Friday Preview #1: Spring is Coming--with a GIVEAWAY!

I know, the holidays are barely even over yet and here I am, blabbing on about spring.

But I have a secret:  I've been working on spring and summer styles for months now, and I can hardly stand the cloak-and-dagger any longer.  It's really, really difficult, when you find something you love, to NOT talk about it all the time.  I remind myself of E with her first real high school crush.  Wow.

So these next few Fridays, I'll be showing tantalizing sneak peaks of the spring line, bit by bit, all leading up the the grand Trunk Show at Beehive to launch the new season.  There are a LOT of surprises along the way, and I'm busting at the seams to tell you all about them...

Oh, and as I reveal teensy glimpses of each piece, I'll be watching the comments: the garment featured in the post with the MOST comments by February 15 will be GIVEN AWAY!  So keep checking back each Friday between now and then, and be sure to leave a note for the ones you love--I can't wait to send the first of this collection away to someone I know will adore it!

Today:

From the TWEEN COLLECTION, our renewed focus for Spring 2009.  Lots of very cool, very wearable styles for girls' sizes 7, 8, 10, and 12.  This is a version of the Abigail jumper for littler girls, in a very tween-friendly print: mod guitars in lime and aqua on a chocolate background.  Cap sleeves, A-line body gathered at a square neckline, buttons up the back to wear as a top, a tunic, with a shirt beneath.

Yum!

Let the Holiday Craziness Commence

December? WHAT?? How did THAT happen?

Now that Thanksgiving is officially behind us, there is no denying it: the Holidays are HERE. Our tree went up yesterday. And down today, when gravity toppled our vintage spruce right to the floor. It's in recovery status at the moment; photos when we're out of the ICU**. 

I was out of the house Saturday morning and Sweet Husband, E and M did all the unpacking of decorations and arranging and general holiday-ing up. I got to come home to lights and ribbons and wreaths. It was awesome. I love that the lights are draped in coils on the front porch rather than wrapped around the handrails.
I love that the tchochkes are all mish-mashed on the bookshelves and tables, running into one another like a Christmas boxcar derby.
Mostly, I love that my family did all that for me as a surprise.  See?  I'm not the only one who gets all squishy around here--I was having a tough morning Saturday, too, so this was an awesome way to come home.

And I spent some of my day making for them, too. I had a chunk of this silly Sesame Street print in the stash, and am embarking on more Brother/Sister outfits. Clearly, I am a woman obsessed.
M's got done first, as it took the least thought:

She insisted on wearing it right away.

Next is E's, but we'll need a new tee for her--that last one was an XS, since she is in fact extra small. But their idea of XS is a little, well, trampier than E's idea of XS, so we're getting her an S as she goes into Beta on this whole matching outfits thing. O's will be last, since the Thanksgiving outfit juuuuust fit, and once we sent it through the hot dryer didn't fit at all. He'll need a whole new pattern, so I'm putting that off a bit.

Am also thinking of gifts to give, and who'd like what. My family have largely declared they'll not be exchanging gifts with the adults this year--my sister, my parents, even some of our friends have cut back and are focusing on the kids only this giving season. I, on the other hand, wisely neglected to mail gifts to my sister and mother for the past two Christmases, always thinking, "I really should send those..." And so we have plenty to share this holiday season. See how procrastination can often be in one's favor?? Clever me.

Still, all the little ones would love to have something handmade under the tree this year, so my dance card is filling up with ideas for them. Stay tuned this week as I work my way through sewing projects to give and get.

**I suppose I'll know I've become a true blogger when rather than shriek in horror when I get out of the shower and see our Christmas tree lying sprawled on the living room floor I rush not to rectify the tragedy, but to my camera to document it, instead. Sorry to cheat all of you--us, really, and posterity--out of that image. Will do better next time.

Plans of My Own

Fabric and patterns for my winter wardrobe.  Nursing has brought out the Jessica Simpson in me, and I truly can't arrive at my in-laws with June bustin' out all over.

Wait, was that another overshare?  Oh, dear.

Craftsbury Kids

Yesterday I stumbled on the sweetest site of handmade kids' things, over at Craftsbury Kids. They've got piles of the sweetest toys, slings, shoes, art, all kinds of things, and so wonderfully handmade. It's like an Etsy for super-high quality children's finds, all carefully vetted and edited by the owner. Check it out--these are some of my favorites:

This awesome knit acorn hat by Linda Lou:


These glorious gnome dolls, totally custom made by projectgrabbag:


My new favorite mobile in a delicious fall theme, from DeeDee and Michelle:


The very cool silhouette plate by Jessica Rust, which might have to become a family tradition/heirloom:


And my favorite of all, this amazing mixed woods Noah's Ark set, totally hand carved by David Plagerson:


I like the look and feel of a LOT of things on this site--thought it might give y'all some ideas for the weekend!

Go, get outside, take your WiFi and enjoy the weather...