Rowantree Design 'On The Street.......Liverpool St, Sydney CBD

 Rowan's pops into his favourite hair salon, 'Empire' on Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst for a new do.   He never knows who he might strike up a Thomas the Tank conversation with in this popular salon to celebs and others on the A list.   Casually chatting to Luke, one of the senior stylists, Rowan is very blase, which is quite refreshing really for a little man cutting up the runway these days.

 Rowan is wearing the Anchor shirt from the 'Hey Sailor'  collection by Rowantree Designs, Country Road jeans and Converse shoes........

With his new do, "No Product please" and Thomas in hand Rowan takes the streets of Darliinghurst in his stride...........

You might get a giggle out of his last big hair day, here.

Target's Children's Clothes, Designed Without A Child in Mind.

I have always been passionate about children's clothing, the style, fabric and construction  – Rowantree's entire foundation is about offering a collection of children's pieces that are simple and comfortable, highly durable, and fun to wear. My styles are simple and designed to capture the essence and beauty of childhood.

I have received many calls today from journalists and online magazine editors asking my opinion of this article in the Sydney Morning Herald.   My answer.  It has always been of my opinion that Big Brand, children's fashion labels, design children's fashion without a child in mind or in sight.  I don't agree with dressing toddlers and young children in cutting edge fashion, I don't like grunge, silly sayings on tee's and I'm not a big fan of surf and street wear.   I like to see children's wearing clothing that reflect elegance, innocence, fun and play.  When I buy clothing for Rowan I am happy to take the time to search out particular brands that I know I can trust for style, value and durability and I am very happy to pay the extra cost for quality and point of difference.  

I would love to hear your comments on this article.  

Rowantree Designs Does Nautical 'Hey Sailor Man'

Hey sailor man, tell your fashion savy mum you really want  to wear the Rowantree Design classic nautical look this summer!  I am so thrilled to give you a sneak peek of my 'Hey Sailor Man' collection.  This summer I have traded boats for anchors and these cool anchor print pieces won't weigh your little man down, infact he will cruising the decks and catching the looks.

The Rowan Romper in a crisp white cotton, featuring navy anchors, trimmed with a navy crossgrain ribbon.  Will be available in sizes 00,0,1.

The trademark Rowantree Design classic shirt, sailing away to be as popular as the 

boat shirt from last summer. Available in sizes 0, 1, 2, 3.

The complete 'Hey Sailor Man' collection will be available early September, if you can't wait pre order is available. This fabric was a limited run, so sail on over and anchor in first.  Orders can be emailed to 

roberta@rowantree.com.au.

Rowantree Designs "Meet My Bella"

Bella 'Fleur'

Bella 

Well hello, seems like ages since I've been here, and I have honestly missed hearing from you.  It's not because I have been enjoying these magnificent sunny days, I have been sewing two new styles for my online shop.  This new style 'Bella' I love, my inspiration, vases over flowing with vibrant pink and red blooms .  I wanted to design a very feminine old worldy smock with big puffy sleeves to create that baby doll feel.  I made Bella in two fabrics, a dusky pink floral and an intense deep red geo floral on a chocolate background, which is my favourite as it has more of a vintage feel. I love the way each fabric has dictated a different look.  Pop on one of the Rowantree Collection organic cotton cardigans...and Tres' Bella!   Let out a deep sigh.....Sooooooo cuute!

Love her too?

Rowantree Designs 'Meet Audrey' It's all about Navy

I love navy blue children's clothing. It's strong, charismatic and ever so stylish.  Navy is nautical (just thought I'd throw that in) and I can't imagine a wardrobe without basic navy blue staples.  It makes perfect sense to me that when Mr Levi decided to make denim it had to be navy blue.......... it simply goes with everything, can be dressed up and dressed down.  If you've been following my blog for a while you'll notice that Rowan wears navy or a shade of blue most days, okay it matches his blue eyes, but whatever a child's colouring, they look positively smashing in navy blue.

