Alicia wants butterflies on her winning dress. Isn’t that perfect for a little girl?I love that it’s classic and girlish. I would have happily obliged a request for something “hip” and “trendy”…like a scooter, camera or any type of bird. But I’m happy she wanted butterflies. Butterflies are lighthearted, summery, whimsical and organic (not in the Whole Foods sense of the word.) I still pause with a little bit of childhood wonder when I see one fluttering in my path (and remember when that one landed on my pregnant belly on a day I felt overwhelmed and tired? It helped lift my spirits.)

I’ve loved choosing some fun vintage French fabric from my stash, tracing the little darlings (yes, I used a pattern that I made in photoshop. Much better than trying to wing it.), and cutting them out for the appliques. I kind of want to cut out a hundred more and glue them to a wall like some sort of imported Anthropologie display…

The boys are snoozing, the air conditioner is blowing, I’m eating chili chocolate, and Abba is playing in my head. It’s a wonderful butterfly moment.