The Crazy Aunt Company

Baby steps

2011-04-18T21:47:00.004+02:00

Yikes, our store is taking a little longer than expected to get up and running! It's all there, but there's a problem with viewing it through Internet Explorer. The guys who developed the site are working on it, and should have everything sorted by the end of the week. Holding thumbs!

Until then, please use another browser to view our store - you'll find it at www.thecrazyauntcompany.co.za

This dress is one I added to the store yesterday - realised it was the first pink dress I've done! What do you think?

Size: 2 to 3 years

Price: R195

Houston, we have a problem

2011-04-11T14:57:00.001+02:00

Erm, so, we have a slight problem with our online store. For now, could you please email me your orders and enquiries - narina@thecrazyauntcompany.co.za. Thank you for your patience!

Shop keeping (me busy)

2011-03-30T13:26:00.003+02:00

So, I've been pretty busy lately working on our online store. Initially, I'd said it'd be up and running within a week - boy, was I wrong! – that was more than a month ago. The store is pretty much done – that's the home page I've attached here – and what I'm doing now is preparing stock. Cutting dresses, putting together designs for onesies, making bunting – because I work on Crazy Aunt in the evenings only, it's taking longer than I'd initially thought. Holding thumbs, though, I'll feel ready enough to open shop next week.

My baby bunting

2011-03-20T20:16:00.001+02:00

So, what do you think of Crazy Aunt's bunting? I spent today submerged in fabric, cutting and sewing the bunting that we'll be selling in our new online store. Absolute bliss!
The store's taking a little longer than I expected to put together - I need to make extra stock, shoot it and upload it. But, I'm getting there!

For little dresses

2011-03-12T17:25:00.001+02:00

I spent about two hours in a fabric store today, beside myself with excitement. There were so many gorgeous fabrics, I really had to hold back. (Didn't do such a good job!) Here are three pieces I bought, which will become dresses and bunting - can't wait to get cutting!

Stone grower, red heart, 0 to 3 months

2011-03-09T18:22:00.003+02:00

When our online store goes live (which it will, once I've gotten my head around CSS), you'll be able to see the growers we have available, buy the one that you want, and let me know what you'd like embroidered on it. I think it will simplify the ordering process, which at the moment involves a lot of backwardsing and forwardsing on emails. To get the ball rolling, here's a pic of one of the growers we have available.

Price: R110, or R140 with a name embroidered

A very special "his & hers"

2011-03-07T14:38:00.002+02:00

Downloading pics from my camera, I came across these two. I made the apron last year from treasured scraps of fabric I'd collected; a pre-wedding gift for my very special sister.

Store this

2011-03-01T22:02:00.001+02:00

Love to shop? Excellent - because we're opening an online store! Yup, I'm hard at work cutting and prepping growers and getting everything ready; I hope to have the store up and running within the next two weeks.
The store should streamline the ordering process, and will make it easier for you to know what you're ordering. Plus, it'll save on to-and-fro emails, which means you'll receive your order sooner.
Watch this space - I'll keep you posted.

We heart Olivia

2011-02-25T13:26:00.003+02:00

How beautiful is little Olivia? Her crazy aunt Amelia bought one of our reversible heart dresses and sent it over to her in England. How sweet are those little legs? Too precious!

On a practical note, the dresses are great for both summer and winter – pull on a pair of leggings and a long-sleeve top, wear the dress either way, and you have a bunch of different outfits. The dresses sell for R195 - drop me a line at narina@thecrazyauntcompany.co.za to order.

A window on the Crazy Aunt studio

2011-02-19T15:07:00.003+02:00

At The Crazy Aunt Company, we try to be as considerate to the environment as possible. So, when we needed a pinboard, I shopped around on Gumtree for something I could reuse - and was pretty stoked when I found this window.

I took it apart, scraped it down, removed some of the glass and gave it a coat of paint.

And voila - I put pegboard into the frame, where our labels now hang, left three panes of glass in the window, which I'll use for notes, and turned the rest into a pinboard. It's a little too Biggie Best for me at the moment, but hey - the window is a whole lot more useful than it was a few weeks ago!

