favorite frocks on Etsy: Shades of black & grey

If only I had a need for a new dress. There is no shortage of frocks to suit my taste here on Etsy. If I didn't limit myself to a color scheme, the majority of my day could be easily swallowed up just listing favorites here.

Today it's about black & grey. Here's a handful, including a few I would wear plenty. Truly though I could provide a happy home for each and every one.

Petrune

Alexandra King

Riordan Roache

Rare Turtle

Elika Designs

jenfashion

Field Day

Minkie

Yuan123

Nadinoo

In my present life, dressing for the day is largely a question of what is within reach that I might put on in under a minute. Usually, this includes the jeans lying across my catch-all basket, a t-shirt grabbed from the top of the drawer, or maybe a reasonably tailored button up shirt on days I managed to eek out an extra 20 seconds. A little more range comes in with the shoes. And there is always a super easy to wear a-line ruffle skirt in my go to basket that pairs well with pretty much anything. A bit boyish? Yep. Functional and comfortable? For sure. I love boyish paired with subtle, decidedly feminine touches. Admittedly, I've been lacking those extra touches. Accessories, make up, variety ... these are the parts I've pushed aside in order to maintain those things of greatest value in my life at this stage.

It's been a while since I've shared from my endless list of favorite Etsians. I've followed Nadia Izruna's shop, Nadinoo, since it appeared on Etsy a couple of years ago. There is much that is decidedly feminine here. Nadia offers those gorgeous silhouettes that draw me to garments from the 1920's-1960's. I'm loving her latest collection, but I continue to count pieces from her spring/summer 2010 collection among my favorite favorites.

a perfect pouch

Just caught this sweet little number on Poppytalk. It's from Scout & Catalogue's Scavenger series.

Or, how about this one...

Smitten kitten!

It's about darned time... new full apron

I've had some requests for full aprons. As much as I have wanted to, I've been unable to make time for it. Then, last week, a great customer of mine in Australia asked if I would make her one. I said yes without hesitation, and I'm so glad I did.

It's full, works for men and women, and I expect I'll soon be wearing one up to the schoolyard as the nice big pocket will hold an assortment of found treasures - lucky rocks, rusty bolts, old pens that have seen better days. One of my girls is the queen of junkin' and thinking up ways to incorporate her finds into machines and art of her own design.

This one is blue (dark cerulean to be precise) with jet black stripes no.2. Another will arrive in the shop very quickly.

Laura Lombardi necklace

This is my new Laura Lombardi necklace. It was a random treat for myself. I love it!

we should all wake up to this

Upcycled vintage coffee spoon from Sycamore Hill

I feel as if this one was meant for me...

for the love of a grain sack - new pillows!

Have I told you how much I love the old grain sacks? Well, I do. They're in demand and certainly not inexpensive, but I will continue to keep an eye out for a deal. This little grain sack infatuation of mine is what prompted my newest stripe pattern. I'm printing stripes on aprons, tea towels, pouffes and now - finally - on pillow slips. I made up a few slips in my favorite standard size, 12"x16". You'll soon see them in the shop.

Mostly likely there will be more sizes to come. First, I need to play around a bit with making my own pillow inserts. I like to stick with standard sizes to avoid the need to ship the inserts, but I do want to add the option of smaller pillow forms filled with the same Ingeo fiberfill I use for the pouffe.

deep ocean on oatmeal linen

navy on toast linen

fern on oatmeal linen

Introducing "The Pouffe"

I waivered a bit between tuffet and pouffe. Pouffe seemed to best fit the bill, as I love the French Industrial look. Hmm... maybe tuffet is French as well? Photographing was a challenge as we may have had a record summer downpour here in Seattle today. I am no fan of indoor pictures. I suppose the front porch worked fine, although not ideal. In any case, here it is:

Now listed in my shop. As you can read in the description, it in not intended for use as adult seating. It's just not sufficiently dense for that purpose. Still, it's pretty hardy with nearly 4 lbs. of Ingeo fiberfill. I love it as a table or ottoman and the girls seem to be most happy just bouncing on it.

