Monday, October 6, 2008

Look Out, Project Runway!

I love Boden clothes. Love them. Love Mini Boden, as well, for little girls. However, as wealthy as I feel, with an income actually arriving in our bank account every two weeks, the prices are just a tiny bit steep. Enter Emilee the designer. (Should I go all lowercase--emilee--when I become famous and known only by my first name?)

I was inspired by this little girls' gypsy dress. Love it. It represents precisely the aesthetic I wish my little girls to have. Not mini teenagers, not skanky, but not ruffles-and-bows precious, either. Slightly funky, and very comfortable.
However, given my budget, I couldn't afford the $48 my aesthetic apparently costs. So, using stashed corduroy, thread, white cotton gauze, and elastic, with some purchased 22-cents-per-yard brown ribbon, I arrived at this imitation.

The colors are more frou-frou, of course (it's what I had on hand), and the embroidery is less intensive (using the time I had on hand as well), but I think they turned out well. My girls seem to agree. (And didn't Kelly do a great job on Mimi's haircut? The crazy bangs are almost not noticeable.)
In some richer, more autumn-y colors, these will be the perfect fall dresses.
If only I had the perfect children to go with them. :)

17 comments:

Kate said...

Those are DARLING. When you start selling them, I'll buy some from you. You're too good.

brittani c. said...

You never cease to amaze me, emilee (all lowercase).

Anonymous said...

You truely are amazing "emilee". You can make me a dress anytime! Besides, I think fru fru matches your perfect girls!

Bonnie said...

So cute! I love them! I really need to get with you and my sewing machine and make some cute stuff for Chloe! Your girls are so cute!

Rindi said...

Wow...such talent. I am stunned! great job, and with a new baby! how do you do it?

Annie said...

those are some beautiful children. and i'm not biased at all. :)

Jeff and Larissa said...

I just pulled this up to show Jeff, and we both like your version better. The leaves are so cool!

Story Family said...

emilee. emilee. emilee. That's all I can utter! You truly are an inspiration to us all. Seriously. It sounds as if you just whipped those out...would have taken me....well....never would have attempted it. But I would totally buy your version. You go girl!

Denise said...

such a cute post! Great dresses! You're awesome.

Andrea said...

Emilee you are so talented. The dresses are adorable. I also loved seeing pictures of Bella. I love her crazy hair. She is so cute! I am new to the blogging world. Now I have you added to mine. I am excited to see all your fun creations.-- your cousin Andrea

Mike and Kelly said...

Very cute. You are talented. I would buy from you anytime, and if they are for sale, I would buy the models too. I am telling you, we need to start a Tuesdays with emilee group, and do some sewing. It could be fantastic.

Kenna said...

Very impressive, as usual. You are uber-talented!

mags said...

never in my life have I been so excrutiatingly jealous of someone elses skill. seriously em, way more fabulous than boden. although i too have perused the pages of boden many a time, now i shall be perusing the pages of emilee(lowercase.)
3 questions
did you use a pattern?
can i learn via blog?
will you post tutorials?

i, as you may know, am an extreme project runway nut and have often wished for a kids version. now my wish is reality. bravo! pun very much intended.

Jonas said...

I would like a 6 month moratorium on your girls getting older. This moratorium does not have to extended to the baby.

Emilee said...

Rob, we've already told Olivia we won't let her turn 6. We're taking away her birthday. So you've got at least a 7-1/2 month moratorium.

Shanda said...

OH my goodness!! You're amazing! I thought you were going to post how you found cuter dresses at a different store for a lower price. I can't believe you made those yourself! And I'm impressed with how much you have taught Larissa too!...Where can I sign up? I have a sewing machine & no idea how to use it.

Janice Lois said...

So sweet..! I loveBoden clothes too.