joyful

Some friends of ours have been trying to adopt a little girl from Asia for well over three years now and finally the months of highs and lows have come to a close, for their new daughter has just arrived. There were many times when we all thought this moment was never going to come and I am so happy for them because their family is at last complete.

I'm also happy that I had an excuse to take the cover off the sewing machine once more! I've not made a toddler tiny outfit before and I thought this ditsy rosebud pink cotton would be ideal for making a little pinafore dress fit for a 16 month old. The pattern is from Everyday Girls' Clothes, the same Japanese book I used for this and this one too. I made the facing for the bodice with the same fabric but used a piece of twice recycled white cotton sheeting to line the skirt. Three pretty pink vintage buttons finish it off and how I love this little dress and everything it stands for. It's also the first piece of clothing I've made for someone other than family so I really hope it goes down well.

It is certainly going to be very confusing for this little tot for some time to come. Her life really is just about to begin, after all she will have a new country to come to terms with, new faces to become accustomed to, a new language to learn. But on the other hand she now has a ready made family, in time a sense of belonging, hopes and aspirations ahead and, not least, the knowledge one day that her life in an orphanage is well and truly behind her.

And because I didn't want her new big sister to feel left out, I made a simple lined elasticated skirt for her from the same fabric, with matching large lacy pockets.

Have a lovely week - it's going to be a good one I hear!