Bake Sale Frock (what's been going on with me lately)

August 22, 2011

I'm guessing many of you are wondering what happened to me these past few months? At the end of May I had some big plans for the blog that had to be put on hold. Did my sewing machine break? Did I forget to pay my internet bill? Did I fall into a bottomless hole? Well....I've basically taken the summer off for various reasons. The biggest reason/good news, we are expecting a baby at the end of January.
Not that this alone would impede me from blogging at the pace I usually do. Normally I get sick and tired in the first four months which does slow me down a bit but this time around I had to also quit taking a medication (tramadol) that I was using for IC. The effect of NOT taking the medication was surprisingly horrible and way worse than the discomfort of IC. Before this pregnancy, I never took more than the recommended dosage, normally less. Yet, not taking it was enough to throw me completely off track for most of the summer. It took about three months to get back to feeling like myself again. And I've been starting slowly with semi-homemade maternity dresses.

Semi-homemade dresses are great because they only take about a day to make and usually come out looking fabulous. And best of all, you can still brag about making it yourself without really fibbing;)
This was the second one I made. I'll be showing you the first one later. I used an old Forever 21 top and cut it off at the bust line. I save the trim at the bottom of the top and used it at the waistband of the new dress. It kind of hurt to cut up this old favorite shirt of mine. In fact, I'm a little shocked I did it at all but in the end I think it was worth it. This dress is so super cute for maternity wear. I made the skirt from my own pattern and attached it to the top. It has a gathered front, side piped pockets, 1.5" waistband and wide contrast trim at the hem.

Has anyone else noticed the complete LACK of maternity options out there? Everything is knit and simple and blah. We need a Modcloth for maternity! Using interesting tops and adding your own homemade skirt is a great way to get that look for little money. Honestly, I don't even think you can get this look in maternity no matter how much you paid. Everything out there I've seen is pretty bland. But if any of you have some good sites please let me know.

I hope to be offering the skirt pattern later in the week on Grosgrain in sample size 8 for free then offering it graded later at a small fee. I'll also show you how to attach the skirt pattern to an existing blouse so you can make a semi-homemade frock of your own.
I also have a few other projects which have taken up my free time. As I mentioned earlier, we moved Lily and Molly upstairs to make room for the new baby which took about a month and a half to finish completely (hoping to be posting pics of that soon, still have a few decorating ideas in the works). I'm also working on a big project with Burdastyle which requires some commuting to NYC and LOTS of work from home. On top of all of that I still am feeling kind of poopy from the pregnancy but I'm slowly making my way back to where I was before. As for re-introducing tramadol after the pregnancy I'm already looking into more natural alternatives but if anyone has any questions about taking it themselves, I'd be happy to give my two cents.

I'm so glad to be feeling much better than I was just a month ago. Though I fear it will be short lived:) These few brief months between 4 and 6 are the least uncomfortable. But this will be our last baby so I'm trying to enjoy as much of these moments as I can. It is a blessing and I'm so happy to meet our newest addition in January.

PS We'll find out the gender of the baby tomorrow which I'd be delighted to share with you then!

69 {comments}:

Becky said... Best Blogger Tips

Great to see you back to sewing and feeling good! Congrats on your pregnancy.

Stephanie Lynn said... Best Blogger Tips

Congrats! :)

Jeanine The Crafting Fiend said... Best Blogger Tips

beautiful! I hated maternity shopping! Everything felt so ... "soccer mom" ish. I felt so out of fashion the entire time and just blah and looked as gross as I felt. tights were pretty much my go to.

Molly said... Best Blogger Tips

mazel tov! YAYYYYYY for babies!

rachel said... Best Blogger Tips

So cute! I agree on the lack of cute maternity wear as well as the cost- sheeze. I'm due in March and am just getting to the I feel normal without being huge phase, which is wonderful. Congrats and good luck these next few months!

Ana said... Best Blogger Tips

What a nice suprise!! I'm so happy for you and your family! Congratulations!! You look beautiful and I love the dress!

Pretty Zesty said... Best Blogger Tips

That dress is so pretty. I love the simplicity and overall delicateness behind it.

reeve said... Best Blogger Tips

love, love, LOVE the dress!! So cute.

Moderator said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations! I can't wait to see the amazing maternity clothes you create!

Meghan said... Best Blogger Tips

Congrats! Glad to see that you are feeling better than you were before. Hope the rest of the pregnancy goes smoothly.

Tricia said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations. I'm sorry that you haven't been feeling well. I'm impressed with how much you have done given your state.

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations! I can related although I don't have IC, but pregnancy-related discomfort did keep me from sewing and blogging. So hang in there!

