Monday, December 3, 2012

Sewing: Coastal Curtsy Dresses for the Beach

 

 
Not only is this the season for grand family gatherings, it is also the season for those pull-your-hair-out Christmas-card-family-photo sessions. Right?! Well, I was determined to get ahead of December this year (last year I think I was still sewing the photo outfits in mid-December) but by mid November I still hadn't taken any photos.
 
 
I had been thinking about an ensemble of neutrals in an earthtone setting (tone on tone on tone) and then I realized our beach trip over Thanksgiving would provide the perfect backdrop! I can't help myself the last few years--I view just about every trip as an opportunity to find a different setting for photographing my girls.
 

 
I had imagined sewing a ruffled dress for Scarlett inspired by Katy's Coastal Twirly Skirt. I used her tutorial to make the skirt and then used my own pattern for a boatneck tee for the shirt, which went pretty well, but I did have to pay a lot more attention to the direction the ruffles were laying when I was pinning! I used an offwhite and charcoal dotted ruffle fabric purchased here and added this oversized crochet pouf
 

For Audrey I had a more tailored dress in mind. Something in linen from a vintage pattern. I sort of missed that Labor Day linen deadline, and was thinking of rebelling and doing it anyway, but then it was a couple days before we were leaving town and I realized the technical sewing just wasn't possible. So I pulled out this gorgeous grey ruffle fabric I bought after seeing Katy's Coastal Curtsy skirt (same as many of you I bet!) and decided I would do a ruffle dress for Audrey too!


These ruffle dresses were perfect. They pack well (scrunched into the suitcase at the last minute, to be honest), were super fun for the girls to wear (no couching needed for these shots of them frolicking on the beach), and they look pretty too.


So we pulled off the family photo. My sister and I each wrestled our families down to the beach one morning and took turns behind the camera for the full family shots. Which meant we got some fun cousin shots too. It was a great way to do it, especially last minute.

 
And it wasn't too painful for everyone. I don't think our "shoot" lasted more than 10 minutes and there was plenty of time for running around.
 
 
Why is it that the idea of a family photo, even a spontaneous one, always seems so awful, especially for the dads in the group, but then afterwards we're all pretty happy about it? (Dad took these shots, by the way.)


Tess wore a ruffled linen purchased dress. I'm practicing the practicality of not doing it all myself all of the time....

 
So the photo portion of the cards is complete, and we got some beautiful new dresses out of the effort too. (Thanks, Katy!) I'm saving THE photo to share later, once the cards are designed. It's nice to be a bit ahead of schedule this year.
 
How about you? Planning a holiday card?
 
 


21 comments:

Federica said...

Adoro questi vestiti!!! Sono bellissimi, tanti tanti complimenti!!! Sei bravissima e le tue bambine si vede che apprezzano quello che la loro mamma cuce per loro!!!Con ammirazione
Federica

Leigh Anne said...

What a lovely backdrop and dresses too! I usually do photo cards, but kinda debating about it this year. We didn't fit in a photo session. So, if I do the cards it will just be snapshots I took. And then the time & expense of mailing them. I guess I'm kinda talking myself out of it :) But, I do LOVE receiving them! LOL! I am ahead on my shopping...almost done and have even wrapped some gifts....a definite first for me!

No Big Dill said...

They turned out so great, Anneliese! And you are just so lovely. Can't wait to see THE one.

Jessica at Me Sew Crazy said...

truly lovely! I love the way you switched up the direction of the ruffles on the top and bottom. Great photos, you have a beautiful family!

Emily said...

Beautiful pictures! I'm also excited to see THE picture! Love the ruffle top and the coastal curtsy skirt combo. :) I can't stop thinking about what to take pictures of wherever we go now too. Our family picture session lasted about ten minutes also and my husband was a trooper but not super happy about it.

Tanya said...

You all look beautiful and like you had a lot of fun, enjoy Christmas, God bless

Bioarchjones said...

Your family is so beautiful! The dresses and the location, just gorgeous. What great photos!

Jane LaFazio said...

oh, I adore those dresses!! and such beautiful photos and family too.

Francesca said...

came via Pinterest - I love your dresses (and the pics!). can't wait for beach season to make one for my daughter :)

Elasha said...

These are beautiful! I love the ruffles - the skirt and shirt in all ruffles is very fun. Hope you enjoyed the beach.

T shirt printing said...

The ruffled dress is really nice, I went thru the tutorial. I can't trust such an intense effect comes from a simple skirt.

Nancy said...

Beautiful photos and beautiful family!

Resmi... said...

The dresses are extremely pretty. Any girl would be excited to wear those, no matter what age :-) I loved the grey one especially.

Love,
Resmi

Citra said...

Oh my God !
Those are soo pretty !
My eyes can't resist them :D
I will go to read the tutorial after post this comment

Thank you for posting your beautiful works :)

kristin said...

I LOVE these. I want a dress like that!! They look so swishy and fun to wear. Beautifully sewn. Always fun to see bloggers use each other's tutorials, too!

la inglesita said...

So beautiful! you really did an amazing job!. The skirt was of course a lovely design but your ruffle overload has been amazing!!!
I love it.
María

Amy @ OurScoop said...

Beautiful pictures!! You look stunning and these dresses are to die for!!

Hilary said...

Stunning!! The picture of the two girls shoulder to shoulder is priceless and really shows off the dresses.

Just found your blog. Love it!

Delia said...

So lovely! I have some ruffled fabric for Natalie just sitting on my craft table. You have inspired me! Thank you!

Delia said...

Oh and that polka dot ruffle fabric is so lovely!

Unknown said...

hello, I'm french and I adore your blog. Sorry for my bad english...
Just to say you that what you do is very beautifull and your daughter too. When i saw your older girl , I think to Belle from Belle & Boo.

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