i really do love green

probably no surprise to the rest of you, but it kind of was for me. i guess i gravitate towards it. i finished up a dress for collette yesterday that is green. i mean there are the shoes, and this shirt (which i have on today btw), and the sheets... and while i was doing all this green thinking i realized i had this on. hmm. i remember the days when my mom used to beseech me to buy something that wasnt black or grey. somewhere along the line i must have listened to her. i should let her know, she would like that. anyway, so enough green, lets talk dresses!!

this is my second smocked or shirred (i know smocking is by hand, but i like that word better than shirred, it just sounds gross) dress. the first was for arlo. yes i know its green too, but we are not talking about that. collettes was green out of happenstance. i originally tried making one out of a red linen blend with white smocking but the fabric was too heavy so it was shelved for salvage. this fabric was sent to me by thisvintagechica, and i love love love it. green yes, but pink polka dotted apples too people! i really wrestled with making a skirt for myself out of this, but finally decided on something for collette. i have enough left that you just might see that skirt yet. we shall see. anyway, i had this version in progress and then erin (another unabashed green lover!) put out her wonderful tutorial. go check it out. i followed her instructions for gathering on this one, which i did not do for arlo's, and i really like the result. i think next time i am going to put this method in action for an adult sized skirt. i think the same method would totally work, and who doesnt love a pull on skirt? pull on anything for that matter, i do have three kids.

so anyway, things abounding on the internet that i am loving::
summertime (almost!) at orangette... oh baby. june is so my favorite month too.
mav is a genius pure and simple. happy birthday card society!

and last but certainly never least i want to give props to two of my good friends john and kristen. they are owners of habitat, my favorite shoe store, much loved and talked about here by me. they have been working hard hard hard the last few weeks gearing up for their new website, go take a peek! john and kristen wanted to convey the feel of their store to all you people that are not in kansas city to experience it in person, i think they did a bang up job. it has been so amazing following their journey as small business owners. because of them, supporting small business has really become something i try to do. i try to help as much as possible both by shopping and working when i can. if you are in kansas city, another first friday rolls around this week and habitat does not disappoint yet again. last month it was the ping pong turney (which john nailed to say the least), this friday they have a free parking lot concert, a vespa giveaway, a gallery showing and they will be selling shoes like mad late into the night. please come by and say hi, get some shoes, and maybe win a vespa!