The Jacket...Finally!

Isn't this cute!?! Doesn't it just make you want to cry? This project has only been in my head for about 6 months. I found a jacket for my baby girl that had a chenille outter layer and a cotton lining and I LOVED it. It was exactly the sort of jacket that I was thinking about making - but hadn't seen a pattern for. So when you can't find the right pattern what do you do? You make your own.

I love everything antique/vintage! One of the things my husband and I love to do together is go antique-ing. How lucky am I? One of my favorite things to look at in antique shops is the fabric and another is the quilts.

The outter layer is actually made from a vintage chenille bedspread that I got on ebay. It was a terrific find - all the vintage charm but damaged so I didn't feel bad when I destroyed it to make this jacket. Everyone who I showed the blankets to has said, "My parents/grandma had this on their bed" so funny - that's what I love about antiques.

The inside lining is a light-weight cotton print. It is pale pink with white polka dots. You know how I love polka dots - they're very important to the world. I did ribbon tabs instead of button holes because I LOVE (obsess about) ribbon and HATE making button holes. Then I had to find buttons. So I went to my happy place (JoAnn's) and picked these out. Yes, I had to buy buttons. Not because I don't have any - there are about 1,000 buttons in my house - but I didn't have the buttons. In fact, I didn't even know what the buttons were until I found these. This is actually the back side of the buttons.

So - like everything else I make - this little jacket is fully lined. All the seams are hidden. With a lighter fabric on the outside, this could be reversable.

This pic is of the back of the jacket. I centered the back over one of the star patterns on the blanket.

So, I'm pretty happy with this project. I have to tweek my pattern just a bit before I put these up in my shop - but as prototypes go I think this turned out awesome!

My Pillowcase Dresses

As usual, life around here is a crazy whirlwind - subconsiously, I must like it like that. Three weeks ago my friend, Carrie, and I started doing the "People's Market". It is a farmer's market that takes place every Sunday through the summer and early fall. It's held at the International Peace Gardens and it's been a grand adventure, to say the least.

Carrie and I decided that her hats and flowers and my little dresses are too adorable to be apart, so we've been staging them together. Carrie's friend, Melinda, volunteered to take some nice photos for our etsy shops and craft fair booths. I am SOOOOO impressed these pictures turned out so AMAZING! Melinda's blog is urforevermybaby.blogspot.com - go check her out, she's awesome!

This is my Talia. She is super friendly and loves to smile at everyone who walks nearby. The thing that everyone always says is, "Wow, look at those eyes!" I love this picture!

This is Talia and Nadia (Carrie's daughter). They were born 3 weeks apart and they are good little buddies. I can't believe that there is a picture of Tali in a hat and not in the process of removing the hat. Seriously, Melinda had about .8 seconds between me jumping out of the way and Tali getting the hat completely off her head.

This is Nadia. She is SO adorable and I knew my eyelet dress would be awesome on her. Yes, those are bloomers!! Doesn't this picture just make you want to cry??

I'm having so much fun!