Wolf and Willow - Designing a Super Natural Life

Beautiful Blogs: Creative Mint's Christmas Cheer

A gorgeous festive Christmas post to end the year. These delicious photographs were recently featured on one of my favourite Pretty Reads, A Creative Mint - possibly the most beautiful inspiration blog ever to grace my screen! Leslie's photographs and styling are perpetually magical and her posts can always be found brightening up my moodboards. I'm so happy to share her with you.

Merry Christmas to all of my beautiful readers. Thank you ever so much for following, reading and loving Wolf and Willow over the past few months, you are a bunch of gems :) I can't wait to see you all in the new year!

Nancy x

Sweetness in Store: Waterlily Playclothes

My latest creation for Wolf and Willow is this cute little play outfit with matching lime green gingham shorts. Inspired by another vintage flea market pattern from the 1960s, it was truly a pleasure to make! I lovingly slip-stitched the shoulder seams whilst watching The Secret Life of Bees. I've also made a start on two more sets in equally smashing colour-ways, that you'll see when the store reopens next year.

Peachy Patterns: Helen Dardik

Well hey there, Helen! I'm just loving the bright, fun colours and happy little characters in your patterns. Why it's a juicy mix of splashy colours, crazy shapes and playful toony motifs. It's simply too difficult to pick a favourite! Find more pattern happiness at One Lucky Helen.

Fashion Fancies: Outlaw Couture

A recurring theme in my retro obsession du jour are all things vintage Western. Which is why this delicious feature on Outlaw Couture in an old, dog-eared copy of Vogue Italia, captured my imagination! I'm not sure if it's the peachy feminine ruffles and tiny lace gloves, or the felt hat and baby goat, but I'm in love! And doesn't Russian model Natalia Vodonovia just glow?

Flickr Fun: Dreamy Friday

Something soft and soothing to gaze at on a Friday afternoon... I'm just in love with the beautiful dream-like quality of these images by Eadaoin from City of Blackbirds who describes herself as "a daydreaming library assistant who likes to take photos". So cute. p.s. prints are available on Etsy too!

Childhood Memories: Alice in Wonderland

I wanted to share with you this little gem I spotted in the window of Searchers vintage bookstore yesterday... I couldn't believe my luck! An illustrated copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. The best part is the inscription... "To Phillip, Christmas greetings and happy new year. Love from Auntie Gin and Kathleen, Christmas 1951". Adorable!

Etsy Love: Fleur Avenue

Ooh, look what I found on Etsy this morning! Oh so feminine and romantic, these little trinkets and treasures from Fleur Avenue have made it to the top of my Christmas list! With shop sections like forest fay, sea trinkets and fairytales, and the promise of more magic to come, I bet I'll be skipping merrily down Fleur Avenue time and time again. Oh, and isn't the photo styling just luscious!?

Sweetness in Store: Prancing Pony Pinafore

Yay! My Prancing Pony Pinafore is finally in store! I can't help thinking how much I would have loved this when I was a little girl... I quite fancy I make precious things that children will treasure and remember long after they are grown. They'll say, "Mum, do you remember my pony pinafore? I LOVED that dress, it was my favourite!"

Grown ups say clothes are an expression of your personality, but for little ones, they make special moments in your life seem more vivid! Years later, when you gaze at old photographs, the clothes you wore evoke fond memories. Like the strawberry ruffle bathing suit I wore to my first swimming lesson, or the glitter koala t-shirt I wore to my first disco. Just like those, I hope Wolf and Willow clothes are remembered long after they are outgrown.

Fashion Fancies: Why it's Floral, Coral

I've had these cute pics tucked away for a while now, and I have to admit I can't remember where I heard about this brand... I'm guessing it was a long-ago post, now lost deep in The Coveted archives. Anyhoo, I just love the tulip style skirts, soft coral florals (possibly my favourite colour, can't you tell?!) and big statement buttons. Primark released this collection back in April 09... I wonder if I can still find that sweet floral dress somewhere?

Flea Market Finds: Orange Soda Posters

A little vintage goodness to brighten your day! I love these posters for Nesbitt's Orange Soda from the early 1950s. Looks like pure sunshine in a bottle, doesn't it? The first one makes me wish I could have a white Christmas, just once... Oh, to be all snuggled up in my mittens drinking eggnog - so romantic! But I can bet it will be a touch more like the second picture... Australian summer!

