Beach or Bust

We took our family vaca this year to the beautiful 30A in Florida.  This is the third year in a row that we have spent a wonderful week at Sea Grove Beach.  This is the girls really came out of their "shell" hehehe...  So glad they were not afraid of the water, and realized they can make a sand castle! 

The first day was a wash out!  Rained all day!  But the next 6 days was BEAUTIFUL!

Looking for shells with GiGi!

Working on our Boogie Boarding....

 Just chilling....

The last day we had family pictures taken at Grayton State Park.

We love living in Arkansas on our beautiful farm, but the beach is our second home!

Edelweiss pattern tour!



Hello web friends.  I was ecstatic to pattern test for the SUPER talented Adrianna the mastermind behind the pattern line hey june, and co-author of Crafterhours, and then my husband had to pick me up off the floor when I was asked to be on the tour!

It one of our communication emails Adrianna said "Yea, Three Girls club!"  And I couldn't agree more!  I love my crazy girls and their three different personalities, sassy, bossy, and sweet! Can you pick which one is which?!?!  Warning PICTURE OVERLOAD HERE!!!!



I have to say I was not "compensated" for this review, however I was given the pattern for free, but it is AWESOME and I would purchase it over and over again. 



"The Edelweiss Dress is a cute, breezy sundress with an empire bodice and ruffled straps. It comes with an option for a pieced bodice, so you can feature a beloved fabric, vintage hanky, piece of embroidery, or anything you'd like in the central panel. It also comes with a tunic length option that pairs perfectly with leggings, shorts, or pants."


As I was cutting the pattern pieces I started singing "edelweiss, edelweiss, you look happy to meet me"  Fav movie of all time, well Musical at least!  And I continued to sing all the way through the sewing, "Hi My name is Ashley and I am a nerd"

I had some beautiful voile cotton and chambray in my stash and went to work!  The pattern is super easy to follow and comes together quickly.  I made three dresses in a week and I am no super woman, I like my 9 o'clock bedtime!

The bodice fit is wonderful, definatly check with the measurement and not just the age/size, My girls are tiny for their age and ALWAYS need a size down.  With that, the bodices fit like a glove (with just a wee bit of wiggle room) but that's a good thing, no gaping under the arms!  I chose to make the one piece bodice front, but the next time I make it I will try the pieced version!





The only "modification" if you can call it that, was with the straps.  I followed the pattern to a T, but before I stitched them down, I tried them on the girls, and adjusted the length so the straps would not be too loose and fall.  I have come to find that anytime I make something and it has one little hiccup, the girls refuse to wear it! 

This pattern can be dressed up for a special occasion, or as casual as a Saturday afternoon walk around the town square!  The girls L.O.V.E these dresses and beg for them all the time!

I love all things "rufflefied" yes it's a word.... and the sweet ruffles on the straps give it the perfect feminine touch.

This dress will be one that I make for several years to come, and yes matchy matchy (and big bows) is they way we roll down here in the South.

After I made these I had to make just one more (for now) and I added pockets in the side seam!

This is the perfect dress for some vintage lace from my grandmothers stash!

Thanks again Adrianne for this opportunity!

If you would like to purchase this pattern, and who wouldn't... hurry and tap your way over to the pattern shop!   Happy sewing!

Details Details!

Linking up with Andrea's Make it Wear it Thursday over at The Train to Crazy, yes I know it's Friday oh well.....

This dress is all about the details! 

 

Peter Pan collar... with piping!

Big Button,

 

and of course.....

RUFFLES!!!!

 

This dress was so fun to make!  I love the fact that she loves it and will twirl non-stop! 

The dress also has a bow sash, 3 quarter sleeves with piping trim and invisible zipper! 

 



 

Changes

As I sit here and type at the end of the day sitting in my empty classroom I  can smell shaving cream rising from the clean empty desks.  I look over at the empty cubbies and bare walls and my heart aches and races with excitement at the same time.  I have taught first grade in this same classroom for a wonderful school that gave this new graduate a chance nine years ago. 

