Sweetheart Dress Pattern

How sweet is the back of this dress? I am kind of in love with the little heart cut out. I just think this could not be more perfect for Valentine's Day. This is the Sweetheart Dress pattern by Shannon Cook from Luvinthemommyhood. She has several blogger's sewing up her adorable pattern for a mini-pattern tour that she is doing and she invited me to join along. So fun!

The Sweetheart Dress pattern comes in size 2T - 6. This pattern came together really quickly. It is a pdf pattern, but thankfully there are no paper pattern pieces to tape together. You get the bodice pieces and the heart and the skirt is given in measurements so you can just cut it out yourself.

I'd say this pattern is for a confident beginner. There are lots of tips and tricks throughout the pattern and many encouraging words to keep you going. Surprisingly, the bodice is constructed in very much the same way as most basic bodices even though it has the heart cut out. I actually did the armholes a little bit differently, but that's just because that is the way I'm most comfortable sewing a lined bodice. There are 2 - 3 different methods that will work great.

There are no buttonholes in this pattern either (for those of you that get nervous about buttonholes). It's just a little hand-sewn loop and button closure.

The most stunning part of this dress has to be the heart cut out in the back. So sweet! It's a little chilly here in Chicago right now, so we will probably be layering this dress for several more months, but I think this would make a such a cute Easter Dress as well. And maybe, just maybe it will be warm enough for us to wear this dress as is.

I added some cream colored piping in between the gathered skirt and the bodice. I considered adding some green gingham piping, but I decided the cream would pop a little more against this busy fabric.

Along the hem of the skirt, I added some cream picot edging that I think really works with the cream piping.

Here is my sweet Matilda Jane wearing her new dress. I made her a size 4T and she is currently wearing a size 4T in commercial clothing (just so you get an idea of the fit and length). She actually picked out this fabric herself and I just picked out the lining and trims. It was definitely a joint collaboration!

All in all this dress probably took me about two hours after cutting, so it's definitely a doable afternoon project. A great little dress for the sweet little ones in your life. 

If you are interested in checking out the Sweetheart Dress Pattern, you can find it HERE. 

Fabric: Homespun Chic (Stitched Roses Pink) by Melody Ross for Blend Fabrics.

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Valentine's Mail

Even though I am all grown up now, a wife, and mother with two little girls, my mom still sends me the most special care packages for the different holidays.  She always sends us beautifully packaged boxes with thoughtful things for the whole family.  I SO look forward to these packages!  We received a Valentine's Day box from her last week with lots of fun Valentine's treats, decorations and gifts and I just wanted to share a couple handmade gifts with you.

For Christmas I gave Mom, Amy Butler's new book, Style Stitches, in hopes of getting her back into sewing.  Well, I think it worked!!  Mom is now taking a quilting class and has been spending her nights and weekends at the sewing machine.  Above is a little purse that my mom made me from Amy Butler's new book.

I love the coordinating broach that she added to the bag - it's just the right touch and the color matches perfectly.

The inside has lots of fun little pockets for storing all sorts of things.  The lining is a striped fabric that coordinates with the outer two.

The back of the purse has this super-cute handle.  You can either carry it or slide it around your wrist.

And finally, I must toot mom's horn a bit - look at those pleats and that stitching.  Total and complete perfection!  I was inspired to start sewing with all the memories of my mom sewing when we were growing up so I am thrilled that she has jumped back into this hobby.

In the same Valentine's Day package she include these two matching play aprons for Savannah and Matilda.  The girls love that they have pockets for them to carry around all their treasures.

We also received another fun package from my Grandma Ethel this weekend with lots of fun things and Valentine's treats for the girls.  Grandma Ethel works at a thrift store in her retirement community and saves me all sorts of treasures that she finds.

I love this vintage McCalls apron pattern - I definitely think I'm going to have to make myself one of this.  How stylish will I look sporting this around the house??  I think the tic-tac-toe pot holder is too cute!!

Here is about 1/3 of the vintage linens that she sent me - such great finds!

I'm really loving these two vintage baby bonnets.  Not quite sure what I'm going to do with them, but I'm sure I will find something.  Perhaps the girls will like them for their baby dolls when they get a little older.

Thanks for letting me share some of my goodies that I received from my family.  I hope your Valentine's Day is filled with love, hugs and kisses. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

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Week 5 Project Run and Play - Valentine's Day Challenge

"Little Love Bug"

So this is the second to last week of Project Run and Play and I'm still in the competition!  Can you believe it?  I feel so honored and privileged to have made it this far.  Thank you guys so, so much for all your support - I couldn't have done it without you.

For this week, we were told to come up with a Valentine's inspired look.  The idea for this dress popped into my head several weeks ago.  I wanted to make something that could be worn for Valentine's Day, but could also be carried through into spring/summer.  As I'm sure a lot of you know, it's such a bummer to work really hard on an outfit and only have it worn once.  I thought the idea of "Love Bugs" (aka Lady Bugs) would shout Valentine's Day, but would be neutral enough to wear on other days of the year.

I love a well-fitted, a-line jumper and this one fits the bill.  The jumper is fully lined with coordinating pink and red fabric.  There is baby ric-rac running in a curved shape up the front of the pink, inset panel and at each curve there is a little tiny lady bug button that is hand-sewn in place.  The pink, inset panel is trimmed with a 1" red ruffle on each side and the bottom of the dress is finished with a matching red ruffle as well.  The dress buttons with two medium-sized, red buttons at each shoulder.

