About a year and a half ago, I found a beautiful piece of fabric on Black Friday. It was just a little bit (a yard and 3/8) and there was enough to make a dress for Ivory if I made it while she was young.
This piece of fabric became my theme for her party–blue and white, which seems fitting for a blue-eyed girl named Ivory!
The dress is made from the Pascale pattern. This pattern is my absolute favorite pattern; I use it for everything! It has so many variations. I have a copy from the inside of Sew Beautiful magazine from years ago. It’s a basic bodice dress with buttons in back. I used blue buttons I bought on a 50% off sale at JoAnn’s. The collar is made from white muslin. The dress cost me under $9 in supplies.
I made her a matching bracelet with beads I bought on 50% off sale last year at Michael’s. This was super simple; I strung the beads on a piece of clear stretch elastic that you can find in the bead section.
Her headband is one I recovered (I cut off the original covering). The ribbon that you see is a ribbon that I bought on clearance many years ago. The bottom part of the headband is a navy blue grosgrain ribbon. I cut out two pieces for the bow and sewed it by hand, and then sewed it onto the top ribbon by hand. I then sewed both ribbons together down the sides, leaving the ends open. I slid this over the plastic headband. I folded the ends over twice near the inside bottom of the headband and sewed them closed by hand.
She loves headbands. I made her another one for her birthday too (not pictured) from white grosgrain ribbon. I put a bow on that one as well.
For decorations on the table, I went really simple: blue glass bottles I’ve had for years with a single stem of snapdragons cut from the garden, and the blue and white vase I found at a garage sale last fall (for $2) filled with more white flowers from the garden, all on a white table runner.
Gorgeous Brandy!!!
Your dresses are always breath-taking, but I think this is my favourite so far. (Wanna make me one? I don’t think I’d be quite as cute in it though!)
What lovely presents. I know you let your children choose their own birthday dessert; what did Ivory want?
A beautiful little girl and a beautiful birthday setting!
She is just so cute. It’s amazing how she has grown. Tell her happy birthday! Her dress is pretty and the decorations are beautiful. You always do a wonderful job.
A beautiful dress for a beautiful girl. Well done!
The dress is beautiful! As a grandmommie, I am always looking for ways to make occasions special for my little ones regardless of my financial status at the time … your site is one I always come to for inspiration. Thank you for sharing.
So simple, So perfectly pretty!!… I want a dress in that print! It’s beautiful. .. My daughter turns 5 next Saturday and I am taking some of your birthday tips to do a purple birthday!
She’s so precious! Happy Birthday to her and you! Your sewing abilities are astounding and you take the most beautiful pictures. I love reading your blog.
You’re amazing! So simple yet so beautiful! Happy Birthday Ivory!
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!
She is so beautiful! I love her dress and party decor… you are so good at making things look lovely!
They get to choose all of their meals for the day and dessert. She chose cupcakes for dessert. We did chocolate with cream cheese frosting.
How precious is she!? Beautiful job on her dress!
I can’t believe how big she is! So beautiful. What a gorgeous party.
Very pretty. What did you make her for a cake? I love your birthday posts. Inspires me every time.
Chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. I didn’t get any pictures, though 🙂
Oh, Brandy! What a beautiful dress! Blue and white is one of my favourite colour combinations too! The table setting is gorgeous as well, with the stunning urn accented with the blue glass bottles. Just superb!!!! I’ve lost track of how old she is…did she turn 2 or 3? I was also curious what other gifts she received or did you keep it just the dress as she is young? I always love to hear what you gave them, as your presents always inspire me with wonderful gift giving ideas.
Ivory was just a baby when I started following your blog! My how she has grown! Beautiful dress and of course, love the birthday party ideas. Simple can be so elegant and refreshing! Happy birthday, Ivory!
She looks like a very happy little girl in her beautiful dress. I need to make gifts for a birthday next month. I will definitely be making bracelets and headbands. Thank you for the great ideas!
I just gave her the dress, two headbands, and the bracelet. Her grandparents gave her some other gifts: some candy, some photos, and a nightgown. She turned 3.