Fabric for an autumn dress

2011-02-15T22:17:00.003+02:00

I bought this fabric a little while ago, thinking it could be turned into the cutest autumn dresses. Now I know you probably don't want to think about autumn just yet, but what do you think of this fabric?

Bag this

2011-02-13T11:33:00.002+02:00

It's been a while since I posted pics of the little bags we do - so here you are! I have a cupboard full of fabric scraps, organized according to colour, and I often sit staring at it, combining different pieces and colours in my mind before pulling the fabric out and putting it together on my work bench. These bags are the result of those happy moments.
The two sides of the bag are different, and no two are ever the same. They're lined, wash well and are pretty indestructible.
Price: R85

Special offer

2011-02-10T08:01:00.002+02:00

Because this month is all about love, we're selling all dresses made from this red and white heart fabric for R150, not R185. Please email me at narina@thecrazyauntcompany.co.za to place your order.

Flower scraps

2011-02-07T22:29:00.005+02:00

I found this fabric in October, when I was up in the Midlands for my sister's wedding and spent hours scrounging through trailers of scrap material. It's one of my favourite pieces of blue and white fabric in my cupboard, and is such a tiny piece that I'm saving it for something special. Not too sure what, yet. Think I might combine it with navy and white polka dots for a little onesie, and am toying with the idea of making a headband. Wish there was enough to make a little dress!

Twin onesies

2011-02-07T12:01:00.003+02:00

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a twin. I'd dress like my brother, tell people we were twins - until a hairdresser cut my hair as short as his. These days I still love the idea of being, or one day having twins - and so I get really excited when an order comes in for onesies for twins. Here's what we did for little Dominic and Elliott...

Happy weekend

2011-02-03T20:24:00.004+02:00

Here's a bright little dress to welcome a fab, funky weekend. (This dress is age 1 to 2 years, but I do have other sizes available.)

Price: R180

New prices for 2011

2011-01-31T22:55:00.001+02:00

It's that time of year, unfortunately, and we have to put our prices up (eek!). From 1 March, the reversible dresses will be R195; personalized onesies and T-shirts will be R140, and onesies and T-shirts with just an Africa, number, letter or shape will be R110.
On the bright side, though, you still have a month to place your orders at 2010 prices!

Pretty Blue Monday

2011-01-31T08:51:00.004+02:00

So, I think I might say it every time I put a dress up, but this really is one of my favourites. If I had a little girl, she'd definitely be wearing this delicate blue shweshwe dress today. I was only able to get the tiniest amount of fabric – enough for this dress, which is 6 to 12 months, and I have one more 6 to 12 months cut out, waiting to be sewn.

Price: R180

For Ruby

2011-01-27T15:23:00.001+02:00

It's been so long since I posted a personalised grower, I thought I'd better put one up! This one is for - surprise! - little Ruby. Welcome to the world!

We heart dresses

2011-01-22T07:42:00.005+02:00

I was so excited when I found this heart fabric - it's perfectly bright and appropriate for this time of year. This dress is 1 to 2 years, and the denim reverse has a white heart on pink.

Price: R180

Blue floral and maroon gingham, 6 to 12 months

2011-01-17T07:52:00.004+02:00

This fabric combination is one of my favourite at the moment. I love the dark yet soft blue that contrasts with the white and maroon flowers. It's simple, pretty and playful.

Price: R180

A dolly (peg) for Crazy Aunt

2011-01-16T14:48:00.001+02:00

My fab friend Amelia
spent her summer holiday having a winter, in London and New York. Being the kind, thoughtful person she is, she brought these retro dolly pegs for me, to use in the pics I take for this blog.
Thank you, Amy!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I heart new beginnings

2011-01-04T18:06:00.002+02:00

Isn't it exciting when you open a new diary for the first time, crisp paper and sharp pencil, and know that you're about to plunge into a fresh, new year?

I started Crazy Aunt work today, my last day of magazine-world leave, and have cut so many dresses and so many designs, that I have blisters on my fingers. I have some gorgeous red fabric with white hearts all over it, which will become very special Valentine dresses, and metres of fabulously funky blue, purple, green, orange and mauve fabric, which will soon be reversible dresses too.

We're open again for business, so please send your orders through!

