Yeah!!!!! I’ve finished 2 pieces for the PR Wardrobe Contest. Here are a few pictures of my dress (HP 102) and jacket (HP 104) modeled by my favorite dummy!

This dress is made of 100% cotton jersey in solid black. It is a beautiful, wash and wearable fabric. The style itself is perfect for me: easy to wear, wrestle kids in, and take care of. It is made from Hot Patterns 102 No Sweat Easy Sew Triple T-Shirt Dresses. I used the low-scooped bodice, short sleeves and the straight skirt. It took about 1 1/2 hours to start and finish this dress. I love projects I can finish quick! (4 yards of my stash used! 2 for the dress, 2 for a muslin)

This jacket is made in a sweater knit I bought at Hobby Lobby some time ago. I have no idea what it’s made of, but that’s part of the fun of stash shopping! The facing on the jacket are actually the satin I will be using on a top. (2 yards from my stash!)

The jacket is also a Hot Patterns pattern. It is from HP 104 Sugar Babe Set. I will be finishing a top and pants to match this week, I hope. The biggest change I made on this piece–I didn’t use the drawstring neckline like the patten recommends. Having made this once before, I found the drawstring terribly impractical, especially for the Mom of a 3-year-old imp. Instead, I measured the neckline I wanted and cut a piece of 3/4 inch elastic. I ran that through the facings, stitching it in place 1 inch from either front edge. From there I can adjust the gathers as needed. As for a closure–it is being debated. My Big Girl wants me to use a big rinestone button. I’m leaning more toward a fancy hook and eye type closure.

Nope, this dress doesn’t match my wardrobe. It’s actually a dress for Mom. I started it back before Christmas, but I stopped, dreading the lapped zipper. I decided to finish it so that I could reposition the cushioning on the dress form to fit my figure instead of hers! She tried it on today and it fits quite nicely, I must say. It is Simplicity 3744 and you can read my review here.

What’s a mom to do?

I know the same rule that y’all do about keeping a child home until they are clear of fever for 24 hours, so when my big girl ran a fever 101.3 Sunday afternoon, I choose to keep her home from Kindergarten on Monday.

First dillema-is it worth taking her to the virus-filled doctor’s office waiting room to get a school excuse? I called the MD and here’s what my MD said: yes, I was right to keep her home and as long as the fever is completely gone by Monday pm, I can just swing by and request an excuse without seeing the MD. In days past, they would’ve faxed it to the school, but thanks to privacy policies (thank you Mr. Clinton), I now have to go in and pick it up.

Second dillema-it’s back to school on Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday. My Big Girl seems to be running and playing fine, but when she is resting, doing chores, and working on homework, she complains about a headache. I’m giving her tylenol or ibus when she complains, but is she sick? Yet again, is it worth risking all the germs at the doctor’s office for a sometime-headace?

Finally, on Thursday, this Mom has had all the whining she can handle. So, I send my hubby to the pediatrician with BG. Get this–the child has strep! Not once, has she complained of a sore throat! What the heck? In fact, after she returned home from the MD, I asked, “Does your throat hurt?” The answer–“no”.

Apparently this bout of strep is one of 3 things: 1. A new case (not likely); 2. A flare-up of the strep that we had on Mardi Gras Day that never went away (after a 5-day Z pack); or 3. The child is a carrier for strep and will always test positive for it, in which case, removing her tonsils would help to prevent recurring infections. Lovely.

And all this on the weekend before I get 2 of my wisdom teeth cut out. It looks like it’ll be Wednesday before I get back to my sewing machines. I guess I can wait that long.

BTW, check out the new froggy jon-jon on www.personalitychildrens.etsy.com and the new strawberry jumper and bloomer set on www.personalitychildrensclothes.com in the summer section of my boutique.

Happy Leap Day!