No Big Dill said... Best Blogger Tips

Fantastic news! Congrats :)

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

wow congratulations :D

and i love this dress!!

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations, Kathleen! I'm so sorry to hear that you have been unwell though. That's terrible! You look beautiful and we have missed you! Enjoy this time of feeling better!

rhilborn said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations! I'm sorry that you're summer has been rough but as you said, what a blessing to bring another child into the world.

Courtney Elizabeth said... Best Blogger Tips

oh i love this dress!

and congratulations!

Giulia said... Best Blogger Tips

congratulations!
your semi homemade dress is lovely, and I'm glad that you feel better now!
I was born in January too ;)
kisses

Emily said... Best Blogger Tips

Oh how wonderful! Congrats! Looking forward to many more maternity dresses. :)

Leigh Anne said... Best Blogger Tips

Congrats! Great news and beautiful dress :)

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

congratulations! how exciting! i follow you on pinterest and had been getting a little suspicious with your "maternity post" board...gotta admit! :) glad you're feeling better. the dress looks great, too.

AnnaPK said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!

Amber Bockman said... Best Blogger Tips

congrats, I'm excited for you guys!

BeccaA said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations on the pregnancy! I'm glad you're feeling better. Maybe you need to start the ModCloth of maternity wear?

Jessie said... Best Blogger Tips

Congrats on your baby! I love ALL of your creative ideas. There is definitely a lack of cute maternity clothes! Very nice :)

Edamommy2 said... Best Blogger Tips

Congrats!! And what a lovely dress!!

Caela said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations, so exciting! Can't wait to see more & here if its pink or blue :)

Caitlin Weaver said... Best Blogger Tips

Had you already announced that you're pregnant? I can't believe I missed it, congratulations! Can't wait to hear what you're having.

Caitlin Weaver said... Best Blogger Tips

Okay I reread the post and realized this was the first announcement!

Hands Sew Full said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations! I hope you are feeling well. Can't wait for the Pink/blue announcement!

Buttons in a cup mama said... Best Blogger Tips

I so understand you. I'm fighting to cure from a molar pregancy right now, and just begin to have my nomal life back !

NessyS said... Best Blogger Tips

Wow - fantastic news re the baby! Now I feel awful about emailing and bugging you re the patterns... hope all your med/health issues get better - all the best Darl x

Ryan said... Best Blogger Tips

I am not an herbalist and everything I know I learned from the internet. However, I've been looking at herbal options for bladder problems for my dog who is paralyzed and suffers from chronic issues that cause irritation. I recently started giving him Capsella bursa-pastoris (shepherd's purse). It is used mainly to help with controlling bleeding but also has anti-inflammatory properties.

Not for use when pregnant.

Melanie said... Best Blogger Tips

Wow! Congratulations! I love the new dress - very chic maternity wear. Hope you are feeling better soon!

LGreenWriter said... Best Blogger Tips

Awwww! Congratulations to you and your family. : ) Can't wait to see what stylish maternity wear you come up with...this dress is sooo pretty.

Dancer D.O. said... Best Blogger Tips

hi there! big fan of your blog. i used your bridesmaids bouquet satin flower post for a friend's wedding recently, in fact.
...so.... i find that unsolicited medical advice is pretty creepy in general, but i want to throw this out there anyway. it's great that you want to get off the tramadol. i'd hope for you to consider osteopathic therapy. it is not the same as chiropractic! it can be a great addition to a natural pain management regimen, and can be beneficial to your pregnancy as well. an article for your consideration: http://www.jaoa.org/cgi/content/full/107/suppl_6/ES17?maxtoshow=&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=interstitial+cystitis&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
please msg me if you need more info. i hope you have a splendid 3rd pregnancy so that you can keep crafting and posting!! :)
-chelsea

kelly said... Best Blogger Tips

congratulations! what a blessing!!

how about a maternity sew-along?

Elz said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations, what a blessing. Great refashion on this dress.

loopylulu said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations!!! I remember all the pretty froths you made last time you were expecting and I can't wait to see what ideas you have this time around.

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations! I love your maternity dress, you're so right, there's so little out there that's pretty!

Anonymous said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations Kathleen! The maternity dress is SO sweet too!

Casey Maura said... Best Blogger Tips

A big congratulations to you!!! :) So exciting!

I agree that maternity wear is so... boring. Your dress is a great, cute alternative though--doesn't look anything like ho-hum maternity wear I've seen. Beautiful job! :)

Stacey said... Best Blogger Tips

What a wonderful time. Glad you are feeling better and the dress is devine. Maternity clothes are fairly hideous I find, more like this would be great!

