1.14.2009

wanderings coat: blue velvet


my girl and her favorite outfits: you might recognize some of them...





a peak at the back neck gathers


a peak at the inside melange of blues and hand quilting


Voila a soft blue velvet coat for those freezing January days. I slowly quilted the inside layer over the Christmas break while watching a plethora of BBC movies. The quilting adds weight to the coat, providing warmth and lushness in stitched layers. The inside has much entertainment potential too: a menagerie of blues melt into a mind-wandering ocean of heavy sand and blue-dyed linen. A large pocket serves to hold all the laminated watercolor paper dolls of my girl and her many outfits. (No I did not copy the ingenious Black Apple; I've been working on these for quite some time...) If you're not skilled with brush and pen, perhaps you could make some personalized dolls from photographs of your girl. I described how to do this in a post last year.

And if you've already ordered a wanderings pattern, I'll soon post some more tips for sewing the hood with fur...not the simplest endeavor. But well worth the adventure...
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31 comments:

  1. kristiJanuary 15, 2009 at 6:15 AM

    i've been following this blog for a while--the photos you take are so inspiring. not to mention the way you use your hands to create such beautiful work!

    what a jaw-droppingly beautiful coat...

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  2. Art NestJanuary 15, 2009 at 6:38 AM

    So lush and beautiful~ Wherever do you find your fabrics?

    Just a thought:
    Sometimes I see someone else's creation (like the paper dolls)and I can flip 6 months back in my sketch book and show you my drawings for the exact same design...I just remind myself that there is 'nothing new under the sun' - we are all unique, but the same...

    Zana

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  3. ChristyJanuary 15, 2009 at 8:03 AM

    The coat is just lovely. I was also curious about the linen fabric, it's wonderful! Where did you get it?

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  4. UnknownJanuary 15, 2009 at 8:08 AM

    Melissa -

    Those watercolors are so beautiful. I love, love, love them!!!

    And that COAT!!!! Gorgeous.

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  5. erikaJanuary 15, 2009 at 8:14 AM

    oh my...wow, I love the watercolour drawings and the coat is amazing!!

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  6. Miss | AJanuary 15, 2009 at 8:43 AM

    love that coat!!!!

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  7. girlwithmoxyJanuary 15, 2009 at 8:56 AM

    Unbelievably gorgeous! Ooo la la! My daughter sang special music at church last week wearing your dress pattern in turquoise corduroy with tall brown boots. It was adorable. Keep it up, like I've said before, there aren't any patterns this unique or "doable" out there so your market is amazing!

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  8. AlinaJanuary 15, 2009 at 10:49 AM

    Such a special coat! I'm sure she'll treasure it for years after it has been outgrown. Thanks for the tip on paper dolls...literally, just this week I was trying to think of how to create my own handmade paper dolls. A timely post.

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  9. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2009 at 11:46 AM

    That's adorable.

    I have a cheat/workaround for custom paper dolls -- I found free paper dolls online and Photoshopped my daughter's head onto the doll. (The one I used was Shirley Temple.) Then I borrowed my sister Mary's idea to use a magnet cartridge in my Xyron to make a magnetic paper doll from it. Here's a link to how I did mine.

    There are other free paper dolls to be found online, although finding ones that match your child's age can be tricky. And of course hand-painted or photographed depictions of a child's actual clothing is the very coolest. (Your daughters are so lucky!)

    Oh, we also figured out how to use the "print screen" feature and Photoshop to make a magnetic paper doll from one of my daughter's Webkinz (link here.) This one is a lot of work for something they could just play on the computer, but my daughter loved the portability of it.

    My son also hand-drew clothing to make a magnetic paper doll from a Pokemon Pikachu -- but it looks like I never put photos of that on my blog.

    Have you heard of Woodkins? I've often thought it would be cool to make a custom Woodkin with my kids' faces and bodies. Or a custom wooden puzzle with photos of them and their favorite toys would be fun. (So many fun ideas; so little time.)

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  10. LeslieJanuary 15, 2009 at 1:37 PM

    love the sketches.

