May is the hardest month.

You’d think, with school coming to an end, that things would slow down.  No.  Not in the least.  In fact, May is one of the busiest months around this out of whack little home.  A whole lot of everyday activities end; school, dance, Girl Scouts, and with those endings come a snoot full of celebrations.  A swim part here, a recital or two there, award ceremonies…you name it and we probably did it.  And let’s not forget at least one birthday, (my baby girl who will be known as El on this blog) and my own wedding anniversary.   Fortunately for me the anniversary is Monday so I have some breathing room.  Sort of.

El has one more recital.  It’s a choral one and, normally, something like that would only require a pretty dress and a quick brushing of her hair.  (I bet you thought I was talking about myself!  heh!)  Not this recital.  This recital has a theme and it’s the Jazz Age.  El has been tapped to portray a Flapper and do a bit of the Charleston during the course of the performance.  I’ve got about two weeks to turn this pattern into a 20’s inspired dress.

I was feeling really excited about this project.  I planned on researching the heck out of the Jazz Age, making the single most spectacular flapper dress that has ever existed in the history of mankind.  But then, I came back to earth.

I’m making a dress for an 11-year-old girl.  She’ll wear it once, maybe on Halloween if she can’t think of anything else to wear and, at the end of the day, all she really wants is something super shiny that will allow her to dance.  I did not find this revelation disappointing at all.  In fact, it was kind of like a great weight had been lifted.  El likes pretty much anything I make as long as I make it.

Rooting around in the bargain bin I found the very shiny fabric.  It’s lacy, it’s got gold on it and, if I play my cards right, I’ll be adding a bit of beading right at the hem.  Throw  on a headband with some feathers, a strand of pearls and tap shoes and, by god, we’ve got ourselves a little Flapper.

I made the alterations to the pattern tonight and cut out a mock-up.  The fit is great and El seems excited about it.  Tomorrow I’ll put scissors to, well, to whatever that stuff is made of and we’ll be well on our way to Flapper Nirvana.