so my wool obsession has really evolved this winter (this long, hard winter) - really, creating from those piles of felted wool of mine give me thrills like nothing else. sad, i know - but who doesn't love a cheap thrill?!! i'm a long-time lover of turning old clothes into new clothes (remember the pants, skirts & nappy covers?) and i literally never, ever buy new clothes for my children (or myself for that matter) - everything is handed down or thrifted, and then altered accordingly!
the girls love to be in the 'studio' with me and snip up scraps of fabric then sew them together to make little flowers to pin or sew onto their clothing. they LOVE IT when i make them something, and come up with fabulous little ideas for me to do. i really need to chase them down and take pictures of them all.
it's my dream to one day have some kind of repurposed clothing business, taking used wares from around the world instead of producing new fabric...and turning them into cool clothing. i'm thinking recycled saris, vintage kimonos, old faded tshirts...it would be so great to have local people involved...create work and support for small communites in different countries. a dream! one that i might have energy for when my littles are grown! for now though - slow and steady upcycling is happening in the basement! now that my three are fully outfitted in wooly warm pants, skirts, re-styled cardys etc, over the past month i've been making a few things for my etsy shop. tonight i listed some things in 'ivy size' as she was the only co-operative model i could arrange for the photo shoot ;)
soon to come, smaller and unisex/mini-man clothes!
just as soon as my spotty babes are up for the brown braided catwalk ;)
they look sooooo good emily!!! love them! :)
Posted by: nicole@lebenskuenstler | February 22, 2011 at 11:27 PM
Hi Emily, they look so cool and what a great idea to have an upcyle busisness....
Did you know your font is supersized, at aleast i dont think its my computer...:)?
Ivy is getting so tall and grown up...
Posted by: jen xo | February 23, 2011 at 12:38 AM
Beautiful :)
Posted by: wildish | February 23, 2011 at 01:05 AM
They look awesome! Great idea! I need to learn how to sew. I am waiting for you to post repurposed women's clothing....preferably in a size 4....xoxox :) :)
Posted by: catherine | February 23, 2011 at 01:50 AM
I think your ideas are truly grand but I really don't like the supersized type..would it be too deflating to ask for it to be scaled down?? Also, I think it would help buyers-of-your-creations to know how old Ivy is and how tall..."Ivy size" doesn't mean much when we don't know her.
Posted by: Karen Greenfield | February 23, 2011 at 03:00 AM
Great dream...I think it is fast not becoming a dream but reality...they are just lovely.
Posted by: Bron | February 23, 2011 at 03:22 AM
Love, love, love (and what's all this talk about super-sized type? I don't see anything out of the ordinary....)
Give that Ivy a big smooch from us!
xoxo
Posted by: Morgan | February 23, 2011 at 03:37 AM
Oh, Emily-these are wonderful! You are a true upcycled clothes artist. Love these creations of yours.
By the way-for some reason, for the last 2 days the font on your blog as seen on my computer is HUGE! It's fine in Google reader. Anybody else having this problem???
Posted by: Holly C. | February 23, 2011 at 05:34 AM
I would love to join your in your business. Wanna set it up in Balingup????? :)
Posted by: Clare | February 23, 2011 at 05:56 AM
The font is crazy, it's about 72pt - I tried changing settings, which didn't do anything. It's oo hard to read and I love your blog!
Posted by: Fibee | February 23, 2011 at 06:27 AM
These are beautiful creations Emily, you are so talented! That's a great dream you have, I think you should go for it! x
Posted by: Emma | February 23, 2011 at 06:29 AM
what a natural model Ivy makes...these are just gorgeous Em !! Love them to bits.
Re the large font - on my work computer it was huge, on my laptop at home its normal !
Posted by: Zi | February 23, 2011 at 06:36 AM
Hope your kids are on the mend now. The clothes you've made look amazing, I really love the rainbow pocket. :)
Posted by: RachelM | February 23, 2011 at 06:42 AM
these are all so unique and beautiful!! Great Job Mamma!
Sarah M
Posted by: Sarah M | February 23, 2011 at 06:56 AM
love them! The details are so cute and the colors!
Posted by: katie squires | February 23, 2011 at 07:16 AM
I love the first cardigan and the leg warmers best. The font size is normal here! Keep up the great work!
Posted by: Darby | February 23, 2011 at 08:25 AM
fabulous!!
Posted by: amy tangerine | February 23, 2011 at 09:19 AM
Love love love. I want some in my size.
Posted by: Liz eaton | February 23, 2011 at 09:39 AM
These a so flipin' awesome! I will have to get that big bag of felted sweaters fo you...I'll bring them up next time I come up...early March.
Posted by: Georgia | February 23, 2011 at 10:03 AM
I wanna dress like Ivy........
Posted by: Debi | February 23, 2011 at 10:09 AM
Font size normal.
The people with the problem may have enlarged the fonts on their computers?
That last vest/jumper is RADICAL TIMES A MILLION.
Posted by: tara | February 23, 2011 at 11:23 AM
The font is good for me here, too. :)
How I would love to spend a day creating with you. :) A woman from Freecycle just gave me a huge bag of woolies that I'm planning on upcycling. :)
Posted by: Erika Martin | February 23, 2011 at 11:40 AM
Ahh! I *love* that last sweater with the orange pocket. I want one just like that, please :)
Posted by: Amanda C. | February 23, 2011 at 02:14 PM
I love these clothes! And so does me daughter! She's four and has just declared Ivy to be "bwooteefull" though she said it was actually her smile she liked best. ;) you are inspiring me to have a go at repurposing now :) x
Posted by: Laura | February 23, 2011 at 05:22 PM
Ach! Those clothes are adorable!!! I love to sew but for some reason I'm horrible at doing things like this, I need to print out your pictures for inspiration and take them to the thrift store with me. So cute!
Posted by: Kendra | February 23, 2011 at 05:23 PM