THE DRESS!!!!

One morning about 2 months ago, as I was getting Sybille ready for the day, Alina called to me from her bed.  There was that little something in her voice that said, "This is urgent," so I arrived promptly, expecting that she was sick or in dire need of assistance.  To my surprise, she quite excitedly related to me a sudden, now-found desire for a dress.  Not just any dress.  A red dress with white polka-dots.  She launched into great detail as to the width of the straps, the number of ruffles, etc.  So when my Parisian friend asked me if I wanted her to bring me any material, I knew what to ask for.  I've been turning this project over in my head ever since, contemplating the best way to make Alina's dream dress, and fearing lest my realization not live up to her idea.   I finally launched into the project yesterday.  Cutting the material, I decided to err on the side of big, figuring I could always take in seams and make huge hems, but if I cut the pieces to small...  And anyway, if I was going to go to this much trouble, I wanted her to be able to wear it for a good, long time.

I got the top together, and pinned on the top skirt layer.  I had Alina try it on, immediately judging that the skirt was too far down, I should pin it higher, and that it was too long I would have to take a big hem.  Alina, however, took one look at herself in the mirror, got a big grin on her face and said, "Mama, you should leave it just like that."  "But, you wanted a double skirt."  "No, I only want one."  "But you wanted it shorter."   "I want it just like this."

My immediate thought was relief.  "You mean I'm almost done?"  But then there was a bit of a letdown.  "What do you mean you don't want the double-skirt ruffle I've been puzzling over for two months?"  But I figured it would be best to leave well enough alone.  The good thing is, she loves it.  Oh, and that she'll definitely wear it out or get sick of it before she outgrows it.

Here it is:

 A bit of a back view:

 It also has good twirling action:



And as if the dress wasn't good enough, this just rocked her world:

I don't think I've made a hair scrunchy since middle school.  But I figured now was a good time.  Apparently, I was right, because Alina said to me, "Mama, how did you know that was exactly what I wanted?"  How did I know that was exactly what you wanted when YOU didn't even know it was exactly what you wanted until you saw it?  Well, Alina, I guess that's what Mamas are for.