Making Clothes with Stories: Spring cleaning, when friends and family give me things...

Happy Spring!

I've been swamped with freelance projects for about the last 2 months and have spent too much time away from creating and my sewing machine! As hard as it is to step away from my design work, I look back and see that it was a much needed break. I can sometimes get burned out and put too pressure on myself to turnover new work quickly. The reality is that that is not the kind of items I make. 

 When I'm away from my workspace, I day dream ideas with the fabrics I know I have waiting for me. By the time I actually can get back to it, my mind is overflowing with inspiration and I can't wait to begin. 

It's always about the fabrics for me; finding and collecting unique textiles that inspire me, and breathing new life into them. Here's a little spring preview of some of the materials I'm about to dive into.  
  
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Friends and family give me old fabrics and discarded clothes when they clean out their closets, and I love it! I often receive materials in the mail. I love that the people in my life take part in the work that I do, making it seem even more sentimental and interactive.



My friend friend Jessica hunts estate sales with her mom in her native Iowa, and they send me lovely little curated boxes of goodies. I love every little piece in the most recent box!
  

She always includes notes. Handwritten notes are the best, I include one with ever order to my customers. A recent favorite from her was this little silk bundle they found at the estate sale of Lois Rayman, a fifties model and actress.  

Picture courtesy of Cedar Memorial

My favorite is this painterly silk fabric 🙌. 

oh the ideas...

When friends clean out their closet and think of me... I love incorporating denim into my work, and these old Levi's from my friend William will find their way into some new spring ErinElsie pieces. 

While visiting my Louisiana hometown, I collect fabrics here and there. Sometimes from family, old neighbors, thrift shopping with my mom. It's often too much to carry back, so my mom sends little care packages and packs the goodies with fabric. USPS flat rate boxes are the best :)

These items below are from my cousin Jamie, perfect for spring.

I've been collecting a lot of beautiful vintage lace, and I want to try and work them into more modern pieces. This lace comes from a neighbor in my hometown. She owned a fabric store and has passed on a lot of beautiful items to me. 

The last care package I received from my parents came complete with a Rouse's king cake - it didn't last long!

These beautiful embroidered bits came a while back from my Aunt Delsie & Uncle Mike, and I've been anxious to incorporate them into some spring summer pieces. 

Finally time to get back to my lonely sewing machine!

Thanks for stopping by. Hoping you all have a lovely weekend and week ahead friends! Live in Color 🤗!

xo,

     Erin

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For the love of Fabric!

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On this Valentine's Day, an ode to one of my greatest loves, beautiful and unique fabric! 

And then I saw it - peaking out of a rack at a thrift store - this gorgeous, unique chunk of fabric. It was love at first site, a dress from the 70's I surmised. There was this beautiful, crinkled, watercolor fabric with so much potential! The existing dress was quite sad and falling apart at the seams. I had visions of possibilities in my head...!

I love working with denim, and I felt like it would be a fun way to make this piece more wearable and season-less. I envisioned someone wearing this piece as a wrap dress, a casually glamorous swimsuit coverup, or over shorts or jeans etc. 

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I draped, and draped and draped...

Sewed, sewed, hand-sewed and hand-sewed....

I often get attached to the pieces I create and this one was no exception. I sold it as I am typing this post and so guess it is time to let it go to it's new home in Dallas, TX! The love story carries on... 

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This piece is a little bold, but reminds me how we often get intimidated by clothes or just getting dressed, and we shouldn't be! Try rocking some bold colors and/or little glamour in an unexpected way! 

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And as I cannot bear to waste beautiful fabrics, I handmade these pretty earrings out of the remaining remnants :)

shop

Happy Valentine's Day Friends, if and however your celebrate - cheers!

xo,

Erin

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A Farewell to Fall (with an Upcycled, Vintage Tablecloth, Wrap Dress Project!)

A Farewell to Fall 🍁🍂

(with an Upcycled, Vintage Tablecloth, Wrap Dress Project!)

 Of course I would make a dress out of a vintage table cloth...

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving everyone. As the holiday season is here, I thought it only appropriate to share this farewell to fall, upcycling project with you!

I originally picked up this fall-feeling, oversized tablecloth while on a thrifting adventure with my mom in my Louisiana hometown. Pictured above with some of the other fun items from that thrifting trip, you'll hear more about the other fabrics from that trip in spring/summer! 

It was huge and covered in a cornucopia of fall foliage. I immediately knew I wanted to create a whimsical dress out of it! 

