It's my birthday!!
I'm one of those people who loves her birthday. I'm so excited! I had big plans for a coast camping trip but the weather didn't cooperate, so instead I'm going out with friends to scenic
Multnomah Falls and
McMenamins Edgefield, where
we're getting married next August, to visit the vineyard and check out the garden space we're getting married in, then come back home to go to a great local restaurant with my parents.
I wanted to make myself a cute new dress to wear to dinner, but, again, the weather problem... usually it is sunny and warm here this time of year, but it just got cold and rainy the past couple of days. =( Also, what with moving, I haven't had time to sit down by the sewing machine!
So I thought I'd share about the cute dress I made and wore to my birthday last year! From Cynthia Rowley's design Simplicity 2497, and a funky green rayon that was on clearance at JoAnn's.
I did the ruffle differently than it called for (read: more easily, with unfinished bias edges), and wore it with a wide belt. It felt very appropriate for a birthday dress! Last year, I think on my birthday eve, I went with friends to a local craft brewery and walked around the trendy Pearl District near Downtown Portland.
We walked around the Pearl to a park with a pool and fountain and joined groups of little kids on scooters and roller blades playing in the shallow water:
After, we went back to our apartment (we had just moved in then, too) and enjoyed a yellow and white cake I had made, and met up with another friend:
It is a super fun dress, and I actually would have loved to make another one to wear this year! It went together very quickly since it is unlined, so maaaaaaybe I'll be able to, but I seriously doubt it, since some of my sewing stuff is still packed, anyway, and we have fun birthday outing plans today, as I mentioned. The green one from last year probably wouldn't fit me now, though, so I do need to make a new dress from that pattern sometime soon!
What are some of your favorite birthday traditions?
I love McMenamin's Edgefield! I don't live in Portland anymore, but I really miss that place, along with the Kennedy School. And Multnomah falls. Congrats on your upcoming wedding, and happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!! I have a shirt that says "I love Multnomah Falls", but I've never been west of the Mississippi, so I don't really know what that is. Anyway, random facts about me aside, hope you have a super fun day! -A
ReplyDeleteHappy bday Suzannah! Hope you have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteMaria from:
http://mycurrenthobby.blogspot.com/
Love the ruffled collar! Hope your birthday is just as awesome.
ReplyDeleteI love the dress! It looks especially fabulous with your hair. I've seen pattern made up in a few other blogs and I'm pretty sure I need to get it now.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, Suzannah! Beautiful dress! I hope you have a wonderful day today!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! I love the dress, its gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to you! :)
ReplyDeleteThat dress is really lovely on you
Happy Birthday! (Grattis!) (..means congrats in swedish...) :-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and many more to come! The dress is lovely.
ReplyDeleteI am so the same with birthdays. I absolutely love them and I plan for my birthday from the start of September (my birthday isn't until the 24th October). Since my 21st (2 years ago) I have made myself something to wear on my birthday every year. I have an idea for this year I just need the time to go buy material and get started.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! I hope you have a fantastic day even if the weather isn't cooperating.
I hope your birthday was absolutely extroidinary!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! What a beautiful dress and yes, you should wear it for as many wonderful birthdays as you'd like!!
ReplyDeleteThe dress looks great! I hope the weather didn't damper your birthday.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!
Just Better Together
wow! I love that dress! I may need to try that one out! And you say it is unlined? even better!
ReplyDeleteallaboutmommies.blogspot.com
Happy Birthday! I love the green dress...I did a similar ruffle on this one earlier this year: http://silverrosesewing.blogspot.com/2010/06/big-mistakes-can-yield-positive-results.html
ReplyDeleteHope you have a fantastic day!
Cute! I'll have to check out that pattern the next time there's a pattern sale. Happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteI was just admiring this pattern in the books recently!
ReplyDeleteLove the dress - happy happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteI have that exact same pattern - I loved the picture of the dress in purple! Yeah, I'm one of those purple-loving people. I haven't actually made the dress yet, though. I bought a bunch of patterns when they were on sale for $1 - can't beat that - and am working my way thru them.
Happy Happy Birthday! I love that pattern; your dress turned out way cuter than mine... btw, I saw more Chewbacas at Dragon*Con this year and I was even able to tell who they were! :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! That is an awesome dress - I love the color you chose. And of course, who doesn't love ruffles?!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday!!!
ReplyDeleteI just made this dress! LOVE wearing it-I made mine in a dark blue satin shot with black. Love the green you chose too!
ReplyDeleteI thought you'd be interested in a new book coming out on November 9th. The Party Dress Book is by Mary Adams, an amazing designer/artist in NYC. (http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780823033300)
ReplyDeleteHer book includes not only her ideas, inspirations and techniques, but a pattern, too. CHECK IT OUT!