Happy 1st Birthday Matilda

A very special princess in our lives turned one on Saturday, exactly one year to the day she was born...

A beautiful and very pink celebration..... 

A huge thank you to Nicci at Cupcakes in Camden for the most delicious cakes.  The birthday cake a dreamy huge pink and white layer cake iced with chantilly cream  was heaven.  The white chocolate cupcakes so beautifully frosted and embellished with bows and ribbons were a picture and really set the theme.  

How did I find Cupcakes in Camden, the social network.....happened to see a pic on facebook one day and was onto it immediately.  I knew I had to source the best birthday cake ever for Matilda.  Nicci is so lovely and her cakes a work of art,  all I did was mention the fact that Matilda is a gorgeous pink girl and Nicci took it from there.  Thank you Cupcakes in Camden you made a beautiful little princess's 1st birthday a yummy one.

Get the celebrity crochet look

Get the look this spring

I am loving this crochet dress, so simple but the style is huge. A denim jacket and a pair of boots make this a go anywhere ensemble.  Your style and your chic little ones style.  So all you fashion forward mums if you don't already know how to crochet, learn! You might try joining a crochet class like the one I am attending at Calico and Ivy, not only have I met some great gals but I am staying in trend as crochet and knitting is the latest way to spend a few hours with your gal pals. Forget the tea and scones and dive right into a bottle of fizz.  It's such a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

Three Blue Things

Today I'm feeling blue, soaking up the sunny blue skies of our great harbour city of sydney.....

Addison Road Markets

Ikea

Dulwich Hill, St Vinnies

Have a lovely weekend 

A Touch of Jennifer Nostalgia

Being not quite a baby boomer, I remember there always being a Jennifer in my class at school.  My favourite Jennifer was the twin of Debborah.  Jennifer loved coming to play dress ups at my house.   We dressed up in all my grandmothers 30's and 40's style dresses and hats, and glammed it up in my mothers 50' and early 60's pieces. But most of all Jennifer loved to try on my clothes as both my grandmother and mother were fine tailors you can imagine the beautiful frocks, smocks, pinnys and blouses which filled my wardrobe.  

Opening my fabric cupboard looking for inspiration this lovely, blue geometric floral piece of vintage cotton caught my eye, and immediately I thought of Jennifer and knew that this fabric was destined to become a vintage 50's style smock dress.  I detailed the yolk and pockets with  green and white stripe piping and added a handsome little bow.

The Charlotte Dress

This was one of my kindy frocks, worn with the lacey white socks, Clarke's black patent leather shoes and accessorised with a huge yellow ribbon tied in my pony tail.  A rather structured play dress not quite the fit for showing off on the monkey bars but I loved it dearly.  I remember it made me feel very important, I felt like a flight attendant with the high neckline and the hint of a flair at the hem and I called it my Charlotte frock, Charlotte sounding like a much more important name.  She needs a new button but in my heart I don't want to change a thing about her.

So I created another one...and left out the frock

These little frocks are available at Rowantree Designs studio in sizes one, two and three if you wold love  one leave me a comment and I will contact you

Somethings Never Change

My love of classic styles and strong colours such as the blue's especially navy and red's for children's clothing has never changed. I had forgotten about these dresses I made for my girls when they were five and six, how they hated being dressed the same, right down to the tights and shoes, but I loved it.  

So 'Little House on the Prarie'......

Still loving the blue's and red's in an updated smock version 

And I'm still taking bad garden shots 

The Rowantree girl's smock dresses have a plain yoke and are a long sleeve style, which go beautifully with long sleeve tops and tights or over your favourite denim. The oversize style is very on trend for both adults and children's clothing, - this casual Boho inspired girl's dress would be popular with any of the famous tots in LA or New York!

These two versatile smock dresses are available on my website www.rowantree.com.au

A vintage dress to crochet

Pattern

Pattern

How I love all things made by the hand....and the love of crochet seems to be taking over my passion for sewing at present.  These beautiful crochet frocks are delicious and will be added to my 'best sunday dress collection'.  Delicious!

Going Loopey over Hexagons

The update.....


I am so excited that tomorrow I will be showing up for my crochet class at Calico and Ivy with 55 crochet hexagons complete and ready to begin the journey to become a gorgeous cushion.  I feel such a sense of achievement.  Five years ago I would have fell down laughing if you had told me I would be gob smacked proud over a bag of crochet hexagons.  I love them, I take them out of the bag several times a day to admire the color combinations, lovingly stroke them and count them.  Oh how I have enjoyed the pile getting bigger......
Last Monday a lay day for crochet class the girls came to my house, we sat around the table, we chatted, drank tea and ate cake, our crochet needles an extension of our hands, our talk of double chain, treble chain, lingered on long into the afternoon....WOW that was a great day, clearing the table of wool ends I couldn't wipe the smile from my face, I felt part of something secret, we bonded, we crocheted, we are a little crochet club in the making.....

I have chosen this blue stripe ticking for the backing.....

I hope mine looks like this 

A lovely Surprise - Matilda Smock in Print

How very lovely ... Here is my Rowantree Design Matilda Smock featured in the May issue of Shop 4 Kids.  I love it, a gorgeous old worldy vintage inspired little dress with ahoney of a little bloomer so we don't see those nasty disposables.....the fabric is an Irish Linen in dusty pink...... Oohh it's gorgalicious.


You can find this on my Madeit store

A Bear just like Big Ted

How could you not fall in love with a handsome guy like this.  I found him proudly sitting on a chair at the Maisie May stall at Mathilda's Market on Sunday.  He is made from recycled vintage chenille, he is so soft and cuddly and is sitting on my desk looking at me lovingly.


Marina the creator of all things gorgeous from Maisie May recycles the past into some very beautiful and eclectic, vintage inspired clothing and cuddly toys for children.  Pop over to Marina's etsy store to enjoy her beautiful range of collectibles.


What do you think I should name him?