Ice Cream Dress/Top

 Oliver + S Ice Cream Dress/Tunic. I made a size 5 with an 8 size length. Ava's measurements are: 25" chest, 24" waist and 25" hip. She is 7 and about 45" tall. It's a perfect fit with not much room for growth. The fabric is Anna Maria Horner Voile from the Little Folks line.

This is my first time making it and I liked it a lot. Easy and so cute. 

I've been in a sewing slump. I don't know what it is. The tiny apartment that's like a cave maybe or that I talk myself out of things. I spend way too much time going through my patterns and fabric trying to make a match and then can't decide. I do have stuff to show and blog though just not like I use to. 

Social Climber Badminton Top

A Badminton Top from the Oliver + S pattern and fabric is by Anna Maria Horner called Social Climber with a little bit of linen blend from Joanns (the teal fabric). I used two layers for the flutter "sleeves" with the under one being slightly longer than the other and the edges left raw. 

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At first I didn't like it. In fact I made this many many months ago. In Germany. Like last September maybe! I thought the colors were too harsh and just didn't care for it. Now I love it. It's the frayed shorts and Emily's hair up and the relaxed look of it. It just looks so cute on her!  

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Here is the first time I used this fabric. I loved that top.

um..yes her shirt is not hemmed...and yes I think I'm going to leave it like that. 

Unless you say it looks horrible?!

Edelweiss Dress Blog Tour

Today is my turn to show off the Edelweiss top I made Ava!

The pattern is called the Edelweiss Dress from Hey June by Adrianna over at Crafterhours. 

That woman is funny and sooo talented and inspiring but really it's the funny that I love the most! I know if we lived in the same place we'd be BFF's. I found Adrianna and her blogging sista, Susan, through my coworkers at the fabric store in Stuttgart. I can't remember where they were living but it was also in Europe! Americans in Europe; we search each other out! At that point I had only been in Germany for a couple of years and was soooo excited to "meet" other American bloggers overseas.  

So anyway, she had posted this dress and I immediately searched to see if I could buy the pattern. It wasn't out yet but she then said she needed testers and I (like the other ladies who wanted to test it) eagerly said I would LOVE to give it a go! I think this dress had me at the ruffles. And the fabrics she chose (here's the original that I fell in love with) were so adorable. As you can see I was inspired by her choices and made mine out of Anna Maria Horner Voile. It's perfect for voile. The little straps...sigh. they are sooo dainty and adorable on Ava's hairy shoulders and back...

I did not put the buttons on yet. I couldn't decide on straight in the back or criss-crossed and we had one beautiful day last week so I jumped at the chance to take the photos in pretty sunny weather not knowing it was going to be in the upper 90's this week. I think the criss-cross straps win. 

The bodice is lined in the same voile as the straps and I think I made a size 4/5? or Just 5? I can't remember how the sizing goes.. but it was super easy to make. I love how Adrianna writes her patterns. 

Below: I had to show this side underarm fat photo (and her dry skin). 

She was so done with me taking photos.

I opted to make the tunic version and not the dress because Ava is ....messy and the dress would get snagged on stuff and I just liked it with shorts. After this photo shoot she got on the trampoline and ripped part of the top where the safety pins are..

of course she did. 

I am sooooo in love with this top and want one in my size. Thank you Adrianna for letting me test your awesome pattern and for keeping me entertained and inspired with your blog:)

School House Tunic

I finally made this top that everyone at the shop has already made.

(Corinnea, Katelyn, Jenny, Lizy, Kara, Kelly and who else...)

I got the ties-on-the-side idea from Kara. Thanks Kara!

The School House Tunic and fabric is Anna Maria Horner Voile. It's like butter. Truly. What made me finally make it was Jenny's new top here. Something about how hers was more fitted in the bust and I love it. I made the 10/12 without any modifications to fit except adding the side ties and sleeve ties.

I added some details to make it more fitted, less boxy. I'm already shaped like a box in the waist/hip area (a.k.a. Jenny Square Pants) I don't need my clothes making it worse!

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Photo of Emily taken after her birthday party.

This is Emily on the left and Ava on the right. Both at age 2.5 years and in the same bikini.

I'm on the 5th book of the Sword of Truth Series and listening to book 2 on audio while I sew. Can you tell I love these books?

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Yesterday we found out that the military is NOT covering our tickets home to visit. NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THEM (at least not till after we move). Long story but we think we've got a way to pay for our tickets now ($4000 thank you very much!). It involves pimping Jon out. Any takers?