My little flutterbudget turns five in two weeks. She is spunky, perceptive, thoughtful, creative and bright, and she is growing up. This has been a summer of many milestones for Elnora Grace. In the last month she has begun to buckle herself in her booster, she can ride about a mile to the end of the road with me on her bicycle with training wheels, she is jumping in the pool and going underwater like a flying fish, and she has become speckled with her first freckles, which she is more than delighted to share with anyone who cares to look closely at her little nose (and that one spot behind her elbow.) These may seem like small everyday things to take for granted, but I think every mom knows how the littlest steps forward can tug at the heart and start us thinking about first rides on the bus, slumber parties and gossip, or send us off contemplating the last time a little hand will reach up for ours while walking to the school steps.
Luckily, I have one more year to savor the littlegirlhood of preschool, and luckily, Nora still likes to wear the silly homemade things I make for her--like this party dress I finished yesterday with Heather Bailey and Amy Butler fabrics.
Now before you start thinking how on the ball I am with this birthday dress, please keep in mind that this was supposed to be her Easter dress. Three months later, I finally finished it. But not before several hours of grumbling, ripping out seams, tugging on slippery fabric, and becoming ruffled with ruffles. . . I thought I would make a vow never to sew another garment again and then I pop it over her darling head, she twirls and giggles, and I want to sit right down and make her three more. It's madness.
The shirring on this was so much fun! If you are a stitcher and haven't tried it, go get yourself a bobbin full of elastic thread and gather up some necklines! I really can't wait to use this simple pattern for some flannel jammies and shorten it up for a couple of swing tops for school. Can you blame me?! She likes them, and before I know it, she'll be rolling her eyes at the mention of anything made by her mother!
