A Louisa May Alcott Autumn | Literary Garments Dress

I know that autumn is officially behind us, but I did want to share this lovely Anne of Green Gables inspired dress by the Etsy dressmaker Vanessa of Literary Garments. She is taking a break from her shop for the holiday season, but before Christmastime arrives I wanted to be sure to share her magnificent work. I simply love linen dresses. They’re timeless and made to last. I purchased this Anne dress for our trip to Prince Edward Island this summer, but did not order it on time. Instead, this Anne style dress also worked beautifully for a Louisa May Alcott inspired autumn.

I love the green. It is lovely in every season from spring to winter. I could not decide if I wanted a blue dress or a green one because the fabric options were all so beautiful, but I am so happy with my decision. Vanessa showed me photo examples of the dress in multiple colors and also gave me feedback based on what I was looking for. She also took the measurements I sent her to create a customized dress.

I also purchased a natural linen apron with a ruffled hem to go with it. A special shout out to my niece, Brooke, who snapped these photos for me this past October! It is also important to note that this is not a sponsored post. I did not receive this dress as a gift. I simply adore Vanessa’s craftsmanship and wanted to share her work because I admire the quality of her creations and I thought my Anne of Green Gables or Little Women loving friends would enjoy it also. I encourage you to follow her page on Etsy and on Instagram.

This autumn (and even this early winter) was not the slow season I was hoping for. It was busy! Still is… But I am thankful for the little pockets of time I did capture for myself in between it all. I am sorry to have been away from the blog for so long. This is truly a joyful and creative space for me and I am so thankful to everyone who joins my journey.

The truth is that I burnt myself out for a job to try and fit into the idea of being successful. I wanted to feel respected by working full time. I wanted to fit in and to “make it,” at least enough to fly under the radar and avoid judgement. I wanted to prove to myself that I could be something, really work hard, have a job to be proud of. Instead all I got was overwhelm and a higher paycheck, that wasn’t really higher when you counted all the extra time I spent working, all the weekends lost, the late nights, and the stress. Don’t get me wrong, I am very proud of myself fro what I have accomplished these past two years. I rocked this job. I excelled, I learned new skills, I exceeded my own expectations… and I also brunt myself out.

I’m so afraid of leaving it. But I also miss having energy. I’m tired all the time and I look it too. I crave time to make it to the gym and to see friends and family. I want to be able to focus on my relationships, including my relationship with myself. It’s been a year since I was able to keep up with my book club. I don’t have time for creating anything, let alone edit photos for my photography business. Working full time and running a business that some days feels full time has been a lot for me. I’m just not wired like some people are. I do not have the energy to do it all.

I wish that life could be as simple as a day spent in nature. That’s when I feel most like me. By the water, kayaking, swimming, or hiking through a wooded trail.

I’m missing myself.

Moments like this are when I feel like me again. A lovely dress, a beautiful sunny day and a camera or a book in my hands.

I debated all spring and summer if I should buy this dress. I am so glad that I did! It is a high quality piece I know I will cherish for a very long time. I adore the Peter Pan color and the fabric covered buttons. The sleeves are slightly puffed. The color is exquisite. Whether you’re an Anne Shirley or a Jo March, this dress inspires the imagination. I only hope to make it back to Prince Edward Island again one day so that I can wear it there. For now, these beautiful rolling hills by my home are just as magical.

How darling is the apron?

A Little House on the Prairie moment.

And yes, both the dress and the apron have pockets!

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope you enjoyed this little post. I promise that you will be seeing a lot more of me on the blog these coming months. I’m making some changes this coming year. Starting with being kinder to myself.