Fine Friends

One of my dearest friends, dark cloud blue sky, sent me a bunch of very old dress patterns a few years ago and now that the girls are not getting up at all hours I have finally had a look through and found one that I love. It is meant to be a nightgown, floor-length and with a bow at the empire waist (you know I could not have that). Or, alternately, worn mu-mu style with no gathering at all. I have found that I am way to short to wear a tent so I ruled that option out right away. The only thing the pattern lacks is pockets but I will add some the next time I make it.

I think I lived almost exclusively in dresses last summer and since all I can think about at the moment is the end of *&%@! winter, I am working on my summer wardrobe. This dress is perhaps also a bit short. I think it would benefit from a great slip rather than more length though as the problem is mainly evident in the bending over. Since I am the only one here who picks things up off the floor, I do rather a lot of bending over. The pins are from, of course, Postmodern Hausfrau. She is the source of all my fashionable accessories I noticed, since I was actually looking for another knitted pin that she sent me and, lacking time substituted these sweet pins, but did in that search find two other pins she sent me in years past. And I found another two pins from dark cloud blue sky.
Really, I have the greatest friends.

Red Dress

I made this red dress simply to test a pattern with the cheapest fabric I could find. I've been burned before and made dresses of fabulous fabric only to discover that the dress is hideous when worn. Now, this red dress is perhaps a bit bolder than my usual attire (to say the least). Boss Hog thinks I am a public spectacle in it and won't be seen with me. But I did go to the trouble to make it and it does fit... so it seems to defy logic, and my inate sense of thrift, not to wear it. The pattern is very easy Vogue and is meant to have an enormous bow that ties around your middle.

I can not abide wearing giant bows. Eden and Arlo are obsessed with Cinderella and we have already discussed how, while the birds and mice are sweet to help her make her dress, they should know better than to tack a giant pink bow smack in the middle of Cinderella's chest. Wildlife can't be expected to know this I suppose, but Princesses would do best to excercise caution in the giant bow department. Likewise, best to steer clear of the butt roses often found on bridesmaids dresses. There is really so much wisdom to impart to the girls I barely have time to sew.

And, while it is still troublingly frosty here, the light is longer and the birds are starting to chirp and squawk in earnest causing me to become quite restless with the need to garden. Without planting to distract me I have gone quite senseless and run outside for a photo op in the red dress and my favourite blue shoes that have not seen the light of day in months. In the last photo you can see the sweet red slip peeking out courtesy of Postmodern Hausfrau. And winter would not be nearly as divine without my standard aplication of thigh high socks from Sock Dreams (a very fine way to spend a winter's evening browsing if you too are stuck in a weary winter wonderland and in need of some consumer joy).