Festive floral dress

2010-12-12T12:22:00.005+02:00

This little reversible dress is on its way to Maritzburg, with love from an overseas aunt. Perfect for Christmas day!

Holiday planning

2010-12-08T09:39:00.004+02:00

How BEAUTIFUL is this fabric? It's for my holiday sewing – I have big plans, but can't give you details yet, as I''ll be making gifts for our family.

I'm so looking forward to having a holiday, and to having some time to do the things I've just not had a chance to do lately – hemming Marc's trousers, sewing a summer dress, a cushion for Barley and finally getting around to making cushions for our verandah chairs (which I need to scrape down and repaint, too).

The Crazy Aunt Company will close for the holidays on 16 December, and we'll open for business again on 5 January. I'll be checking emails through that time, but Crazy Aunt sewing starts again on the 5th.

Fab Fabric Friday

2010-12-03T10:41:00.004+02:00

I spent last night cutting out Crazy Aunt dresses - have quite a few on order, and people are loving this sweet patchwork fabric. I've been pairing it with either maroon gingham or with denim. Just a few more orders to make up before we close for the festive season; I'm so looking forward to a break, and also to preparing Crazy Aunt for next year. Bring on the holidays!

Thank you, with love

2010-11-29T20:40:00.002+02:00

I received a fab email from a client the other day - gives me warm fuzzies to know that all the time and work we put in is appreciated. "My friends in the US loved the baby grows you made for them," she wrote. "The one is planning on making it into a pillow after her baby out grows it. That is how much she loves it." Thank you for making my day!
That said, if you have any constructive feedback on Crazy Aunt gear - from what quality it arrives in in the mail to how it washes, how accurate the sizing is and what the fit is like - please let me know. It's really important that you're happy with what we do.

Inspiration board

2010-11-23T09:54:00.003+02:00

I love pink and brown together – it's girly but not traditional girly, contemporary yet retro and just, well, cool. So I'm very excited to have had a client ask me to put something together for her in pinks and browns. Hope she likes my collection of fabrics!

Festive wrap-up

2010-11-17T10:48:00.002+02:00

It's a beautiful 30-degree day in Cape Town today – summer's definitely here, and the festive season not far away. If you'd like to order Crazy Aunt clothes for Christmas or early January, could you please get your orders in by 3 December. Early I know, but it takes time to carefully put your designs together and make sure that each garment is special. Thanks!

Retro babes

2010-11-15T09:31:00.003+02:00

Someone asked me on Friday to put something together for her little niece – something different, something funky, she told me. Rocks my world when I get requests like that!

Fab Fabric Friday

2010-11-12T13:12:00.006+02:00

I found this fabric a few weeks ago, when I was up in KZN. It's so fab, I had to buy five metres. Marc and I are off on a yoga weekend this afternoon, and as soon as we're back I'll start cutting this for a few Crazy Aunt dresses. I can't decide which I'm more excited about!

PS Word from the parents of the little girl who test-wore my dress is that it's a perfect fit – and allows her to wriggle and run around. Happiness!

Qual-kitty control

2010-11-09T12:49:00.004+02:00

Last night I worked til quite late on an urgent order that came in. It was really great to have some company – especially once she'd she stopped swatting my pins.

Fab Fabric Friday

2010-11-04T19:07:00.003+02:00

So, cutting of the Crazy Aunt dresses will begin this weekend, and here's a little peek at some of the fabric I'll be using. While the colours are Christmassy, the fabrics are very definitely about summer. Tomorrow, I go shopping for buttons.

Dressing up

2010-11-01T14:27:00.002+02:00

The very first Crazy Aunt dress – what do you think? I've been dying to make little dresses for ages and this weekend I had a few moments to get stuck in. I've sent this one off for a little girl to test – I need to make sure the design is perfect before making any more – and as soon as I have feedback and have ironed out the tweaks, I'll be making more.

These dresses will be from 6 months to four years, and all will be reversible. I have some gorgeous fabrics, and can't wait to put together more dresses.

Please send me your feedback – I'd love to know what you think of the style, what colours you'd like to see the dress in and any comments you have.

