Karisma is our host for today and she wants to know about “the things you have made with your own two hands or feet”, not including children.
I’m one of those people who likes to make stuff. I’ll have a go at anything. I’ve painted my kids walls, done fun stuff with my camera, decorated birthday cakes, the list goes on. But the one thing I am really proud of, and that took me right out of my comfort zone in the way of sewing, was when Miss E had to go to school dressed as a storybook character on the last day of book week in June 2006.
E was almost 6 years old and was really into a series of fairy books she was able to read herself. Her favourite was “Ruby the Red Fairy”.
I looked at the book cover and thought to myself, ‘How hard could this be?’ so, we took a trip to ‘Sally Twinkles’ the gorgeous old fashioned fabric shop in town which is run by a team of agile octogenarian ladies, and we bought shiny red satin type material and a ton of tiny roses, as well as a couple of larger ones for her shoes and a necklace, and some ribbon.
I started by copying the shape of one of Miss E’s slip dresses and began to sew. My dad brought me down a couple of fake roses from a job lot he’d got at an auction (don’t ask) and I took a break from the sewing and decorated a pair of Miss E’s ballet bumps. I sewed each petal in place, then added a couple of tiny roses to the front and ribbons to the back to criss cross up her legs.
They look kind of battered now as they’ve been in the dress up box for a couple of years, but I like to think they looked quite cool at the time.
I strung some red cotton with the tiny red satin rosebuds ready to plait through her hair, and threaded a rosebud onto a chain for the necklace.
It was all going surprisingly well…
Then I got back to the dress.
The dress I was kind of making up as I went along…
The first dress I had ever made.
Ever.
When it hit midnight I’d sewn it together, but I needed to hem the bottom, create some kind of neat neck and armholes and add petals to the shoulder.
My eyes were sore, my fingers pierced and aching, and she needed the dress by tomorrow. I had seriously misjudged how long hand sewing a dress for a small child would take a ‘non-sewing’ 31 year old. I do that a lot, the misjudging of things, but this time there was no going back, I’d promised my kid an outfit and that’s what she would get.
When I finally hung the dress in her room at 4am and slunk off to bed I was too relieved to be pleased.
When Miss M, then aged one, woke me at 6am I was too exhausted to think.
But at 7.00am when Miss E awoke and I heard, “Mummy you did it” from her bedroom I was wide awake and ready to dress my kid in her dream outfit and send her off to school proud as punch knowing her costume was going to be different from everybody elses because her mummy had made it herself.
When we added her white fairy wings and I finished plaiting her hair she looked at herself in the mirror and the look on her face was fantastic, a mix of joy, excitement and amazement that her mummy could make something so cool. (The coolness was her thought, not mine, I just interpreted. That’s allowed.)
So am I glad I did it?
Yes.
Would I do it again?
Not unless there was a gun to my head I really had to. I’d probably give myself more time and find an outfit I could adjust or just make accessories for. I love that other people can sew and knit and crochet. I truly admire them. But I’ll just stick with the messy stuff I think. Sewing hurts my head.
Now if you get chance click on Karisma’s link above and go and see all the cool stuff the other fabulous Fun Monday folks have made. They’re a talented bunch so this will be good.
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June 2nd, 2008 at 3:21 am
Fantastic! I’m always doing this, underestimating how long something will take
best fancy dress costume I managed was a Christmas Tree …!
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:07 am
That may be the best costume ever. I can imagine your little girl’s delight. Those slippers are fabulous. I am not a seamstress, but I enjoyed making a few costumes for my sons.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:16 am
You bring back memories of when I used to make dance costumes for my children. You did a great job with this outfit and the shoes are very cute~ every little girl dreams of being a fairy and you made Miss E’s dream come true so of course you are cool!
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:50 am
See, now that impresses me. Going out of your comfort zone and being determined to succeed and doing it. Good for you girl!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:39 am
Sounds like a magical event all around (minus your throbbing fingers)! I’m sure she will remember it for a long time!
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:54 am
Brilliant! I still haven’t tackled my first real sewing project. Considering Neil got me a sewing machine for Christmas two years ago I really ought to…heh.
That looks so lovely! What a fab mum you are!
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:26 am
You did a fantastic job Jo! I used to make all my own clothes – sewing and knitting – but I just buy them all now lazyness has set in!
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I cannot sew to save my life, so I admire that dress and shoes greatly.
