Children’s Clothing |

DIY Zippered Pillow

19. March 2013 · Comments Off · Categories: Children's Boutique, Children's Clothing, DIY · Tags: tutorial, zippered pillows

Kristin Eldridge contributed this fun guest post for us today!

Zippers seem scary. Maybe it’s because you’ve heard of a zipper foot for your sewing machine or maybe there’s just too many seams that are just too confusing! As a small disclaimer, I’m not a professional seamstress. What I’ve learned is by trial and error, so I hope it helps, but it’s probably not the ‘technically correct’ way to do this. But, hey, if I can get you to make a zippered pillow for your home in about 15 minutes, that’s a success, right!?

Here’s the break down:

1. Measure your pillow form. (I like to buy them at Ikea.) If it’s a 20″ square, you’ll add 1/2″ seam allowance on each side and cut out two 21″ squares.

2. Buy a zipper. I like to use the invisible zippers or the robe zippers because they are easy to cut and they come in long lengths, which is great for pillows.

3. Pin your zipper to one side of the fabric, make sure you have right sides together.

4. Sew the zipper to the piece of fabric (doesn’t matter which side you sew it to because you have a square, but make sure the right sides are together.) And if you use a light weight zipper like I mentioned, you do not need a zipper foot for your machine.
**Here’s a tip. As you are sewing the zipper to the fabric, you’ll eventually hit the slider body. Lift your foot and slide that part to the other side of the fabric and keep sewing.
***Here’s another tip. Make sure you stay about 1/4-1/8 inch away from the zipper teeth. If you get too close, your zipper won’t zip!

5. Press this zipper seam. (If you want to get all fancy you can top-stitch this seam. I didn’t do this because I’m about fast and easy, but if you are more about perfection that fast and easy, just top-stitch it.)

6. Repeat the process with the other side. Take the other fabric square and pin it to the other side of the zipper (right sides together.) When you’re finished, the zipper will be sewn to the two squares of fabric.

7. Trim the end of your zipper if it’s too long.

8. Now pin and sew the other 3 sides of the fabric together (right sides together.)
** Here’s yet another tip. Make sure that you unzip the zipper a little bit before you sew the other 3 sides together or you won’t be able to turn it inside out.

9. Turn the pillow inside out and iron the seams.

10. Put your pillow inside and zip that baby up. You did it!

Persnickety Spring

Persnickety is always one of our favorite lines here at Little Skye. The unique mix of fabrics, colors and patterns is playful and age-appropriate for little girls and tweens alike. The Farmer’s Market collection this spring is one of our favorites.

The whimsical mix of hummingbirds, fruits, and florals is perfect. And we love the lime green and aqua with a punch of orange.

Persnickety Fall 2013 is amazing, so be prepared to be blown away! It’s split into three deliveries- Golden Girls, Mossy Woods, and Nob Hill. Each delivery has a distinct feel but they all mix and match as well. It’s like a mini Anthropologie for kids!

Spray Paint Transformations- DIY

20. December 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Children's Boutique, Children's Clothing, Children's Photography, DIY · Tags: diy, easy decor, spray paint, spray paint projects

Today Kristin Eldridge is guest posting with an easy way to update your decor!

I love those shows on TV that are easy make-overs. Those transformations that happen in a day. Remember Extreme Home Makeover? MOVE THAT BUS!

I’m all about quick and easy. Maybe that explains why I’ve never been one for long projects. Glue guns and spray paint are my best friends!

Anyone can operate bottle of spray paint. You might want a pair of plastic gloves and a drop cloth. But, it’s so easy anyone can create a total transformation! In 5 minutes, no less! I wanted to share with you a few things that I’ve sprayed this holiday season. All projects involve silver and gold spray. Design Master brand is the best. It sticks to just about anything under the sun. So, it’s worth those few extra dollars!

I had a little glass vase that housed a terrarium. It needed to fancied up a bit for the shelf, so I gave it a quick gradient treatment with gold spray. Sometimes spraying the whole item can make it look cheap, so in this instance, I held the glass by the top and sprayed heavy on the bottom, then got lighter as I went up.

