dress up

July 9th, 2008

I picked up two suitcases in the last few weeks.  The big one from the trash and the little one from the good thrift store (not the one with all the hipster employees that snag all the good stuff).  The big one doesn’t look so exciting, but it’s yellow with white polka dots on the inside.  I left it open in the sun for a couple days and all but a little of that old basement smell is gone.  They are both for dress up, which is big in our house these days.  Inspired by the book The Creative Family, I made a little area in the kid’s room especially for dressing up.

There hasn’t been too much action there yet, but my daughter tends to put absolutely everything on at once and that gets a little hot in the summertime.  A couple times I’ve found the little one sitting in the chair right in front of the mirror having his snack.  It’s pretty damn cute. These are old, trash picked mirrors and it’s probably a bad idea to have them in the kid’s room, but oh well.  Our house is so small I really have no choice but to always have my eye on the kids. They will crash and break and then we’ll put something else up. In the meantime, it’s bear slippers and tutus on your head (and nothing else).

I’m still working on things for the shop.  I made a few pairs of pajama pants out of pillowcases for the smaller set (sizes 3-6 months, 2-3T, and 4-5T).  Making pjs out of vintage sheets and pillowcases is the way to go.  They are so soft and so perfect for the summertime.  So hop on over and check em out.

Posted in my home, thrift.

25 Responses to dress up

  1. Kirsty says:

    So much goodness in one post.

    The suitcases are so gorgeous & I love your dressup corner…we have a big dressup box under the stairs which gets raided regularly.

    & your pillowcase pants are fabulous. I love vintage pillowcases.

  2. Thimbleina says:

    I think we need a full length mirror near our dressing up box, great idea.

  3. Rach says:

    The mirrors are a great idea – we have to track up to flights of stairs from the dress up box to the bedroom every time Minnie wants to inspect her latest creation. Love the cases… I made Minnie PJs out of thrifted sheets and she loves them – so soft.

  4. Rach says:

    (that would be ‘two’ flights of stairs… pre-coffee typing here)

  5. Nichol says:

    I love that you belong to a flickr group called “trash pickins”.

  6. Tara says:

    I love that chair. It really takes me back to elementary school. I’m a huge fan of picking through the trash…people here on post throw out the best stuff! ;)

  7. jodie says:

    Dress-ups are so good. With teenagers we still have two massive tubs of (bigger) dress up clothes and they get used all the time.

  8. meg says:

    dude, I started the group called trash pickins!

  9. victoria says:

    That little suitcase is such a good score.
    p.s. LOVE the little people bag.

  10. Aprill says:

    You’ve inspired me! LOVE the pillowcase pants. So today on my lunchbreak I scoured the thrift shop and found a pillowcase for $1. It’s a blue, turquoisey, limey stripe. I’d also just bought some remnant lime from the quilting shop which would work well as a contrast.
    I’m scouring for a pattern now but i may just trace around existing pants.

  11. Rikkianne says:

    I want to get that book:)

    LOVE those mirrors…..

    So, etsy is getting ready to do a big children’s push with Storque features and all. I hope that you get tons of recognition and sales! You are amazing!

  12. Alicia says:

    I am now inspired to get some suitcases for my kids for underbed storage. Thank you this solution is much more creative than tupperware that gets broken from little ones cramming themselves or too many things into.

  13. I love your children’s bedroom, I love that not everything is new and matchy- it’s very stylish.

  14. Mirre says:

    I really like that you put the mirrors up especially for the children… and they’re lovely too!

  15. varenia says:

    this is my first visit to your blog, and i love your work! you have some very lovely creations. i think my son would be particularly in need of your little people bag! and i heart those suitcases. we’re moving and have been trying to decide how to store our 3 kids dress up stuff… what a great idea. have a great weekend!

  16. Ellen says:

    I love that little suitcase! Good idea for dress-up. Come for a visit – I’m having a month-long round of giveaways: Dress-Up Giveaways with a Twist.

  17. Linnea says:

    This is my first visit to your blog :o) I love your basic and simple style. Everything comes across so clean looking. Those are two great little mirrors, and what fun suitcases! I’m sure your kids love them! Have a great weekend… a sunny one, too!
    xox, Linnea

  18. gardenymph says:

    Hi there! I found you through flickr a few months ago, and I am always drawn to your photographs. You have such a beautiful, minimalist, and fresh aesthetic that is also very evident in your sewing. I love the colors in your house too. :~)

  19. Shelly G. says:

    Oh… Oh … Oh… I just got a tinier version of the big suitcase you just got… I am in the process of making it into a barbie clothes case… for Hopes Dolly and George… (That is what she calls Barbie and Ken)…I pulled out the lining and am giving it a facelift… It needed it… I am going to post it when it is done… sometime next week… Now you have me wanting a bigger version of the case so that I can make a place for Hope to house her dress up clothes:)

  20. i gave you an award today. see my blog.

  21. Dawn says:

    How cool…we have a dress up section in our lockers but this is way better…wish I had more room :)

  22. Beth says:

    I love the flowered suitcase! One of my favorite thrift stores closed recently. It’s so sad.

  23. Wendy says:

    Yikes! SO cute! Thanks for the comment on the summer bag :) I would love to see your version!

  24. Ruth says:

    I have just found your blog, and it is so lovely, I featured your “on my desk” shot on my blog with much praise. :)

  25. those mirrors are really great finds!