A Special First Birthday Photo Shoot

My brief, somewhat vague, to my talented friend Elke of Elke Dous Photograpy fame... 

....a photograph of my beautiful little girl on her first birthday, sitting on a chair with a bunch of balloons.  

And boy did she deliver! What fun we had in the late afternoon sun, playing with balloons, pram and chair. I must warn you, the following is complete photo overload, but I simply couldn't help myself!!

Her outfit was, of course, a 'the toffee tree' creation, something I had begun some time ago. Having purchased cotton lace six (or more) months ago, the search was still on for the perfect fabric. Small flowers, no pink. I went into the Southlands Sewing Centre in Willetton. Oh. My. Goodness. What an array of fabric!  My "I'll be half an hour" quickly (and unsurprisingly) turned into a good hour.  I spotted the fabric I was looking for and set to work. 

The Outfit, finished the week after Anya's first birthday...

 ...next step find a shoot location.

Fortunately Elke is very good at her job and found the perfect spot down a walk trail near Murdoch University. Australian bush. Perfect!

 The chair...I did a super quick recover the morning of the shoot (nothing like leaving it until the last minute!), using fabric left over from curtains I made for Olivia. This is a chair I have had, for what seems like forever. It was half re-upholstered (DIY style) and just needed recovering again, after the boy (who shall remain un-named) found out that a stanley knife is really sharp and cuts fabric when you 'draw' on it. Looks much better like this anyway.

 

The old trunk...belongs to my Mum,  I'm not sure she exactly gave it to me, but I have it. It held my worldly possessions-glory box style- when I moved out of home to go to university.  And has stored various bits and pieces since. It currently houses dress-up clothes. I dream about it being a feature piece in my soon to be completed sewing room.

The pram...Anya's first birthday present from us, which we bought from The Honeyclock, a gorgeous little book shop and gift store with a coffee nook, in Bibra Lake.  

 Like the little flower hairband, made from fabric scraps? I found a tutorial for the flower at Fabric Envy. I even had a little self-covering button in my button tin. Quite simply, you cut out 12 flowers, fold 8 of them in quarters and stitch it all together. Hey, presto! Cute little flower.

 

 

 

 

 I'm done now Mum...one tired little girl, who has had enough.

 She was so compliant (as always) and though she didn't shine too many of her precious smiles toward the camera, she was a star. A gem.

The first two would have to be my favourites, though it's hard to pick! Please let me know yours!

 
SUPPLIES
Millefiori Romper Pattern (Cute Clothes for Kids, Rob Merrett)...yes it's a one piece, not top and pants!
Fabric - Flora by Laure + Jessi Jung for Moda
Cotton Lace (a stall at the Perth Craft & Quilting Expo)
Buttons from Spotlight
Fabric Scaps for flower from my scrap basket
Elastic for headband