Another case of gradient are these wood candlesticks. I’ve had them for forever and felt like they were starting to look a little ‘grandma.’ With the gold gradient, it’s a subtle way to make them look a little more modern.

I also like to fancy up simple things, like wood sticks for caramel apples. I used a simple dowel, cut into pieces. I held the bottom as I sprayed, so the part that goes into the apple doesn’t have any paint on it. Add a velvet bow and you’ve got a great teacher/neighbor gift!

We made a string of popcorn the other day and I thought it might benefit from a little silver. I sprayed here and there, so parts of the popcorn would so through. Simple and elegant!

DIY Pumpkin Mask

06. December 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Children's Boutique, Children's Clothing, Children's Photography, DIY · Tags: facial masks, pumpkin, pumpkin masks

Today we have a guest post from Kristin Eldridge!

Everyone is obsessed with pumpkin these days…lattes, candles, scones. ‘Tis the season! Treat your skin to a pumpkin facial to get into the spirit and slough off all the damage of your summer tan.

Mix equal amounts pumpkin (canned is fine, fresh is better) and heavy cream. I used 1/2 cup each and had enough to last about a week of masks. The anti-oxidants in pumpkin and the lactic acid in cream will eat away the dead skin cells. Add brown sugar for a scrubbing agent (1 Tablespoon was a good amount for my skin) and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Be careful with the cinnamon. It brings blood to the surface of your skin, so it can burn a little. If you have sensitive skin, you could skip the cinnamon or start with a pinch. Bringing the blood to the surface creates a flush, so you’ll feel glowing after the mask!

Whisk the ingredients together and store in a glass jar. I use a pastry brush to apply to my skin.

Leave the mask on for 15 minutes, but again, if you have sensitive skin, try less time and see how your skin feels. Wash it off with a warm cloth and enjoy a fresh healthy complexion for fall! (The mask will last for a week in the fridge.)

Countdown to Christmas- Advent Calendars

27. November 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Children's Boutique, Children's Clothing

by Jessica, General Manager at Little Skye

This is one of my favorite times of the year. I love decorating, baking, shopping for gifts, wrapping gifts, and spending time with friends and family. We have several traditions that we look forward to each year as a family.

One of my favorite traditions is our Advent Calendar. (A few of my favorites are here and here and here.)

Advent calendars count down each day of December starting on December 1st until you reach Christmas Day. Traditionally children receive a small sweet or toy. I’ve tried to change it a bit and I put slips of paper with different activities for us to do together as a family each day. I usually make one big list at the beginning of the season and print it out. And then put a slip of paper in the pocket each day when I see how busy we are, how much homework the kids have, etc. Some of the activities are small like reading a Christmas book or making a Christmas craft, and some are bigger like attending the Nutcracker ballet. My kids are 6 and 8, and it’s amazing to me how excited they get about looking in the advent calendar each day.

I don’t do any gifts in our advent calendar with the exception of an occasional seasonal item like a new book or CD.

It’s a nice way to take a break in a busy season to spend some time together, even if it’s just to share some hot cocoa.

Here is a list of some of the activities we’ll be doing this holiday season!

Go to see Nutcracker ballet
Go to see Christmas lights
Decorate house for Christmas
Get and Decorate Christmas tree- new ornament for each child in calendar
Shop for gift for sibling
Wrap gift for sibling
Bake and decorate Christmas cookies- cookie cutters in calendar
Read Night Before Christmas
Read Polar Express
Watch Polar Express DVD
Watch Charlie Brown Christmas DVD
Watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas DVD
Go to toy store and pick out a toy to buy and donate to Toys for Tots
Decorate Christmas cards for family and friends
Decorate gift tags
Have hot cocoa and marshmallows & candy cane stirrer before bed- individual packets of cocoa in calendar
Listen to Christmas music and play instruments or have a dance party
Call family to sing Christmas carols or go caroling
New Christmas book or Christmas CD- do a scavenger hunt to find them (one of my favorite books this season is here)
New Christmas pj’s- do a scavenger hunt to find them
Decorate a gingerbread house
Visit Santa Claus
Write a letter to Santa
Find and wrap presents for teachers
Christmas manicure and pedicure
Make decorations for the house/ tree- paper chains (love these!)
Fancy dinner at home- kids dress up, get to drink sparkling cider out of wine glasses, plan the menu
Clean out toys and pick some to donate to Salvation Army
Hand deliver holiday cards to friends and family
Attend Christmas concert at place of worship and go out to dessert afterward
Go ice skating

