It's been a fruitful summer thus far, but I want to save our summer discoveries for another post. Soon. For now, I want to share something that I'd been working on all last week. After so much time away it's hard to get the ball rolling again. But I have to admit it was nice to take things slow.
I was inspired to sew this little dress while taking my kids to the playground early one morning. It had rained the night before so the ground and bark was dark and saturated with water. The droplets on the grass sparkled in the morning light. It was truly magical.
I imagined a moss green velveteen dress. At first it was an early century look. Something with a Peter Pan collar and lightly puffed sleeves but after some thought I decided a sleeveless, modern style combined with the antique look of green velveteen would be more appropriate for this time of year.
The dress is made of green velveteen. When I went to the fabric store I originally had them cut two yards of real velvet thinking it was $12.99. When I looked down at the ticket they gave me, it instead said $27.99....times two....which totalled over $50!
I had a 40% off coupon but even so, that was a bit too rich for my blood. So I sadly took it back and had them cut a $8 piece of green velveteen which still looked fine but just wasn't as heavenly soft. So sorry about that:(
Aside from accidentally sewing the collar upside down the first time, the dress was pretty easy to assemble. It came together so well. And I'm not too humble to admit I'm really proud of the craftsmanship of this dress.
So often my work comes out stringy and loose. With my new serger I went over every rough edge and even went so far as to add invisible hems which takes a little extra work but when you're taking things slow anything is possible.
I knew I wanted some kind of woodland theme associated with the dress seeing as the context of the photos were so mossy and green. But when taking photos of Lily in the woods she had a playfulness to her mood.
I imagined a curious child wearing this dress skipping through the forest playing random schoolyard games with a friend. Sort of like in 'Snow Falling on Cedars', when Ishmael and Hatsue are playing in the mossy forests of the Washington Puget Sound.
Wasn't that the most beautiful movie? Sometimes in college I would put it on in the background while I was doing some mundane chore just because the scenery and soundtrack was entertaining in itself.
This fourth photo looks so sad but I had to include it because I thought she looked darling. At the moment it was taken the moss on the tree was grossing her out and she didn't like to stand near it.
I know it's a little strange but my favorite photos of Lily are the ones where she's slightly smiling, looking lost or angry. I guess it's the Vogue Magazine reader in me.
I would say this little dress I would fit a 4-6T.
Please check back tomorrow for new winners. I've given that duty to Brian as I tend to procrastinate about them so he will be choosing them tonight and I'll be posting them by tomorrow.
As usual, if you would like a chance to win this dress just link back to this post. If you have any questions see the "questions and answers" link to the right. If you use blogger just use the "create a link" link at the bottom of this post. If you don't use blogger, that's fine too. Just create a link on your page as you normally would and I will see it using Technorati.
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53 {comments}:
this is very cute and simple, I love the inspirations!!!!
this is very cute and simple, I love the inspirations!!!!
Beautiful! I've missed you :) I hope you and your family had a wonderful summer. Thanks for all your hard work!
This is beautiful!! I love your that your inspriation was moss and bark and trees after a rain. I miss those things!
Very cute!!!!
Very cute!!!!
Very cute!!!! Love it!!!
so very cute. i hear you about the velvet. beautiful but pricey. the dress looks amazing anyway. i've linked you.
Such a cute dress.
This dress is just beautiful- I love the color and style.
Inspiring :)
Your blog is inspiring.
Just gorgeous!
Beautiful color and someone's daughter would love very lovely wearing it. :)
gahome2mom/at/gmail/dot/com
So glad you took some time to have a slow summer :) Excited you are back though! Love the dress
I love this sweet little dress. It would be great for winter paired with a sweater. If I don't win it I might just have to make one:o)
Oooh, I love it! Would make a fantastic fall/winter flower girl dress~!
This dress is so beautiful - I love the color and the fabric!
I'm so glad you're back! I kept checking for a new post everyday and was sad to see you gone for so long. The inspiration really helps me keep the ball rolling on my own projects!
This is so cute! I love it. Your daughter is such a cute model!
What an adorable dress (and model, too!)
such a beautiful dress!
I blogged about it here: http://lilahbean.blogspot.com/
Oh so cute. I also like the photo of Lily being scared of the mossy tree. Adorable and it shows some true emotions. :)
does my link on the side of my blog count as a link? I hope I win!!
unbelievably beautiful! you have such talent that I can only dream about.
linked here: http://fourfisks.blogspot.com
You know, your pieces are beautiful but your photos truly MAKE them! You bring your pieces to life and just add the beauty and meaning to them!
Very cute!
I officially linked! And the dress is beautiful & DOES remind me of moss! Love it!
Thankyou for such a lovely giveaway, it would look great on one of my girls!
I love it! I linked
so beautiful
Linked and loving it!
Gorgeous! Don't you hate when the price isn't what you thought. Good self control on taking it back.
My (almost) four year old would look gorgeous in this dress!!!
Glad you've been having a busy (and presumably FUN)summer!!
My daughter love this dress!!! Pick me!! :)
Another beautiful creation,
This dress is beautiful!
I LOVE this dress! I especially love the fabric - this dress is the kind of thing that gets the wheels in my head turning and inspires me to sew!
It's a beautiful dress, before I even read your words I was thinking of green moss...you captured it perfectly.
I linked to your giveaway on my blog.
Thank you for a wonderful giveaway chance!
Beautiful dress... I love it! It would look adorable on my 4 year old!! I have created a link on my blog...
Linked! But my blog is set to private... Cute dress! It would look so cute on my little sis!
So beautiful! It's so important to feel inspiration to create such beautiful pieces. Lovely and it would look beautiful on my two year old girl Eleni. :) I blogged about you in my journal.
Beautiful.
Oh, I love it! You are so talented!
Wow that reminds me of my childhood!
The setting of the pics is perfect for showing off the dress. Well done!
Love it! Definitely put a link to it on my blog b/c I just know that color would also look great on my daughters.
Here's hoping...because I would love to dress my daughter in it! :)
As always, your pictures and your daughter are lovely...
love the green! You are linked up...
Adorable! Love the color.
So beautiful!
oh, i love it! it would look so pretty on my fair skinned, strawberry blond daughter! darling!
this would be perfect for my aunt's baby!
darling
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