red + aqua Texas-Day Dress

I never understood the whole Texas Pride thing until we moved here.
I'd always heard about it.
I'd always wondered about it.
Everyone told me everything's bigger in Texas---(which might be true, especially the square mileage of dusty brown land). 

But once you come live here---or even just visit---you get it!
It's not an ego thing, or feeling like it's better than somewhere else.
And it's not because of that pretty brown grass I know you're jealous of below.   Believe me, I miss California grass and ants that don't bite every day.

It's just that Texans really, really love where they live!
And they want everyone to know it! ---and to come join the fun if you want! 
And if not, we'll eat an extra pound of brisket for you. 

Every Friday at my kids' school, after saying the Pledge of allegiance, and the Texas pledge, and having a moment of silence, they sing a version of "The Stars at Night are Big and Bright".  My favorite line is "living is fun in the Texas Sun...clap, clap, clap, clap.....here at our schoool in Austin!"

Because it is!
We have loved living here in this big land of Texas.  And I've written multiple posts about it here.  There are waterholes for fishing and swimming, football games for cheering, wildflowers for loving, and tons of great food and music for enjoying and date-nighting.    

And I love that my kids get to learn all about Texas at school.  I remember doing a similar thing in California---learning about the history, early settlers, the California Missions....and then making our own 3D mission from sugar cubes and cardboard.  Please tell me they still do that in school....

So for Clara's first "Texas Day" at preschool I gave her my own little version of Texas:

This is a variation on the First Day Dress, which I never seem to get tired of.  There are so many ways to mix it up!  I often think I should put together an "add-ons" package to go with the pattern....with more sleeve options, collars, etc.  Yay? Nay?

Changes I made to this version:
• front and back necklines are cut lower.
• puff sleeves with bias tape binding and elastic strung through the binding.
• gathered skirt, rather than the circle skirt included in the pattern.
• back ties, rather than button closure.

Gingham was a little cliche, but who doesn't love a picnic tablecloth on a tiny body?...mixed with aqua and wildflowers?

Then we threw it together with red boots, which I bought at a thrift store years ago, and which she insisted on putting on herself, and which totally fell apart at school so I glue-gunned the sole back to to the boot for our photoshoot.

The best part about the dress: she loves it.
And wears it almost every week to church.

The best compliment this little cowgirl could give me.
Have a great week my friends!

And thank you, thank you for your kind and honest words in the last post.  It's taken me a couple weeks to shake things off and get back in my groove.  So I appreciate your love.

In the words of Tim Riggins,
Texas Forever.