We wish you a wonderful holiday season filled with lots of time with family, love, joy, and laughter.

Favorite Brands: Persnickety Clothing Company

06. September 2012 · 2 comments · Categories: Children's Boutique, Children's Clothing, Favorite Brands · Tags: Persnickety Clothing Company, Persnickety Fall 2012, Persnickety Holiday 2012, Persnickety Spring 2013

by Jessica, General Manager of Little Skye

One of our favorite brands this season is Persnickety Clothing Company. I don’t know what it is about Persnickety, but the more you look at it the more you love it.

Everything mixes and matches so well. You can add and subtract layers for different looks, and lots of knits are used with a child’s comfort in mind. Girls dresses, leggings, tops, appliqued tops, skirts and jackets- there are lots of choices.

Another thing we love about Persnickety is their Buying is Giving Program. Every time a Persnickety item is purchased, a portion of that sale is given away to people less fortunate. Right now they are donating to the Giving Hope Society in Guatemala and Operation School Uniforms. We admire their commitment to help children around the world.

This Fall there are three collections from Persnickety- Pink Lace and Pinecones, Vintage Woodland, and Jeweled Forest. All three seamlessly mix and match and offer countless outfit combinations. The Persnickety Holiday 2012 collection will be available for preorder on September 16th.

And we can’t share YET, but Persnickety Spring 2013 will knock your socks off!

Creative Gift Wraps Ideas!

06. September 2012 · 1 comment · Categories: Children's Clothing, Children's Photography, DIY · Tags: custom gift wrap, diy, do it yourself

by Kristin Eldridge

Visit Kristin’s blog

How many times do you quickly need a present for a friend and not have anything to wrap it in? I’m a little over the paper bag with tissue paper. Easy, yes. But, we’ve just been doing it for so long. I’ve come up with some quick wrapping ideas that involve things you have at home or things that you can keep on hand for wrapping in a pinch.

My go to papers are white parchment paper (which I always have in my kitchen) or a brown paper bag (or a roll of kraft paper if you have it). Both make a simple canvas for handmade embellishments.

The parchment paper is perfect for bright colors and neons. I have a little drawer with scraps of fabric from Joanns and trips to Michael Levine’s in downtown LA. You can ask for a sample or just buy 1/8 yard so you have a few scraps to work with. I used corded cotton rope, scraps of netting and lace. The blue netting is a bath scrubber that I took apart…found in the dollar section at Target.

I love earthy vintage items with brown kraft paper. Twine and embroidery floss look great. I like to tie something to the top, like a lace flower or a leaf or lavender cut from the garden. I also love vintage buttons and pins. It just adds that little bit of personality!

I find that packing tape (used in small pieces) works best on parchment and kraft paper. Start with something to tie and add a fun topper from around the house and you’ve got a present you’ll be excited to gift!

Tees with Personality for Boys

27. July 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Children's Clothing · Tags: childrens clothes boys, mini shatsu

by Jessica, General Manager of Little Skye

We are so excited about some of the pieces we found for boys this season. My own boys tend to wear tees and jeans pretty much daily, so when we were buying for Fall, we looked for the coolest tees and hoodies that we could find. These are styles boys can wear to play or to school; pair them with some jeans and some Converse and they’re ready to go. The details, fabrics, and quirky sense of humor makes them special.

R’Belle has long been one of our bestselling girls lines. We were so excited to find Scotch Shrunk, their boys line. Pieces like this tee “Evidence of Monsters” will fascinate him, and can coordinate with the girl version (Evidence of Fairies) for his sister.

