Thanks for the out-pouring of kind words. The lucky winner of the beautiful yellow dress that Lynne made is Joslyn from www.simplelovely.blogspot.com. I hope you get lots of summer wear from this pretty creation of Lynne's.
Here's a dress of another sorts. A little more subdued in colors, a little more coverage on the shoulders and pockets in the front for holding our newest friends: this is the goose girl frock. Perfect for carrying baby geese (or ducks in this case!), or any other treasure that a little girl might find.
Have you ever read the story of the goose girl? I recounted it to my kids recently, and they listened, mesmerized. The four-year old especially loved the part about the long silvery locks of hair that revealed the true identity of the goose girl. This was an interesting detail from the story: silvery locks of hair. Usually the heroine of the fairy tales has golden locks of hair. What color of hair has silver highlights in it? I'm at a loss on this one (unless it be grey hair!) Though we know our princess was young and fair and good at tending her fowl. Can't you just picture her long strands of hair blowing in the wind, the geese feverishly pecking at the ground around her feet, the sky grey and forlorn? The princess has been tricked and lost her royal status (at least for the moment). Her favorite talking horse has been killed, his head thrown upon a stake at the gates of the city. The whole scene casts a greyish monochromatic color scheme. It's not bright red and green and gold like many of the other fairy tales.
In honor of the goose girl, I made a greyish dress and over-dress, that my girl was all too happy to wear, especially with the little ducklings tucked in the pockets (the ducks were not too happy about this!) Her collection of ducks (from www.mcmurrayhatchery.com) started at twelve, but has dwindled to four, and soon to be two. There are happy families with newspaper lined boxes full of peeping ducklings scattered throughout our neighborhood. Maybe when the ducks get big, we'll reunite them and reenact the goose girl scene. Though at this point, I don't think they'll fit in the pockets!
30 comments:
melissa -- so lovely!!! i love the story and i love those greys and i love the duckies. i wish i lived in the neighborhood so we could bring some home, too! so, so much fun...
How sweet. I love that you included the story with the arrival of the ducks! I wish that we were close enough to pick up a duck and take a look at the story as well!
so sweet as always! I wished we lived in that neighborhood too! They greys are so beautiful and your creativity in design is so amazing! I love it (as always!)...
can we join storytime?
The dress turned out wonderfully! I love how you finished the neckline and the sleeves! I always get excited when I see a new dress, because I know there is a story behind it!! I had never heard this one, but I think it begs to be illustrated!!!
very cute dress!
there is a new young adult novel retelling the story of the goose girl. it is by shannon hale - you should check it out!
thanks so much ladies...i'm so excited I might as well have won the lottery!
Man my girls would go nuts over those sweet little duckies...
Is that a version of the village dress under there?? It's great in this incarnation too.
And did the ducks poo on the carpet?
oh wow
i really need to read this story
i am so intrigued
the dress is great (as always)
The dress is gorgeous! How many pictures did you have to take with the ducks to the perfect pictures! I can't figure out which is cuter the ducks or the dress!
I love the ducks and the dress! How did you think of that pattern? Do you sell patterns like this?
I love that our dear children are able to live some part of a fairy tale. The clothing is lovely and perfect for walks with the ducklings. I would love the pattern.
Darling dress, but I'm confused about the ducks. Did you mail order them as eggs? Do you give them away when they get big?
gorgeus dress!!!! and those gooses.... sweet
To answer all the questions: I ordered the ducks as babies. They arrived in a box via the US mail last week. They've already grown considerably as all they like to do is eat and poop. And yes they pooped on the carpet, once. Ahhh!
I love the romance of the lovely dress and the story.
I think it is possible for a girl to have silvery hair, even in real life. Our daughter's hair was white blond, then darkened as she grew, but still very blond. When it was freshly washed it almost glittered with silvery blue lights.
so pretty! thanks for sharing. one day i'll figure out how you do that neckline.
There is a local farm that brings baby chicks to your home/school along with everything you need to take care of them.They are "yours" to observe and play with for a week,and then they come and get them! I can't wait to do this with Ruby!
you mean i did not win the dress?! aww this is lovely gray. i really like gray.....and the classy stripes. the little ducks are too fun!
Ok, my question is about your carpet. It looks to me like carpet samples. If so, how did you get the carpets to stay on the floor? I tried this a while back and I used carpet tape, but the carpets still kept coming up (also, little toys would slide up under the edges). So, now I have a room with 1/2 carpet squares and 1/2 funky 70's tile.
The dress is just wonderful! My daughter adores pockets and would swoon for a dress with so many places to tuck her little treasures. You are so very clever!
Okay. They keep getting better and better!!
this is so sweet! and by "this" i mean the dress, the story, the ducklings and the photos!
Oh my gosh, I love the duckling dress picture. And thanks for the story! I so enjoy your blog!
Becky
those pictures are precious and that dress is lovely. what a great post as always!!
To answer your question Sadie: the carpet tiles are from FLOR. They have amazing designs. Check it out!
Melissa: Thank you so much for visiting my blog. Love yours! Great dress and I adore the whimsical and literary inspiration for this fairy tale frock.
That dress is unbelievably cute! And with the ducklings...oh my! I am very jealous of the fairy tale world that you live in. :)
"Oh, what darling ducklings! I wish I could hold one!" (quote by Emily from Little Bear's Friend) Ducklings are so cute! So are chicks! We got our chickens when they were brand new. Now my daughter wants our chickens to "grow into babies" again.
Very cute dress, as well!
This such a cute idea! Both the dress and the ducklings! I love how you incorporate things in your everyday life into your clothing. It inspires me to try to do the same in my designs. If we had a pond near our home I'd definitely try the duckling idea in two years when my girls are older. Love it!
I love your blog...wish I was one of your kids! They get to wear the most fantastic little dresses!
These photos with the ducks are just amazing! :)
Post a Comment