Alrighty, so I've got to admit something...I may have suggested a "starry night" celebration to Violet based completely on my love for Lizzy House's new Constellations line of fabric...
Well, that is partially true.
But, we do, truly, love stars and constellations here in this house. Fancy Nancy, might have a bit to do with that, she's got two books about stargazing and planetariums. But, I've always loved stars and star watching. My mom and I used to wake up in the middle of the night to view meteor showers, even in the middle of winter. And, it seems, that Violet and Henry seem to enjoy night time sky viewing as well. So far Violet a bit more than Henry, but I think that that has more to do with attention span...
Anywho, Violet liked the starry idea and thanks to Lizzy House our starry night celebration planning began with Violet's birthday dress...
The pattern, is something else I have been ogling for quite some time now...it is the Geranium Dress Pattern by Made by Rae.
This dress pattern is being whipped up by so many people right now, just check out the flickr pool full of them! And, it's no wonder! This dress is so fun to make. It is full of variations. It really is the perfect dress to make or to use as a starting point! I've already got my head and sewing queue filling up with new ones to make. I made this first one with the gathered skirt and faux cap sleeves.
I used snaps in the back instead of buttons, for three reasons: 1) I thought that the star buttons I purchased would be too fiddly to fasten and unfasten all of the time 2) I didn't have any other buttons that I liked, aside from making fabric covered ones 3) snaps are faster and easier to put in for me, and to do and undo for a toddler...
I let Violet pick out the lining fabric. She chose these trees that I used for one of my Washi tunics.
I like how the two fabrics go together in color and also in the outdoorsy "theme".
To finish the dress I wanted to add some fun constellations as a little surprise for Violet. I started with the constellation Cassiopeia, our favorite constellation.
It is one of the easiest constellations to pick out in the sky, a big M or W, depending on how you look at it...I found some stars on the dress that I could connect into the constellation and embroidered in between them.
My intention was to add Orion and the Big Dipper to the skirt as well. I only finished Orion in time for her party. She didn't like it. I pulled it out Saturday morning. It was a bit frustrating, but then again, I didn't want her to be disappointed with the dress. She had been staring at it for a week, hanging on it's hanger, anxiously waiting to wear it, because it was "just so beautiful!". I certainly didn't want her to think I had taken away from it's beauty!
Fortunately though, she did love Cassiopeia!
And, the entire dress! She could not wait to put it on and twirl!
And, not to be left out...Henry had to have a star shirt of his own, of course...
And, a few things before I go...
Violet's beautiful jewelry was made by her...
No, we did not have a party with pink eye...it's a cold in her eye...these two munchkins had a fabulous time at the party only to end the weekend, both of them, with ear infections in both ears! (Both are feeling better now.)
More pictures and instructions for the star hat this week...
And, lastly, I forgot to say this yesterday, but, I totally felt like I was decorating for the prom or a high school dance while hanging all of those stars for the party! I was having flashbacks to many dance decorating times with friends, except for the fact that this time I was doing it solo and drinking wine...
Have a great day!
