Cascade Dress Tutorial...

I entered this little cascade dress in a contest over at Figgy's Patterns blog back in July; the idea was to use their circle skirt pattern and make it your own, and so I did! Guess what? I won!!! It's the first time I win a sewing/design competition, I am soooo excited.

Would you like to know what I won? Lucky me, I get to choose 3 of their exquisite sewing patterns. And what is really fun (especially for you!) is that I'm featured on their blog along with a tutorial on how to make the dress. So your daughters can be as cute as my Miss E! By the way, if you are a beginner sewer this project is super easy and simple to do.

So if you'd like to get to know me a little better (there is a small interview and one of my families favorite recipes) and find out how to sew up the cascade dress head on over to the Figgy's Blog...

caramel*baby&child

Have you heard the news? Caramel baby & child has opened up shop in NYC. How exiting! Caramel has to be one of my favorite British Brands and now it will be available on this side of the atlantic ocean. Yet another reason to visit NYC or if you ask me a great reason to relocate and move the whole family to Brooklyn!!! A girl can dream, right? Seriously, you can be sure I will be paying this shop a little visit on my next trip.
 

The fall 2012 collection is just lovely. I've put a few of my favorites together... Everything looks particularly comfortable this season and as usual, the colors and prints are so well mixed and matched. I'm not usually a fan of forest green, but somehow it all seems so apealing in these styles and perfectly paired with the mint green...

The boys collection is always a favorite of mine, how cute would Mister M be in any of these outfits? Just enough style without being over top with just the right amount of colors. Oh so perfect!

So if you are in NYC, head over to 1244 Maddison Ave. and tell me all about it, please!

Le Carrousel + Claude Blaser = MAGIC

What happens when two of my favorite creative mind come together... M-A-G-I-C.

First, Marie-Laure creates yet another stunning collection for her line Le Carrousel . It's all in the details, the fabric selection and the silhouettes. I truly love every inch...

Then you have Claude, one of my favorite photographers, she has such a wonderful way of capturing the slightest details, the movement, the mood. Doesn't she make you want to go to Paris?

You can view the entire photoshoot on the Le Carrousel blog or shop your heart out on the online boutique. 

Claude's Tumblr, First Sight Daily, is one of my favorites... come see why!

Let's do sew...

 

A quick little post just to let you know I started a new blog, where I hope to take you through the journey of my creative process. A little trend spotting, a bit of designing, some pattern making and even some sewing. A blog a little more about me, what I do and how I think... 

 

So, are you up for it?

 

I say, let's do sew...

I heart: FOURNIER

I posted these collars on facebook last week, but I love them sooooo much I just had to share them again!!! Also, I wanted to tell about about who makes them, which has been on my list of things to blog about for over a year now!

FOURNIER is lovely compagnie that produces environmentally and eco-friendly knits for your litlle ones; the collections are handmade from the softest baby alpaca in Bolivia.
There is a little something for everyone, moms included,  you will find cute accessoires, toys, room decor as well as clothing. I love their use of colors & their attention to details, these are classic styles that will last for generations.

Here are just a few of my favorites...

You might like to check their blog, it's quite sweet and full of inspiration as well!

I heart: TOTO KNITS

 

It's starting to feel a lot like fall around here and I'm thinking of taking out my wool and needles. So I've decided to dedicate this whole week of blogging to the world of knits...

Have you heard of Toto Knits?
It is a collection of handmade, sustainable knits for babies and children.
Every item is made to order from the softest organic cotton and handknit it by local artisan, providing Kenyan woman really great working opportunities.
They offer a variety of different designs & you can even design your own...

However, Toto Knits and Flannery O'kfka recently collaborated to offer a wonderful collection entiled "This is Glasgow". Everything Andrea touches is magical, this collection is just that. I love the simple styles & the vintage inspired details, I cannot stress enough how much I love the color combinations and the prices. Everything is so affordable and they offer international shipping. You should really check out the rest of the collection... Now I'm having a hard time deciding what I want to get, I seriously could buy it all!

Addicted... To Instagram!

Oh Instagram, you've got me hooked! I love what you've done to me... You make my morning walks to work so much more inspiring, you've made me rediscover the city I live in, you've made me see in a different light! Thank you!

Now I just need to get the new iPhone, right? So I can take even prettier and better photos...

Would you like to follow me? You can find me under petitapetitblog.