Etsy faves

I've missed writing more frequently this summer. This feels like an odd statement for me, a self-described reluctant blogger. Kids out of school, a bit of travel and sunshine have colluded against my efforts to squeeze in a post here and there. I am eager to catch up a bit on many of my favorite blogs as well.

For today, I want to share some of my many Etsy favorites. Today it's all items I do not own. Well, at least not yet. A girl can dream.

This black linen dress by Yuan123

This iphone case, plus much much more, from Moxie and Oliver who I see also hail from The Emerald City.

This painting by Bonny Murray

This stool from Urban Accent Home.

This purse from Made by Hank

This clock from Vector Cloud

This clutch by Sir Tom

Another bag from Meatbagz - maybe this one - because I love mine but so does my sister.

And the list goes on.

new items in shop & backpack camping with kids

I'm beginning to add brooches & obi wrap belts to my shop. Will probably add a few of each over the next couple of days.

obi & brooch listed separately

My husband and oldest daughter (7) - plus a friend and his daughter - just headed off for their first backpack camping trip to Esmeralda Basin. We're used to having our car about 10 feet from the tent packed with everything we might possibly need. It won't be a big hike. Instead, a great intro to packing in your gear.

It's been many years since my husband and I went backpack camping. I think the last time - perhaps the only time for us together - was 11 years ago. We were snowshoeing and had to demonstrate our ability to dig a snow cave. Also did some practice with ice axe self-arrest. The self-arrest part was fun, but I no longer have any strong inclination to sleep in a snow cave. I go in for a thick thermarest, an available shower, perfect weather and plenty of extra stuff in the car.

Jeffrey's Shooting Stars along the Esmeralda Basin Trail.

photo by Bob & Barb via Washington Trails Assoc.

Happy camping Dan and Ruby! We'll miss you!!

mock wrap shirt w/obi

Looks like I'm down to the wire in getting my Tuesday post written. I am still scheduling in time on my calendar for this weekly post. I didn't have it in me when the time came early in the day. A friend died this past weekend. Today has been a day of contemplation.

So for today I'll share something new I am working on for fall. Of course, we haven't hit summer yet, but I have to start thinking about designs & fabrics. I mentioned a while back that I was taking a class to demystify the pattern language (sewing pattern language that is). You see, I haven't used patterns and somehow convinced myself that I wouldn't know how to decode them. I made it to my weekly class for a month and was feeling pretty sickly the entire time. Still, I had fun, met some nice people and learned a few things. Turns out my approach to sewing isn't so far out there. I did learn that a size 6/8 is more like a 12/14 when it comes to most sewing patterns. Who knew?! I loved watching my teacher's technique when it came to pinning for darts and even just laying out a pattern piece on fabric. I've never watched a lifelong sewer (who has taught all of her 4 children as well) who knows all the "rules". Now that I have a better idea what the "rules" are, I can continue to break them with more confidence.

Now for the end product of my class. I used a Mod Kids pattern for a fabulous mock wrap top. I had been toying around with design elements for a kimono-inspired wrap shirt and/or jacket for fall & winter. When scanning patterns at the fabric store, this most closely resembled what I have in mind. At this point, I'm most enthused about working with a lighter weight woven fabric (definitely some plaid) paired with a great wool. I am very excited about the combo! The pattern states that it is ok to use it to create goods for sale. I wonder if most patterns offer similar permission? I really like the pattern, but I made a few modifications and will need to make several more to suit my taste and the drape of the fabrics I plan to use. I really need to try and cut my labor time down as well.

Without further adieu, here is the shirt I made for Ruby. I love it!

The colors and mix of textures suit her perfectly. She is NOT into pink, but even she liked the hot pink corduroy obi once she tried the whole ensemble.

Iris put her pastel version on for a moment, took a fall and has now refused to ever try it on again - even for a couple of minutes so that I can snap a few shots. I guess she blames it for the fall. That, and the fact that it is not a tank top, means I have to wait until the mood strikes her. If ever. Hmph. Iris plays age 3 so well! I definitely need a model to share the full effect, but a hanger shot will have to suffice for now.