Larkspur turned twelve yesterday and I think she had a lovely birthday. By a small miracle I had everything prepared and ready in time. (I’m pretty sure I always say that. But it always feels that way!) She was very detailed in her birthday requests, and pro-active enough that she even put together her own birthday bouquet the day before. As she requested (and always does), I had her gifts wrapped and laid out Monday morning when she woke. She received mostly art supplies. Colored pencils, a travel set of watercolors, and multiple sketchbooks. She’s always had a love for paper. I remember when she was about three years old, my stepdad gave her a box of Post-it notes and other little pads of paper and office supplies. She would make the biggest messes, paper everywhere. She still does, but she has a tidy streak and cleans up after herself these days. I’m afraid Beatrix doesn’t share Lark’s love of order, so their bedroom is usually half clean, half disastrous. Bea sitting amidst her mess with a smile on her face, Larkspur shooting glares her way. Ha! Lark could have gotten her ears pierced on her birthday, because twelve is the age when my girls are allowed to (this was the age I was allowed to get mine pierced so it’s just tradition) but she doesn’t want her ears pierced. Guess who does and can’t wait?
I wasn’t able to work on Larkspur’s birthday dress as much as I’d hoped last week, but I wasn’t worried. I thought I’d have plenty of time over the weekend to finish it, and since she wanted a somewhat simplified version of the dress I made for Beatrix, I was counting on it being a little bit quicker. When we lost power during a windstorm early Friday morning, I did get a little concerned. But it turned out our solar panels generated enough electricity that I could run my sewing machine which was pretty neat. I was able to sew a bit on Friday afternoon and then a little more on Saturday. I thought I’d be able to finish on Sunday, but something went wrong with our solar system and I explained to Larkspur that I might not be able to finish after all. Later that day on a trip into town I saw a crew working on our street and by that afternoon power was restored. I was able to finish the dress after all! She put it on first thing on Monday morning, and paired that soft linen with muddy boots to go out for her birthday lunch. By the time I thought to take a photo, the dress was well wrinkled and she had to cover a big pizza sauce stain with her hands. Now it’s in the laundry room covered in stain remover. More pictures to come. It’s a pretty simple dress, just how Larkspur likes things. (I used this linen and this pattern.)
Realizing we didn’t have any decent birthday candles, Jonny and I made a last minute batch of new beeswax ones so Lark had twelve candles plus one to grow on in her banana pudding. (Jonny thinks my tutorial is unnecessarily complicated. We just dipped hemp twine into beeswax, and skipped the washers and special knots, etc. They turned out just fine.) Last night Larkspur went to bed with a stomachache after eating too much of that banana pudding. Maybe too much all together. But this morning she woke feeling fine, asking for the portion she saved. That’s part of her birthday ritual too: saving a bowl of banana pudding for her breakfast on the day after her birthday.
I’m going to go start some laundry now, and hope that dress comes clean. Two months until the next birthday. Gabe wants to have his whole baseball team over….
Bethany says
Love the dress and the birthday traditions! And I love how opinionated Larkspur is about them. My oldest is only six, but I think it’s about time to give her a say in her traditions.
Hopefully that stain has come out for you already, but if not, I’ve had great success with putting tomato-based stains in the sun for a couple days. The only trouble is waiting for those sunny days to come around here in Oregon…
Priti says
love your love for details 🙂
karen says
so glad you got the dress done in time 🙂 she has a sweet smile and is so happy – love the first few photos of big sister/little sister. Spring is around the bend! yay!
Angela & Tribe says
What beautiful memories and a special day. Happy Birthday dear child
Lady Locust says
A beautiful dress for a beautiful young lady. And I love those candles:-)
Missy says
Beautiful dress! I’m glad to see it with all one fabric, I didn’t like the separate splash of color in the middle panel as the pattern suggests. Your version is very classic. I looked at Bea’s dress and see that you ordered the adult version. Have you made it yet?
S says
Sounds like the loveliest of birthdays….love her traditions!
Sandra Davidson says
Happy Birthday Larkspur, you look lovely in your birthday dress!
Many Blessings from Canada
Marion says
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LARKSPUR Wishing you a year of joy,happiness and blessings.
Ginny the dress is beautiful. a lovely birthday for a beautiful girl.
Marion
Becky Slack says
What a beautiful dress!…. I wish we lived closer, I would give you my treadle sewing machine….works perfectly… I love all your handmade items….and your family…. will pray for your health issues….God still works miracles!….
Clémence says
I absolutely LOVE those birthday pics! What a happy smile! Birthdays are some much fun at your place…
Deborah says
Happy Birthday to your daughter. The dress looks beautiful in the picture. You might think about purchasing a treadle or hand crank sewing machine for when the power goes out. Hand crank would probably be easier to start. They are such simple machines…not much to go wrong. The children would think them interesting, too. And they are so much fun!
kim says
I looove linen and have that pattern! Did you line it or does she wear a slip? Would love to see a full view of your handiwork! Happy Birthday!
Ginny says
The bodice is lined, but she either needs a slip or leggings because the skirt is not. 🙂 I’ll try to get more photos soon!
Bee says
Happy belated birthday! That dress is such a nice color. Good for you for pulling it all off. I’m sure you can do the same on Gabe’s birthday…! 😉
Ruby says
She is a lovely lovely person, Ginny, in every way! I remember glaring at my own younger sister and her terrible housekeeping skills when we were growing up…I actually still do this sometimes when I visit and I use her bathroom, ha!
Linen + muddy boots = the best kind of math. Happy Birthday!
Cindy in NC says
A very happy birthday to Larkspur. Our girls got their ears pierced just before First Communion. I’m not sure a theologian would approve of this way to get a child excited about this sacrament, but it certainly worked for us. I know both the earrings and the sacrament made them feel very grown up.
Shirley says
Happy Birthday to your daughter 🙂
KAde says
You are always such an inspiration to me. I always feel better on the days I can read your posts. May God bless you and your dear family.
Lise says
My sweet Becca will turn 12 this week. They grow sooo fast.
Happy Birthday 🙂
Kelda says
Good job on pulling that off Mom! All your handmade items are so special, I hope you realize how wonderful it is that your kids get handmade things. I don’t even make their dessert, but you make candles? So awesome.
MJ says
Happy birthday to lovely Larkspur! March 5 also is my sweet Tess’s birthday.
Maria says
Happy Birthday, Larkspur! Birthday rituals are wonderful and important, sounds like she has some great ones! I’m a little jealous since my ten-year old son’s birthday party ritual is a big Nerf gun fight with all his friends, haha. But you only have one childhood, so really what the house looks like in the aftermath of these parties is not important at all.
PS – love to see the flower pictures, we are a long time from seeing anything like that in upstate NY!
Eileen says
Lark, Happy- Happy Birthday, WOW 12 years old!
Ginny great job on the dress! Love the linen fabric!