Here is Audrey, she isn't quite finished yet, but I already know that you are going to love her.  The fabric had been in my Grand Mere's camphor chest for years, ever since the days when I lived in the big Queenslander.  There were two large pieces in this print, this, which is by far my favourite and a mauve  piece which I think will be perfect for a summer smock.  The fabric is amazing, it actually has texture and a beautiful sheen.  You just can't buy fabric like it these days.  Back to Audrey, I will trim the yoke with this navy ric rac, and today I was busy dyeing vintage buttons deep blue for the button up back.  The camera was a birthday present from my mum for our trip to Melbourne on the Greyhound bus, I remember taking pictures out of the bus window..........just twelve blurry pictures, that my mum lovingly sticky taped them to the lounge room wall. (I did wonder why)

Here is a close up of the gorgeous vintage floral, the cotton weave is lovely and dense, which gives the fabric so much character.  I'll post Audrey's picture when she is ready for my online shop.

Rowantree Designs 'Meet Caludia'

Claudia!

Inspired by the French school blouse.   Crisp and bright

I love this print, all peachy and warm

I have been super busy this week, working late into the early mornings finishing off new designs for my autunm/winter collection of dresses, smocks and blouses.  I love the eclectic collection of clothes I put together, I work really hard making sure that each piece is perfect in every way.  No unsightly unfinished seams or button holes,  all my hem lines are generous, not to mention the beautiful fabrics I choose, some from from my vintage collection, others sourced from Japan and Europe. The fabrics, the simple elegant styles and quality are a trademark of Rowantree Design.

I have a long history of fashion in my family, My grand-mere being French was a fabulous couture creating bespoke clothing for the Paris fashionistas and their children, she past this onto my mother and she past it on to me.  My grand-mere always instilled in me that you don't need a wardrobe full of rubbish, you don't walk around with a bin on your back. (French women are very arrogant where fashion is concerned, quality and style are foremost).  Therefore, I have always bought fewer clothes, more expensive, let's say investment pieces, than most of my peers, given that, I learnt from an early age how to style few garments into many outfits using accessories.
When my three daughters were young I made them beautiful clothes just like the clothes that I design and make for Rowantree, every where we went people would go out of there way to comment on their clothes and enquire as to where they could buy them.  I soon had a following of very loyal customers from the right side of town, but in those days I had  one of "those 80's" dream jobs that you could never, not in a million years consider giving up to follow your passion.  Sad!  

So back to my Rowantree  Collection!  I only make a small run in each style, I have fabric left over therefore I can always recut.  I have two shops in the lower East side of NYC that stock a small range, which each season is growing.  I know there is a few celebrity off spring running around in Rowantree.  Yahooo!    There are a few boutiques in the eastern suburbs who would stock my collection at the drop of a hat, but would need to charge triple my online store price to cover there overheads.

I don't do markets anymore as most of the boutique markets just ain't boutique anymore.  I am tired of listening to mothers who love to talk the talk about quality and bespoke clothing for their children, and then tell me that forty dollars or so, is far too expensive to pay for a  beautitful hand made one hundred percent cotton garment thats exudes style and will last a few childhood lifetimes?

At this point you are probably wondering where all these words and thoughts came from, this blog was simply to introduce you to Claudia, but when I started to write the blog,  thinking about how I would describe her to you, I started thinking learning to cut and sew.  My Grand-mere in her thick tonque telling me,
"too much length in the cotton, it won't make you any faster, it just make it ugly"
All these thoughts and words are my passion and the history behind Rowantree.  My history of making classic and quality bespoke clothing for little people.

We all have dreams and passions and today I feel so much lighter for sharing with you mine and why I love it so much.  And to tell you how sad I feel today, that I didn't have the courage follow the dream before.

What's your passion!  Will you find the courage to follow your dream?

Rowantree 'Pinterest'

Pinterest a window into all the things that inspire us every day!  

