Lately, things here have revolved mostly around ballet and sewing projects.
With the ballet recital just over a week away, things have been a little hectic! Not only have we been practicing a lot here at home, but we’re at the ballet school 3 nights a week as well.
It seems like I’ve been sewing for weeks! Which isn’t a bad thing, since I really do enjoy it. I thought you might like to see some of the projects I’ve been working on – both for the recital as well as our niece’s wedding.
The wedding is the weekend after the recital. And since we’re having a big Orr Family picture taken the day before- with ALL the cousins and aunts and uncles- and the kids are also singing for the wedding, it felt like new dresses were in order for the special occasion. So -- more sewing!
Here are the little boys’ vests I did for 2 of the little whippersnappers who interrupt the little girls’ dance during the Party Scene of the Nutcracker.
Remember the parchment paper patterns I showed you wayyy back? Well, I finished the little vests and they actually fit the little boys!
Then there are these nightgowns which the twins will wear during part of the ballet. I made them out of voile canopy curtains which I had made for the older girls’ beds about 10 years ago! But they were still in great shape, and in fact I didn’t even have to hem the nightgowns. I cut them so the existing canopy hem was at the bottom of the nightgown. 
For the style, I took a Pinterest picture I pinned of a little girl’s dress. I wanted something that would slip right over their heads, without buttons or zippers, since they only have about 30 seconds to change from their party dresses into the nightgowns. This fits the bill perfectly!
The girls love the fluttery sleeves and how voluminous the gowns are, and I found some ribbon for the front that matches the ribbons they’ll have in their hair.
Although I didn’t make Noah’s Nutcracker costume (we borrowed it from a friend who has local band connections), I thought you would enjoy seeing how dapper the costume looks on him. There are a couple of little shoulder flaps that we’ve since attached to the little snaps, which aren’t in the picture. But you get the idea.
At first he acted like it looked weird, but I could tell by the way he was trying not to smile that he really thought it was pretty neat. Moms know these kind of things.
The Nutcracker head that the school is loaning him kind of cracks me up – but at least it’s not too unwieldy and is made of mesh fabric so he can get plenty of air.
Glenn and I get to participate by playing the kids’ parents. It’s a stretch, but we’re doing our best to make it appear natural. I’m still working on a vest for Glenn, to wear under his suit. I’m using one of his shirts for a “pattern”, so there’s not much to show at this point. Just pattern pieces made from Christmas wrapping paper. I will be working on that today! For the actual vest, I’m using remnants from an antique damask tablecloth a friend gave to me a few years ago. It’s perfect for a late 1800’s looking vest! I also made Glenn a cravat out of green satin, to match the dress I’m wearing for the recital. But it was too short!! So today, I’m off to get more and try again.
In between the recital costumes, I’ve been working on the girls’ dresses for Kelsey’s wedding. Remember the blue dot fabric I showed you?
I have four dresses finished! Yay! So far I only have pictures of Alix in her dress to share with you. Here she is!
She loves it – and I’m so glad!
I’m hoping to get some progress made on a pattern for Kate’s dress in the next few days. I have a couple of ideas about where to start, so hopefully it won’t be too bumpy!
Although I really love to sew – it’s incredibly time consuming. There have been a lot of nights in the past few weeks where dinner ended up being leftovers, or a chance to look in the refrigerator and see what looked good when I ran out of time to make something. I’m pretty sure we forgot to do the house cleaning last Saturday. Laundry has reached epic piles.
The kids have continued on with school things while I sit on the floor with my measuring tape and yardstick and a whole lot of parchment paper and fabric scraps scattered everywhere. Many a time, I’ve looked up from the sewing machine or the scribbles and measurements I’m making for patterns and noticed someone was talking to me. 
Next week we’ll be at the ballet school for the first of the week, and then practicing at the Auditorium for the remainder, until the performance on Saturday. Lord willing, I’ll get the sewing done, we’ll eat at each meal, and next Saturday won’t go by in too much of a blur.
These are big days in our kids’ lives. Exciting. Fun. Busy. Memorable.
Have a blessed weekend!
It all looks great! I Can't wait to see all the girls in their dresses.
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