What you're not Instagram yet? No worries check out all my photos if you'd like: HERE

What about you, are you on Instagram? I would love to follow, just leave your account in the comments!

See you there!!!

 

:: Change 10 Lives in 10 Days ::

There are days I wonder what do I do for the world we live in, what positive impact do I have on it? Before I became a fashion designer I had great hopes of helping people and got a degree in psychology, I thought I could help people change their behaviors to better themselves, but now I blog about pretty things for little kids!
And then an opportunity, like Change 10 Lives in 10 Days comes a long and it reminds of the little things I can do ( and you too!) to help this world we live in! I'm a little late in the game as there are only 2 days left to the challenge, but that doesn't mean I can't help change 2 lives.

Everyday we take the water we have for grated, while millions are in desperate need for clean water, simply to drink or just to wash their hands. Did you know that with only 25$ you can provide clean water to one person for a lifetime?

Would you like to help?
Of course you can make a small or large donation by clicking on the THIS link, every little bit helps.
And you can let everyone one you know about this challenge, share the link on Facebook, Twitter, shout it over roof tops, what ever works best for you...

If you would like to know more about the issue and the organization check out Water.org

And maybe this way we can help a few more children, mom & dads of Haiti get some of that fresh clean water we love sooooo much.

Don't forget you have until Saturday :)

Oeuf be SOOO good, it's surreal!

Perhaps you remember a post I did last winter about the time I won an Oeuf giveaway, anyhow on my last trip to NYC I was hoping to make it to Brooklyn and thank the Oeuf crew in person for such a lovely gift, unfortunately in my 2 days there I hardly had time for anything!

Well, today I'm really excited to showcase Oeuf's new collection, Keep It Surreal and surreal it is!
If you don't already know, Halloween is my favorite holiday and playing dressing-up is cool with me any day or time of the week. The new collection is just perfect for that, with the clothing line you can wear to play all day, as for the accessory line your kids will want to wear them out all day to play.

Seriously, what's not to love? Everything is sustainable and handmade from 100% alpaca wool by some lovely woman in Bolivia. The details are exquisite, the design is witty, keep it simple or go completely crazy, there is a little something for everyone, even some mommy/kiddo matching gloves! I don't think there is a piece I don't like... There is so much to explore on the website, the old stuff is great and well, the new is just soooo good!

and if you haven't heard, Oeuf just launched their little blog with fun interviews, movies and cool photoshoots. So be sure to add them to your reading list, I know I will.

DIY socks by Me Sew Crazy

Oh me oh my!
Have you seen this DIY sock tutorial on Me Sew Crazy yet? G-E-N-I-U-S.

Have you always wanted to try sewing?  This would make a great 1st project or great to teach yours kids how to sew!!!
I just love the possibilities, upcycle old t-shirts into socks and decorate them as your heart's content...
The instructions are simple and clear...

I just bought a sewing machine at a garage sale and I need to test it out, I think you know what I'm doing this weekend!!! I might make myself a pair or two, as well...
Is it friday, yet?

You might want to check the Me Sew Crazy for lot's more great tutorials and fun projects... Thank you Jessica for all the inspiration.

 

Coup de Coeur no.12

I was hesitating between doing a Superhero or Outerspace Birthday party for Mister M...

I think these Solar System lollipops might have just sealed the deal...

Custom order them at Vintage Confection's Etsy Shop...

 

I heart: DOODLE by stitch

I'm very excited to share with you some of the discoveries I made at the NYC gift show, there were over 900 booths to check out in less than 2 days, I bet I missed a few gems here and there!

Doodle by Stitch was one of the most fun product I came across, how can you resist a product that looks good and you can make it your own! The concept is simple, they offer blank sketch books in the form of duvet covers, place mats, table cloths or aprons, as well as a set of washable markers so you can personalise your items by doodling all over them. The great thing is that once you put them in the wash, the fun and creativity begins all over again.

 

 

 

I could use the duvet to help me remember my dreams or all those great ideas I get just before I fall asleep!

 

 

Write the tooth fairy a message or sweet bedtime story on your pillow!

 

 

Finally make supper time fun and enjoyable with this table cloth...

I know my kids would go crazy for all of these goodies, now I can't promise they won't try doodling on other things... remember what happened to Mister M's Kawaii t-shirt? At least for once I won't be worried about leaving the markers out!