Flickr Fun: Hope and Flare

Just had to post these beautiful photographs I discovered yesterday on Flickr. Laura's lovely photographs of her children evoke an almost nostalgic, emotional mood and capture intimate moments with grace and beauty. In the caption below her daughter's photo, she writes "I didn't even know I had been waiting for her my whole life, but I had".

Etsy Love: Birds of a Feather

For all the tweeters out there, Wolf and Willow has joined Twitter! Hooray! And in the hope of gathering a flock of lovely followers, I've scoured Etsy for delightful bird-inspired goodies, just for you! Shop for these handmade delights before I do (quick!) and please be a darling and let's be lovebirds on Twitter...

1 Love Song Necklace K Garner Designs 
2 Antiqued Owl Ring Annekiel
3 Dove Tokens Paloma's Nest

Fabric Fantastic: Hopscotch

I can't get enough of 1930s reproduction fabrics at the moment, and one of my favourites is Hopscotch by Chloe's Closet. The colours and patterns, inspired by the designer's collection of childhood trinkets and flea market treasures, represent a longing for the past. I love the playfulness of sunny  yellows andditzy florals and can think of a dozen things I like to make just gazing at the patterns! Please post your ideas and links to other lovely 30s style fabrics. I would "sew" love to hear from you!

Flickr Fun: Nancy Plays Nurse

I just had to share these adorable vintage children's book illustrations that my friend Sally discovered on Flickr today. Published in 1965, Nancy Plays Nurse, is a Rand McNally Elf book. I'm pretty sure Nancy is playing nurse on a ruby-coloured Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and along with her stuffed toy giraffe with the giant eyelashes, whom we will call "Gertie", these have to be some of the cutest illustrations I have ever seen! I'm in love!

Sweetness in Store: Chartreuse 70s Swing Skirt

 

I just made this new Chartreuse Swing Skirt. It's based on a genuine vintage sewing pattern originally printed in 1974. I love the cute patch pockets and the fullness of the skirt - oh so perfect for that disco swing! I really enjoyed making this one, as always, I couldn't help but wonder as I worked with the delicate pattern pieces, who had lovingly cut them all out way back in the 70s? 

P.s. I am almost out of this gorgeous Moda Fabric, so if anyone knows where to buy a few more bolts, please let me know!

Etsy Love: Baker's Twine

Okay, I'm jumping on the baker's twine bandwagon as it rumbles merrily along the "I Heart Handmade" road this Christmas! I just bought some luscious twine from Swann and Smerlin (in four different colours, if you please) to add some Christmas cheer to my gift-wrapping! I just can't wait for it to arrive! I love how neat it looks with simple brown paper and these polka dot fabric labels from Lockette. And I simply adore everything over at Nice Package. Pale pink and cherry red make such a cute couple, don't you think?

Fashion Fancies: Moschino C&C

Okay, so this doesn't exactly fit in with my soft and summery seventies bent at the moment, but it's bold and mod and retro and I like it! I couldn't take my eyes off the hot pink and fuschia check prints and black gingham bindings! Its like Clockwork Orange meets Strawberry Shortcake - wow! First, I need the shoes, and second, how fun is that peacock blue heart belt? Also, the floral detail and curly peeptoes are delightful! See more at Moschino Cheap & Chic!

Childhood Memories: Bush Fairytales

A little trip to the antique bookstore last week got me thinking about Pearl Pinkie and Sea Greenie. I remembered how much I loved fairy stories and rhymes when I was a little girl. I thought I'd post a couple of illustrations by my all-time favourite Australian children's book artist, Ida Rentoul Outhwaite. Thanks to her beautifully illustrated storybook Elves and Fairies, published way back in 1916, I still believe that fairies live in the Australian bush.

Fashion Fancies: Orla Kiely

I just couldn't help falling in love with this fabulous retro styling by Orla Kiely! How gorgeous are these seventies-inspired prints and shades of chocolate brown, olive green and burnt orange?? And don't get me started on the ruffle collars and cuffs! And the hairstyle - love it!

Speaking of the seventies... I couldn't believe my luck on Sunday when I found a copy of the Women's Day Complete Book of Handicrafts (published in 1973!) at a vintage market in Daylesford. It has quite a hideous cover, but the pictures inside look just like this!

Etsy Love: My Sweet Wren

Dear Santa, if you are looking for stocking fillers for your favourite seamstress, please visit My Sweet Wren for ideas. Did I mention I've been ever so good this year?? This lovely little Etsy store hails from sunny Melbourne too and offers a treasure trove of vintage loveliness and crafty goodness. I've fallen in love with the faded glories and fond memories contained in these shiny buttons, faded playing cards, lace motifs and fabric scraps.