Just lately my Pinterest boards have been going off big time, I must get at least 20 repin emails a day.  I love the fact that there are lots of people loving my boards.  I started my Pinterest Boards over a year ago, I was absolutely obsessed with pinning images that inspire my creative self, images that I can look at when I am renovating my house, images of beautiful events when I am planning an event of my own, images of drop dead gorgeous houses, clothing and holiday destinations that I can only dream about. Pinterest boards are a window into all the things that inspire us every day.   Do you create beautiful things  to sell in your online shop? If the answer is yes pop on over here, Steph Bond-Hutkin of the gorgeous, all about Aussie design, Bondville blog has written a short and very informative article on using Pinterest to promote your business.  Are you pinning?  If so pop on over to my Pinterest Boards and have a look see what's inspiring me.

The Bach 'Taking a Look at a Juicy Trend'

The pineapple, the Princess of fruits, the very symbol of hospitality.  With it's bold good looks, the pineapple is indeed an inspiration in decorating concepts and designs.  

Fruitalicious

Let the sun shine in!  Remember my kitchen inspiration post, I mentioned I wanted to stencil a wall or the dining table, what do you think of this?  

Ice cream a licious

Love this scrumptious cushion,  the white background and pom poms makes me think of a pineapple sundae. here

Hula ba lula

This is gold, found it on ebay

Spotted this beauty here

How very Key West indeed

Found here

Way too cool

from here

Happy hour!

The pineapple of my eye

Pineapple Rowan Romper  

I just could not resist making up a 'Beach Collection'  for Rowan to accompany me to the Bach.  He's the coolest little dude when we hang out at the cafe and in the park.  

Rowan is wearing the gadabout pant in sailboat print and a new shirt I naming the 'Clooney' shirt.

 Can you guess why?

Rowantree Design 'The Gadabout'

If you intend to do some gadding about with your little man this weekend this little pant will take you almost anywhere.

Don't you just love the word 'Gadabout',  well it literally means  one who roams around in search of amusement or social activity, a restless searcher of fun things to do and presto!  that is exactly what toddlers love to do the most.  

Well it's what Rowan gets to do most days that he spends with me.  He gadabouts the house opening drawers in search of treasures, he gadabouts outside looking for more amusement opportunities in the garden.  Then he has a nap.  In the afternoon, Rowan and I gadabout in the car visiting our friends at the auctions houses looking for funky stuff, we go to Greenfields for my sewing supplies, where Rowan gets to crawl around in the  zipper section, he has loads of fun pulling them all off the shelves.  He in and out of his car seat several times a day.  

I soon realised that Rowan needed a special kinda pant to do all this gadding about in.  A pant that was comfy and easy to wear and of course a couple of pockets to stash treasures along the way. 

He still had to look ever so smart because you never know who? you are going to run into or where the day might take us. 

 Tadaaaaaaaa!  'The Gadabout'

Vintage buttons and a good sized pocket 

Comfy, lots of room around the botty with soft elastic waist

Toddlers High Tea and Giveaway

I was reminded yesterday by the lovely Emily of The Beetle Shack of the classic collection of children's clothes I designed and made in 2009.  I loved everything about this spring collection, a twist on the nautical theme.  I love to use a strong palette of red, navy and whites, crisp and big on style for the little fashionista's.  This photo shoot was one happy, fun filled day , the children were so eager to be photographed and really got into the spirit of the party.   Lots of party food kept the models all happy and zinging about.  I always keep a still from the shoot on my inspiration board.

The frilly bloomers below are my 'Knickernoos' collection are all made from vintage fabrics.  Each pair is different and unique.  I still have a box full of these gorgeous things and will get them into my online store soon.

 I wanted to add a touch of nostalgia from my days of birthday afternoon tea parties, and this is what I came up with, the 'oouu girls'.  There are always these kinda gals at parties with pucker lips, butter wouldn't melt, kinda girls that don't stuff their faces with cake and turn upside down and let their pants show.  (I did all of those things)

Rowantree Tea Dress Collection Summer 2011/12

The Tea Dress, Pretty Pink Tea Dress, Vintage Roses Tea Dress

Thanks again  Emily.  I love reading Emily's blog and you will too, so hop on over to 'The Beetle Shack' as Emily is hosting a Rowantree Giveaway.  You may want to go and grab your self a cuppa and a biccie or two, once you get over there you might stay a while.