The wedding season

2010-10-13T08:05:00.003+02:00

My little sister gets married in 10 days' time. She hates it when I call her that, but I remember with crystal clarity the day she was born – and the day my mum told us she was pregnant – so figure I'm entitled to call her what I will (she has to put up with a string of nicknames from me!). It's going to be such an incredibly special day; so much planning and dreaming and making has gone into what will be Shale and Shaun's wedding.

I fly up to KZN on Friday (with necklaces, ties, corsages and a few other crafted goodies packed) and will be there for the week before the wedding. I'm so looking forward to all the festivities, the final preparations and spending time with my family – but it does mean the Crazy Aunt studio will be closed during that time. I'll be back on the 24th to finish off an order and to prep for the Schoolyard Market at Elkanah, which is on the 30th. Happy days!

Bench Marc

2010-09-15T21:43:00.005+02:00

Finally, a few pics from our Crazy Aunt studio renovation. My handsome Marc is restoring a battered old work bench I bought off Gumtree for R50 (with kitten Barley supervising). He's scraped it down, is redoing the work surface and will put castor wheels and maybe a rail or two on it. It's not complete yet, as we spent Sunday painting and putting up the shelves (pics of that tomorrow). This studio renovation is taking a little longer than expected, but I guess that's what happens when Crazy Aunt isn't our 9 to 5. Not yet, anyway.

Day dreaming, 0 to 3 months

2010-09-01T13:24:00.002+02:00

Right now, the Crazy Aunt studio is being painted. All stock is packed up, fabrics folded away and what just two days ago was a green room with bright hat boxes boxes piled up and fabrics draped over two desks, is now a glorious not-too-white canvas. This weekend we'll be putting up shelves, giving an old work bench and desk new life and, I hope, unpacking. Such exciting times! Can't believe I forgot to take a "before" pic, but I'll definitely be posting the "afters".

To celebrate the the beginnings of our new studio, here's a daydreamer grower.

Price: R100

Oh, the busyness!

2010-08-23T20:33:00.002+02:00

Although it's been an age since I last wrote, it's been anything but quiet in Crazy Aunt land. My best friend got married two weeks ago, and I spent time making bridesmaids dresses; I spent a weekend doing yoga in the bush (absolute bliss); have been prepping and sewing growers and bags; and planning how to organise the Crazy Aunt room. This weekend I'll be sorting everything out, and will take a few pics of some of the growers we have in stock.

Brown grower, turquoise Africa, 0 to 3 months

2010-07-27T11:32:00.002+02:00

I'm loving brown combos at the moment, and it seems you are too – I don't have any long-sleeve brown growers in 0 to 3 months left! Hope to get more stock soon.

Price: R120

Shirt for Karlee

2010-07-22T09:04:00.003+02:00

It's my niece Karlee's birthday next week, so I made her this shirt, which will be on its way to Michigan tomorrow. Wish I could be there to celebrate, little pumpkin.

Blue (and brown) for boys

2010-07-15T09:22:00.003+02:00

I've been playing around with combinations of fabric and growers, and dug up these pieces with blue and brown in them. What do you think? Not the best of light, but trust me - they're fab!

Blue for girls

2010-07-14T09:54:00.001+02:00

I was putting together fabric options for someone who wants something a little different for a baby girl, and had to share this with you. Some of my favourite fabric!

The Crazy Aunt Company - PTY ltd

2010-07-12T20:17:00.003+02:00

True story, I swear: just as I'd finished typing up this post's title, an ad came on the telly - the one for Nedbank, where a man wearing scrubs bursts out of a delivery room and shouts, "It's a [insert dramatic pause] PTY limited!"
And that, dear readers, is exactly why I'm writing. Today Marc picked up the registration certificates for The Crazy Aunt Clothing Company. All papers signed (in black ink), stamps stamped, registrations registered.
Crazy Aunt is now officially a company. Look out clothing world, here we come!

Fab fabric Friday

2010-06-25T14:47:00.002+02:00

I'm putting together a cushion in some of these fabrics – will post a pic (taken in better light!) when it's done.

Born in 2010, pink Africa, 0 to 3 months

2010-06-21T09:06:00.002+02:00

Born in 2010, on one of the new pink growers made specially for The Crazy Aunt Co. I have plenty of fab fabric to go with this pink – can't wait to get sewing.

