A Quick Fix and New Fabric

Have you ever felt like you are on top of things; like you've carefully planned and organized and set things up so every thing will go smoothly?  Only, you are fairly sure that if even one little thing happens to knock even one, tiny little thing out of whack the whole darn thing will come crashing down?  That's kinda me, right now.

Two days after we returned from our family trip to Mexico, my husband left for a 13 day work-trip to Europe.  While he's in Italy, Amsterdam and Germany, we are embarking on a very busy two weeks.   Three basketball games and four practices, 5 4-H meeting or events, school projects, Solo &Ensemble, a forensics meet, birthday parties, a baby shower to help host,  homework...and the event of the year for my oldest daughter.  She has performed with a show choir group since she was in third grade.  Every spring they produce their Gala - two weekends filled with 8 performances, and the tech week that leads up to it.  Tech week means she will be in the theater late every night this week, so she will be tired and crabby when i get her up every morning.  Let's not even talk about the post show get togethers at restaurants two or three times during the run of the show.

It's a really,  really, busy time, and in previous years, even with two present and functioning parents we all felt like we were coming apart at the seams  during Gala week.  This year, I am on my own until the second weekend of shows.

So, I've planned and plotted and enlisted a small army of helpers, and I think I can do this,  but I am one false move away from collapsing in the corner crying. Wish me luck.

The lovely  dress above is my daughter's  Finale dress.  The tradition during Gala is for all the kids to come out for the finale number in formal attire.  They sing a song that tugs at the heart strings, and usually the senior girls cry. Me, too, actually.  It's one of  my favorite moments of the whole thing.  But, it means we have to find a formal dress every year.  This year, she really wanted a long dress.  She is 13 and has had tween party dresses as her formals in years past.  She's all grown up this year, though, and wants to look more like the older girls.  So, I was ecstatic when I found a size 3, beautiful,  grown up looking but not too mature (read,  fairly modest) , long formal on a clearance rack for  $11.  Score! I knew I'd need to shorten it, but since she has just recently transitioned from girls 14's to juniors size small, I figured I might need to take in thensize 3 a bit at the bust to make it fit.  

Ahem.  It was about 4 inches too long, as I'd expected.  But, she could only zip it to just below her braline!  I am not sure whom this was intended to fit!   Apparently not my healthy, normally developing, slim to average sized thirteen years old!  Are there really girls out there who are taller and skinnier and flatter chested?  I guess that's why it was on clelarance.

Anyway.  It's now tech week eve.  Suddenly, she and I both remember that the dress we'd hung in the closest a few months ago intending to "figure something out" never got figured out!   And she needs a dress!   This week!  And I've got no time (or  cash) to shop for a different one.  *sigh*

So, it's time for a quick fix.  Really quick.  The down and dirty kind.  It won't be pretty, but, she will be wearing it for ten minutes, tops, each show, and the fix will be under the arm where it won't be seen, anyway.  She won't be able to wear it "for real" but, really, where, other than the finale, does a 13 year old go to wear a dress like that?

I trimmed the necessary length off the two layers of the skirt, and did a quick serger-like zigzag around the bottom of each;  nice and easy, quicker than turning up a hem.  Then, I used some of the fabric that I'd cut from the inner skirt,  made a wedge shaped piece big enough to fill the space between where the zipper stops and the top of the dress.  I hand sewed the wedge to one side of the gap. Velcro will finish the job.  

Like I said, it's not pretty, but it will do.  And it's almost done.  Finished trumps perfect every time.

Despite my mile long to do list, and my two miles long gotta do, take or make for the kids list, I did manage to sneak to a quilt show for a couple hours yesterday morning. It was held at the Fairgrounds about 5 minutes from my house.  Not the largest show I have been to, but very nice.  The quilts were mostly traditional, but there were some very fun modern quilts, too.  And a great section of Kona challenge quilts.  I snapped a few pictures, maybe I'll post another time.  For now, I'll show my purchase.

I've been wanting to make myself a new purse or tote for quite some time.  I realized recently that my phone, my planner and my wallet (not shown) all coordinate nicely. They are all a navy/teal combination I love.  Not planned, but it means that I gravitate toward those colors, right? So, why not have a bag to match.  I found this Moda hash tag print that was perfect, and will look great in a bag,  the other two were in the same booth.  They are not Moda, but they sure do play nicely.  Now, the question is, will the bag be done before I have to buy a new planner?  

I am linking up with Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story