Adorable baby Lara

I have a very beautiful friend Lyndal, who has the most beautiful baby girl, her name is Lara and Lara is nearly one.  Lara is my "Baby Rowantree" model and she is not only a super model but the most placid little angel I know.  I was so excited to call Lyndal and tell her that the Baby's Smock dress, Posie Pinnie was ready for modelling.  Lara was an angel and we were able to squeeze in a few more shots in the Baby Rowantree range.  The Lara Spring pop over dress and the cute little Lucy Top all in one very sunny afternoon.

After the shoot Lyndal, Lara and I felt we deserved an afternoon treat so off to Envy Cafe in Summer Hill.  I love to visit Envy Cafe lots of interesting Vietmanese art adorn the walls. We sat in the leafy courtyard sipping on tea and eating delicious toast and honey.  Lara in the high chair calling to other customers "I'M LARA"and getting lots of attention, which a supermodel rightly deserves.

I loved all the images I took of Lara and it was so difficult to decide which ones I would use for the site.

Portobello Painted Gown

Our friend Leslie Roe of Rosebasket has offered to share the most beautiful painted antique gown with us. We hope you enjoy her story about this amazing piece of heirloom history!

"Portobello Market, the bustling antiques market on Portobello Road in London, is always a treasure trove for collectors of all kinds. The treasures I look for in the small crowded shops or from a vendor on the street are christening gowns, baby bonnets, and toddler dresses. I touch the materials of the vintage clothes—batiste, silk, and exquisite laces—and am amazed at the intricate work I see, whether of embroidery, or tucks, or lace, and inspired by creative elements in design. When I visited in early July, I had the privilege of seeing three gowns in Julia Craig’s personal collection, brought for me not to purchase but to view and enjoy. Julia purchased this one ten years ago, with no provenance, but she dates it around 1870, because of the style of the gown and the dating of the Maltese bobbin lace."



"I found it so interesting, because of the center panel of ecru silk on the bodice and skirt, on which were painted lovely roses, reminiscent of Redoute. The Maltese lace borders the center silk panel from the neckline to the hem as well as at the waist, forms the sleeves, and edges the neckline. Aside from the silk in the front panel, the gown is cotton."


"Nineteen tucks detail the hem of the front skirt, which is attached to the bodice with the tiniest gathers."


"With the gown were darling bootees, also with roses hand-painted on the silk. Julia has never seen another gown like it. It is a treasure that I take pleasure in sharing with you!"

Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful piece with us, Leslie! -SB

Posie Pinnie

Too Busy To Read or Dust

Jill Stuart's The Tower, The Zoo, and The Tortoise has been sitting on my nighttable doing what most things in my house do- collect dust. Do you mind dusting? I despise it. I would rather scrub toilets or sort laundry anyday. Back to the book, it is my book club's pick for this month although our meeting has been pushed from September 23 into October because September is so busy for everyone. Thank goodness everyone else is busy too. I am drowning in school forms, fall sports registrations, homework, internet, and behavior "contracts" my kids and I need to sign, as well as grading and lesson plans for my own students. Who has time to read? But the book, albeit a bit dusty, sits by my bed. My children have asked me when I plan to start reading it to them. The cover illustration makes it look like a children's story and they thought I had chosen it for a family read aloud. I am beginning to feel like they will be adults by the time I find time for nightly reading again!

Back to School Traditions- Old and New

Since the school where I teach opened on the same day as the schools in my hometown, I missed putting my children on the school bus for the first day of school. It was my first time ever missing it. That was hard for me. Really hard. I had been a stay-at-home mom for years and when I went back to work as a teacher last fall, I started after my kids. I've always sent them off with notes in their lunches, hugs, and a camera at the bus stop. They still got notes in their lunches, but the babysitter did the send off.

I wanted them to start feeling calm, prepared, and loved. They probably did. But what I fixated on was not getting that photo of them all lined up with their backpacks on. That was killing me. Irrational, I know. Luckily, I arrived home before my youngest got off his bus. So I then lined them all up for our first annual "End of the First Day" photo. Sure, everyone looks a little more wrinkled, but I got it. After the photo, as we walked to our house, I heard lots of details about the joys and frustrations of second, fifth, and sixth grades. How, by the way, did I become the mother of a middle schooler? The walk home was followed by well earned ice cream.

In my own classes, I handed out a survey about likes/dislikes, goals for English class, favorite words, and so on. Even though I am in a different high school this year, there were some similarities to last year's responses. Of course, many, many high school girls cite Twilight saga and A Walk to Remember as their favorite books. I was surprised at how many of the boys said Louis Sachar's Holes was the best book they ever read. I heard that a lot from last year's boys as well.

I hope your school year is off to a smooth start!

A fun day shooting pics for my website.

What a fabulous and fun day I enjoyed with young Max, his sister Sophia and their wonderful Aunty Deb at Rushcutters Bay Park, taking pictures for my website.  Young Max is a scene stealer and lots of people stopped by to talk to Max and tell him how handsome he is.  Gorgeous Sophia loved changing outfits and looked adorable in everything, especially my new "Belle" design dress.

The day was sunny, warm and such a perfect location which just happens to be one of my favourite places in this beautiful harbour town of Sydney.   I love the water and I love to sail and this is the perfect spot.  My love of the water really sets the scene for my strong nautical themes and strong colour palette.  Max is wearing the Blue "Sail Short", "Sail Tee" and "Sydney" boys shirt.  Sophia wore the "Gidget Short" "Harem Pant", Tie shoulder check top and my fabulous new design "Bella" Dress in Vintage Green and Pink Daisy.

