A MINI SHADOW of the Past

As some of you may or may not know.....I am a closet designer! Yes, I do have a degree in textiles and did work as a designer in NYC, (designer for someone else though) but I have never really "designed a line". The lure of fabrics, fashion, patterns, and costumes has never been too far from my mind, even when I illustrated all those little girl tea party books I always took way too much time deciding what the girls would wear to tea! Some of my best selling licenced designs were really, to be honest, fashion sketches! And lets not get started on my children's Halloween costumes. The historic replica gowns in silk and the kimono with correct amount of collars and hand dyed layers....I have issues!!

So when my daughter, Ivy, decided to take a fashion class in high school and mentioned that she didn't feel that she was really learning how to sew properly... that just flung the door wide open!!

Together we have formed MINI SHADOW! A line of children's clothing made entirely from up- cycled adult clothing! Men's oxfords, hand-me-down dresses, whatever works! Each piece is one of a kind and hand made by the two of us. I finally get to feed the designer inside and Ivy is getting a sewing education, plus we are really having fun! I am happy to report that Ivy can cut and sew a bodice quite well already!! I will be listing these dresses on my web shop, but in the meantime they can be found at Sea & Green in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

This one is called LEMON DROP

This one is MINTY ROSE

This one is WILD FLOWER

 

This last dress is HAWAIIAN PASSION.

Love Our Shore!

Welcome to 2013!
I know I have been lax at updating my blog but the last few months have been a little crazy here in NJ to say the least! We weathered the super storm Sandy with just 7 downed trees, I say just 7 because we are so lucky compared to what happened just miles from us!

Another stroke of luck was that the shop in Point Pleasant Beach was untouched! Just 1/2 mile or so is a picture not to be believed. As I write this in the end of January, there are STILL so many displaced people in the area, they are our friends, shop customers and neighbors.

My friend Becky, the owner of Sea & Green, decided to make a heart shaped ornament out of Sandy salvaged wood for the holidays and donate the proceeds to a local relief organization, Restore the Shore - Shores United. The response was overwhelming to say the least! The outpouring of volunteers and just the love and support for the project was so touching.
Becky is still at it, making ornaments! Now we wanted to keep the fund raising going so I painted a few pieces that are available on my web store, www.acleverspark.com or can be purchased in the shop in PPB or on the Sea & Green web store, www.sea-n-green.com.
Please check out the Restore page to see all the items, we will be adding some furniture and table top accessories soon made from salvaged Sandy wood.