I love this

My mom found this in the newspaper. Click on it for full size.

Ode to my Lost Girls

Shortly after I found out I was pregnant I scoured the internet looking for some sort of way of calming my fears and maybe finding out I wasn't the only one experiencing things I never knew were part of a normal pregnancy. My search led me to an online message board that included a birth club. Women at the same stage of pregnancy as me going through the same things! Now 23 months later I've found myself still visiting that message board and having found a group of ladies (I use that term loosely) with whom I've been able to share some of the happiest and most difficult times of my life. We were even cool enough to come up with a nickname (Lost Girls) and a mascot (Tinkerbell). In all our Tinkified coolness, I even came up with a uniform of sorts for our little ones (at least some of the little girls- we didn't think the dads would appreciate their little boys wearing dresses). It is my honor to present the little cutie patooties representing their Lost Girl pride.

(Photo courtesy of Leslie, future famous author and mother of the cutie patootie in pigtails and one on the way!)

Pink Toile Pleated Pillowcase Top and Pants

My vision for Rosemary's Closet is to have clothing that little girls (and one day boys) can wear running wild and free in a meadow of wild flowers with the wind whipping through their hair! I realize in our daily lives that doesn't happen much, so I'd settle with pretty clothes that make me smile. The pink toile outfit epitomizes the style and genre, if you will, of clothing I want to make. The delicate pink toile is unbelievably soft! This outfit would be perfect for any special occassion. If you live in a warm climate like me, you can simply pair it with a sweater when it gets below 60 and be happy. If you live somewhere colder this would be a great spring or summer outfit. The pleats take about four hours per outfit and I work on them for about an hour at a time. I make them up ahead of time so when someone orders the outfit I just need to cut and sew the top and pants in the size ordered and add the pleats and they don't have to wait days and days for the outfit to be made! The top is in the same style as the pillowcase dresses, except it's narrower and cut to fit around the waist (pleats add a little length). They are very versatile to fit all body types. The ribbons are treated to prevent fraying and a small stitch is placed on the inside to keep it from being pulled out by curious little hands and washing machines (a trick I wish I knew when I first started making these things!). The pants are simply two pieces of fabric cut out and sewn together with an elastic waist. All seams are finished with an overcast stitch to prevent fraying and provide a professional appearance. If you have any questions about this outfit, or any of my outfits, please feel free to leave a comment or email.