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Friday, May 18, 2012

Les Petites Souers: My Signature Look? Vintage, French and Refashioned


I love creative challenges because they sometimes make you dig deep to figure out who you are creatively. Of course, as creative beings we are always changing but for me, there is one influence which often guides me.

I have been deeply influenced by France. When my older kids were little we bought a small 16th century village house in a town called Pezenas in the south of France in the Languedoc departement  and restored it. I was lucky enough to spend six summers there. They are some of the best memories for me.
I loved to sit in cafes and I loved the style of the French. Yes, they do really wear these striped tops ! I brought back some for the family and we have worn them out.

This dress I made for Gigi was inspired by the French Mariniere top originally made for French sailors.
It was made from a plain white adult t shirt I refashioned. I hand painted the stripes and added the small wooden anchor buttons.

The bistro chairs and table are from a real Parisian bistro and they are very old. I bought them in a little village called Isle Sur La Sorgue, which has a big outdoor antique show every August. 
The Ricard Pastis bottles were also brought back in my suitcase years ago. I used to love sitting at the Cafe Moliere in Pezenas to have a glass of the cloudy milky colored Pastis in the heat of summer.it was clear in the bottle but when mixed with water, it turned white. The licorice taste is such a specific one. It's so refreshing, mais tres forte!



This little dress was very time consuming! Painting the stripes took awhile but I love it!

Lily's ensemble is sewn from a 1943 sewing pattern. The shorts are made from vintage denim I bought at an estate sale . The fabric is a Japanese knit. I loved the hand painted look of the stripes. That and a post about hand painting stripes on fabric from one of my favorite children's wear bloggers You and Mie, inspired me to try hand painting the stripes on Gigi's t shirt dress .


Une belle jour chez nous!
P.S.
If you are stopping by to post on Sew & Tell saturday, sorry I didn't get the post up. This project took me until the last minute!
Have a bon week- end!
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15 comments:

  1. The second I saw that dress I thought, "hey, those look hand painted!" It came out beautifully!! I love the little imperfections in the lines, though yours came out really nicely. And you know how I love those high waisted shorts! Ahh, France . . . you make me want to go so badly . . .

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  2. The hand painted dress is AWESOME!!! I wouldn't have the patience to paint all those stripes.

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  3. Of course we do wear striped tops... and we love it ! I really love your version, this kind of old french style ! Great job ! (and I live 5 minutes far from l'Isle sur la Sorgue ... amazing !)

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    1. Yes I know your blog and I adored the sailor pants you made!

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  4. OMGoodness, I love those handpainted stripes! The little button up shorts are just darling too!

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  5. Gorgeous outfits! The handpainted stripes are divine...they add that certain je ne sais quoi.

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  6. bravo ! well done !
    6 summers in the south of France!?! those outdoor antique shows must have been fabulous !

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  7. Well done, oui oui (Is that French spelling?) Very sweet items.

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  8. Great outfits, gorgeous models! :) You're not the only one inspired by French lately :) check out my last two posts to refresh your memory about the streets of Paris :P
    cheers!
    irem
    http://sewingyourstyle.tumblr.com

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  9. I enjoyed your post about Paris fabric shopping!

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  10. These are sweet, sweet outfits! I've always loved coordinating outfits for sisters - maybe it goes back to my childhood, when my mom was always putting my sister and I in matching dresses! Anyway, I love these, and your girls look adorable in them.

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  11. Cute dress! I would love to try something like this for my niece.
    www.blissfulsewing.blogspot.com

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  12. Adorable!! cute clothes and cute kids!
    www.amystebbins.com

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