Price: R120

Fab fabric Friday

2010-06-18T11:43:00.002+02:00

This fabric will look incredible on one of my brown growers. Or turquoise, Or green. Please shout if I can make one up for you!

For Jessica

2010-06-15T14:49:00.002+02:00

This white and red grower is on its way to little Jessica, who was born a week or two ago. I really like the simplicity of red and white.

The ultimate Football Friday grower

2010-06-11T08:35:00.002+02:00

IT IS HERE! The vibe is UNBELIEVABLE. Not a moment goes by without a vuvuzela being blown; most people are wearing Bafana jerseys, and flags are flying everywhere. What an incredible, incredible day. How could I not put this grower up?

Price: R130

Something different

2010-06-08T09:22:00.003+02:00

Don't know if it's a boy or girl? Let me put together a design that's a little different – how about chocolate brown and white?

Fab Friday fabric

2010-06-04T11:19:00.001+02:00

If you're bold enough to dress your little girl in pink and black, please drop me a line. I have hot pink growers that'd look AMAZING with designs in this fabric.

Pink grower, pink Africa, 0 to 3 months

2010-06-03T09:35:00.002+02:00

Here's the first of the dark pink Born in 2010 growers. The lighting's not too great, but you get the idea? (Oh- I got the first of my very own made-for-me growers last night. Expect to see pics of chocolate brown and stone growers posted within the next few days!)

Price: R120

In the media

2010-06-02T08:52:00.002+02:00

And - it's out! A Crazy Aunt design on the cover of the June/July issue of FitPregnancy magazine, with exposure inside. Happiness.

Olive grower, cream Africa, 0 to 3 months

2010-05-27T09:26:00.002+02:00

So, here's the first of the olive growers. What do you think? I love that it's not white!

Price: R120

Designer labels

2010-05-26T20:01:00.003+02:00

Today was a big day for for Crazy Aunt. The fabric labels I've had printed arrived, just in time to send them on to the small factory where our very first custom-made growers (body vests, is the correct term) were cut. They'll be sewn tomorrow and on Friday, and I take delivery on Saturday. I'll have stock of some growers in chocolate brown, denim blue, pink, cream, stone, and a few polka and stripe ones too. Watch this space!

Colours of happiness

2010-05-24T08:59:00.003+02:00

How exquisite are these colours?I've been looking for growers like these for over a year, and have such fab ideas for designs with the fabric I've collected. I have these growers in size 0 to 3 months, 3 to 6 months and a few 6 to 12 months. Anyone want to put in an order? I can't wait to get sewing!

Cover up

2010-05-06T07:23:00.003+02:00

So, this is me. Hard at work in what was once the spare room at home. Marc took the pic yesterday morning – it's for FitPregnancy magazine. No, I'm not pregnant. But how's this for exciting: a Crazy Aunt design will be featured on the *cover* of the June/July issue of the mag! And there'll be a blurb and image of a grower or two on the shopping pages of FitPregnancy. How fab?

PS The fabric hanging up behind me in the pic is one of my favourite pieces. I bought it a few years ago and haven't come up with the perfect use for it (a skirt? Cushions? The lining of a winter coat?). So it's a wall hanging until I make up my mind.

Material possessions

2010-04-21T10:40:00.004+02:00

Last night I got lost in fabric. Patterns and textures and colours – I had a fab evening! These three pics show off a few pieces I've collected. Am itching to put them together and create something fabulous. Watch this space!

PS We're working hard on completing a big order for Beluga Bear in Franschhoek, and are about to start work on a maternity shirt that a model will wear on FitPregnancy's June/July cover. Exciting times!

Chilled times and sunshine

2010-04-13T09:06:00.004+02:00

Right now, two boerbuls are flopped around my feet. The sun is squeezing through higgeldy-piggeldy puzzlebush leaves and onto the long, smooth strands of clivias; hadedas are caw-ing their way overhead. It really is a beautiful place, this lush, fertile wonderland I grew up in.
I'm at my folks' house in Howick, my 'other' home, taking time out from the aircon and traffic of Cape Town. Yesterday I went to Elaine's, my favourite fabric store, and scratched through her baskets of material to find some exquisite pieces. I can't wait to match them up with ones I have at home. I have so many ideas, I'm not quite sure what to start with. Lampshades? Quilts? Growers?
No time to decide now; I'm off to have tea with Granny, then woodwork with Dad and pottery classes this afternoon with Mom. Happiness!

