This post could be titled "Summer Sewing in the Depth of Winter," because I really sewed these things back in January and then put them in my closet right away (since they're not really winter wear) and honestly sort of forgot about them. Alan had been bugging me to use the new machine he bought me, since I hadn't really done much on it yet except a few minor repairs, and I'm sure I made him regret it. I don't sew often because every time I do it's a huge ordeal: bits of thread and scrap fabric strewn absolutely everywhere, patterns unfolded on the floor, iron steaming away on the dining room table. And I can't just work on it in little spurts, oh no. Once I get started I have a one track mind and I ain't stopping for hell or high water until it is done. If I'm going to sew regularly, I need to get better at keeping it contained and streamlining it into everyday life. Of course a sewing room all my own with lots of tables wouldn't hurt either ;)

Both of these are from Simplicity pattern #2215, by Cynthia Rowley. I sewed the skirt according to pattern, but I modified the dress by adding the cap sleeves and peter pan collar. The dress fabric is the same I used to trim Indigo's Easter dress last year, and the skirt fabric is vintage, picked up at the Kane County flea market. I lined the skirt with some plain unbleached muslin since it is rather sheer otherwise. Both have vintage wooden buttons that I ordered from Etsy. Now that warm weather just needs to hurry up so that I can actually put these to good use!

Mornings are quickly becoming my favorite time of day. Have I said that already? The kids go to bed around 10, and if I pregame their bedtime with a little toothbrushing, I can manage to get my head on the pillow by 10:30 and get a solid nine hours (which I really need) before my alarm at 7:30. If I'm lucky, that means a whole hour before the kids start to join us! This morning was especially quiet since Alan had a meeting and was gone by the time I made my way downstairs. The house was so still. Last night my mind had been burdened and racing with various (silly) anxieties, but this morning, sitting in the cloudy morning light in the kitchen and eating sourdough toast (with plenty of butter) on a bunny plate, they had faded to the background, as I knew they would. I was able to sip tea and have several complete thoughts before going upstairs to wake Indy. I set her up with breakfast before running a bath for myself. For a long time Indy has been taking baths with me, for convenience sake, but recently I've been letting her fly solo so that I have that time to myself again. Don't underestimate how good it feels to run the bath as hot as you want to. And I'm talking three degrees short of poach-an-egg hot. With a cup of tea balanced on the side of the tub! Which no one is going to knock over! Ahh. Much better than convenience sake. I was even able to get fully dressed before I heard Tenny grumpin' out upstairs. A good morning.