Paper Wings & Rowan Tree

For years we’ve reaped the benefits of hand-me-down clothing for Olive, so there’s been little need to buy new pieces for her wardrobe. Her ‘look’ is cobbled together from thrift-store hand-knitted cardis which I’ve added bias or brooches to, vintage tutus found at markets and antiques centres, and hand-me-down basics such as long-sleeved tees and leggings – paired with mini Blundstone boots. But lately I’ve invested in a few key pieces which should last a year or two, maybe more. And they’re so cute, I wish they made them in my size; there’s some seriously stylish kids’ clothes about these days. It puts the polo-necked tops and denim overalls from my own childhood to shame (it was the seventies, after all).

Here’s a gorgeous handmade smock dress from Roberta at Rowan Tree, who happens to be in my crochet class at Calico & Ivy (last day today… then on to string quilting, yay). Another favourite is Paper Wings, which makes divine costume-inspired pieces such as the cat skirt below. L-O-V-E.