open the windows, air out the house and run barefoot through the grass. (I had the windows open for about 15 minutes, but it's still not WARM yet. I got cold. My feet would have frozen.)  This might have to keep me going for a while. The weather dudes are predicting still more rainy days and snowy days. Of course by now, the snow never accumulates but that it's melted by noon, and often acts more like rain than snow. It's just the idea that it's coming down in flake form rather than drop form. *Sigh*

Our little baby girl is 4 weeks and a day. She'll be a month old on Thursday. I can't believe a whole month has gone by already. I miss her and wish I could snuggle her. I've been trying to bribe her parents into coming to stay for an extended visit. We'll see how that pans out.

Promises, Promises

When I got home from playing Nonna, I found this.

 It's just a teaser, because today, I woke up to this.

It IS melting, and I can't imagine it will be like this forever, but I would very nearly commit mayhem just to have 2 consecutive days of warmth and sunshine.

Home Again

Tad came to get me Friday evening at the kids', stayed over and we left Saturday morning to come back home. It's good to be back in my own bed, my own shower...the kids were great hosts, and I loved helping out and holding that sweet baby girl. I miss her already. It's going to be a long wait until we can see her again.

There are things to do now that I'm home. I need to sew a blessing dress for Evie, finish the quilted tote bag I started for Hailey, get caught up on laundry and cleaning and pray for warm, Spring weather. I have more painting projects (Surprise!) that need a warm, calm day. I want to open the windows and let the fresh air in. I want to be able to enjoy the crocus that are up. (Yay!) I feel rootbound. I want to blossom and grow. Hurry, Spring! According to the calendar, you are late!

Crafting at Evie's House

I got to spend the last 10 days in Orem with the kids, helping out and playing with the baby. It was fun, and tiring, but I really enjoyed it. I got to make a few things for Evie while I was there, as well as do a couple of things that Jessie wanted.

I  used to cover binders for my kids' scrapbooks,  using fabric, batting, cardboard and lots of hot glue. Then I got lazy (or smart) and started sewing slipcovers for binders, instead. It's easier, quicker and takes a lot less fabric. Here's the one I made for Evie, using the scraps of fabric I'd gotten for sheets.

I also scanned some of the fabric before I left home and printed off some paper to make a journal for Jessie and Todd to write notes and letters to her. It turned out pretty well. I love to cover composition books. I have more covered books than ways to use them. 

I also made some little mitts for Evie so she doesn't scratch her face with her fingernails. Quick and easy-peasy.

It was fun to be with the kids, but it's also very good to be home. I can't wait to see and hold that tiny cutie-pie again.