winter lingers

In the Northeast, winter lingers. The snow stands in piles on frozen grass and icy sidewalks. The inspiration to make cheerful summer dresses, like Lynne's amazing tablecloth dress (not of the Mrs. Roper variety!), has not yet come my way. I'm still thinking warm layered coats and cozy knit caps. Here's a little slender cap I made of an old cotton sweater. I lined the inside with a soft interlock and made a cheerful tassel of sky blue cotton yarn. My husband said (he's always my best critic!) "But it doesn't fit; it doesn't cover her whole head!" I told him, "that's the point. It's a slender fit cap. I think it looks more modern that way." Hmmm, does modern always mean cutting something down, making it shorter, or thinner, like Lynne's tablecloth dress? Or is it just a little tweak with the cut, making it less pedestrian? Anyway, it's cold, and I'm going to sit down to a cup of peppermint tea and watch the snow melt, waiting for my summer muse.

Tablecloth Dress

Hello! Melissa is on a vacation with her family so it's two posts in a row from me. Melissa, I hope you guys are having a great time! I am sure you are hatching all kinds of fabulous ideas.

The other day I bought this pretty yellow tablecloth at a thrift shop for $1, and made this little dress for the 4 year old. The dress was originally longer, but when I tried it on her all I could think was Mrs. Roper (I'm sorry mom. It's true. I always snuck down to the basement to watch "Three's Company" while you were running errands. I LOVED it. But don't worry, I didn't get the sexual innuendo until Courtney explained it to me my freshman year at college). SO, I shortened the dress to knee-length and now I think it looks so springy and cheery. And there is enough tablecloth left to make a matching one for the baby.

*the pattern I used for this is Simplicity 4767. Thanks for all the nice words!!

more of the six swans

Hello - it was so, so nice of Hillary to write about us yesterday. Thank you, Hillary. We admire you and your amazing artistry so much!!

Melissa and I are on a fairy tale kick. The first of what we have to show you - more coming soon, Melissa's are amazing - is a little picture I made for the baby, of the six flying swans who are waiting to be turned back into human princes by their poor mute nettle-knitting sister (do you remember this crazy story? for some bizarre reason always one of my favorites)...

the Zola coat

I love this top photo taken by French author, Emile Zola, of his daughter Denise. He experimented with photography soon after its invention, and his photos appear strikingly modern, almost as if from our time. However, Zola is not most known for his photography. His greatest contribution is his brilliant novels written in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. I have an MA in French lit and have read many French books. He remains my favorite French writer. The must reads in my opinion are: the Debacle, the Earth, and l'Assommoir, among others. His style is very earthy and descriptive. He portrays humans in their most animal ways, showing the darker side of them. This is not my reason from being a zolaphile; my love centers on his colorful descriptions and rich language.

So in honor of our dear French genius, I've designed this little coat. Rows of alternating antique and pearlized buttons adorn the front lapel and cowl neck collar. My husband thought that my creation barely resembles the Zola coat. I think it was due to the heavy navy twill, which I used for durability. Maybe next time, I'll use a lightweight wool with a nicer drape; then the collar will lay flater like the elegant one on Mademoiselle's coat. The interior of my coat is a silky blue paisley. I added cozy batting in the center layer to make it nice and warm. A tie at the waist is of the same twill fabric. I'm still looking for a pretty belt to match Mademoiselle Zola's...

doll clothes swap

In honor of Saint Valentine, here's a little Parisian romance: a flirty pink capelette, a simple linen dress, a mini deer purse and a tiny book of French love poems. I'm hoping this sassy ensemble will bring a little love to my swap partners' special little girls. I went wild with the capelettes, making one for each of my swap ladies, one for my niece and one for baby J.'s upcoming birthday.

little books

Melissa gave me the neatest book for Christmas this year, all about making books by Esther K. Smith (you should go get this book!). Inside there is a very simple way of making a little book from one piece of paper that I have been experimenting with obsessively. They are infinitely handy, these books - you can quickly whip one out for your kids to draw or write in, use them for little birthday cards, or as invitations. Yes, the possibilities are endless! The best part, as the author points out, is that the books are very easily reproduce-able. When unfolded, all the text/design is on one side of the page. So you can photocopy as many copies as you like and then fold them right up.

In case the pictures are not clear enough on their own, the way you make one is by folding a piece of normal notebook-size or copier paper in half the short way, and then in half lengthwise. Then you take it and fold it again, so that you have 8 little folded rectangles. Unfold it all, then fold it again the short way, and cut the middle fold (see the photo). Pull it back open. You should be able to see at this point how it folds together into a book. It's magical, and very easy once you start playing around. Have fun folding!

woodlands coat

It is 10 degrees this morning in the New York region. Even though I like winter, such intense cold makes me dream of more temperate days. Like the mild fall day last October when we went exploring in my in-law's Virginia meadow. H. almost disappeared in the tall meadow grass, her green coat melting into the fresh green of the grass. The only difference being the shapes of green: the spiky vertical stripes of the grass against the soft round form of H. in her woodland coat. Alas those days are no more for the moment: my in-laws have moved, the weather has changed and H. no longer fits into her woodland coat. Now it's baby sister's turn to inherit the green pom-pom manteau, with its large wooden buttons and velvet lined pockets. Maybe her cheerful face framed in a garden of green pom pom balls will bring a little cheer and a little warmth to this icy cold day.

Doll Clothes Swap - packages mailed!

O la la, je m'appelle Lynne's old doll Samantha et I'm off to the marche aux puces for une petite bit of shopping. Too bad Lynne did not pay better attention in her high school french classes which means that I have very poor french vocabulary skills. Garcon, ou est la Tour Eiffel?

dots!

Nothing says cheer like a grouping of dots. Big dots, small dots, medium-sized dots, when placed together in a uniform grouping against a contrasting background, it instantly creates a cheerful palette. This little shirt is made from a Japanese print with dreamy little deer and woodsy mushrooms. The skirt is a heavy charcoal denim. Both are trimmed with red and white dots, with a gathered pocket ample enough to hold a few little treasures.