To Do list

My To Do list is extra long this month. Or maybe I am starting on a new and "Extra Busy" path.
Either way.. I can feel the pressure!
I am having fun with it all though. That is the most important thing. I want to keep what I LOVE to do.. fun.
On my sewing forum (not "mine" but the forum I participate in) hosts swaps and I love to get involved when I can. I signed up for two this month and am running the line with my shipping date. I signed up for the Toddler clothing swap (2t-4t) since this will be the only time the twins will be able to be in that one.. and I also signed up for the mama stuff swap. A swap entirely mama based. All kinds of goodies get swapped in that one!

I am switching between sewing for the two swaps and today I decided to try something I have been dying to do.. upcycle a men's dress shirt into a girls dress. SoOper fun!!
I got a bunch in the last clothing swap we had and they are in a pile screaming at me to cut them up.
 I went with the flow and made my own pattern as I went along. Great outcome.

I really love the design of this dress. It can be worn as a dress with leggings for sizes 2 through 5-6 as a top!
Thanks for reading!

Playing Dress Up

My little Brother is getting married this weekend!
Congrats Kurt and Mel!
I needed a dress. Those who know me, know that I am more of a... oh I don't know.. I don't usually wear dresses. We will leave it at that.
But for this glorious occasion I felt it was appropriate for me to adorn a dress.
Problem number two then arises. I NEED A DRESS!
I am pretty picky about my clothes, I guess I am lucky that I can sew. I knew from the get go that I would be making the dress I was going to wear. That saves loads of stress from shopping, right? Nope..
I am still pretty stressed..lol.
I found fabric that I adore. Bought 5 yards of it at a great clearance price. Fun.
Never could quite choose a design though. I prefer the boho, hippie, simple style. Easy on, easy off... that sounds worse than I mean, but you get my drift. I prefer my clothes simple.
The fabric I found was alight pink on pink stripe. Very faintly seersuckerd on the lighter stripes. Beautiful drape and flow.

I paired it with a cream colored, organic bamboo cotton blend. This stuff has been in my stash for over a year. I love it. They look great together too.

Very spring. I only used the cream as a lining but it peaks out here and there so I wanted something nice and soft under the pink.

The original dress I wanted to copy, as adorable as it is, wouldn't work with this fabric and I realized that as soon as I cut my circles for the skirt portion of the dress. The knit fabric that I intended to use for my dress was too drapy for the more formed circles of the original. Not good for that pattern.. but still good! I also needed straps on my shoulders. So.. needless to say.. I ditched the original plan and went with my imagination. The dress.. it is O.K. I already have the chest piece picked off so I can straighten the pleats. That's what I get for "quickly finishing" it late last night. I get to fix it today.
I am also NOT sold on the ruffled waistband. I don't like it. I am almost done taking that off but I have no clue what to do in it's place. I am down to scraps of the pink but have lots of the cream fabric. Ideas welcome. I could just remove the top ruffle and reattach the bodice.. that is an option. Well.. he is it now. I will post after pictures.. after it is fixed.

 The necklace rocks with this dress.. should I keep it or ditch it?