Another Easter Picture

As promised, here is a picture of the Three Sisters on Easter. I'm sorry that they're not all sporting big happy smiles, but their cousins were running around playing and I just felt fortunate to get them together and still long enough for a photo. Sara's and Anna's bishops are made of a lightweight linen that I've had in my "stash" for a while. I smocked them with "Linda's Rosebud Collar", which I have just about decided is my all-time favorite plate - in spite of the gazillion bullion rosebuds! It's so pretty smocked on a collar, a plain bishop (like these) or even on a straight yoke. I love when something is so versatile!

Now to give Emily equal time, her outfit was very cute, although storebought (ya'll just don't know how much it is killing me that she has outgrown my little dresses!) Her skirt is brown with white polka dots and trimmed in a cute brown/white striped ribbon. I guess if I tried hard enough I could still make things for her, but there comes a point when you realize it just doesn't look right anymore. I'm just enjoying being able to still do things for Sara and Anna; they grow up so fast!

The Easter Parade . . .

I'll be honest with you: this Easter nearly wore me out!! I finally finished the last customer project on Saturday morning at about 9:00. I was really proud of myself though, because I had smocked Sara's and Anna's dresses back around Christmas, so I was a little ahead of the game and didn't have to stay up late Saturday night sewing, or so I thought. I went to bed Saturday evening and woke up in a panic at 2:30 a.m. (do you ever do that?) and realized that I had forgotten to hem their dresses! Well, I got up and hemmed them and then went back to bed. They were so pretty!

I'm running behind on uploading my pictures, so I'll have to show you Sara and Anna later. Here are just a few of the customer projects I completed this Easter.

Spring is just around the corner . . .

I just love springtime!! I guess I could make a list of all of the "springtime" things that I love, but it would probably get pretty lengthy - so I won't. I guess the biggest thing that I associate with this season is our celebration of Easter. I sometimes jokingly say that "well dressed children and a clean house make me happy" - isn't that appropriate? I mean, spring cleaning and children in beautiful Easter clothes - can't get much better than that!

A lot of people start planning baby dedications, baptisms and Christenings in the spring as well. For the past few weeks, I have not only been pre-occupied with Easter sewing, but have made several Christening/dedication gowns as well.

This first picture is my version of a Sarah Howard Stone gown. It's hard to fully appreciate this gown from the photo. The skirt on this gown is made of 12 teardrop shaped panels - six are plain to allow for hand embroidery and six are made of puffing, lace and entredeaux. The skirt will almost lie flat in a complete circle. I can't wait until I receive a photo of the precious child wearing this beautiful gown!