year no. 3
Of course, she got her dress. You knew she'd get the dress, right? After her not-so-subtle plea, she never let up (such is the plight of the youngest child), asking each and every time she popped into my studio, "You makin' my Christmas dress, Mama?" followed by an incredulous "Why?!" whenever the answer was 'not yet'. When it was finally complete and I tried it on her, her immediate response was, 'My no like it. Take it off." Oh, yes, that's just what she did. Thankfully though, with the allure of new tights on Christmas morning (it's official that all my kids think tights are the most fabulous clothing article of all. And if I had tights with snowflakes on them I would have to agree), she happily wore the dress long enough for Christmas brunch, and even for one more party after that. Yay!
The fabric is by Maywood Studio. The pattern is a vintage one. I eliminated the lace, and added a little bit of baby rickrack instead. Because red baby rickrack belongs with the holidays as much as eggnog does, as far as I'm concerned. I can't resist these things.
And to continue our matchy holiday outfit tradition for the third year in a row, I made myself this apron. The pattern is the Apron Overlay from the Amy Butler Barcelona Skirt pattern. It's a great pattern - easy to follow and quick to whip up, and I was quite happy to wear it Christmas morning, but I'm not such a fan of how it fit - perhaps my sizing was off. Or perhaps my waist has moved. Surely it was the pattern. Ahem.
I know I swore a zillion times over before having children, that I would never do this matching clothes thing to my kids. But whatever, I'll happily eat those words now and continue sewing for just a few moments of fun, silly, and sweet with my baby girl. We like it.
Matchy-matchy for a little girl is so fun.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | January 02, 2008 at 02:41 PM
What a gorgeous, gorgeous dress. I love the red and how perfect the tights look with it!
Posted by: Florence | January 02, 2008 at 02:41 PM
I'm still laughing about "My no like it." What a monkey! :) I'm glad the tights made it all okay, though...
Posted by: Becky | January 02, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Oh so cute! Love the fabric. Just remember that the list of things we swore we wouldn't do when we had kids gets bigger. It's okay...especially when it involves something so frickin' cute! Happy New Year! Can't wait for your book.
Lauren
Posted by: Uppity Girl | January 02, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Aww I love it, and her precious comments...lol. Tights are officially the most disliked garment in our home. I must be thankful that we left Canada and moved to the warmer south, or I'd surely never have my girls wear a dress again, or they'd be frost bitten at least.
Happy 2008 to you and your family!!
Posted by: Kathy | January 02, 2008 at 03:06 PM
love that photo of you and your wee lady. so sweet. happy holidays and new year to you and your ever-inspiring family.
Posted by: traci | January 02, 2008 at 03:58 PM
LOVE LOVE the banner.
Posted by: jean | January 02, 2008 at 04:20 PM
Aww. You both look so pretty. I'm glad she got the dress and I feel vindicated in dressing my children in matching clothes now I know you do too. Happy New Year.
Posted by: Josie | January 02, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Oh so much cuteness!
Posted by: Kineret Willowgreene | January 02, 2008 at 04:37 PM
o, loving the matchiness of this...the tights and the border on the apron with the fabric! have fun being "same" for as long as you can. I just put up a textile stamping project that strikes me as one your babes would love. would be great fun to see what they do. xoC
Posted by: charlotte | January 02, 2008 at 05:53 PM
PS: I just have to ask, are you really tall? Just wondering.
Posted by: Grace | January 02, 2008 at 06:21 PM
I always thought I'd never to the matching thing either...until I've seen all of the cute things you've made on your blog. Thanks for the inspiration. I see matching stuff for my daughter and myself in my future!
Thanks, Amanda, for all of the great and inspiring photos and projects that you continue to share with all of us. Both the Apron Overlay, and the little dress are adorable!
Posted by: ~ Junkyard Jennifer | January 02, 2008 at 06:26 PM
matchy-matchy rocks, do it as long as you can. i love that apron, and i have the pattern. this was just the push i needed to try it! now i can't wait!
Posted by: katie | January 02, 2008 at 06:40 PM
Yes, I too shall gleefully walk down that road of matching dreses with my daughter and even matching my children's clothes with each other even after memories of complaining to my mother for doing the same. Something happens when you give birth-I must make sure that all know that you are mine and I am yours... ;) Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Tee-Tee | January 02, 2008 at 07:22 PM
don't think my comment went through - saw these shoes online -- they would be perfect for your little dolly!!
http://mightyjunior.com/archives/2007/12/red-chirp-baby-shoes
Posted by: Julia | January 02, 2008 at 10:00 PM
We're tight fans here too. My daughter regularly wears tights under her snowpants, such is her refusal to wear trousers. Love the snowflake ones Miss A is sporting!
Posted by: lina | January 02, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Of course she got her dress! Oh, I would never take that dress off if I had something like it, and those tights - ooohhh those tights, why don't they make things like that for grown up? I think in about 20 or so years she'll still want to be all matchy at Christmas time, or at least, she'll come back to it!
Posted by: Ellie | January 02, 2008 at 11:57 PM
Love the tights! And the red ric rac is perfect. Happy new year! I look forward to a new year of your inspiring blog. Best wishes for the coming year. Only four months until your book comes out! Yay!!!
Posted by: simplybysandi | January 03, 2008 at 12:21 AM
What a fun picture of you and your lil' one. And I find myself doing the matchy-matchy myself with three girls. And I found that idea SO STRANGE before kids as well. I stopped myself this year wearing a matching santa hat for our family Christmas portrait. :-)
Posted by: Diane Arias | January 03, 2008 at 07:49 AM
Love it. So sweet. My dd loves to matchy match, too. And...she.loves.tights. loves. them.
I remember my grandma lois making my momma and me some matchy matchy green and white checked polyester shorts outfits when i was a wee one and I LOVED it. LOVED. IT. Power to your matchiness... ;)
Posted by: angela | January 03, 2008 at 07:50 AM
That's a beautiful dress. I had to laugh when you wrote about the tights - my dd 2.5 wore only her new pair of pink tights (with dots and felt flowers at the ankle) for the whole of Christmas day including dinner! She explained that she was being a superhero of course.
Posted by: claire | January 03, 2008 at 08:56 AM
you two are so cute! love the apron idea.
Posted by: erin | January 03, 2008 at 01:19 PM
Oh, I can't wait until I can do holiday dresses with my girl and I. Or, a holiday apron/dress. It will be so much fun sewing for my little ones.
Posted by: Jenny | January 03, 2008 at 01:52 PM
oh my gosh. you two are just the peaches queen. i love your big smiles. so much fun in this picture! even if only for a few moments. :)
Posted by: mindful mothering | January 03, 2008 at 02:16 PM
My two-year old refused to wear the Santa skirt I made for her to wear on Christmas. Broke my heart... until Daddy convinced her to put it on and she wore it all day. Smiles all around.
Posted by: mary | January 03, 2008 at 10:05 PM
I love the overlay skirt! I never ran across that pattern by Amy so thanks for sharing it. I think it looks so cute, but I am not wearing it. :o)
Posted by: MiraclesHappen | January 03, 2008 at 10:10 PM
hi!
I just want to tell you that admire your work, photos and blog.You have been my inspiration to start a blog.
Thank you so much for being like you are.
Posted by: marina | January 07, 2008 at 05:36 AM
That is so, so beautiful!
Posted by: Melissa | January 07, 2008 at 09:00 PM