mabo kids

Floral smocked dress

Wasn't I just talking about Liberty prints for girls? Mabo Kids makes two cute dresses with that fantastic fan print. (via Gabrielle Blair on Family Style)

Gray wool/cashmere dress with printed collar and cuffs

Bloomers

Smocked top

flora douville

"By the Sea" watercolor

She's got a beautiful name (shared by my dog). She's been all over the styley lady-blogs. And I can't stay away any longer. Flora Douville has won me over with her sweet little watercolors and charming gocco prints.

"Rows" watercolor

"Houses in Blue" print

liberty prints

Laure blouse from Marie Puce

I've always loved Liberty fabric. It's classic, delicate, and a little bit fun. About ten years ago (man, I'm old) Shoshanna did a whole line in pale green Liberty paisley, and a halter dress and a miniskirt in my closet, though I don't know if I can still pull them off. Maybe the teeny flowers are better on Tessa now. The exquisite French children's clothing company Bonpoint always has a few cute Liberty pieces (though I can't figure out how to copy images from its website; damn you, Adobe Flash!). What is it with French girls' clothes and iconic British fabrics?

Marjolene dress from Marie Puce

Bikinis via Babyccino
(sadly no longer available)

 

But you don't have to search fancy French sites for Liberty. My old pal Etsy turned up these little numbers, made in Germany:

Sundress by Fredaco

Another Fredaco sundress
(how great is that peacock pattern?)

poketo upcycled leather clutch

Love these mini clutch purses made from previously enjoyed leather. Love that they come in color choices "dark, light, colorful, or medium." (Each one is unique, and I imagine the upcycled-leather stock varies.) I'd click "colorful" and hope for the pale blue:

Poketo, an online collection of design-drived goods curated by an artistic-minded husband and wife, has all sorts of cute items. Check it out.

catbird alphabet rings

 

These rings from Brooklyn jewelry shop Catbird are so sweet. I'd stack a C, a T, and this little heart:

wayne pate

Rising of the Setting Sun

Wayne Pate makes bright, simple prints that seem kind of familiar—maybe because so many folks copy his charming graphic style.

Toparie

Flock Red/White

Farm

miriam merenfeld jewelry

Small square necklaces

It must be a sign that Miriam Merenfeld lives in my brother's town in Florida. Her delicate jewelry is totally appealing. For her "Entwine" collection, she wraps rough pastel-colored stones in wire; her "Messages" and "Letters" collections are her own sweet, fresh take on charms like crowns, monograms, and arrows.

Drops and Leaves necklace

Crown initial pendant

Arrow necklace

self-improvement

Fifteen/Eleven's front room/retail shop

In the name of creativity, self-improvement, getting out of my comfort zone, and just plain trying something new, I signed up for a calligraphy workshop at this fantastic shop. Suann Song custom-designs paper goods (wedding invitations, baby announcements, and the like); sells ready-made stationery and calendars; and holds workshops—like letterpress printing and creative brainstorming—in this airy, beautifully renovated Old Town rowhouse, on the un-touristy side of King Street.

tiny iPhone photo of the class table setup

My class was taught by Michele Hatty Fritz, a sweet, smart, and really talented journalist turned calligrapher. My beginner's efforts were pretty lame:

especially compared with Michele's beautiful work. Here's my name, lettered by her:

 And these are a few examples of what she can do. "Fresh" and "modern" are overused words (especially by me) but they definitely apply to her clean, beautiful calligraphy:

From her website

Sample envelope

Another one

in front of my house

Available on amazon

Marianne Dubuc's "In Front of My House" charmed both Tessa and me. A circular story of a child describing her world, it's much more clever and surprising than any volume of "give an animal a pastry" (not to knock that admittedly sweet circle-story series). And Dubuc's illustrations are darling, to use a too-precious word; I wish I could frame some of them.

Look out for this surprisingly small octopus

Accordion from her (French-language) website

Her closet, also on the website

castle

Big Top

Baby Spot Big

These one-of-a-kind embroidered pieces by Australian artist Rachel Castle have been sold. But her work—bold, clever, just plain pretty prints and embroidered felt pieces—is worth a look, even just as eye candy.

Harlequin

Big Tulip

Little Petal Flower

Rainbow Nut

Bubble Gum

Little Weathered House
(sweetly subdued color scheme)

Tulips