Family Reunion Dress for Gigi

Spiritual - How precious it is, Lord, to realize that you are thinking about me constantly... Ps. 139:17  Help me, Lord, to always remember my total dependence of You.
 
 Sewing -  This is the Family Reunion Dress by Oliver + s.  I started this dress for Gigi about 4 weeks ago and just completed it!  I am that busy - lessons, alterations, campaign parties, doctors, not to mention husband, child, and grandchildren!  Ahhh...the challenges of life.

Liesl Gibson, founder and premier designer of Oliver + s, uses a system of scissors on the envelope to denote the difficulty of the pattern. She gives this one a two.  As you can see on the website, her designs are unique .  Even the pattern envelope is different - they include a five-inch-high paper doll and outfit to match the dress.  They sell for $15.95, are multiple sized, and are available in the shop.

This dress has two options for embellishment - a tab and button, or,  the one I chose, a ruffle down the center.  It also features pintucked pleats at the front and back,  short sleeves, and several rows of top stitching at the hem.  It  buttons up the back and would be darling shortened to make a blouse.

The Bomber Cap

Spiritual -  Since Divine wisdom is a perfect knowledge of everything, there is nothing new it can learn because it sees everything in an eternal present.  "The very hairs of your head are numbered"  (Mt 10,30)  During prayer time this morning I read this from my favorite prayer book, Divine Intimacy,  "God knows us much better that we know ourselves; the most secret movements of our hearts, even those which escape our control, are perfectly manifest to Him.  Let us ask Him for the grace to know ourselves in His light, in His eternal truth."  A priest told me once, during confession, not to concentrate so much on my faults, but on my virtues.  This last line helped me to finally understand what he meant.  If I could only see myself in His light, in His eternal truth, I probably would love myself and others more and sin against myself and others less.  Thank you,  Holy Spirit, for that revelation.






Sewing -  I made the pattern for this little cap when Liam, now 7, was one years old.  It was a cross between an antique pattern and a cap from a box of family heirlooms.  I've been wanting to produce a pattern of this cap, but needed to make sure I had the proper sizing  for today's child. I have been making and selling this cap for several years and I think I have the sizing down for a pattern.  Maybe soon. The chin strap and folded brim reminds me the leather "bomber's" cap of the old war movies.   The first one I made was navy corduroy and I made a double breasted jacket to go with it.  Liam was so adorable in it and wore it for 2 years.  I'll have to put it in the shop til the next grandson comes along. 

All Designs Are Copyright Protected copyright 2011

The Garde Soleil

 Spiritual - "When one door closes, another opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us."  Alexander Graham Bell    Lord,  Show us how to live for today.  Help us to be so attuned to Your Will that we will experience all that You have for us.  Amen

 









 Sewing - The garde-soleil or sun bonnet was designed and worn by European and Acadian women and children to protect them from the sun.  "Garde" refers to guard and "soleil" refers to sun.  There are many patterns for the sun bonnet because women made their own patterns to reflect their own styles according to their place in society and, also, according to the function of the bonnet (working in the fields, church, mourning, etc).  Most patterns we have today are made from bonnets that were passed from mother to daughter for many generations.  You can still find dated ones in antique stores in this part of the country.  What a treasure!  They look so cute on babies and little girls and protects them from the sun and wind.