This winter has been rough on me.  The medications I take for my RA (enbrel, arava and prednisone) suppress my immune system, so I've had bronchitis 3 times since October.  I can't take the RA meds while sick, and generally have considerable pain and swelling when off the medications.  So my creating/sewing time has suffered somewhat lately.  However, machine sewing is also one of the few things I can still do fairly well  while my hands are hurting, and is also one of the few things I've found that helps me block out the pain when it is bad.  I might suffer for indulging later, but those moments while I am doing it, I feel more like my old self.  Here are a few of the more recent sundress projects I was able to complete for my girls:

Both dresses button at the back of the chest band and were made with fabric the girls selected themselves. I am continually amazed at how patient they are visiting fabric stores with me!  Little fashionistas in the making?