 I'm really excited about how it came out! It's a super easy to wear, generously sized wrap dress. While the print is super fall feeling, I think the heavy dose of green would also make this dress beautiful in the spring! The sleeves have a little bit of drama, and are trimmed in recycled denim, along with the neckline. I also tried to use a lot of the original green trim from the table cloth. 

The back has a gathered detail with a generous amount of fabric. It drapes so beautifully. 

Also, change the dress up by wearing it as a statement making kimono.  

Shop this dress

As our harvest season comes to a close, for most, the holiday season is full on. If you're going to be gift shopping, please try to patron makers via online shopping sites like Etsy,  your local shops, or hand-make a gift!

Happy December Everyone! Thank you for stopping by,  

xo,

     Erin 

Also, save 25% Off on all ErinElsie items, like this dress with the offer code KindnessAlways25. Lots of great, one of a kind gift items popping up in my online shop everyday! 

Click here to shop ErinElsie!

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Bed Sheet Beauty - My Latest Upcycling Project!

 Clothes with Stories: Bring on the Sunshine!

I'm in the middle of making a lot of more fall feeling pieces, but the stressful vibes of of the past weeks drew me to this latest project. I halted the other projects, and pulled out this bold yellow fabric that I had previously put away for the season. 

My dear friend Emilia was packing to move to California, and she gave me one of her old bed sheets. She had these fancy, beautiful organic cotton sheets with a rip in them. I think in most circumstances, this sounds super weird for someone to give you their old bed sheet; but not in my world! I love that she was discarding good fabric, and thought of me! Also, I miss her and now I have this little commemorative project. 

The fabric was great, and instantly I had design ideas popping into my head. I wanted the designs to be a little ode to the idea of being wrapped in a bed sheet and I'm excited about how they came out! 

Emilia Sunshine Super Skirt

I love a maxi skirt, and I love the idea of wearing them all year long. you don't have to put them away for the winter - just throw a sweater on top! The waist of this skirt is full of soft and stretchy elastic, making it one super generous size. The slit adds a little bit of sexiness and keeps the bold color and layers of fabric from being to overwhelming.

Click on the images or here to learn more and shop this skirt!

Emilia Sunshine Wrap Dress

It's about to be that time again, where people escape the winter months to enjoy a warm and sunny resort. I hate fussy packing. I love a dress that you can just roll into your luggage, shake it out, and throw it on! This is a perfect resort dress. The generous elastic and wrap style translate into such easy glamour. Throw it on and go from the beach to dinner!

Click on the images or here to learn more and shop this dress!

Also, this reversible top was the first piece I made during the summer and it's already sold! 

Color makes me happy, and I hope it this brought you a little joy too! Keep living in the light everyone!    

xo,

     Erin 

Also, save 25% Off on all ErinElsie items with the offer code KindnessAlways25. 

Click here to shop ErinElsie!

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Coffee Talk & Clothes with Stories

Coffee Talk & Clothes with Stories

Monday!

Hello friends. A new week ahead of us. I like to start off my week with a little positive reflection. Trying to build a creative business can be hard and this keeps me positive in the challenging times.    

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The NYC Marathon!

Sunday was the New York Marathon. What a positive way to kick off a new week. Even though we live in this big city, I often am comforted by a collective camaraderie! From that stranger who held the subway door for me, to cheering on the marathon; we celebrate and accept our differences, support the dreamers, and come together at moments like this! Thanks for the good vibes, NYC. Congrats to the accomplished marathoners from all over the world and country- you did it! 

 

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Clothes with Stories!

ErinElsie is all about clothes with stories. I thoughtfully select and curate unique fabrics and thrifted finds. I love the idea that I am adding to the story of that fabric by turning it into a collectable item that someone will own and cherish. Even better, is when my friends and family contribute by giving me vintage bits and fabrics. It's awesome to get fun packages in the mail that are not bills :)

My Aunt Delsie recently sent me the most thoughtful gift! She made this picture using buttons. She's so creative and crafty! The bonus is the sweet handwritten note.  

This was not the first package my Aunt Delsie and Uncle Mike have sent me and I cherish every little bit. I'm turning this vintage bit, along with some others into collectible pillows. Coming soon!

I turned some vintage blouses they sent me into these bold little summer dresses for my new baby twin nieces. My first effort into little baby clothes-making! 

I also have a box of goodies from one of my dear old friends and creative contributors! She hits flea markets and estate sales with her mom. Although we live far apart now, she'll send me a little curated box of goodies. I always love every item and I can't wait to go through this one. I'll share the details soon!

On that grateful note, have a super week everyone. Thanks Aunt Delsie, Uncle Mike, Jessica, Mom, all the friends who send me things- your inspiration keeps me going!

xo,

     Erin 

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