Finally- the pictures of the finished product..

The darn memory stick lost my pictures!  So I had to buy a new one and now I have new pictures to share.  Unfortunately- I lost the pictures of my daughter's photo shoot she modeled for.  I am so bummed!  They did her hair all crazy- the pictures were so much fun! 
So here is the dress I made from the Japanese pattern I was so excited about.  It was pretty easy to make- even without being able to read the directions.  The pictures were sufficient though I am sure I did a few things differently- that's ok- turned out as it should. :-)

(Don't let the picture fool you- she likes the dress- she just didn't feel like modeling it at the time...)

If you heard someone cursing at their sewing machine it was me!  I practiced buttonhole after buttonhole.  After I got it just the way I wanted- I tried making one on the dress.  All I got was a big ball of thread on the underside.  I finally realized my machine didn't like sewing through the linings (I really should have remembered that from past experiences!)  It has been so long since I have made buttonholes- it felt like I was learning all over again.  Eventually I got it to work by pulling the fabric through with my hand.

My next lesson to learn was that old seam rippers should be replaced!  I did not realize how dull the two I had were.  I ended up ripping a hole the fabric from pushing too hard.  Sissy didn't mind- bless her heart.  I think I could make a little patch to cover it?

(The big rip.  As you c n see I had to make the buttonholes over the seam.  That was due to not using the same seam allowance and not being able to calculate and/or decipher the instructions.  Of course that is why my machine got stuck there..)

But at least the my first fabric covered buttons turned out pretty darn cute!  I used a Japanese kit and it was so easy- why haven't I tried this before?  (Maybe because I have avoided making buttonholes?- lol)  I used a different little birdy from the skirt fabric for each button.

I may try making another one in a different fabric.  The fabric used on this dress is  from the Alexander Henry Collection.  It is really meant to be a quilting fabric- but the two prints were so darn cute and it was on sale!  It is a little thin however- so maybe I will try a cute polka dot next time.

I do have a new seam ripper now.  I bought it here locally and it has Snoopy on it.  And it is sharp!