Follow the progress of our business. We create custom clothing for girls and boys ages 1 to 5 using vintage materials and vintage-inspired patterns.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
New Blog Site
I have begun making most of my posts on tumblr. We have decided to use this site because the photos are better displayed and easier to upload. Check out the new blog at http://anniesclothesline.tumblr.com/.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Why does girls clothing have to look so....?
I was shopping over the weekend at one of my favorite big box stores. My husband and I split up to find what we needed and as he strolled through the girls department he heard two women comment to each other, "Why does girls clothing have to look so trashy?"
Yes, why does it? I have two daughters, ages 6 and 3 1/2 and when my first daughter was only an infant I asked the same question. The answer to my question was the birth of Annie's Clothesline. At the time I didn't think about it getting worse with the age of the girl, but of course it does. Now that my oldest daughter is wearing clothing from the girls department and not the baby/toddler section I find that shopping for her is much harder. I don't want my daughters wearing short-shorts, cropped shirts, tight fitting pants, and clothing with inappropriate sayings or images of commercial characters on them. Alas, that's what we find available at those big box stores.
I'm thankful that I can sew and that I love to create and my business partner feels strongly about the same issues. Again, we'll resort to what we know best, our own skills of creating quality clothing that is age appropriate, does not overwhelm with gender specific colors, and is reminiscent of children's clothing styles from eras of the past. I think we may see a bigger push than I anticipated to expand Annie's Clothesline to sizes larger than 5. There is a need for clothing for girls that keeps them looking like a girl and not so....well you know...
Yes, why does it? I have two daughters, ages 6 and 3 1/2 and when my first daughter was only an infant I asked the same question. The answer to my question was the birth of Annie's Clothesline. At the time I didn't think about it getting worse with the age of the girl, but of course it does. Now that my oldest daughter is wearing clothing from the girls department and not the baby/toddler section I find that shopping for her is much harder. I don't want my daughters wearing short-shorts, cropped shirts, tight fitting pants, and clothing with inappropriate sayings or images of commercial characters on them. Alas, that's what we find available at those big box stores.
I'm thankful that I can sew and that I love to create and my business partner feels strongly about the same issues. Again, we'll resort to what we know best, our own skills of creating quality clothing that is age appropriate, does not overwhelm with gender specific colors, and is reminiscent of children's clothing styles from eras of the past. I think we may see a bigger push than I anticipated to expand Annie's Clothesline to sizes larger than 5. There is a need for clothing for girls that keeps them looking like a girl and not so....well you know...
Monday, May 9, 2011
Layette a New Annie's Clothesline Product
Expectant mothers of baby girls beware! You may love this!
I'm too excited about our new product idea to wait any longer to talk about it! A friend from college contacted me to make a dress for his soon-to-be-born daughter. He wanted her first outfit, the one she'll be leaving from the hospital in, to be made by someone he and his wife knew. What a nice sentiment! In response to his request my partner (my wonderful mother-Happy Mother's Day, mom!) and I created 2 hats and 2 dresses. One hat and dress in size 0-3 months and the other dress and hat matching in size 12 months. The idea is that her first outfit will coordinate with a dress for her to wear on her first birthday. As a result of this opportunity we were able to pilot a new hat design (it has a chin strap, is reversible, and a double ruffle) and create 0-3 month clothing. It was a success! I hope his wife agrees. If we make this again it will only be by request/special order. I love the idea, maybe someone else will want to purchase it too...
I'm too excited about our new product idea to wait any longer to talk about it! A friend from college contacted me to make a dress for his soon-to-be-born daughter. He wanted her first outfit, the one she'll be leaving from the hospital in, to be made by someone he and his wife knew. What a nice sentiment! In response to his request my partner (my wonderful mother-Happy Mother's Day, mom!) and I created 2 hats and 2 dresses. One hat and dress in size 0-3 months and the other dress and hat matching in size 12 months. The idea is that her first outfit will coordinate with a dress for her to wear on her first birthday. As a result of this opportunity we were able to pilot a new hat design (it has a chin strap, is reversible, and a double ruffle) and create 0-3 month clothing. It was a success! I hope his wife agrees. If we make this again it will only be by request/special order. I love the idea, maybe someone else will want to purchase it too...
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| 0-3 Month Hat and Dress |
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| 0-3 Month Hat and Dress with Hat Reversed |
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| 12 Month Hat and Dress |
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| 12 Month Hat and Dress with Hat Reversed |
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Custom Orders for New Customer
I have been pleased to make the acquittance of a lovely woman from Solsberry, Indiana. She has seven children, four boys and three girls and she loves Annie's Clothesline. As a result I have made 2 custom Washboard Girls Easter dresses for her twin daughters and plan to make 2 more within the next month. Her daughters are 7 so it was an opportunity to expand our Washboard Girls collection into size 7. The dresses turned out great and she and her daughters loved them! We don't plan to add size 7 to the Washboard Girls collection but I will continue to make them for her as long as she orders them from Annie's Clothesline. The moral of the story is, if you like it ask, maybe we can do it for you too! I love making things for people I know. It's much more fun than pushing out dresses for a rack in a store.
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| Size 7 Washboard Girls Custom Easter Dress |
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| Size 7 Washboard Girls Custom Easter Dress |
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Fun at the Fashion Show
We had a great time at the fashion show. The girls (my daughters and models) enjoyed their walk but preferred the other activities more. They also got to play dress-up, have tea, and listen to a story. They agreed to do it again next year and I will probably have to listen to my 3 year old talk about it over and over for months.
We now have some more dresses in O'Child. There is a new Washboard Girls style and the 2 dresses featured at the fashion show.
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| Attendance was awesome at the O'Child Fashion Show and Tea at the Fountain Square Ballroom |
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| Annie's Clothesline models on the right |
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| New Washboard Girls style at O'Child |
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| Our display at O'Child |
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Vintage-inspired Rue Bee dresses to appear at fashion show
My 2 beautiful girls have been invited to model Annie's Clothesline at the O'Child Spring Tea and Fashion Show on Sunday, March 27th. They will be modeling two new Rue Bee designs. The dresses are vintage-inspired and one (the shirt-waist dress) is modeled after a pattern from the 1950s. The other (princess dress) is modeled after our princess coats. Take a sneak peak at the shirt-waist dress. The fabric has a little girl walking French poodles on it. It's so adorable and we absolutely love it!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
More Items at O'Child
We finished a new set of Washboard Girls dresses and they are now available at O'Child. I really like the minty cool green of this dress and the pocket on the tee makes it playful.
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