Maroon pattern grower, pink heart, 0 to 3 months

2010-04-09T07:24:00.002+02:00

Rocking my world, is this little grower, and if I was a month old, I'd be *sooo* happy to wear this!

Price: R100

PS. Where have the sunlight hours gone? I've not had a chance to shoot any of the lovely little personalised growers we've made lately, and have had to send them off the the crazy aunts and uncles before taking pics to put up here.

Stripe grower, green Africa, 0 to 3 months

2010-04-05T15:27:00.003+02:00

A fun, bright grower that's all about summer - perfect right now for a northern hemisphere baby.
Price: R100

Navy strip grower, yellow Africa, newborn

2010-03-30T10:57:00.002+02:00

It's not often I come across growers made from such bold fabric – so lots of happiness when I found this!

Price: R100

This is us

2010-03-29T10:05:00.004+02:00

Here it is - the Crazy Aunt logo. What do you think?

I'm loving it! We're just finalising the design of the new swing tags, and pretty soon everything that leaves the Crazy Aunt factory (aka the spare room in our house) will have a gorgeous tag attached. Happy, happy times.

(PS the logo was designed by Esthea, who's also working on our swing tags and stationery. Check out her site - www.estheadesigns.co.za)

Books and covers

2010-03-25T20:45:00.006+02:00

I judge books by their covers. There, I said it. I find it very hard, when surrounded by shelves and shelves of paper and books and pictures, to muster up any enthusiasm to pick up the ones that appear, well, boring. I'm attracted to interesting things. It's as simple as that.
And it's for this reason that I've been staring at a single piece of paper for the past four hours: I'm trying to decide on a logo design for The Crazy Aunt Company.
Poor Esthea Gardner. She's designing the logo and has had to put up with emails requesting her to knock a word two spaces to the right, photographs of sketches that I've scribbled (and then scrapped), font changes, format changes, colour changes and a whole heap of indecision.
That single piece of paper I'm staring at? There are five logo designs on it, and I need to choose one. The problem? I love them all.

Watch this space - I'll decide before I go to bed, and the new design should be up here tomorrow.

A bag for Karlee

2010-03-25T11:05:00.004+02:00

This little bag is on its way to my niece Karlee in Durango. It was made with lots of love.

Olive letter shirt, any age

2010-03-17T15:36:00.003+02:00

Letter shirts are one of The Crazy Aunt Company's most popular items. We can make them in any size up to 10 years, and have a range of colours for the shirts (olive green, navy, sky blue, purple, pink, red or purple).

Price: R100

Little Miss Wood

2010-03-15T09:16:00.003+02:00

This, quite possibly, is one of my favourite growers ever. It's for David and Aimee's little girl, who's due in just under four weeks. Exciting times for the Woodies!

A bag from Africa

2010-03-10T10:20:00.003+02:00

Here's the first bag made with Africa on it. What I like is that there's not a zebra print in sight! What do you think?

Price: R85

Born in 2010, navy & green, 3 to 6 months

2010-02-26T08:40:00.002+02:00

A Born in 2010 Tshirt – because it's Football Friday.

Price: R100

For Beluga Bear

2010-02-23T08:54:00.003+02:00

This past week we've been busy with a big order for Beluga Bear in Franschhoek. We always supply them with Africa shirts – this is one of my favourites.

For Luke and Olivia

2010-02-22T08:46:00.002+02:00

I'm sending these two growers up to Joburg. I made them for my mum, whose best friend's son had twins, Luke ad Olivia, a few weeks ago. Welcome to the world little Rademans!

Cyber Unhappiness

2010-02-19T09:58:00.002+02:00

Sorry for the lack of posts this week - I'm having a few technical problems, and can't connect to the Internet from home. Hope to get it all sorted this weekend. I have a few lovely bags to show you; my mum found some incredible fabric, so I've been cutting up a storm!

