Nice To Meet You: JESS BROWN

I can't believe we are almost in the month of December and I hardly talked about all the amazing things I saw at the gift show back in august! Get ready for lot's of great gift ideas and finds in the next couple of weeks.

I've talked about Jess Brown before, but I just had to let you know that they are a lot more beautiful in person. Can you believe it! The details that go into making these one of kind dolls is remarkable. The quality of the materials, the stiching, the dying, the hand embroidered face, all sublime. I was a fan before and now that I've held one in my hands, I'm obessed!

If the Jess Brown dolls are new to you, I thought you might want to know a few things that make these dolls truly unique. Everydoll is handmade in California by Jess Brown and some local artisan, each one is made from muslin which is hand dyed in persian black tea which gives every doll a unique skin tone. All the clothing is handmade from recycled and antique fabrics. They are stuffed with sustainable corn filling. They stand 22 inches tall, which I surprised to see and quite tall. You can buy the dolls on the webshop and you can even get one custom made.

If you can't afford a doll, you can always get the book "Kiki & Coco" in paris, one of my kids favorites... you can read all about it here!

 I have to say it was nice meeting you, a highlight for me at The NYC gift show!!! And I'm sure this won't be the last time I showcase some Jess Brown dolls, hopefully one of my own next time!

I heart: LÖTIE KIDS

I love a good basic, but what I love even more is a not so basic basic and Lötie kids is just that! This lovely spanish brands has all the basics you need, t-shirts, leggings, A-line dresses, bodysuits and pj's in the softest cotton with just the right amount of stretch. The best part is you can get these items in solid colors or in their not so basic awesome prints. I really like the simplicity of the drawings and the variety. I think the little houses are my favorite, but so are the bicycles and how about those fishes and elephants! The colors are great too, from muted green to vibrant blues and the little details make the outfits compete.

The collection is available from newborns to 5 years old. It's really too bad Mister M is a tad too big, he would have loved the bicycle t-shirt. But how awesome is it that these styles are just as good for little girls as they are for little boys, great for passing down for generations. Also, a percentage of the proceed go towards a The Vicente Ferrer Foundation, amazing! 

To find out more, see the entire collection, to purchase it, check out the Lötie kids website.

Oh! and you might want to follow them on Pinterest, they have the best borads and pins, seriously. They having a contest right now, you might want to enter!

What's in your closet? Mister M & Miss E Designs

Oh I haven't done a What's in your Closet posts in ages. I couldn't let these outfits go unnoticed! 

Mister M is wearing his own design. 

Miss E is wearing her own designs.

Want to know more? It's all on Me Sew Crazy, come say hello! 

Coup de Coeur no.14

 

... Just had to share ...

 

... the best felt winter boots ever also called Valenki's ...

 

... Designed by COM-PA-NY  (Aamu Song & Johan Olin) in Russia ....

 

 ... check out this amazing special exhibit: Secrets of Russia ...

 

... thanks for sharing  Augustina Andreoletti ...

 

     

I Heart: JULIE DE GRUCHY EAST

 

Oh me oh my, have you seen these lovely dolls before? They are new to me and I just can't enough! I've been staring at them all day, so many little details to admire and each one has a unique personality. I love their funky outfits and all the accessories that acompany them. All handmade by Julie De Gruchy East, you can call her Julo, in England and inspired by her travels and the people she meets.

These would make a lovely gift, for small and big kids (like me), and they are just as great for girls and boys, don't you think?

 



To see more and to buy these lovely anthropomorphic dolls, which are nicely priced considering they are handmade and have so many amazing details, check out the Etsy Shop. You can even get a custom one made, how cool!

 

Shop with me on Luvocracy!

If you could only see me right now, I have the biggest smile and I'm so excited to share with you my latest internet adventure: Luvocracy.

Perhaps you are aware of this already, but just about 5 years ago I had to close my little boutique, Mosspink and there isn't a day that goes by where I don't think to myself "how I miss my shop" and "oh what could have been". I still bump into old customer that beg me to open up shop again even though their kids have outgrown childrens clothing. I had what I'd like to think the coolest store in Montreal with just the greatest indie brands of the time. I have kept that passion alive by pinning my heart out and blogging about all the brands I love and would have probably have carried... until today!!!

Today, I have Luvocracy! I can hear you screaming "what is it? what is it?". 

Are you ready?

It's a new social platform around shopping. Say what? 

