Sewing Beautiful Things: Favorite Things Friday

It's Favorite Things Friday over at Jessica's blog, A Few of My Favorite Things.

One of my favorite things is making beautiful dresses and nightgowns for my daughters. Here is a dress I made a couple years ago for Lynzie when my husband, Jamie, took her to her first Daddy Daughter Dance.

We've since made it a tradition for Daddy to go pick out the pattern and fabric and me to make the dress. They went to the dance two years in a row but this year we had just moved so Daddy took her to the Broadway play Annie in Seattle instead.

Lynzie looked, and felt, like a princess that night. I had a lot of fun making the dress. In fact, me and that dress got to be real good friends since I had to take it apart and put it back together several times!

Little sister Selah wanted something special too so I made her this little nightgown from some pretty pink rosebud flannel. She was pretty excited and proud of herself!






This past year at Christmas, I finally got to live one of my dreams...making matching dresses for my three daughters. The girls each had a unique style and pattern but the colors and trim were all matching. Here they are together before church on the last Sunday before Christmas


Maybe this year I'll get really brave and make my boys some matching shirts! Join us for more Favorite Things Friday!

Kewpie Baby: Vintage Thingie Thursday

This is my fourth time participating in Vintage Thingie Thursday and I have to say that the last month of participating has been a very informative one! I've been inspired by so many creative bloggers and, therefore, have a new vision and excitement about making my home a cozy and beautiful place! Thank you to every single one of you bloggers who take the time to feature unique and special posts each week! I'm afraid I've become sort of a blogging junkie lately...but there are worse addictions out there!

Today I scrounged up $3 in change to go visit the thrift store next door. (Yes, lucky me, I've got a thrift store LITERALLY next door!!) I was telling my husband yesterday how it's actually kind of fun to give myself a low budget when I go out thrifting because it makes me be more choosy about what I buy and my purchase seems more special to me that way. While I'd usually like to take along a little more than three bucks, I was able to find a few neat things on today's pocket change!

My favorite find today was this adorable Kewpie doll with a handmade bonnet and blankey. I just fell in love with it and had to have it! Lucky for me, it was half price so I was also able to pick up some vintage ribbons and a couple cute decorative diaper pins that I plan to use for scrapbooking.

I imagine some talented Granny made this for her granddaughter...wish I had a Granny around to knit or sew for me! I'll just need to learn on my own, I 'spose!

There are many fun and talented participants today in Vintage Thingie Thursday so take some time to check them out here!

Wordless Wednesday: Family Resemblance

Great-great-grandmother Tresa Elizabeth Merritt was born on February 16, 1886 in Butte, Montana.




Daughter Selah Elizabeth Coller was born on
August 22, 2006 in Baker City, Oregon.


I came across the first picture, Tresa, in my genealogy research last year. While, not knowing my daughter, you might not see a lot of resemblance, I'm telling you that these people could be identical! The picture of g-g-grandma Tresa looks exactly like my daughter Selah when she's not smiling. I'd love to recreate the shot---but I'm not sure I can get Selah to NOT smile for the camera!
**Update: My mom just reminded me that today would have been my great-grandmother Annabelle's birthday. She is the daughter of Tresa and the one that I feel Selah looks the most like. How neat that I would choose this subject for today!

Check out more Wordless Wednesday!