{"id":2057,"date":"2009-10-01T23:52:37","date_gmt":"2009-10-02T03:52:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/?p=2057"},"modified":"2016-03-06T20:36:23","modified_gmt":"2016-03-07T01:36:23","slug":"rainbow-smocked-dress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/2009\/10\/01\/rainbow-smocked-dress\/","title":{"rendered":"Rainbow Smocked Dress"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"yellowrainbow21\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yesterday, when I took these pictures, it was scorching hot, too hot even for Laurel to stand in the sun for better lighting. Today, it was only 80 degrees, so here in Florida that means goodbye to summer. And, subsequently, goodbye to the rainbow dress until next spring.\u00c2\u00a0 This basic yoke is still rather large for her, so it’s likely that it\u00c2\u00a0can be worn through\u00c2\u00a0next September.<\/p>\n

This frock is all about summer.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Florida’s summer afternoon rainstorms are often followed by spectacular rainbows, much to the delight of children who have been called in from the pool.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0The fabric is pale yellow Imperial broadcloth, \u00c2\u00a0smocked with Martha Pullen\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 20+ years old design, “Over a Rainbow.” The cuffed sleeve and collar are self piped.<\/p>\n

It was made 25 years ago for Laurel’s Aunt Rebecca, my daughter.\u00c2\u00a0 Thankfully, my skills have improved since then.\u00c2\u00a0 But Rebecca loved\u00c2\u00a0 this dress, requiring the hem to be dropped and for pin tucks to be stitched to cover the crease.<\/p>\n

The only thing that makes this dress remarkable is the remark Laurel makes when she wears it. “I love this dress, Nana,” she tells me, every single time, just like Rebecca did.\u00c2\u00a0 Her mother loves it, too, as it comes right out of the dryer and onto a hanger, ready to wear.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"yellowrainbowclose1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Yesterday, when she wore this dress to our homeschool class, we counted the stripes in the rainbow and discussed the Bible story, Noah\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Ark. A wonderful literary companion to that tale is Shel Silverstein\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s poem “The Unicorn,” from his book, Where the Sidewalk Ends<\/em>. Laurel loves that poem about as much as the dress.\u00c2\u00a0 I highly recommend that this book for all parents and grandparents.<\/p>\n

In a melodious combination of rhythm and rhyme, Silverstein recounts\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s call to Noah.<\/p>\n