Gift Bear

Our daughter is a very sweet child. When she received birthday money a few weeks ago, she decided that she wanted to go to Build-A-Bear workshop to make a bear for her great-grandmother who is ill. Ironically, the money had come from her great-grandmother and her great-great uncle Paul (g.g.'s brother and caregiver). As things go, the illness is terminal and Grammy will not be with us much longer. We've known that for at least a week, but had not told the children. As I finished working on the first communion dress Saturday, I asked Daughter to look through my patterns for stuffed animals. Then, I suggested that we make one for Grammy instead. Daughter loved that idea! She picked out the fabric for a bunny but when we didn't have quite enough decided a bear would be fine. She hoped the bear would get there in time for Grammy's 91st birthday this Thursday. I ensured her that it would, but had then had to explain that Grammy might not live until then. Without missing a beat, she replied, "That's ok, Mommy. We can give it to Uncle Paul then as a memory of her." I was touched.

update: Grammy died May 5, 2008 at 10:40 pm. She did not get to see the bear. Daughter decided that she did want to give it to "Paul-Paul" as a remembrance instead of burying it with Grammy.

First Communion

Daughter celebrated her First Communion today. It turned out to be a lovely day! I was worried when I awoke and saw gray clouds as I thought her dress wouldn't be warm enough. It was perfect, though!

I made it from McCall's pattern 5309. When I got home with the pattern I was disappointed to see that it required 4 yds. of 45" fabric. I didn't see much in the store that I liked and knew most pieces that I already had wouldn't have that much. I was REALLY excited when a trip to the basement found the white eyelet with purple roses in my stash. I knew it would make a great dress and there was just enough. I had planned to work carefully and make a muslin to test the fit as I had plenty of time. But, things didn't work that way...if it wasn't for the last minute, I'd never get anything done! On Friday I cut the dress out, sewed most of it together before she came home from school and hoped that it would fit. She tried it one when she came home. It fit, but not as well as I would have like. I moved the ties up a bit and that made a big difference! It fit so much better after I had the lining in it. I had to cut quite a bit off the hem as it was really long, but I'll know next time to make it shorter when I cut it out.

This was the first project to use my new cutting table from JoAnn Fabrics. It is their Sew Essentials folding table that opens to 36" x 60". (I think.) The best part is that it stands 36" tall so I didn't end up with an aching back from bending to cut. I had wavered about buying it, but now I'm really glad that I did.