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Friday, March 5, 2010

Fun Feature Friday:Featuring Amelie Jo the cutest and sweetest Vintage Inspired Children's clothing ever!

This Friday I had the pleasure of Featuring Anna of Amelie Jo Vintage Inspired Kids. Her designs are amazingly gilrlie (but there is also something for those handsome boys), very sweet, and so unique! Just look at these darling ruffles!! And beast of all, Anna uses Organic clothing in her designs :)   

I am a stay at home mother, faithfully tending to my muse, sweet Amelie Jo.
Not so long ago, I owned a web boutique, where I sold American made and handmade children's clothing by many talented Etsy artists.  I had an epiphany, one sunny afternoon, when I found a vintage portrait of a wise, old owl and a blank, white tee in my baby girl's closet. I was soon lost in creativity, carefully adding colorful buttons and a bit of hand embroidery. I fell in love with the result and had much too much fun with the process!
I realized that I had just created a piece that I had been searching for since my child's birth - an affordable, organic, vintage inspired tiny bit of heaven, punctuated with a little flair and a whole lotta love!  
I have never had formal training. I seem to pick up craft work easily through watching others and reading. I have an idea in my head and I try to create it. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. What doesn’t work is what I learn the most from.
The ‘studio’ is a space that I share with my husband in the basement. A special room that he built that is cozy and warm.  His intention was that we share the space, however my crafts seem to have taken over!
I am a stay at home mom, so I work whenever my sweet Amelie Jo is sleeping.  That usually means that I do not get a lot of sleep!  I also have a 13 year old step daughter who lives with us almost full time and is involved with 4H.  A 13 year old and a 15 month old both need a lot of attention, so my work takes a backseat to them.
I prefer to use organic cotton for the shirts that I make. I am very interested in living an organic lifestyle – I make my own cleaning products and purchase organic or locally grown food-  and feel that organic cotton is the best material for baby skin.  Plus, I tea stain most of my items and organic cotton is the perfect material for doing so.  I love adding vintage buttons because they make my items one of a kind.  I would like to use more upcycled materials in the future.
At the moment, I only sell my work on Etsy, however I am interested in wholesaling to boutiques.
People should buy handmade because a lot of love and care goes into each item that an artist sells.  Handmade is sweatshop free, out source free and the customer can be satisfied that they have not taken advantage of another citizen of this world in order to wear a fancy t shirt.  Handmade keeps art alive and growing.  Most handmade artists give back to their communities in small and large ways, which helps future generations.
My goals are to keep growing my shop and product line.  I want to always be able to stay at home with my sweet Amelie Jo, so I would like to be a successful shop owner and crafter.  Someone that my family can be proud of.
 
The first item I ever sold was an organic onesie with an owl on the front. I don't make it anymore because I am interested in other styles at the moment.  My favorite part of what I do is just, simply, being creative. I find that the more I work the more creative I become. There are nights I lay in bed dreaming of new items to make and the next morning I try to find the supplies I need to create them.  
My inspiration has and will always be my daughter, Amelie Jo.
I would like to offer free shipping on my 'Easter Parade' shirt or onesie (that is the one right above this paragraph!!!! Isn't it delish?) . Buyers may use the code 'FREESHIP' in the comments box and I will refund the shipping through PayPal.

Thank you Anna!! Your creations are amazing and your little Amelie Jo is a doll :)

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those are lovely one of a kind creations! I do the same for my daughter, who's now nine...it's just fun to sew for them, isn't it!

and we too have a studio in the basement where both my husband and I create...but my mess seems to overpower anything he does! yikes...what is it with us women, right! lol

have a great weekend!

ciao bella

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the beautiful post. Basement dwellers unite!

FabricFascination said...

Beautiful clothing, I would love something like that for my two year old granddaughter.

Sarah Knight said...

looks lovely : )