K and I had a little conversation this weekend:
Me: What kind of birthday dress do you want, honey?
K: White.
Me: Okay, what else?
K: Balloons. Yeah, balloons all over, with a hot air balloon right on the chest, and with big letters that spell out “Happy Birthday”. Make sure to use lots of colors, Mommy.
Friends, I couldn’t do it. My inner minimalist took over, and I struggled to bring myself to stencil her design onto this decidedly bridal-looking, but beautifully simple dress.
My mom added to the bridal effect by creating two flower pins, and guess what? K is in love with the whole ensemble. She preferred the smaller flower over the big one on the dress, but the larger flower pin became an excellent prop.
This is a self-drafted dress made out of a linen blend, and I inserted my second invisible zipper in two weeks, making me feel like a zipper ninja. I also fully-lined it, and it is most certainly a party dress. Just in time for her special day tomorrow.
This came out exactly how I envisioned it, and the fit is pretty perfect. In fact, so perfect that I doubt she’ll be able to wear this dress next week since she’s growing like crazy right now.
I still may add the balloons and lettering, now that I’ve got the dress photographed in its pristine whiteness. Then again, it feels like sacrilege somehow. Maybe she’ll be satisfied with this photo below? (I digitally painted the design onto the image)
Sanae!
Sanae!
Wow, wow and wow. And did i mentioned wow? It’s just awesome. Can’t find the words and i think this is one of my favorites from you (until the next “hot” thing you show here *biggrin*)
I’m a bit jealous that you can dress you kid in white. You know my son is turning 7 an saturday, and i’m afraid, if i could get him to wore something white (except from a tshirt), that it would only stay with for the fraction of a minute. Sigh. But i love the idea. Maybe i could tie him to a chair? *anotherbiggrin*
sending you hugs
Marit
Haha
thanks so much, Marit! The likelihood of this dress staying white is pretty slim, so I may have to add the balloons out of necessity!
Absolutely beautiful. I have 5 granddaughters and I don’t know that I would dress any of them in white. But your birthday dress is giving me second thoughts. And maybe if they had a beautiful white dress they may forget about ball playing, tree climbing and dirt digging (at least while they were wearing it). It is just elegant in it’s simplicity. And you are the ZIPPER NINJA.
Thank you, Karen! Definitely not a practical dress, but hey, you’re seven only once, right? I think the white dress makes K feel extra fancy!
Gorgeous dress. My son is always asking me to make clothes for him that are not my tastes. I am making a dinosaur shirt right now out of guilt. I think I’ll just stop asking him what he wants
Oh, but I bet your son loves everything you make for him, Christine! I love getting K’s input, but I try to put my own spin on the garments way too often
Umm GORGEOUS!! That is all
Thank you, thank you, Meghan!
Not only an invisible zipper ninja, but clearly a Photoshop (or whatever program you use) ninja as well! My heart says stay with the white, but I also understand the desires of a birthday girl can weigh pretty heavily as well. K’s dressing is simply stunning, and I love its simplicity. Yay you for also creating your own pattern – amazing what a year of sewing clothes can do for one’s pattern making ability:) The fit is perfect!
Yep, that’s Photoshop in action there. I’m definitely feeling a lot more comfortable drafting my own patterns lately — I’m even trying to tackle adjusting fit for myself (much harder than drafting patterns for little ones). Thanks, Lucinda!
Sanae, Wow! I love white!. I usually don’t put white clothes on my daughter, because there always will be the spilling accident. This Birthday dress is so beautiful, not only because the colour, but the design. I’m absolute in love with that crossed back feature!.
White is a perennial classic, right? All those kids from pre-early twentieth century wore white, so I figure it’s not too far-fetched to dress my millennium child in ivory….:-)
I have to say I love the dress both ways… so beautiful!
Thanks, Kristi! I’m curious how the dress would actually look if I stenciled it (or maybe appliqué the hot air balloon?) so I just might do it when the stains inevitably happen!
WOW! What an absolutely wonderful dress!!
Thanks Pienkel! So funny, I was thinking that I might be the only one who loves the simplicity of it, but I’m so glad I’m not alone
Totally a ninja!
That is a beautiful dress. You should find some wedding to crash, she could be a flower girl or jr bridesmaid! Happy birthday to your little one.
Haha
A pint-sized wedding crasher – that would be hilarious! Thanks for the birthday wish, June! I have much to do before her birthday party this weekend!
Wow! This dress is absolutely gorgeus!
I did like the balloon version but prefer the white one
Thanks, Mayda! I just didn’t have the heart to add bright colors to the dress (though it was mostly because I thought I might mess up).
Absolutely charming with or without the balloons
Thanks so much, Erin! K loved twirling in it and actually wanted to take MORE pictures, so this was a big hit
wow it’s beeeauuuuutiful, Sanae! What a perfect dress. Happy birthday to K!
Thanks, Kristin! I’m kind of in love with it myself
Love it too! What about putting a WHITE balloon on? A sort of white-on-white secret applique? I’m also thinking you should do it AFTER the birthday party to cover any evidence of chocolate cake!
Ooh, I like the idea of white on white. Brilliant, Victoria! In fact, K spilled tomato soup on her dress at her birthday lunch, so I’ll be able to try that out!
Stunning. Lovely as a simple, white dress.
Now I’m going to imagine that you fling your invisible zippers backhand across the room rather than sew them in like the rest of us mortals.
I too like the idea of appliques as required by mishaps. The appliques could even represent the fun that was being had in the dress resulting in the stain. Sort of a story dress….
Haha! That’s me, zinging zippers across the room, karate-chopping fabric into submission
And yes, the appliqué-to-hide-stains is appealing to me more and more…
What a gorgeous dress! I love it! I also like the balloons, though
Thanks Fiona! It was a pretty quick sew too, since I didn’t have to trace any patterns and add seam allowances like I normally do!
My daughter also loves a white dress, a little ironic since she also loves to spill. Zipper ninja!! Love it
So true for K too! And why is it that they always seem to spill the most staining food when wearing white? It’s never water, but tomato bisque soup in K’s case. Sigh…:-)
Brilliant! The crossed straps, the flower, the simplicity… And nothing suits a dark-haired girl better than white…
Thanks An! That almost sounds like a lyric to a song: “nothing suits a dark-haired girl better than white…” Love it!
So stunning!! You are the queen of beautiful, understated simplicity. The flower is the perfect touch. Lucky girl, that K!!
Oh thanks Gail! Coming from the queen of tasteful, gorgeous mixology of color, I’m beyond flattered!
what a classy little dress! really great!