Sewing through the Decades: 1950-1959

They took a break on this challenge because summer was just too busy, but now the kids are back in school, there is a hint of fall in the air, and it's time for the 1950's! Yea!

This picture was one of the inspiration and idea links that a Lemon Squeezy Home had posted for the 1950's. I knew immediately it was a sign that I should finally make this dress, which I had bought the fabric for more than a year ago...

I love the 50's style of full, twirly skirts, peter pan collars and attention to details like piping.  

"Mom are you done taking pictures?"

Then my son wanted in on the fun of "dressing old-timey" and came up with this ensemble...

"The Bobby-Soxer and the Square"

These kids just melt my heart!

This dress is also excellent for twirling!

Even for those who are less than graceful...

I am just lucky to have such an adorable model. She makes everything I make look good!

It's 5 am.... do you know what you are making this Christmas?

I do.

I have been up all night fighting with a certain 22 month old who will not stay in her own bed.  I have spent the better part of the night sitting on the bedroom floor next to her toddler bed, determined that I will prevail and that she will sleep in her own bed tonight.

I lost. (She is really stubborn... or I am really exhausted.)

She has been happily snoring away in my bed for the last hour while I have been creating that neat widget you see to your right.

Somewhere between 2 and 3 am I started thinking about Christmas, and about all the presents I could make with fabric and yarn from my stash and how much money that would save me, and how much more personal a handmade gift is, and then I grabbed a paper and started listing everyone who I need to give a gift to this year and what I could make for them, and before I knew it I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 Christmas projects to accomplish before Dec. 24th.

Breathe.

See, this is a good thing. I usually do this on Nov. 1st. And unless I gave up two meals a day and showering all together, there is just no way the math works out to finish that many projects in a month and a half....

But this way I have over 100 days to win my very own Christmas Crafting Marathon!  And you can all cheer me on while keeping tabs on my progress and watching that big five-oh shrink down to zero.  Because they are mostly presents I won't be able to post too many pictures or details. But won't it be fun getting a peek now and then and wondering if one of my fabulous goodies is meant for you.  (BTW- now would also be an excellent time to let me know if you think you should be on my gift giving list.  I am not promising to add you, but you never know....)

One projects every two days....

That is totally do-able.

Just don't remind me about the birthday presents I need to make between now and then...

The Yellow Shrug in Action...

Lila wore her lovely yellow outfit to the baby blessing of a family friend this past Sunday, and I had great plans in my head for a nice little photo shoot showing off how adorable she looks in it with matching flowers in her hair and all....

I got one good shot of her with Uncle Patrick before she managed to smear the sweater with strawberries and drench her bottom half in a backyard stream. Ah well, the best laid plans. Good news is everything is all cotton and so can be laundered very efficiently, a definite must to consider when designing and making clothes for children...