Everyday I spend hours searching the web for great product and then I get a kick and thrill sharing it all with you through my blog or Pinterest. Now with Luvocracy, I can share these products and make recommendations in what I like to call my virtual-real online store. In the last couple of weeks I've been gathering some of my favorite things from my favorite online stores and basically have been putting them onto all kinds of different boards. Now the best part is that you can buy directly from my selection without having to leave the site. 

So it's sort of like Pinterest except that it's only product focused and Luvocracy takes care and handles the transaction on your behalf. It's one site with all the best products from all over the web, at least I'd like to think so. No more searching and googling for hours, you enter your credit and shipping info once, no more searching for sold out products, or dealing with a lost package, Luvocracy does all the work for you! 

And again, a little like Pinterest, you can follow people in whom you trust their taste and selection and Luvocracy will create a catalogue of recommendations from the selections of these people you trust. Making your shopping experience that much more fun and easy. 

So what's in it for me? Besides curating my own little online shop, I also make a cut of the sale from the products I've recommended. That makes everybody happy, the boutique owners of the products I've recommended, you and me! Basically, every time someone purchases a product that has been recommended, the curator makes a small commission of that sale. And it goes for anyone and everyone on the site. 

Are you exited yet?

Would you like to join me? 

You too can curate your own little online shop or if you'd like you could just shop. Since the site is fairly new, you need an invitation to join, so you can go directly to this link and join there or send me an email and I'll gladly send you an invite. I'm really looking forward to seeing your recommendation and having some new friends to trust!

Come check out my selection often as I will be adding things everyday... and not just for kids!!! 

Nice To Meet You... SANDRINE D'ANDREA

There are people you meet and you just instantly click with, well I feel just that way with Sandrine. We've been following each other on Pinterest and we've just recently been chatting via email.  I think it's no surprise we "clicked", we seem to like a lot of the same things and have similar dreams! Although, her dream of living in New York has become a reality and I'm still too chicken!!!

So today, I wanted to share with you the lovely world of  Sandrine D'Andrea, because there is a lot to explore and I couldn't keep it all to myself any longer.

First, a little about her, she is a mom, a maker, a blogger who once lived in France and is now living in New York, she has lot's of talent, a great eye and amazing taste.

Around the web...
Sandrine is the creative force behind Twiggy and Lou, a really sweet little Etsy shop filled with simple yet distinct decorative elements. I just love the star garland, add a little sparkle to your kids room or any room for that matter. Not only are her creations delightful, her packaging is just as lovely; I would have a hard time taking mine apart! If you are looking for some Christmas decorations, she has some lovely stars to hang on the tree or around the house. I wish we had a tree to decorate!!!

Next, you'll definitely want to take a look at her blog. It is filled with lot's of great find and decorative inspirations as well as her creative process. I look forward to every new post... By the way check her latest post Lennon and Maisy, these little girls are amazing and my kids loved every minute.

Lastly, you might want to follow her on Pinterest, I think I might have repinned every single one of her selection, need I say more? Go follow her!!!

It has been such a pleasure to meet you Sandrine, thank you for all of your inspiration, we'll be seeing you aorund the web!

Loulou Eskimo, Oh So Chic!

My heart skips a beat evrytime I see the new LOULOU ESKIMO Collection. This little french companie does it all right; casual chic at it's best, fun and creative, simple yet sophisticated.
This season is no exception, I love the color palette from dusty rose to jet black as much as the print and fabric choices which always seem to surprises me, in a good way! A little sequins anyone? The knits this season make the collection look so comfortable and easy to wear, there is nothing more pleasant than to be wearing some knit leggings.

There are so many little details, like the lurex piping and the polka dot lining that make these garments truly exeptional. The accessories are just as sweet, how cute are the headbands and that snood, talk about a cute bunny bag as well. I could go on and on, I think I'll let the photos do the talking now....

And here are just a few pieces I would love to get my hands on... If only we were invited to a tea party or perhaps a fancy Christmas or  New Years Party. Ummm, I might just have to plan one of those!

To find out where you can get some LOULOU ESKIMO check out their stockists page here.

Coup de Coeur no.13

 

Seriously, the best sweater E-V-E-R.

 

Lion face intarsia sweaterby KIND.

100% soft washable wool made in Japan.
&

it comes in grey too!

I heart: SEW SET

I think you all know by now how much i love Pinterest, right? Well today I want to share with you a website that is very much like Pinterest but with regards to sewing. SEW SET is an online website for all your sewing sources, a one stop for finding all the greatest patterns (lot's free) & tutorials. It is really well designed and easy to use, you can browse by categories, by designer or by newly added items. You can sign up and save your favorites and if you happen to to have some sewing tutorials or patterns you would like to share, you can do that to!

