Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

We've been loving the Spring weather lately! Does this face do it justice?

Here's hoping that Spring is really here, and Winter doesn't come rearing it's ugly head again. I know I'm ready for Spring to be here to stay. It's definitely my favorite season. Everything just seems to come back to life, and I love seeing it each year - it never gets old! Speaking of coming back to life, we are gearing up for Easter weekend around here. Easter is the most joyful holiday to me! I mean - JESUS IS ALIVE!!! It just doesn't get any better than that (no offense, Christmas...)! When I was growing up, we always got some new duds around Easter, and the most special of those dresses that I can remember are the ones that my Mama made. I was just so proud to wear something she had made :-) See (far left - that's me)?

Now, I am fully aware that Carter could care less if I make his clothes - good gracious, Carter could care less if he even has clothes :-) HOWEVER, I love making clothes for him - especially his Easter clothes! I made his very first Easter outfit last year - you can see it as well as how little he was last Easter in THIS POST.  Well, a lot has happened since then, and my sewing has both improved and expanded. This year I decided to make him a smocked romper using THIS PATTERN.  I smocked 3 crosses to remind us of Calvary during this sacred season that gets so covered up in the eggs, bunnies, and candy. I got to work on some skills that I had never done before: plackets, collars, sleeves, buttons down the back, belts, using my (surprise Christmas present) serger, etc... I had SO MUCH FUN making this precious little outfit!  Here are some snippets of the process. My camera died halfway into the project, and I was so wrapped up in sewing I didn't replace the battery until I was completely finished :-)

As I sew, I think. I love that time. I think about all kinds of things. I plan, I measure, I create, I think about our family/our future/the baby/our home/etc.... However, I when I was making this outfit, I could not help but dwell on how much God must love us - his prize creation!

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, 
I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

I was making this outfit thinking of how happy it makes me to create something so special, and my mind could not stop going back to HOW MUCH MORE precious we are to God than this silly little outfit is to me. He created us - in his image no less! From scratch :-) I have a pattern of course, because my mind is INFINITELY less creative than God's (stating the obvious? - I think so...). Then after he created us, he sent his son to die for us, and raised him from the dead to save us - on Easter :-) So there you go. Sewing is just my little tiny way of using the brain that God gave me to in-turn create something beautiful. The finished product?

The very next day I used extra fabric to make a certain someone else a special little matching outfit for when he gets here! This is the first outfit I've gotten to make for him, and my first project smaller than 18 mos in size. So, so, so fun!!!

This was a new pattern as well, which you will find HERE. I got to try my hand at several new skills for this outfit too!! I did heirloom embroidery, pleating, and elastic leg casings!

Close-up of my First (far from perfect) Attempt at Heirloom Embroidery :-)

I cannot explain how fun it was to make my boys matching outfits :-) Disclaimer: I do not expect this baby to be here by Easter, but they will be wearing these outfits throughout Spring/Summer :-)

BROTHERS :-) I can't wait! 

PS Can I just say that the Creations by Michie' patterns that I use are so easy to follow!?!?! I have used 3 of her patterns now, and every single one of them has been super easy to follow, and the finished product looks like it's supposed to and fits my child! Worth every penny!!!