Ok, I remade the dress....

I forgot to say in the last post that the pattern is wonderful. For most of you I just know it would go together in an hour..For me? I just get challenged because my mind races ahead of the pattern. Now I understand why I flunked out of Home EC sewing. All I made was a wrap skirt for God's sake. Pathetic I know. Just wanted Peekaboo Patterns to know that I am really grateful to have won them and it is challenging me.
So I pulled out some fabric scraps and re cut the pattern using the 18 month size and by gosh it worked. I did change a few things construction wise, but I even got the ruffles on the right side! Woohoo....I decided not to use Easter fabric (I did have some) because Ava could wear it more...I am guessing she will need a t shirt under it for the next few months...














Here is the bodice....I had some pretty soft tulle so I dressed up the bib a bit and this time I left the armholes unadorned.













Here is the whole dress..The wind is blowing a piece over but I left it that way because that is the back of the dress and I used a different fabric. This time I am very happy with it. It turned out very clean and is sewn nicely.
A neighbor who I barely know the other day asked me if I sew...She is a police officer. I said yeah, that I love too and she asked me if I could use a serger....She brought me over a brand new one...For free. Her mother passed and had never used it. She doesnt sew. During the time my stuff was in the garage she noticed my sewing machines. I am trying to overcome my fear and use it. I had it going the other night and was doing pretty good. I want to make reproduction vintage clothes so it was like a miracle falling out of the sky!


After playing with the serger, I finished the March table runner...Again I used scraps and did the simplest runner ever. Someone who has never quilted could make this I promise. You sew the strips onto the batting (for me an old towel) and backing fabric and it is quilted as you go...I played with stitches and just had fun...












After you are all done you just trim it up and bind it....I make my own binding but they even sell it all made up at the fabric stores...This runner was one hour from start to finish.












It really is the easiest and if anyone would like directions, I would be happy to share. I had some super thin ravelly yellow gingham and I ruffled it and made a giant flower. I like it a lot and it looks like March on the Oregon Coast to me...the daffodils poking up and adoring the sunshine. Now here, in Utah, as I was sewing on the binding I looked out the window and it was snowing....but I could smell Spring waiting behind the snow. We havent had much of a winter so I really cant complain.

I have been all excited for you all to see the wreath and runner project together month by month.... I had no idea if they would even match because I did them at different times.

Ok, so going backwards, Here is March.


















February:


















And January:














I knew that I wasnt going to be able to do a lot of swaps because of finances and I just wanted to give myself a challenge to keep me creating so the Wreath and Runner every month is my way of staying in the creative mode. All of these things cost very little. I don't think there is anything that cost over ten dollars. Most of it wayyyyy less.
Creativity as an outlet has become so important to me lately, It literally at times keeps me living. I am suffering really bad from PTSD and depression. It is a hard thing to share on a blog but maybe it will help someone else. I am on a bunch of medication (me, who hates to even take a baby aspirin) and still every aspect of my life has suffered. Work is almost impossible and I have a 9.50 an hour job. they want to fire me but are afraid because I have a documented medical condition. Some days thinking about washing my hair sends me into a panic and I go back to bed. So add that into the equation when talking about getting myself to work. I am afraid to answer my phone, when I hear a siren I have to call every member of my family and then go hide for a while. It is a terrible way to live. I feel good in my sewing room though, so as long as I have this and it still makes me feel something I know I will be ok.

My dad is in the hospital again. He was in the same hospital in Portland in February and my kids paid for me to fly home. He is having heart issues again and they are waiting to do surgery and I am a wreck. In fact, no work today. I am just shaking every time I think of dad. I could use your prayers guys...For strength and for Peace...I have lost my strong..Cant believe I ever had it. I so look forward to your comments on the stuff I make and sometimes it really keeps me going. Thanks so much for your friendship and support!!!!!!!! xoxox melinda