Simplicity 2876

This winter I took on my toughest apparel project yet - a lined, winter coat for Audrey. I was inspired yet again by the classic lines and beautiful textiles of Bonpoint's winter line for girls this past season. Alas, I was reticent to spend $300 for a girl's coat, no matter how beautiful. Enter Simplicity 2876. I tweaked a bit here and there, shortening the longer coat while keeping the pockets (which weren't on the shorter version) and simplifying some of the construction details that I found overly tedious and fussy. The tweed was a chance I took on an online purchase (my first from Mood) that totally paid off. Working with quality fabric is so worth the extra cost.

I was reminded of that fact while fighting with my chosen lining, which was out of my stash and ended up being somewhat of a nightmare. That's what I get for buying a cheap-y nylon blend. A fraying, snagging nightmare. Lesson learned for next time.

In the end, though, Aud's happy with its purple-y shine and I'm happy with the slightly stuffy tweed, so we're all good. I'm willing to make some small compromises as I force my own understated aesthetic on my effervescent daughter, who once informed me that "pink and sparkly go with everything".

I get so happy when I see little details like these sleeve bands. Can you see the little bits of brown in the tweed? It's hard to see clearly in these photos, but I love how these chunky brown buttons bring that out. I browsed handmade, wooden buttons on Etsy forever, then came across these at Hobby Lobby. Which I (humbly) think are perfect. 

(Okay, for the more observant of you, I admit, I have yet to tackle the buttonholes. My trusty workhorse of a sewing machine just couldn't handle the thick tweed. Still figuring Plan B. It's a good thing we live in the Deep South, so buttoning up the coat hasn't been a necessity.)

learn a new art

Did you know that, in addition to a staggering array of quality art supplies, Dick Blick also offers free art lessons? Geared toward school agers, these lessons turn otherwise intimidating processes, like silk screening, Secco or Shibori, into something a little less daunting - something even your kids could do - with the aid of printable pdf's and video tutorials. Plus, I know that when I browse through Blick's products, there are so many that intrigue, but I wouldn't know how to start using them. Each project links to the supplies needed where - imagine this - they can easily be purchased from Dick Blick! (This is not a paid endorsement.)

Try it. Who knows - your inner fresco-ist may have been waiting for an opportunity just such as this. Oh, and I guess you could also share these ideas with your children. If you're so inclined.

birthday love from Atlanta

 Just right 1st birthday gifts for Asher...

and amazing 5th birthday gifts for Audrey.

The reaction: 

Lucky, lucky us!

Oh, and by the way, Larissa, I just added the movie to my queue, so we'll see if it still holds the same allure now as it did when I was a kid. Popeye didn't fail me, so I have high hopes. 

simple top for girls of all ages

Here's an easy top I made for Aud last summer, but never got around to posting. I used this tutorial, which was super simple and straightforward, for the basic construction, adding a band of contrasting fabric along the bottom.

Image courtesy of Banana Republic

I was reminded of it recently when I saw this lovely, grown up version. Who'd have thought? Doesn't it look like a variation on the simple pillowcase dress that so many folks have made, including myself? Never really thought of making an adult version, though. I may have to go find myself some printed silk...

hello mummysam, i love you

I was just browsing Flickr for some wall art inspiration for Audrey's room when I came across these:

photos via mummysam's flickr

What?! Love them. And, apparently just about everything else this inspired crafter does. Maybe you've heard of mummysam, but I had not. I foresee many hours of poring through her archive... (yay for nursing breaks)

And we're all in luck - looks like she's got a book coming out this fall that's available for pre-order here. Can't wait to get my greedy little craft-book-obsessed hands on it.

photo via mummysam's flickr

Ha - just found this. So true. 

eyvind earle

I don't really consider myself a huge Disney fan, not like some people (I know one 30-something man who hits the Magic Kingdom 3 or 4 times yearly - without the wife and kids), so when this exhibit came to town, Rich and I thought we'd take the kids for their sake, not so much for our own. I guess we've become jaded by the commercialism and general gagginess of our princess-saturated market, to the point that we forgot just how much genius went into making the classic Disney films so, well, classic.