ENJOY

Models supplied by Rowantree

Pittwater New Year's Eve

The New Year for the sailor and I is always a little sailing adventure, this year with Rowan's Birthday just around the corner we decided we would head to Broken Bay.  Only a 35 minute drive north of Sydney's famous Sydney Harbour Bridge,  and with a good breeze, it's a picturesque four hour sail up the coast and with a good breeze and you will find  yourself are right in the middle of some pretty amazing waterways and cruising grounds.  If you love plonking around in the water, a spot of fishing or kayaking you 'll love it up here.  So please be patient with all my images in this blog I just love sailing and I love Broken Bay.

So here we are with our large carbon sail up the wind coming over the boat from the side, (reaching).  The weather was a little overcast, we are sailing up towards Barenjoey Heads.

earching for

The first headland you can see is Barenjoey Heads which is at the end of the exclusive Palm Beach, the beach where 'Home and Away' was filmed, we will pop around in between the Barenjoey and the next headland and head straight down the waterway.....

So here we are in Smith's Creek.  Expertly anchored and tucked up for a day or two.  What next?  We will be popping open a a few chilled New Zealand Savy's and jumping into the water.

And then there's dinner...I love cooking on the boat, planning it, preparing it and serving it, except this time I left behind the tablecloths and place mats.  We had provisioned the boat with all sorts of gourmet meats, vegetables, cheeses and of course bought delicious fresh seafood from the Sydney Fish Market  on the way.  This was our first night so we enjoyed a seafood feast.

Snapper and mussels.  I like buying the mussels in the pack pre washed and cleaned, much easier on the boat....I love this little bar b que it is so functional, heats up very quickly, cooks the food fast to lock in all those beautiful flavours.

And then some more wine, we ended up doing a dance and playing music rather loudly

so when I woke up in the morning I had a peek out through the window to see how many boats we had embarrassed ourselves in front of......The water is so calm and glassy.

After an early morning swim, I made these delicious buttermilk pancakes with bananas, blueberries, yoghurt and maple syrup.  I have been making these pancakes for the sailor for years and mostly once a week, and each time he always asks me as I mouth the words are these made from scratch honey..funny these kiwi guys.  See no table cloth...

Today it's New Year's Eve and the sailor has a surprise, he has made reservations for lunch at the very famous Cottage Point Inn, perched on the waters edge of Cowan Creek  it's a hot sport for wedding proposals.

You can either make your entrance by seaplane......

or by boat, our preferred option.

Raspberry caprioska, and a pea and white asparagus soup...hmmm, well that's a delicious start to one of the most memorable restaurant meals of 2012.

And what about these two little man fashionistas, collared shirts and cargos, I could not resist taking this shot.  How adorable is the little man with his arms so nonchalantly crossed whilst watching the seaplane take off.  It's moments like this.....

Sadly I can't show you any pics of the afternoon.  Serious eating and drinking was enjoyed and the camera was sadly forgotten under the table.  

The family arrives at Akuna Bay for a day out on the boat

Poppa is keen to get Rowan on the crew.........Rowan is wearing the very cute Rowantree Design, boat shirt doesn't he look ready for some nautical action

Sadly the last few days flew by and here we are heading home just off the coast of Palm Beach....

with a large school of dolphins frolicking along beside us for most of the way home, I could not feel any more refreshed for the year ahead.

I can't wait to get stuck in this year.  Rowan's birthday party is this weekend, I have a project ahead that's really putting a smile on my face.  I am already putting samples together for the autumn collection, the fabrics you will love, and my knitwear collection for the cooler months is expanding and is just beautiful so here we go 2012