Happy New Year!

** I am already receiving inquiries for spring 2016 orders. If you need First Communion, Baptism flower girl, or Easter dresses, get in touch soon to secure your place in my schedule. **

There were two new additions to our family this year, one long planned and the other a happy surprise. Of course, such lovely girls needed special Christmas gear to celebrate. Isabelle wears a full skirted dress with little sleeves and black velvet bow belt. Mary Ellen received a period appropriate circle skirt and lace trimmed blouse, but the same belt.

All the girls in the house were happy with their perfectly coordinated outfits. This is actually last year's Christmas dress. I believe in nice things that last. Good materials and careful workmanship ensure lots of happy wear.

Happy New Year!

Capes make great presents too!

Speaking of great holiday gifts, capes are fantastic! Super hero or Jedi, capes offer boundless  options for imaginative play. 

This one is made of high quality satin with wool felt applique.

Personalize it with your child's initial and most important super colors.

These are so fun to wear running, jumping and flying!

A cape is a very serious necessity for any super hero! Order now so there's time to save the world.

Tutus make great gifts!

 With the holidays fast approaching, you may be wondering what to special gift would delight your little one. How about a custom made tutu in her favorite colors?

 It's good for practicing her ballet moves.

Or for perfecting her dying swan. Or for just twirling about. 

It even makes good party wear. And - it reverses! I can add sparkle or shine in any color she pleases. What more could a little girl hope to find under the tree?

Chloe's ballerina dress

Chloe's dress was a very special birthday present. I showed her many pink fabrics, but she was instantly smitten with this ballet pink silk georgette. She has excellent taste!

At 13, Chloe was tired of puffy skirts and asked for something more sophisticated, but her mother didn't like what they saw in stores. We chose a simple fit and flare silhouette with a full skirt. Mom and Chloe were equally pleased.  

A tiny navy bow at the waist is a timeless color pairing.

 

A very full layer of silk organza in between the skirt and lining adds volume and twirl for good dancing. Chloe will wear this for spring parties and her school's May Day celebration. It would also be lovely for a Bat Mitzvah or graduation.

A perfect pink dress!

Kaia's Rose Communion Dress

It's nice that my first white dress of the season gets to be this delightful confection. Delicately embroidered Swiss cotton organdy makes up the skirt and elbow length sleeves of this dress. Heavenly fabric!

Kaia wanted her dress to honor her grandmother, Rose, so I crafted three little Dior roses in satin to accent the waist. Each rose is stitched by hand with several layers of petals in different sizes.

Satin picks up the subtle sheen of the embroidery. The scallops are sweetly feminine.

I finish dresses with a couture zipper, set by hand for stability and accuracy. The sheer organdy fabric is underlined in cotton poplin for support and opacity. The dress is then fully lined with soft cotton lawn. The skirt layers are each finished with French seams. This dress will be as comfortable to wear as it is lovely.

Cotton organdy remains my favorite First Communion fabric. It has a light, innocent quality that I think speaks to the occasion. At the same time, it is elegant and very special. It would be nice to see this dress passed on to a little sister, a cousin and one day a daughter.

little red coat

I like to invest in a good coat, even for my children. A nice coat makes you look and feel instantly pulled together and polished. And when I see my children lined up in their nice coats, I feel instantly like a mom who has her stuff together, no matter what kind of day I'm having.

 

 

If you've seen Kitty and me around town, you've probably seen this little red coat. We get compliments every. where. we. go. Seriously. This is red wool with black velveteen trim. The coat is fully lined in Bemberg rayon and has a cotton flannel interlining for added warmth and structure. The black cuffs turn down for another year's wear. Wool is very durable and doesn't need to be saved for a special occasion. She wears it for everything but the coldest and messiest of days.

 

From a cost and labor standpoint, a coat is very much like a dress. However, you get a lot more wear out of a coat, so it's actually a better value. This time of year, in fact, the coat is the only thing people see. My boys get nice coats too, always with room to grow and be handed down. Oh, and baby doll gets a matching coat of course.

Natalie's Nutcracker Dress

Natalie's family is planning a special trip to see the Nutcracker this year, so they wanted a very special dress. Nutcracker is a Philadelphia holiday tradition and the Academy of Music is a venue that demands a very fine frock. Did you know the Academy was the setting for the lush opera scenes in the Age of Innocence?

 

It didn't take long to decide what to make for Natalie. I had been saving this cranberry voile for the right client. It has a beautiful drape and a floaty quality that reminded me of something a ballerina might wear.

 

 

The color was exactly right on her. Normally, I take my little clients through piles of fabrics, swatches and trims to find the right thing. When I draped this fabric around Natalie, we didn't look any further.

 

 

The pattern features a soft gathered yoke with floating slightly puffy sleeves. I accentuated the bodice, neckline and sleeves with fine French laces. Although the cranberry and lace combination gives the dress a holiday feeling, it would be just as suitable for a birthday party, wedding or other occasion. The skirt includes a 4" double turned hem, which I will happily let out in the future for no additional charge.

 

 

It's even perfect for curling up with a favorite Christmas book!

 

My 2014 holiday schedule is almost completely booked. I have room for only one more full commission if you contact me quickly. In fact, I've already started booking for Communion 2015. However, do get in touch if you have specific requests. I might be able to accommodate you. Also, stay tuned as I might be offering smaller gift options!

 

*this dress made from a licensed pattern by Oliver + S.