Okay, so we were wrong and you should totally go check it out if you're anywhere near New Orleans while this exhibit lasts and you have an interest in the creative process. It was great.

I was already a fan of the fabulous Mary Blair, so seeing her original sketches and paintings up close and in person was a treat. (By the way, Disney has recently released Blair's iconic concept art in the form of  storybooks retold by current authors - Cinderella, Peter Pan (those mermaids!) and Alice in Wonderland.)

Even better, though, was discovering Eyvind Earle, background artist and creative director for Sleeping Beauty. Okay, so I've seen Sleeping Beauty at least half a dozen times and never really noticed the scenery all that much. But, again, seeing those hand drawn cels in person! Dreamy. I especially love the botanical details (me = former plant geek). Earle had a modern sensibility that made his art really striking for its day. (From what I gather, that didn't win him the affection of some of his more traditional fellow illustrators. Boo.)

Sigh... 

where I join the Princess and the Pea parade

I've spent the better part of the summer waffling between projects to make for two little sisters' birthday gifts. My complete inability to decide now means that one girl's gift is overdue by 3 months and the other's by a few weeks. (In my defense, I did have a baby in there somewhere, but still. Three months, people!)

Then I came across this great book by the talented Lauren Child and these two sets. What modern, fabric and fairy tale loving girl wouldn't be inspired? Plus, we're already huge fans of Ms. Child's work around here. And I've been obsessing over this fabric (so perfect for Audrey)since it came out, so the story's been on my mind. I couldn't resist this project.

A few hours of stash raiding and totally, shamelessly copying someone else's clever idea produced this:

I made the mattresses pretty thin, with just one layer of lofty batting. I know how I feel when space-consuming toys come into my home, so I didn't want to make the set too large. There are twelve mattresses made from various calico prints. The bottom mattress has a little gathered pocket to hold the pea. 'Cause I know if it were my kids', that pea would disappear in about 7 minutes flat.

For the pea, I crocheted a small ball out of wool felt, then lightly felted it by hand. I can't find the pattern I used, but this tutorial would work just great, too, I'm sure. You might need to use a size smaller hook for a bit tighter gauge to get results like mine. For the felty look, I rolled it in my hands under VERY hot water for several minutes then plunged into cold water. Squeeze it out and let it dry. Done.

I also threw in two simple, sweet nightgowns to fit the dolls that I made for the girls last year, so they can be used as Princesses. (Hopefully these make up for the fact that I sent a joint gift this year...)

the elusive (and reversible!) Easter dress

Elusive because it's July and I'm just now getting around to showing it to you. Reversible because, well, you'll see.

Check out the inspiration dress by Neige.

And now for the finished product:


This dress was a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants project whipped out the week before Easter. I ran out of gas after some frustrating issues and, even though I felt like it really needed something extra in the front - like the pockets in the inspiration photos - I just couldn't summon the will to go on.

So she wore it backwards, like so:

Which I actually liked. But since I knew it was designed to be worn differently (by me, but still), I felt a little funny about it all day. So let's just call it the Reversible Easter Dress and I'll feel better. Like it was for purpose, as my kids would say.

Now, about the fabric. The Liberty floral was a dream to work with. (Isn't that what you're supposed to say about Liberty fabric? Anyway, that's what I'm telling myself in an effort to rationalize the hefty price per yard.) But seriously, it is beautiful, soft fabric and a very nice weight for this kind of garment. I used this for the ruffle and tie. I think, should there be a next time, I'll use something lighter. More like a voile or something, 'cause this cotton was a little stiff. It does, however, make for excellent twirling...