Finally, I wanted to add some accessories so I made a wide-brimmed, floppy style hat to coordinate with her dress.  The hat has a matching red ruffle, black baby ric-rac and is finished with curly, korker ribbons in red, white and baby pink.  My little lady is carrying her Valentine's Day purse that has a variety of different trims.  To finish the entire look, I layered the jumper with a pink and red polka dot knit shirt and paired it with a pink, ruffled ballet flat.  There is no doubt that Miss Savannah is my "Little Love Bug"!

Here are a few more pictures from our Valentine's photoshoot:

How, you might ask do I get my almost 3-year old to smile and model for me in this shots?  I'm not ashamed to admit it, the answer is two words - DUM DUMS!!

So now it's time for you to head over to Project Run and Play and vote for your favorite look!

Click HERE to visit Project Run and Play!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

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Free Valentine's Day Printables

I've had Valentine's Day on the mind today.  I'm not quite sure why (my husband and I don't do much for the holiday), but whatever the reason,  I decided to create some printable graphics/designs for you all to use for Valentine's crafts, cards or whatever else you can think of to use these fun graphics for in your life. 

I hope you like them.  The first one is one of my favorites.  My husband and I just watched the movie "Julie and Julia" and I cannot get this quote out of my head.

The next two would be great to attach to a gift or for school treats.

The following five graphics are all similar, but I've changed the "us +" number in each one so it is customized to the number of kids you have in your family.

So just right-click and save any of these fun graphics to your computer.  I would love to see how some of you end up using these.  You all are so talented, so I know you will do some creative things!

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Apple Raisin French Toast Strata

This morning was our "Valentine" playgroup.  We had such a great time!  My friend Julie hosted the group and she did a wonderful job.  She prepared several different breakfast items, but the Apple Raisin French Toast Strata definitely took the cake - it was AWESOME!!

Julie got this recipe via allrecipes.com and I wanted to go ahead and share it with all of you.  If you are hosting a brunch/breakfast anytime in the near future, make this dish - it was SO yummy!

 

 Apple Raisin French Toast Strata

Ingredients:

1 (1 pound) loaf cinnamon raisin bread, cubed

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, diced

1 cup diced peeled apples

8 eggs

2 1/2 cups half-and-half cream

6 tablespoons butter, melted

1/4 cup maple syrup

Directions:

Coat a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange 1/2 of the cubed raisin bread in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle the cream cheese evenly over the bread, and top with the apples. If you like extra raisins, add them now. Top with remaining bread.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the cream, butter, and maple syrup. Pour over the bread mixture. Cover with plastic wrap, and press down so that all bread pieces are soaked. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.  Enjoy!!

Here are some pictures from this mornings playgroup.  My daughter Savannah has been playing with most of these kiddos since she was 5 weeks old (well if you can call that "playing" at 5 weeks old).

We were each told to bring a bag or box for our child to collect all of their Valentines - this is Savannah & Matilda's bag all filled up with Valentine's from their little friends!

Savannah at the craft table.  I think she takes after her mother - she loves arts and crafts!!

Savannah getting ready to pass out her Valentine's.  Remember the "We Dig You!" post? (find it here).

All the kiddos Valentine's Day boxes/bags ready to be filled!

Ava & Liam's Boxes

Grace & Evan's Box

Roaran's Lion Mailbox

This is what happens when toddlers are left unattended at the craft table - yikes!!

Cottage Mama's Note:  The dress my daughter is wearing in these pictures I made from a recycled Valentine's Day shirt from last year.  You can the recycled shirt dress post here.

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Valentine - "We Dig You!"

My daughters and I are in a playgroup that gets together every other week.  There are 13 Moms, 13 two-year olds and a handful of siblings - a big group, I know!  I have known most of these women since my daughter Savannah was 5 weeks old.  We met at a breastfeeding support group through the hospital where I delivered and have been friends ever since.

Our playgroup has decided to do a Valentine's Day exchange this year.  We were instructed (by one of the former teachers in our group - I guess you never lose that teacher mentality) to bring 12 Valentine's (1 for each child, excluding our own) and to decorate a box or bag and bring it to collect all of our childs' valentines.

Well, we haven't decorated our box yet, but I decided I wanted to do something a little different than your standard boxed Valentine's for my girls to give their friends.  I saw this idea somewhere (I think it was in one of my parenting magazines) and I just thought it was too cute to pass up! 

"We DIG You!"

Love,

Savannah & Matilda

I bought sand shovels (because two-year olds love the sand!) in multiple colors - the girls are pink & purple and the boys are more primary colors.  I then placed each shovel in a cello bag and filled it with goldfish crackers, conversation hearts, and a couple dum-dums.  Then I tied it up with a ribbon and tied on a tag.

On the back of each tag, I placed a heart with each childs name on it.  I used my handy Cricut machine to cut out the tags, but you could just cut them out by hand as well.

On each tag I wrote - "We DIG You!" Love, Savannah & Matilda.  Each tag has a hole in it and I threaded the ribbon through and tied it in a knot.

I placed all of treats in a basket and they are ready to go for Valentine's playgroup next week!!

Cottage Mama's Note:  I washed and dried each shovel before placing it in the bag, just because I knew it would be touching food.

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