I hear the other teachers talking in the hall and think, those are my friends.... am I sure I want to do this?????

God has given me a peace.  A peace to quit this career for a new chapter in my life....

I will be going from full time teacher to a part time children's Coordinator for my home church. 
Wow typing it makes it seem real....

I know this is a true God thing.  He will calm my nerves, He will make the transition easier, He will make our finances stretch.  I will be able to help at church at rebuilding our children's ministries, focus on my relationship with God, with my husband, and with the girls.

I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom, I mean, come on, who doesn't!?!? Have you seen my kids? Precious girls!  I will now get to spend more time with them!  I will be able to volunteer in classrooms, and parties, and stay at home 5 out of 7 days a week!! Hallelujah! 

I will be able to use my degree, and experiences more at the church.  I will be able to have fun with the kids and not worry about test scores, grades, and all the legislative "stuff".  I will be able to teach God's Word without worrying, will I get in trouble for reading a Christmas book?!?!?!


I love teaching... I am going to miss it....

But God has plans for me, and my family and I am ready for what he has in store for us!

Bowtastic!

Linking up again with Make it Wear it Thursday over at The Train to Crazy!

I am a fan for bows!  On shoes, in the girls hair, on brown paper packages, and even on their clothes!
During KCW  I whipped up a knit boat neck tank for Carleigh.  I only had enough of this knit from GirlCharlee for one, and felt like my redhead needed a new top! 

She is a keep it simple kind of kid (total opposite of her older sister)  so I knew it needed to be easy for her to get on and off, but wanted a little wow factor in the back.  How do you add wow? Just stick a BOW on it!

The top is fully lined so the neck and arm openings would look clean, yes I know knit does not fray, but I have not been brave enough to leave a shirt unfinished!  After I made the top I noticed it was a tad to short, so I added a band at the  bottom about an inch less in width than the top to kinda "squinch" it's a word, trust me, I think....

Anyhoo.  To make the bow, I just made a large tube shape and then made a small loop and slipped it on and stitched it to the back of the bow to keep things tidy.  I then used my button stitch to "tack" the bow in place.

I tried so hard to match the stripes, dang knit sure moves around when sewing!  I can just here the song in my head taunting me "SO close, yet so far away..." dang it...

I kinda really like this shirt and have a humungo order coming from GirlCharlee for some Tumbletees ( awesome pattern) by Rachael at Imagine Gnats.  I have made three but plan to make more, and two more of these sweet little bow tanks.

And by this time, the redhead was finished.  "Momma, can you put the camera up?  I want to play!"

Stay Tuned next week for a tutorial on this top, and the awesome tumbleetee pattern I am testing!

Hello Sugar!

Linking up again today with Andrea over at The Train to Crazy, and Make it wear it Thursday!


Lendee has always been my sweets eater and I would say "hey sugar baby" to her all the time.  Well I guess it kinda stuck with her (she doesn't forget a thing, plus she will repeat anything everything she hears!  I dropped her off at the babysitter one day and she spouted off "hello sugar".  Well it has become her official greeting, yes my child loves attention. 

I ordered some fabric and knew it would be perfect for a little dress for my verbal little baby!

I drafted the bodice from a shirt that fits her well.  and cut out two rectangles off a different pattern for the skirt.  I felt like the bottom of the skirt needed a bit of color so I cut 4 strips of coordinating fabric, sewed them together ( this was fabric from my boo boo order, so I only had a fat quarter square of each piece).  I had some coral ribbed knit that matched perfectly for the binding.

I was happy with the way it turned out. 

 A simple pearl button to close the back.... buttonholes on ribbed knit, grrrrr.  it took a little finagling.

Perfect for twirling.  The skirt is gathered enough to twirl, but not show of her "bloomers".