I've got nothing. (Okay, well, maybe a little something.)

photo courtesy of www.paristriptips.com

My goal for every single day of last week was to at least get a dress cut out for Audrey. The farthest I got was washing the fabric and futzing around with pattern ideas, finally deciding to draft my own. Which terrified me when I thought of cutting into Liberty fabric with an untested, self-drafted pattern (even if it is a really simple one), so I, of course, will have to make a trial run dress before I start the actual new spring dress. The self-imposed deadine for which is this coming Sunday.

So, since I have nothing to show you on that front, no decent pictures yet of this, I leave you with drool-worthy inspiration in the form of Bonpoint.

Rich and I stumbled upon this treasure trove of impeccably styled and crafted children's clothing last year in Paris. I spent as long as I could perusing, scrutinizing and memorizing the tiny, smocked, Liberty (of course) rompers, too-chic-for-kids t-shirts, and understated, yet luxurious frocks. That visit was far too short. (Rich, too, found it drool-worthy, in an entirely different way.)

In case you're wondering why I didn't bring home any of these confections for my own little prima donna, the price of one tee was right around 60 euros. But, hey, if that sounds good to you and you don't live in New York, Paris, or Rome, you now have the option of shopping Bonpoint's e-boutique. At the very least, the entire site is great for inspiration, complete with its own little pint-sized look books for the stylistically challenged.

New York was a dream trip last week, but my one regret was not getting to the Upper East Side to idea shop Bonpoint one more time. I wasn't too upset about it at the time, being exhausted and full up with girly fun, but writing this post brings it all back. I better go now before I get too worked up. Besides the fact that I totally could have had a dress cut out by now.

Oh, wait, I just remembered one more thing about my visit to the Parisian Bonpoint. While I was there, I met a fellow New Orleanian. She was drawling loudly to her adult daughter that she (the daughter) should seriously consider opening up a Bonpoint in her own hometown, London. As she was busily buying up one of everything in the store. Funny, chatting there with her halfway around the world from our common home, and yet still worlds apart...

Hope you have a productive day!

Score! or What I picked up in NYC...Part 1

image from savagesromance.files.wordpress.com

I'm back from my super girly getaway to New York City - exhausted, broke and full of inspiration for new projects this spring.

No comment from those of you who know about the ridiculous, ever-growing list of things I want to make, not to mention the towering pile of unfinished projects threatening to swallow up my craft room. Like you could say anything anyway.

Fueling the insanity was a trip to Kinokuniya, a humongous Japanese bookstore across from Bryant Park that's packed with great paper goods, unique toys and gifts, and - most importantly - row upon row of beautiful books brimming with crafty inspiration and, best of all, the patterns.

Here are a couple I picked up, along with some of the projects that sold me on them. I don't know the name of the first book (sorry - I don't read Japanese), but it's full of unusual projects using wool felt. The second is Machine Made Patchwork.

Oh, and I just might have picked up an extra Machine Made Patchwork for a certain super crafter who's looking to get into quilting... I'm sure you'll be seeing her completed projects from this book long before I actually get around to finishing one myself.

Hi, my name is Robyn and I don't blog.

At least that's what I've been telling myself and a certain insistent friend for a while now.


I do, however, craft. I inherited a compulsive need to make, which you'd know if you saw my stash of afghans, doilies, embroidery and quilts passed down from my grandmothers and their mothers before them. (These inspirational crafters, my grandmothers, were named Viola Mae and Pearl White.) And I can't leave out my own mother, who kept me in handmade clothes as a kid. She continues to inspire me with her DIY attitude and artistic ability.

So, this crafty blog is named after my grandmothers, but it isn't exactly a tribute to them, although they're as deserving as any dedicated crafters could be. No, it's more a tribute to the past and those things that, at least in my mind, define what was best about it: a focus on family, a handmade home, cooking from scratch, prudent, DIY sensibilities and a simple, sincere faith in God.

It's quite possible that my mother and the aforementioned friend are the only two people who will ever read this blog. So here you go, ladies.