JuneBug said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations on the pregnancy! I'm so sorry to hear about the IC, though. A friend of mine also suffers from that and I see what a struggle it is - I'm glad you're feeling better though, and the dress is so very very cute! I look forward to the pattern/tute for it.

elizabeth said... Best Blogger Tips

congrats on your pregnancy! you are the cutest most stylish pregnant woman I know!! I love this dress and I am NOT pregnant!

ashleygaha said... Best Blogger Tips

Congrats on your pregnancy! We're having our first early January so I'm so very excited to see that you're going to be doing some maternity wear! I can't seem to find anything I like and am struggling to make my pre-pregnancy clothes work... =( I also have a wedding to go to in November and 2 showers my friends and family are throwing for me! Yay for the excitement but I was so worried I won't find anything to wear...not anymore though =)

The Ninja said... Best Blogger Tips

Congrats on your coming addition. We are expecting as well, and I'll probably be using a bunch of your embellish knit things to fancy up my maternity wardrobe, since I'll be the most pregnant in the winter.

robinsnc said... Best Blogger Tips

Congrats! I'm a FTM due in early February and I already hate all maternity clothes I've seen. Can't wait to see what other inspiring outfits you make--please keep 'em coming!

Pamela Bates said... Best Blogger Tips

Congrats on the good news! And sorry for your tramadol experperience. My mother had horrible adverse effect. She had been using it for 4 weeks for arthritis in her neck and went off it because it was upsetting her stomach. She shouldn't have. It sent her into full blown withdrawal. It was horrible..like a nightmare. Doc and pharmacist were surprised, but none the less, it happened. I do hope you are feeling better soon.

Elk Dresses said... Best Blogger Tips

My mom has had IC for over 20 years, so although I don't personally know how it feels, I have seen how she feels. My hat's off to you, being pregnant on top of that!

Alison said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations! Love the dress! Can't wait to see what other maternity things you create.

hilaryg said... Best Blogger Tips

congratulations!!

Sewing Princess said... Best Blogger Tips

congratulations. That's great news and I am also happy to hear about your project...curious too

Adventures in Dressmaking said... Best Blogger Tips

Congrats! I'm so sorry to hear you've been feeling down this summer, but glad that you'll be back to blogging for a while! Best of luck with everything!

Nicole said... Best Blogger Tips

thats so great! I'm due at the same time! Congrats!

Abigail said... Best Blogger Tips

Dancer D.O. So glad to hear you were able to reuse my bridesmaid bouquet idea and tutorial. I hope they were a hit. I hope to be opening my new wedding related blog very soon so if you know any other soon to be brides there will be great ideas there.

Jessica said... Best Blogger Tips

yay! congrats!! i'm pregnant with my first and all of a sudden, this morning my clothes didn't fit anymore...i just came to find your old tutorials with your last baby that i think i remember reading and yay! more new ones! thanks for all the sharing. i need all the maternity help i can get!

{jen} iCandyhandmade said... Best Blogger Tips

Love the dress, it is adorable! I was guessing you might be pregnant...am so happy for you guys! Congrats on a boy. So different from girls but so fun.

Jacinta said... Best Blogger Tips

Congrats! Awesome news and I agree about the lack of nice maternity clothes... hoping you can provide some inspiration when you're feeling up to it!

Christie // lemon squeezy home said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations Kathleen! That's wonderful news! The dress is beautiful:).

Kelley said... Best Blogger Tips

Congrats! I am sure you will have a blast altering and making little baby boy goodies! I had to stop using tramadol with my pregnancies. But, I have Fibromyalgia, not IC. Good luck!

Kelley said... Best Blogger Tips

Congrats! I am sure you will have a blast altering and making little baby boy goodies! I had to stop using tramadol with my pregnancies. But, I have Fibromyalgia, not IC. Good luck!

Unfurled said... Best Blogger Tips

Congrats! I am in the same boat, and have found that ASOS maternity has some good things. It has lots of cute European brands, and the prices are reasonable. Be well!

Jana said... Best Blogger Tips

What happy news--congratulations!

Have you checked out Boden's maternity selection? Perhaps they have some cute separates/dresses that might be a change from the usual so-so maternity selection. Then again, with your skills, you can make lots of stylish things for yourself for a lot less money (as long as you have the energy for sewing!).

Petit karo said... Best Blogger Tips

Wauw what a great news! Congratulations! And I love the dress!

Rosalind said... Best Blogger Tips

Congratulations! lovely news x you will love having a boy too :-)

DangAndBlast! said... Best Blogger Tips

Yay, I'm due end of Jan too, with a girl! Look forward to catching up on my feed reader... see what ideas you have!

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips

simple beauty, i love looking this sytle.
Jasa seo

Gerrardz said... Best Blogger Tips

I love this casual style!



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