However, knitting? I can manage…
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
that is cool as Miss E said. the shoes are cute
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I think it come out pretty good, and most importante I bet she loved it and that is what couts.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Great job, especially without a pattern. I’m so glad you saved your effort.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:36 pm
That looks amazing! The shoes are fabulous!!!
Most I have ever hand sewed is a Thomas the tank engine felt pullover- no arm holes or anything! Just one big rectangle with a hole cut in for the neck!
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I bet your daughter will NEVER forget that! You did an incredible job. I am bowing down to you because no way in a million years would I have taken on THAT project. Even with a gun to my head. I’m afraid I’d say go ahead and shoot.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:05 pm
That’s wonderful! I wouldn’t even have attempted. Other things yes, sewing no.
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:05 pm
What an amazing costume you made for your baby!!! I’m glad she was so pleased – but I definitely understand that up-against-the-wall feeling when trying to complete a costume on deadline. Nothing quite so exhausting!
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Something tells me Miss E will remember this magical costume when she’s a grown woman–and the great mom who was willing to take on the challenge of sewing slick satin fabric and applying single rose petals. If there’s a younger daughter encourage her to be Country Miss so at least you can sew cotton fabric–much less stress!
June 2nd, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Wow! You are amazing!! The closest I have ever come to doing anything like that was reading about it on your blog
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Now that sure is something to be proud of and I bet your daughter felt very special indeed! I am not that great at sewing but have also run up a few costumes at the last minute like that. Its amazing what we can achieve when we are put on the spot for the sake of our children isn’t it? And I always find the ones I whip up without a pattern are always the best, go figure! Thanks for joining in! I was having a giggle at all your comments to sign you up! You know we are on the other side of the world here, I was in bed sleeping, I did not forget you!
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Wonderful job!! I love this story. Thanks for sharing.
June 2nd, 2008 at 6:49 pm
that is wonderful Jo…definitely the best costume ever!!!
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Not bad for a first try. You pick a hard fabric to start with, I myself am a fabric gluer.
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:40 pm
How clever you are … and what a nifty thing to make this costume complete with ballet shoes!!! Loved the story you told and I’m sure Miss E looked as LOVELY as she felt ;–)
Mine’s at Small Reflections.
Hugs and blessings,
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Beautiful work and very creative ! I can’t sew at all !
June 2nd, 2008 at 10:34 pm
That’s really cute! My mom made some costumes for me when was younger. I appreciate it even more after reading this!
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:29 pm
ooooo you were the rock star hero.
that is awesome. 
I loved this post. It made me smile from ear to ear. 
YOu are such a wonderful mummy!
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:40 am
Gold medal for you, Jo.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:55 am
I tried to make a really cool dragon costume for my son one year. Not good. Sewing and I do not get along. Fortunately, I cried to my sister, and she came over and bailed me out. The costume was great.
LOVE the Ruby the Red Fairy costume you made! It’s precious.
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:01 am
But Jo, gun to the head or not, it’s good to know it was a good experience IN THE LONG RUN! I love it, but why didn’t you get a picture of the Red Fairy to share? Bad Mommy!
hugs
Sandi
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:03 am
OoooOOoooo! Make me one too!
Please?
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
They’re lovely! I’m WAY impressed!
June 3rd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
see now if my kid needed something like this, i would get out my big book-o-software engineering, write a software program to do it. which it wouldn’t do very well.
then i would say stuff that, go to t’internet and snipe one off ebay. and it wouldn’t be half as good as yours.
i’m TOTALLY in awe of your MAD MAD SKILLZ!!!
queen of hearts is a fairy book fan, big time. why don’t i have stock in that author? dang dang dang?!
June 4th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
the first dress/costume i ever made: fair maiden dress in red linen bedecked in gold mesh and lacy frills. except i had to make 13 of them. and they all had to be similar but unique. frick. it was awful. but oh, the first grade fair maidens were delighted.
October 6th, 2008 at 8:28 am
I had to google “red fairy costume” today as my 6 year old little girl wanted to be Ruby – which was a HUGE change from a cat which would be her 3rd year being a cat – to our surprise a new idea! Your bolg came up and my story along with it. Although, me at 34 and also no sewing experience am doubtful. So my search continues –
Great job!
October 6th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Sarah, I’d love to say do it you’ll be fine, but that would be a lie unless you have a sewing machine. I’m glad I did it but it nearly killed me. ;D Good luck with your search though.