Avery's Birthday Mori Dress

Today is my oldest child's 5th birthday. Five really seems like a big jump from four. Its freaking me out, but she couldn't be happier about growing up into a "big girl."

I don't make dresses for every special occasion, because that could really get insane and stressful. But I saw this heart fabric at Wal-Mart (of all places) for a $1/yard and:
1.) I knew Avery would love it
2.) I could instantly picture using it with a pattern I owned but hadn't yet tried
3.) Five is a milestone birthday, and that deserves a mom-made dress, right?
4.) Perhaps this is the most important, there was actually a person at the cutting table! I have spent many a time waiting for some fabric to be cut at wal-mart, only to give up after waiting for 15-20 minutes. It was meant to be.

This fabric is so flowy and lends itself perfectly to the Mori Dress. I did modify the flounce quite heavily though. The original pattern has the flounce being quite wide, which isn't bad, just not quite to my taste. I made a size 3 but used the width of the 6 month flounce. Then I lengthened that flounce quite a bit, probably almost double so I could get some nice ruffely goodness. I absolutely love the end result. Steve says it is the best dress I have ever made, and I think I agree with him.

And the best part, when Avery opened it today for her birthday, it was love at first sight. She loves her birthday dress, which made it all worth it. She even got to stay up past her bedtime so we could get some "golden hour" shots in. Lucky!