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  11. BekJanuary 15, 2009 at 2:19 PM

    The coat is incredible, so soft and warm!! And the paintings are adorable. I want to try more watercolour painting- i love the look of it, so clean and pretty. My sister gave me a how to book for my birthday. You have inspired me to give it a good go!

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  12. Jill McNamaraJanuary 15, 2009 at 5:43 PM

    gorgeous. i want a little girl solely to put her in that jacket.

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  13. roubarbeJanuary 15, 2009 at 10:11 PM

    Superbe manteau! J'adore les couleurs, les détails, les finitions...
    Bravo!

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  14. AnonymousJanuary 16, 2009 at 12:01 AM

    You make me want to watercolour right a way, sadly I don't have the time because we are going away for the weekend and I have to pack our bags, the dog, feed the cat....but iron all our stuff first :(
    Love this version of the wanderings coat! Do you buy your velvet fabric online? Our wanderings coat is lying on the table but I can't find the right outer-fabric.
    Have a nice weekend!

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  15. KariJanuary 16, 2009 at 4:44 AM

    scrumptious coat!

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  16. TerriJanuary 16, 2009 at 4:50 AM

    love the inside of the coat! You do such lovely work!

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  17. Dawn NewsomeJanuary 16, 2009 at 5:59 AM

    This is one of the most beautiful coats I've ever seen! Love the color and it looks like you could just crawl up in it and stay so cozy and warm. I love that you did all the quilting inside. It will be a treasure that your daughter will keep forever.
    I plan on making a coat with a pocket for paperdolls too when my granddaughter gets old enough!
    Love your blog!
    Dawn

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  18. SabinaJanuary 16, 2009 at 12:36 PM

    Just gorgeous!!!

    Happy Friday!

    :)

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  19. RubyellenJanuary 16, 2009 at 2:06 PM

    you are giving your daughter so much to treasure and love when she gets older.

    this is a wonderful idea for play and to preserve this time of her life. i love it... just like i love everything else you two do!!!

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  20. sew nancyJanuary 16, 2009 at 2:06 PM

    melissa
    i love the blue velvet and the illustrated paper dolls.
    i was wondering will you be making any more of the kits for the inside of the coat.

    enjoy the weekend

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  21. Kellie HJanuary 16, 2009 at 10:12 PM

    oh these paper dolls....how fun!!! you girls never cease to amaze

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  22. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2009 at 1:30 AM

    Aaaahhh It's beautiful ! The coat is beautiful ! Cute paper dolls ! C'est magnifique !

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  23. AnonymousJanuary 18, 2009 at 11:50 AM

    That coat is gorgeous. The whole wardrobe is, but I am drooling over that coat!

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  24. LaurenJanuary 19, 2009 at 10:40 AM

    That coat is gorgeous. I absolutely love the material and H's entire wardrobe. I found an amazing fabric store on the west side called Boom. I am headed there tomorrow with a friend. Do you want me to check anything out for you?

    xo

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  25. kristinJanuary 20, 2009 at 10:51 AM

    this is crazy adorable.

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  26. jadeJanuary 20, 2009 at 12:17 PM

    Hi Melissa..
    That little blue coat is so beautiful!!! I'm new to your blog and love it. I think I read you are from
    New Jersey too!! So nice to meet other crafty ladies close by.
    I couldnt find an email address for you so I'm commenting. : )
    Jennifer
    www.PinkyBrownInc.blogspot.com

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  27. AnonymousJanuary 22, 2009 at 6:24 AM

    That is so lovely; it kills me!

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  28. BethanyJanuary 23, 2009 at 6:25 AM

    I am now wondering why you aren't an illustrator!! Your style is so wonderful. Sometimes I think we don't see how wonderful our own work is... it takes a stranger to tell you how great you are! Melissa-- YOU'RE GREAT!!!!

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  29. Mon Café CoutureJanuary 23, 2009 at 3:26 PM

    I just saw you on Adriana's list of awards, and I must say you make such incredibly unique and original things. I'm charmed :)and will certainly follow your creatons!

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  30. LauraJanuary 25, 2009 at 7:23 AM

    Forget the kids.I need a grown up girl version.

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  31. Sushila ChamlingJanuary 29, 2009 at 9:44 PM

    Its so cute..Couldn't help commenting:)

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