little coat

Our friends Anna and Suzie found this sweet little coat for Keira that fits just perfectly. I would show you her in it, but she fights against putting it on, although then once it is on she refuses to take it off. You know how it is with two year olds.

It's made from beautiful soft wool, with suede trim and wooden buttons. I love the label- 'Junior House.' Sometimes I wish I was a mother living in the 50s, pushing a big 4-wheeled stroller, with a baby sitting inside wearing a coat like this and a woollen bonnet. Underneath would be a smocked viyella dress with a zip up the back, and textured wool tights and cream t-bar sandles. Actually, I have all those things, perhaps I'll make Keira live out my fantasy while the weather is still cold enough.

Today we've been making cards to send to people- for Arlo there is nothing more exciting than making a card, writing a message, buying a stamp and then popping it into the postbox. He and K made some using potato prints I cut for them:

and I made some by hand-stitching small pieces of fabric prints I love onto blank card:

Quite a good way to use up leftover bits of fabric... and old potatoes for that matter!

Comments

[Frances]

That's a lovely coat. I love kids clothing like that too but there is little chance of me convincing my daughter to wear it. She's a pants and t-shirt girl most of the time. More practical I suppose but not as cute looking.

[Fiona]

I was thinking of doing the fabric card thing too.. just haven't gotten to it.. lots of scraps left I can't bear to throw. :)

Lovely coat. reminds me of adult trench coats I fantasize wearing in cold weather....

[Helen]

Thanks for the lovely msg you left today on my blog, and your email. Looks like you guys are having fun down there.

x Helen

[Taimarie]

Sweet jacket. Though the fashion was great(those prams were so terrific, no?) I suppose there are lots of reasons *not* to want to be a mother in the 50's! (at least my grandma would have said so!) I love the portrait of the artists hard at work.

[jen]

a lovely coat your I bet your daughter looks grown up in and very cute
cool cards you all made

[Dawn]

Huh, as I was reading about your potato prints a man on T.V was making a "rose" by cutting a head of lettuce in half, dipping it in some read paint and making a print on a tea towel. Cool! I love that little coat. I bet she looks sweet in it.

[Hege]

Cute jacket!
And what a great idea to use potatoes, have to remeber that ;)
Have a great weekend!

[Plumtickled]

One of my very favorite things to do in art class when I was a girl was to use potato stamps! What a lovely memory for me today! Thank you!

[Lori]

what a beautiful coat Melissa!

I totally forgot about potato stamps...thanks for the reminder...I have been thinking lately of rainy day activities I need to write down for this fall when we start homeschooling again.

[Chara Michele]

That is a lovely coat!
We had a few leftover potatoes the other day, I wish I had thought to use them for that:)

[Gwyn]

You are very brave to let them paint with clothes on!

[Jen]

Great little coat, but imagine the laudering of clothes like that if we were to live in that era - we would have to live in the laundry no throwing it in the machine. Great prints for the cards.

[VictoriaE]

That's a lot of inspiration you're passing on in just one post - 1) old old clothes for little people, so cool 2) potato printing, why havn't a thought to do that with my kids? ever? 3) the cards with the fabric scraps are so simple but brilliant and really show the specialness of each fabric design. Thankyou!

[Tina]

Beautiful coat and cards!

[alice]

Oooh, that coat is so beautiful. It's the kind of thing i'd like for myself, except with such a pale colour i'd definitely spill stuff down it/ get it muddy/ generally ruin it (but i am a total clumsy-clot, & i'm sure Keira is much more refined than me!).

[kirsten]

that is a gorgeous coat! your description of the walk/coat/stroller/hat, etc. reminds me of a specific illustration in Eloise Wilkins' 'Baby Dear' book - have you seen it? beautiful book, i'll have to take a picture of that page for you!

[Jessicah]

Lovely coat- isn't it great how the quality of those garments allow them to be worn 50 years later?! And I think you forgot the best part about sending out letters- all those replies! Hope your postie is busy this week :)

[carolyn]

Looks like great fun and I love that coat.

[heidi]

such great ways to be creative melissa!! and use potatoes!! and that coat? that is just too stinking cute!

[megan]

yeah, you don't want to live in the 50's...definitely couldn't wear pants with skirts! better to just dress our kids like they're from the 50's...or earlier. folks always say my penelope (2 years) looks like a pioneer!

[kimberlee]

oh I always think of what MY 1950's housewife outfit would look like. Smokin' hot in heals and a floral gown, even if it's just to get the mail. :)

-kimberlee

[Bethany]

Every time I read your blog I'm convinced a little more that I have to visit your wonderful country again. Not that you write about NZ a lot... it's just that NZ is filled with such creativity and goodness - ad you're part of that :)
I lived in a little town called morrinsville... are you anywhere close to that?

[amisha]

i love the fabric card idea. my scrap bags are bulging and a scrap quilt somehow seems daunting right now.
also love the idea of the baby carriage with coat, tights, sweet shoes... you should go for it :)
xo