After some nautical style shots we walked to the park.  Rushcutters Bay park is one of the best parks in Sydney, a fabulous spot for family picnics.  Lots of huge trees offering inviting shady places ideal for the picnic rug, the pram or play pen.  It has a brand new shiny enclosed play area with really cool play equipment, a cafe that is very child friendly (very yummy food)  with loads of bikes and trikes to ride on, not to mention the scenic harbour backdrop.  You don't need a boat to enjoy the harbour here!

At the park we did all the above, ate a picnic lunch, searched for starfish, climbed the trees and played on the play equipment.  And it was a wrap.  A fantastic photo shoot, two very happy children, a collection of great shots and a me, a very excited designer.  I love designing clothes for children.  I love the process.  I can't wait to see my clothes in action.

I look forward to spending lots of time in this park with my grandson holding his little hand in mine whilst he balances on the sandstone wall looking for starfish and waiting patiently for him to play on the really cool play equipment.  My husband is really looking forward to holding his little hand around a main sheet and teaching him to sail.

Once again a big thank you to Max, Sophia and Aunty Deb.

Stock Clearance SALE!!

Clearance sale!!
All are ready stock items

To order,
email me at
afzanaini@gmail.com
call/sms: 012-2083854


Price not inclusive delivery.
Please don't ask for more discount coz price are marked down to the lowest.


DEC007 XYF - Top + Tutu Legging Set - Pink

Ready Stock

Size:
6y (1 available)
RM49RM35

CB013 Carters Orange Butterfly -ready stock
Size
18m (1 available)
RM25 RM17

CBP03: CARTER'S Sweetheart - Ready Stock
18m ( 1 available)
24m ( 1 available)
RM22 RM15

CBP07 BabyGAP Embroidered Romper-Purple
Size
12-18m (maya)
18-24m (2 available)
RM25 RM17

RB144 Superman Romper
size :
100 (24m) 1 available
RM35 RM25

CARTER'S C8006 - ROOKIE - -Ready stock
Size: 24m (1 available)
RM22 RM15



BOY CROCHET HAT C06-SKY BLUE
Ready stock
Free size.
Suitable from 6m-2y
RM32 RM25
(1 available)






NOV030 GAP LAYERED ROMPER +SKIRT LEGGING
Ready Stock
Size:
6-9m (juriah)
9-12m (susy)
12-18m (daphena)
3y (1 available) - for this size, only the romper - so, price is RM39
RM65 RM49

NOV047 GAP Net Skirt Legging- Fuchsia
Ready STock

2y munira
3y 1 available
4y 1 available
5y dalila
6y 1 available
RM49
RM39

MC103 Magic Cube Ballerina Romper - Black Diamonds
Ready Stock

Size:
90 (3-4y) aminah
95 (4-5y) 1 available
RM39 RM29




JUM016 Jumping Beans Tee - Silly Monkey
Ready StockSize:
12m (1 available)
RM29 RM20





JUM020 Jumping Beans Tee - Giraffe
Ready Stock
Size:
6y (1 available)
RM29 RM20

Rowantree Baby

Just recently my daughter told us the fantastic news she is pregnant and immediately I started looking for inspiration to design a baby range.  Hmm what to dress my precious little princess in was the hardest design task I have ever taken on because this is my first granddaughter and she has to look perfect, she has to stand out and look so totally gorgeous.  What about the fabrics.  I need the softest cottons and the print has to be soo adorable.

Sitting in my backyard one sunny afternoon, sketch pad in hand I was admiring my bed of sweetpeas that had just started to bloom.  Such a delicate vine with clusters of little flowers in soft reds, pinks and mauves.  And the flower itself resembling fluttering fringed butterflies.

I had my inspiration I would design a smock dress that had a lush frill as the central feature with a hint of a puff sleeve to cover her angel shoulders.  Just like a fluttering butterfly.

Off to my studio to look for the perfect fabrics, I already had an idea of which ones I would use.  The very beautiful floral printed swiss cottons I had purchaed in Japan last year.

I kept this design a complete secret  from my family as I wanted a ceremonious unveilling when I had the sample finished.

So one night when my three daughters and husbands and boyfriends had all gathered together at my eldest daughters house for a family meal  I knew that this was my moment, my moment to unveil the smock that my first grand daughter would wear.

Standing poised my daughter was eager to tell us the fantastic news.  She is having a boy.

The Posie Pinnie has arrived and will be available on my website very soon, here
 is a sneek peek for those of you lucky enough to have a little princess to look gorgeous in.

I will get started on designing something just as cute for our little King.

Welcome to Back to School Season

September has arrived and the school buses are soon to follow. We happened to drive past my daughter's elementary school yesterday, and she said, "Don't you just love the way your classroom smells on the first day of school? I love that smell!" One of her brothers asked what exactly is wrong with her brain and the other mused what it would be like to have a tail. I hope the latter's new teacher is ready for the onslaught of non sequitirs!

Fancy Tiger Crafts - Denver, CO

In the newest issue of Sew Beautiful (#132), we took you inside a fabulous Atlanta-based sewing lounge, Whipstitch. Today, we're taking you across the country to another unique hotspot for the sewing and crafting community – Fancy Tiger in Denver, Colorado.

Ironically, two members of our staff visited Fancy Tiger while on separate trips to Denver over this past summer, and both returned raving about what a cool place it was. We've assembled a handful of pictures from the shop (which also offers many classes and community events) to take you there on a virtual trip.

Located in the Baker neighborhood, the oldest community in Denver, Fancy Tiger is a DIY boutique that showcases designer fabrics, patterns, sewing and craft supplies, beautiful yarns, and more. It also hosts a full calendar of fun and interesting industry events and boasts a diverse class schedule.





We hope you enjoyed our quick peek into this great sewing spot! Keep up with the happenings at Fancy Tiger Crafts on their blog and get a full class schedule on their website.