I have created a monster..

Since Brooke was born I have been a picture taking fool. I am by NO means good at it and certainly don't have a good camera (someday I would love a real one though!). About a year ago I gave up using my point-n-shoot and now I pretty much exclusively use my handy dandy, always within reach, Iphone 4. It gets the job done and if I want the pictures to look good all I have to do is go outside. Brooke has the routine down. Usually when she wakes up from her nap she comes into my sewing room and asks what I made. Then we head out the front door and lay the things down on the grass and take pics! I always take several and then go through and pick out the best ones. If I have made a clothing item I use her as my model. Lately she gets all animated and posey. This is best illustrated below:

Wait for it..... 

She. is. speshul.

The following photo "shoot" happened when I simply said we needed to take a picture of her in her new boots to send to daddy (because he thought it was stupid that I got her boots and she wouldn't wear them). He was wrong. Again. ;) I just love these pictures, but they also make me sad. She looks so dang grown up! I can't believe she will be 4 in 3 1/2 months! 

That girl has spunk I tell ya! I can't get enough of her!! 

It's Fall, Y'all!

Okay, so it's almost winter, but whatever. I've decided I need to get back into doing arts and crafts projects with the kiddos, so I started with a fun hand print (technically it's a forearm and hand print) tree scene. They had a great time with this and hearing the excitement in Brooke's voice and seeing her face light up as she jumped for joy when I told her we were going to do an art project was priceless.

I just LOVE how seriously they take there art projects!! I have NO idea where they get this from...

Here is Brooke's sweet tree!

Here is Benjamin's creation. It seems as though he was going for the "tree in a tornado" scene! :)

I'm going to have to get Benjamin to add grass to his picture. The floating tree thing bothers me! 

I couldn't leave Miss Bailey out of the art project action.. but getting the hand of a 2 1/2 month old to open up for a good print is darn near impossible, so I improvised and went with the next logical body part: the foot. There was also no way I could hold her little finger and make the leaves, so I used her toes! :) 

Big sister helped get Bailey full (i.e. happy!) before we started. She was a trooper and didn't protest me man-handling her foot and toes at all! (Brooke is shirt-less because she didn't want to get her jams dirty when doing her art project. I appreciate a kid that wants to keep her clothes clean!). 

LOVE her little toesies!

I LOVE this dress!!

I have been fortunate enough to pattern test some amazing items for Little Lizard King, Brynnberlee Designs, and Snazzie Drawers, but this was my first opportunity to test for Tenderfeet Stitches. Boy did I luck out on the dress I was selected to test, the Malibu Mega Ruffle dress! This little gem is not only gorgeous, but is also very unique. I just LOVE the way it ties into a bow in the back and of course, who doesn't love ruffles?! *Raises hand*.. I don't! Well, I have a love/hate relationship with them. I loathe ruffling/gathering fabric and pinning it all down then sewing it, BUT, I absolutely LOVE how they turn out every time. Ruffly goodness makes me happy in the end, so I continue to take on projects that require the ruffle.

I tested this dress in size 0-3 months for my newest addition and I'm in love with how it turned out! That being said, if you purchase this pattern for your own little lady, I don't recommend making it for anyone who doesn't walk, or at least sit. It doesn't make sense to put a dress on a baby that has to lay down b/c the bow is on the back and that isn't comfortable! Tenderfeet Stitches offers patterns from NB-10 years though, so I understand why it is offered so small. And, let's be honest, pint sized anything is SUPER cute!! My husband actually said how much he loved this little dress and how we need to keep it.... he NEVER suggests keeping ANYthing, so that is huge!

Here is is! I can't wait to make matching dresses for Bailey and Brooke!

I am entering this dress into the So You Think You Can Sew contest over at the Mommy by Day, Crafter by Night blog. This looks like such a fun contest with amazing prizes!!!