She is the cutest little girl and the dress is gorgeous eyes. Just stunning. Beautiful Brandy.
Your children are absolutely beautiful. Happy birthday, Ivory. Cheryl
How beautiful! Three is such a precious age. Blue, white, and yellow are my favorite color combination. That must be why I’m so drawn to these gorgeous photos…well, that and the cute, little, blue eyed Ivory. I think this may be my very favorite blog from you…thank you for sharing. Just beautiful.
Wow Brandy, You always have such great Ideas. I can not believe how big Ivory is. The Dress is beautiful. We just got beads on clearance from Micheal’s for the first time. I have to go back in a few weeks they did not have any elastic string to use. Love the pictures.
Absolutely beautiful dress love the pattern and she is such a pretty little girl. Good Job Brandy.
What a beautiful dress! Brandy, I have the exact camera that you have, but my photos never look this good!
She is just adorbs! She seems perfect personality for the camera:). And your dress is beautiful! (Blue is my favorite color!)
She’s so adorable and the dress is just lovely. You did a beautiful job on it and the party decorations. I love that she is barefoot and how michevious she looks in the one photo. Happy Birthday little girl!
Gorgeous dress, Gorgeous accessories on a Gorgeous little girl and how special that you custom made everything for her. All the pictures are gorgeous too. So much gorgeousness…
How pretty! And it really brings out her blue eyes. You’ve done a wonderful job, as always, Brandy! And the little bracelet is adorable.
Oh my goodness, this is just beautiful!! Designer lovely.
Ivory is lovely – and as the old saying goes “Cute as a bug’s ear”. The twinkle in her eyes, the sweet hand over her smile, the twirl in her beautiful dress – blessedly beautiful. A gracious birthday for a graceful child.
Happy 3rd birthday, Ivory! Brandy, the dress is beautiful! I collect blue and white items like your vase, so I loved your whole blue and white party theme!
Happy Birthday Ivory!
And like Myra said, when I started reading your blog, she was much younger…guess we all were;)
Brandy, what fabulous pictures! My favorite one is when she is looking to the side like she has something up her sleeve ;). Thank you for sharing.
She is precious! What a lovely birthday.
Blue and White were our wedding colors! Beautiful dress!
Wowza, time flies!:o
Happy Birthday, Ivory:) Brandy, she’s such a little dumpling!
Yes… A beautiful blue eyed girl needs a blue /white dress. Such a lovely birthday table.. the flowers are pretty, the vases are pretty, the dress is just gorgeous, but I think Ivory is breath taking beautiful. Great photography Brandy.. And Happy Birthday Ivory.
So pretty. Such a pretty dress, bracelet, and headband. I admire your skill with a needle and thread. Happy Birthday to your sweet girl. Roxie
So beautiful! Great job.
She is just darling. The dress (so twirly!) and headband are adorable. You were lucky to find such a great fabric. And she is lucky to have such a talented mother; that’s a dress she can pass down to her own daughter one day.
I will enjoy your updates!
loved your blog!
She is so lovely. What a precious and beautiful treasure! I love the blue and white decorations.
Ivory is just adorable. Your theme and decorations are gorgeous. The dress is spectacular! You continue to inspire me. Graceful and elegant.
What every child wants most is to feel unique, special, and not tons of presents, as you so wisely know. Lucky Ivory!
Breath-taking centerpiece! And what a delighted cutie. Thanks for sharing, you are so inspiring.
That’s lovely! What charming pictures.
Wow. I can’t believe she’s three already. The dress is beautiful. I love the headbands. Happy belated birthday Ivory!
What a beautiful birthday dress and table. What a blessed little girl to have such a caring and talented mommy!
I like the blue and white theme, too. My favorite picture would be the one where Ivory is twirling in her dress.
A belated Happy Birthday to you too, Brandy.
Ivory is beautiful! The dress came out wonder as did the headband and bow too. I really like these photos of your daughter in the garden. It reminds me of Alice in a Wonderland a little where Alice is small and the flowers are so big compared to her.