Success!  I finished the Dorothy costume with time to spare.  And even better, Jane loves it!  She was giddy with anticipation as we braided her hair and got ready to go to the party.  She spent quite a few minutes in front of the mirror, twirling around and admiring her shoes.  Doesn't she look cute?

The costume came together surprisingly well.  I had a few issues with the zipper.  I am not sure what the problem was, as I have successfully sewn zips many times.  It was close to 11:00 at night and my eyesight was getting a bit blurry - that might have had something to do with it.  I finally stopped caring after try number two, repeating to myself, "It is only a costume."  But overall, it looked difficult, but really was pretty easy.

But in the end, the zipper came back to haunt me.  Jane had a little mishap in the jumpie - one of her buttons got caught in the mesh side.  Her friends literally ripped her free.

I don't know if she was more upset that the dress had ripped or that people could see her back.  Not to worry - it is all fixable.  The rips are on the seams and can be easily re-sewn.  I'll just have to deal with that zipper one more time.  Wish me luck.

Jane:  Mom, I got some mail!

Me:  Great!

Jane:  Read it, please.

Me:  OK.  Oh, it's a Halloween party at N's house.

Jane:  Yay! (lots of jumping and high-pitched shrieking)  When?

Me (scanning the invitation):  Um, tomorrow?  Yeah, tomorrow. (Panic starts to set in)

Jane:  Do I wear my costume?

Me (wishing I could lie): Yes, you CAN, but you DON'T HAVE TO, wear a costume.

Jane:  Uh, you'd better get sewing.

Me:   I think you're right.

Looks like it's going to be a long night.  At least I already have this much done.  And thank goodness Kate wasn't invited!  I'd really be screwed then.

One costume has been cut out (!) and apparently we are off to see the wizard this year.

J is going to be Dorothy and K is going to be Glinda, the Good Witch.  They really want me to be the Wicked Witch of the West.  I'm not dressing up this year, but if I were going to I'd choose the Wicked Witch of the East.  She had much better shoes!

She's finally here - Jane's Olive!

These dolls are well loved!  They are being dragged all around the house, participating in all kinds of play and Kate has been sleeping with her Olive.  True signs of a great toy!!  Archie is coming soon...

I made this pinafore for the August and September Tie One On.  My goal was to do it in under two hours and to use what I had.  I had never made a pinafore or my own pattern before.  I took some quick measurements using Jane's school uniform and started drawing.  And phew - it worked!

I am very happy that it all came together so well.  It was a huge accomplishment for me to make my own pattern and get it done in a little over the two hours.  It makes me smile when I see it because it has a lot of sentimental value, too.  When Jane was smaller and we would be fabric shopping, I would point to different fabrics and ask her, "Do you recognize this?"  It always kept her busy in the shop while I made my purchases.  Sometimes we still do this, but more often it is Jane asking Kate and me instead.  When I gave the apron to her, I asked Jane if she recognized the fabric.  She didn't (I didn't think she would).  Then I told her, "This is the fabric you had in your room when you were a baby.  It was the bumpers and the bed skirt on your crib."  She looked at me wide-eyed and then smiled.  She said, "I remember now."  Although I know better, part of me thinks she just might.

Back view - sorry for the fuzzy photo!

Painting the bathroom is my only work in progress.  I did manage to finish something, though.  Here is Kate's Olive.  Isn't she cute?

Jane's Olive is almost finished, too - she's just waiting to be accessorized.  And have you seen these?  Too cute!!!  They will have to wait, though - I need to make the Archies first!

There is a basket of flowers on our front door during the spring and summer.  When I took a look at it yesterday it looked just too summery.  Time for a change.  When I took the basket down, I scooped out this tiny bird's nest that I had noticed some time in July.  It was obvious then that the mama bird had deserted it.  We don't use the front door much in the winter so I think the increased door banging drove her away sometime in the spring.  Sad, I know.  But this little nest is so amazing...a little work of art with three hollow eggs.

One is a tell-tale robin's egg blue, but the others are kind of pink.  There was another cracked, cream speckled egg sitting by itself in the basket.  It makes me shudder to think that we probably "knocked" it out of its nest.  But I love the nest and can't bear to part with it.  So I am not going to  - not right now, at least.

Unrelated, I made these cute sweatshirts for a friend's nieces.  I apologize for the bad photo, but I had to take it under artificial light or miss the opportunity entirely.

I thought they turned out cute.  As I look at them now, I think that little worm needs some kind of a face - an eye and a grin, perhaps.  Next time!

Over the weekend I picked up this book:

As I have said before, I am not big on making my own clothes.  Mostly this has to do with the fact that they don't turn out like I had hoped.  This book may change all that.  It is well written and very easy to understand.  The illustrations are like eye candy - they make me want to sew up a storm! 

Wendy uses three basic patterns - one for a skirt, one for a shirt, and one for pants - and then shows you how to make variations on the basic shape.  She gives lots of good ideas for embellishing, trimming, altering these designs to make them your own.  Just take a look at these...

I love that plaid!  And although I wouldn't be caught dead in a mini, I would definitely consider lengthening this denim one that is trimmed in bias tape.

I live in t-shirts, but this blouse is speaking to me!

Although I would love to jump right in, I think I will have to wait.  I may get some muslin and play around until I figure out exactly what I want to do.  Too many projects, too little time!