After spending our third straight Saturday watching it snow, and the fact that it is now March, I am getting antsy for all of the spring flowers that are surely close to revealing themselves to us. I can't wait to get my hands dirty in my flowerpots and unpack the cute sundresses and sandals. And speaking of cute dresses... 

 

 

 

 

 

I am so smitten with these dresses I spotted on etsy created using a collection of vintage textiles. Soho Mode is the sweet company created by Louise Hedley. Born and raised in England, Louise developed a love for old world glamor in her teens. Due to a very modest childhood, she was taken with vintage fabrics and the way a dress could transform her self confidence. In 1998, she moved to NYC, met and fell in love with her husband, and with his encouragement, she began sewing. Soon, she was selling her clothing created from her treasure trove of fabrics at the Chelsea Flea.

With her collected vintage fabrics, Louise and her team offer a huge selection in their etsy store or they can create one-of-a-kind dresses, cinched belts, ties, and skirts. In 2004, Barney's began to sell her tea dress collection and since then, many brides have embraced using her dresses in their weddings. I just love the eclectic charm of the combination of the vintage dress patterns with the cotton floral.

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Like Louise, I too have quite a collection of vintage fabrics, tablecloths, pillowcases and tea towels that I have sewn into little dresses for Maris. As a matter of fact, I am quite certain that some of the fabrics pictured were also hanging in my childhood closet {or as sheets on my bed!}. Browsing Soho Made's collection of online fabrics, I am flooded with sweet childhood memories of the dresses my mom and grandmother used to sew for me as a little girl, many of which I still have packed away.  

 

 

 

 

 

I have always had such fun making things for Maris over the years. I started smocking her little baby gowns just after she arrived. Then I created little dresses out of vintage pillowcases, created jewelry, headbands, purses, decorated shoes...I love that she has been so accepting of my wearable art. But you don't get to do much of that for little boys. So, this year for Christmas I was excited to finally make something for Jack to wear.

 

 

On days of swim meets, the swimmers have to dress up to go to school. Jack didn't have a lot of ties, so I decided to try my hand at personalizing one for him. Because I had no idea if this would work, I invested in a very inexpensive tie from Wal-Mart. The perfect shade of Smoky Mountain blue.

 

 

 I bought a very fine tipped paint pen from Michaels and coupled that with my fine-tipped Sharpie

 

 

I didn't know if either would bleed, so I tested it on the back, under the hem. no bleeding! I sketched the mustang mascot very lightly on the tie with a sharpie--yea, big deep breath anytime you have to sketch anything with a sharpie. Then I filled it in with the silver metallic pen. To add the blue mane, I used a little blue acrylic paint. After I was finished, I went back and added some heavier black outlines.

 

  

 

I was a little nervous to see his reaction, but he loved it! He will wear it tomorrow for the first time and I am pretty sure he will be the only one rocking a SMHS tie!  

 

For all of my pretty preppy peeps, there is a new{ish} shop in {web} town that you are going to love!   

 

Preppy and Pink is a NC company that offers really cute paper and party supplies. I was really excited when Wendy sent me a picture of these new monogrammed bracelets that they have recently added to their line.

 

Each one is hand-painted and comes as a set of 2. They are obviously very popular. Here is a shipment all tied up and ready to ship.  

These would make a great graduation gifts!