The other great thing about Shrunk tees is that the backs are as fun as the fronts. Look at the back of this double layer “Road Kings” shirt, with elbow patches:

Another new line we love is Mini Shatsu. These fun tees incorporate details like wristwatches, suspenders, pocket protectors, a guitar, and even a vest right into the shirt. Their reasonable price point and durable cotton knit make them an easy choice this season, and once again the backs are not to go unnoticed.

And we can’t forget Joah Love. This line is great for big or little boys- super soft, comfortable knit tees and pants. The port tee and aiden pants are an easy outfit for Fall.

Felted Wool Flower Headband

24. July 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Children's Clothing

by Kristin Eldridge

Visit Kristin’s blog

Kristin is one of our favorite Little Skye photographers! And is incredibly creative as well.

Last weekend I made this cute little headband in about 15 minutes! I love the vintage charm and the simple design.

And, like I said…it’s so EASY! First you’ll need to get a small scrap of felted wool. I got mine at JoAnn’s Fabric. I prefer wool felt because it holds up better and doesn’t pill.

Cut 3 circles in graduated sizes…small medium and large. This doesn’t have to be perfect. It actually looks better when the circles are a bit more ‘rustic.’ Layer the circles from smallest to largest and add a button to the top. I used a vintage button that I bought at a thrift store, but any button will do. Stitch a piece of elastic end to end (don’t forget to measure it for the child’s head), then stitch the button and circles to the piece of elastic. I bought this skinny elastic at Michael Levine’s in downtown LA, but you could also find something similar at your local fabric store. Tie off the thread underneath the flower to hide it. Have fun experimenting with different fabrics and types of buttons!

Inspiration for Oilily’s New “Heart for Art” Fall Collection

09. July 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Children's Boutique, Children's Clothing · Tags: Children's Clothing Boutique, Oilily clothing, Oilily USA

by Melissa, owner and creative director of Little Skye

I thought you all might enjoy a behind the scenes look at the inspiration for the new fall Oilily collection. It is always fun to learn what inspires designers and how they build a collection, and since I have the true pleasure hearing about the collections from the Oilily family in Holland, wanted to share with you.

Oilily’s new “Heart for Art” winter collection is an ode to the visual arts. Artists themselves in every sense of the word, the designers of Oilily want to inspire and stimulate creativity in kids all over the world. A striking color palate and intricate, unique prints that only Oilily can imagine bring winter to life.

This season, they mixed natural shades like beige and grey into the collection, particularly with the vintage-inspired, picturesque photo prints. Each season, the Oilily design team creates an inspiration book, which is in itself is always one of the most beautiful pieces of art I’ve ever seen. The book contains snippets of patterns, colors, images, and drawings that once put together inspire the creation of the new collection.

This season, the Oilily designers were inspired by their own family art treasures. The winter scene prints were created from their collection of old post cards:

The matchbox print was inspired by their collection of old stamps:

And the print on this coat reflects their collection of vintage toys:

Speaking of coats, this winter Oilily brings us for the first time a series of light feather down outerwear. Many of them are completely reversible, and are designed in the bold colors of the collection, making them striking against the starkness of winter.

In keeping with the Heart for Art theme, there are also whimsical hand-drawn prints including a graphic “Marais” print and a colorful “messy dot” print. In true Oilily style, mix these patterns with ultra-colorful fairisle knee highs or tights and printed tees.

For future artists, you will also find cardigans that say “My Self Portrait” and that have paint brushes appearing to stick out of the pockets:

Oilily truly is inspirational children’s clothing. They have been innovating and setting trends since 1963 with their true love and understanding of kids.

My daughter Evie chose an Oilily outfit for her first day of Kindergarten because “it is fun and happy and has all my favorite colors and I love painting.” She will also be carrying this adorable Oilily backpack, with the color-it-yourself pencil case inside.

If you are looking for clothing that is as unique as your child is, Oilily has something for you and will always make them stand out in the crowd.

You can shop the full new Oilily clothing collection at our website, Little Skye Children’s Boutique.