Brown stripe T, brown star, 3 to 4 years

2010-02-16T09:17:00.002+02:00

So, I'm feeling kinda retro today, and thought it was about time I posted this pic. All that's missing is a pair of corduroys!

Price: R90

Made in South Africa, 0 to 3 months

2010-02-11T08:01:00.002+02:00

So, with today being the 20th anniversary of Madiba's release from prison, I thought I'd get a little patriotic...

Price: R120

Floral bag

2010-02-09T21:31:00.005+02:00

So - here's one of the little handbags we've made at The Crazy Aunt Company. You'll be seeing a lot more of these on the site. Every bag is hand stitched, and my aim is for every one to be made from a different combination of fabric (because putting the fabrics together rocks my world). They're different on both sides (the two pics above are one bag), and are lined. Totally easy to throw in the washing machine and iron afterwards. If you want a girl's name embroidered onto a bag, we can do that for you before we start to stitch it together (drop me a line for a quote).
Price: R85

Fabric for bags

2010-02-09T12:51:00.003+02:00

Here's some of the fabric I'll be using to make the girls' handbags. They all seem to love pink, but if you think I should make bags in other colours, please let me know!

Red stripe T, white Africa, 0 to 3 months

2010-02-08T10:18:00.004+02:00

Not sure if it's a boy or girl? Red and white are a fun change from stone, yellow or green.

Price: R85

Future Traveller, 0 to 3 months

2010-02-07T14:59:00.003+02:00

Future Traveller was made especially for little Madison, who was born this morning. Her mum and dad are crazy about travelling, so mom Tamryn's colleague's wanted a grower that meant something to the new parents. Welcome to the world, Madison!

Blue stripe T, light blue Africa, 6 to 12 months

2010-02-04T23:12:00.003+02:00

How much do I love stripes?! I love the slither of green in there. This T would look amazing with little denim shorts.
Price: R85

Red orange dress, red heart, 12 to 18 months

2010-02-03T22:13:00.002+02:00

This dress reminds me of the orange ice creams and popsicles we had as kids. Lazy summer days, bare feet and afternoon storms. Good, good times!
Price: R120

Orange T, orange heart, 6 to 12 months

2010-02-03T08:35:00.003+02:00

To kick of the Crazy Aunt Valentine's special (everything with a heart design is less 14% until 14 February), here's an orange T for a little girl.

Price: R85

Red dotty T, red Africa, 3 to 6 months

2010-02-01T09:01:00.002+02:00

I think of my little niece in Durango when I see this top, because it also reminds me of snow. When Karlee and Tina moved back to the States, and Karlee saw snow for the first time, she ran back to Tins gasping "Sugar! Sugar!". Little pumpkin.
Price: R85

"K" Tshirt, 2 to 3 years

2010-01-27T19:32:00.003+02:00

If you've got a kid's birthday coming up, make yourself the most popular grown-up in the whole wide world by giving them a Tshirt with their initial on. Or, how about a number, for their age? Take this from a crazy aunt: kids love this!
These designs are made only to order.
Price: R95 (under 24 months), R100 (from age 2 to 3)

Baby George, 0 to 3 months

2010-01-25T21:31:00.002+02:00

So, this grower isn't for sale because it was made specifically for someone... Ma George will be unwrapping it at her baby shower later this week. But, I thought I'd put it up to show you what a personalised grower can look like. New parents are usually so stoked with having their baby's name on a grower that they dress baby in them when leaving hospital.

Gingham dress, pink heart, 12 to 18 months

2010-01-24T18:29:00.003+02:00

Here's a girly dress for a toddler. It's the only gingham dress I bought, and so the only one just like this in the whole wide world.
Price: R120

Denim sun hat, maroon Africa

2010-01-23T18:13:00.003+02:00

These denim sun hats were so popular last year. The other day, I found a stash of them in a cupboard, and so will be making a few more up over the next couple of weeks.
Price: R50

Stripe grower, blue heart, 3 to 6 months

2010-01-20T17:57:00.002+02:00

A bright, fun grower. Do you think the blue heart makes it look like something for a boy? I'm not convinced... I think a little girl could pull it off too.