I just added my sweatpants tutorial, so you can find it under Celina Bailey. I do hope to be adding lot's of different tutorials to my page in the near future. In the mean time, I've been browsing the childrens selection of patterns and tutorials and I'm amazed at the amount of great things you can create for your kids. So instead of spending hours looking trhough google or even Pinterest, it's all on SEW SET , well organized and ready for you to explore...

Check it out, it might get you in mood to sew a little something, for you or the kids. I know it's gotten me in the mood.

Oh and if you are wondering who came with this genius idea, you can thank Jessica from Me Sew Crazy, she's one inspiring woman!

DIY... cookies + flowers = yummy bouquet

 My kids have been asking me to bake some cookies for a little while and we finally did it! Sugar cookies are really easy to make and bake, perfect for the kids to get involved from mixing the flour to frosting and decorating.

So today I'm sharing my cookie bouquet tutorial with you. What's better than a flower bouquet you can eat!!! With the holiday season just around the corner, these are perfect little gift for when  you're invited for dinner, as a teacher gift or just for saying "Thank You" or "I Love You".

First we need to bake and frost (optional) some cookies...

Here is my cousin's secret recipe! Thank you Jess!
Just so you know, she is an amazing baker.

Ingredients for Sugar Cookies:
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) salted butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 large egg
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

 

Icing/Glaze for One Dozen Sugar Cookies:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon half n’ half (plus a few drops if needed for consistency) *** you can also use 3.25% milk
few drops vanilla (or other flavoring, optional)
few drops coloring (if desired)

Directions:

In an electric mixer cream butter and add sugar and salt. Add vanilla and egg. Add flour and mix. Dough will be sticky-ish. Like a stiff, yet sticky play-dough. Gather dough and pat smooth. Cover and allow dough to chill for 1/2 hour in the freezer or 1 hour in the refrigerator.

 

HINT: I had the kids mix it up with their hands for added fun!

Lightly flour board and rolling pin. The less flour you use the more delicate your cookies will be. Place dough on board. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into shapes.

 

DON'T FORGET:

***With a tooth-pick make a small hole at the top of your cookies, about 1/2 cm from the edge***

 

Place cookies on baking sheet.

Bake in a preheated 325(f) oven for 13 minutes. Cookies will be pale on top and slightly golden on the bottom. Allow to cool before icing.

Frosting:

In a mixing bowl, run whisk through powdered sugar to remove lumps. Add half n’ half to powdered sugar. Whisk vigorously (no lumps!). Add coloring of choice, vanilla (if desired) and whisk again. Use the back of a spoon and carefully ice cookies.

 

Once your icing is dry (can take 24hrs) then you are ready to create your flower bouquet!

 

What you'll need: Floral Wire.

I found these at Walmart in the floral arrangement departement, sometimes it comes in roll as well, mine where pre-cut at 35 cm, but the lenght is really up to you.

 

1. Pass the wire from the top side of your cookie to the back.

 

2. Fold over the wire ( approx. 4cm long), keep it loose and be careful the cookie can brake if you make it too tight and you can damage your frosting.

 

3. Twist the wire gently, keeping some loose so the cookie can move a little.

 

4. Choose where you leaf will go and fold the wire as seen in photo above. I made my leaves aproximately half way.

 

5. Twist aproximately 3 times and straighten out your wire.

 

6. Repeat for all your cookies, make some leaves higher, some lower, some to the right and others to the left, creating a little variety.

I used the flower cookie cuter for these and plain white frosting.

Try different shapes, the hearts come out nicely too. I use a few drop of red and yellow frosting for these. The middle heart has no frosting, and makes for nice bouquet as well. 

 

I made this bouquet simple and plain, but let your kids have fun and make them in all different colors, let them do whatever, let their personalities show through...

For my bouquet, I took 7 cookies (for luck) and found this pink plastic (used for covering books) *** celophane will do just as well. Avoid using paper, the cookies are oily and will stain your paper easily.

Cut a square of your wrapping of choice. With the point of your wrapping going up, place your cookies, all at different hights. Overlap your cellophane and wrap it around your cookies,  add some ribbon and a cute card, your done! 

 

Elvis and his Rococo Flamingo wish you a Happy Halloween!

Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween. My kids had a blast, Mister M went as Elvis the King of Rock and Roll and Miss E went as Pink Rococo Flamingo.

All the details are on my sewing blog... Let's Do Sew.