thank you mom

 

Looking at these images I feel like a little kid again.

And wearing this dress I felt like a little kid. Not necessarily because it was a little kid dress -- although little kid me would have been all over this number -- but because my mom sewed it for me and growing up, my mom sewed nearly all my clothes.

I was a picky little kid. My leggings could not bunch and being the skinniest, little chicken-legged kid ever, leggings from the store were going to bunch. So my mom sewed 'em for me. And goodness sake, I gave her an earful about getting them just right. (Picky and demanding. I was so charming.)

She also made me dresses. When I was really little, they were ruffles added to Target tees (isn't that a brilliant diy?) But she also sewed me elaborate Easter dresses, including this one lavender number that had pearl buttons marching down the front. I felt like a princess in it. It's still at my parents' house --awaiting another little girl to wear it someday in the far-off future.

It wasn't until fifth grade when I told her that I couldn't wear the horse leggings she made me anymore, or the sweatshirt dress. I needed to wear jeans. Occasionally we sewed outfits together, and we still stole moments after dinner for fabric store jaunts. In high school, she taught "sewing camp" to me and a bunch of my friends.


For my birthday she told me she wanted to sew me a dress and it was as if I was five again. We made a trip to the fabric store, I picked out a pattern and we agonized over which fabric to choose. (hardest decision ever for fabric hoarders like us.)

I feel like a lot of people have wonderful mothers -- moms they call their best friend -- but I have to say that my mother is in a category all on her own. She truly is one of my dearest, dearest friends and I love spending time with her -- I love sewing with her and learning from her-- and I am so blessed to get to learn from her, not just the sewing things, but big, wonderful life and faith things.

After she made this dress, she told me that I could tell others that she made it, but she made me promise that I wouldn't tell any of my friends that she would make them one. Apparently the pattern was not as simple as we thought. So admire the dress, but no, my mom won't make you one.

You know what I also realize looking at these photos? My hair is ridiculously long. It's getting to the point where I feel like I should do something about it. But I'm not entirely sure what.

happy wednesday!

xo, erika

wear:
dress: handmade -- using this pattern
belt: off another dress
shoes: Steve Madden, old
bangle: thrifted

linking up to the pleated poppy, style elixir, fashion + faith