Price: R100

Polka grower, pink Africa, 0 to 3 months

2010-01-18T19:42:00.002+02:00

I got my hands on four polka growers in about August last year, and have had so much fun coming up with different designs for them. This, like the polka vest, is the last of what I have. When I find someone to make growers for me, I'll definitely be making plenty with polka dots and stripes.

Price: R100

Polka vest, pink heart, 12 to 18 months

2010-01-16T10:48:00.002+02:00

I was so excited when I found these polka vests just over a year ago. I only managed to get five, and sewed designs onto one every few months. Kinda like a kid trying to make Easter eggs last. Anyway, this is the last of the polka vests - it's been fun!

Price: R85

Stone T, Born in 2010, 0 to 3 months

2010-01-15T08:20:00.001+02:00

A little shirt that's perfect for I-don't-know-what-it-is-yet babies.

Price: R100

Stripe grower, orange Africa, 0 to 3 months

2010-01-14T17:38:00.004+02:00

Here's a bright summer grower for a little lad. Kinda beachy – it might be the blue stripes.

Price: R100

Flower T, pink heart, 6 to 12 months

2010-01-13T09:39:00.003+02:00

Today I've chosen to put up a happy shirt, full of flowers and love and a sense of adventure. I would love to have used an olive green felt for the heart, but haven't managed to find any yet. But - I like the pink!

Price: R85

Born in 2010 grower, red & green, 0 to 3 months

2010-01-11T19:40:00.002+02:00

The "Born in 2010" shirts and growers are really popular at the moment. I'm a huge fan of colour, and really like the combination of bright red and green in this grower, which would be fab for either a boy or girl. I'm busy with a stone and white Tshirt, which looks amazing and if course is perfect for I-don't-know-what-it-is-yet babies. Will post a pic of that on Wednesday.
Price: R120

Polka dress, pink heart, 6 to 12 months

2010-01-10T10:09:00.002+02:00

Okay, so I'm *loving* this little sun dress! I've managed to get a few, in sizes 6 to 12 months, 12 to 18 months and 18 to 24 months. If you'd like one, please let me know asap; I've a feeling they'll be sold quite quickly.
Price: R120

Green stripe grower, blue Africa, 3 to 6 months

2010-01-09T15:51:00.004+02:00

I love the freshness of these colours. This grower is all about summer, and I can just imagine a little boy wearing it while sleeping in the shade of an old tree.

Price: R100

A Bag for Cam

2010-01-06T10:01:00.004+02:00

I made this little bag for my best friend's daughter, Cameron, for her fifth birthday. She loves it! They've just been on holiday in Cape Town, and Cam took the bag everywhere with her (and she especially loved the lipgloss I put inside). I'm thinking about adding bags to the Crazy Aunt range... will keep you posted.

Floral T, green Africa, 3 to 6 months

2010-01-03T21:14:00.004+02:00

I love this little shirt; it's up there with my favourites. I sewed the design one warm afternoon, sitting on our verandah with the pooches and cat at my feet.
Price: R85

Crazy Times

2009-12-29T18:56:00.002+02:00

I'd thought the Crazy Aunt would be taking a break this festive season - but all this sunshine and chill time has had me itching to get sewing. The past few days I've been in my element matching up scraps of fabric and sewing the cutest little handbags for my nieces (I'll post pics soon), market shopping bags for women I can't name here (because they're gifts), and adult Ts for other people who'll soon be receiving their gifts in the post. Man, it's good to be on holiday!

Blue stripe T, yellow star, 0 to 3 months

2009-12-22T11:05:00.005+02:00

This stripe shirt is all about fun, and looks great with denim.
Price: R85

Red striped T, blue heart, 18 to 24 months

2009-12-21T11:19:00.001+02:00

There's something nautical about this little shirt, which has ragged edging around the neck and sleeves. It'd look super-cute with a denim skirt or shorts.
Price: R85

Born in 2010, pink & maroon, 0 to 3 months

2009-12-17T10:10:00.002+02:00

This is the Crazy Aunt's way of gearing up for the football. Actually, this is just the beginning - I've got some fun things planned for 2010!
Price: R120