Butterfly Blouse and Bubble Shorts

One of the best things about having this little sewing blog has been making a real-life sewing friend in my town, Erin. She and her sister Caroline are an inspiration to me in many, many ways, sewing and beyond.

(Today was an especially good day for the hungie gungie clan because baby (or not-so-baby) Wes had no glow in his scans and is living cancer-free after a long and strenuous treatment for stage four neuroblastoma. YAY!)

While at a much needed ladies' night out (at my current favorite restaurant), Erin gave me Lottie a pair of her adorable bubble shorts, in a fabulous Leah Duncan print (from morning walk). Size 12 months, in case you are shopping for your own. Thank you, Erin!

So as to have a better excuse to blog these super-cute bottoms, I set to work making a top to go with them. Yes, the print on print is a little much, but this is a baby, and I was working from my stash.

Architextures Envelope Clutch

I have always wanted to use Carolyn Friedlander's Architextures line to make something for my dear college friend who is now a landscape architecture professor in St. Louis. She traveled all the way here to become Lottie's godmother, so it was the perfect opportunity.

I made Noodlehead's fabulous envelope clutch, the small size. I put the zipper pocket on one side and the card pockets on the other. Great pattern, very satisfying project.

Baptism Dress (McCall's 4865)

Lottie was baptized in June, a day before she turned 10 months. Louisa and Leo were much younger at their own baptisms—Louisa wore her Aunt Meghan's dress, and Leo wore his daddy's gown. Since we were a little later with Lottie, those little heirlooms weren't going to fit. Any excuse to sew!

I used McCall's 4865, (which is out of print, but I found on etsy), for the christening gown and bonnet.