So, next on the agenda: Valentine's birthday dress. Most pictures were taken with my FIL's camera and all I have is a short video of her in the dress.
Everyone loved the dress and Valentine looked like a princess. It took no time at all for her to rip out the tufting and get it dirty with mud and food. I know, after all the trouble I went through......but I'm not upset. She looked great and everyone got some good memories. Will I do it again next year? Probably not.
Next topic: the wing bust halter top. So before my computer crashed I was able to make a first muslin. I found that the style lines of the garment result in gapping above and between the bust as well as under the arm, despite the 0 ease. So I have purchased Helen Joseph-Armstrong's PatternMaking for Fashion Design which includes a whole chapter on Contouring. Hopefully this week I can get to work on the second muslin using Joseph-Armstrong's contouring guide.
And finally, I gave Valentine a half moon manicure this week and it turned out fabulous. I used Revlon's Valentine -I know, how appropriate. And I used L.A. Colors Art Deco nail art lacquer in white to draw the half moons.
It just seems the closer I get to finishing, the slower things go. As the dress comes together it's getting bigger and bigger and fluffier and fluffier. With three linings and a crinoline ruffle - no wonder it's getting hard to work with. I'm presently working on inserting the zipper. It looks like it will need to be hand basted in place before it can be sewn. 
April 12th will be the anniversary of my daughter's first birthday. Valentine is turning two! I'm so excited and I've taken it upon myself to make her a birthday dress fit for a princess.
And here is the princess herself.