Free Range Baby is home...

Japan was amazing, Japanese fabric was incredible, two weeks of Spring before heading into Autumn and Winter was beautiful and magical...

Now back to work! I have 5kg of Japanese fabric and my mind is bursting with new ideas for a very limited edition 'Kawaii' collection. Kawaii is Japanese for cute, and you hear it a lot in Japan, since it really is a country brimming with cuteness!

Stay tuned, I'll be posting little snippets of what I'm working on leading up to the release in late May.


KAWAII COLLECTION: AVAILABLE ON ETSY & FELT SHOPS FROM MAY 30th

Free Range Baby in the land of cute

Free Range Baby is currently in Japan, so we are unable to take orders.

Our online shops will reopen on the 22nd of April with some super deals and lots of brand new cute little numbers. We will have a new range of dresses, jeans, leggings, lovely snuggly winter coats and our fantastic new screen printed tees. Merino gears will be arriving on the scene early May, along with a touch of Japanese fabric!

Tee Time!

Yes they are really here, I picked up my tee shirts from the screen printer today! Actually to be more accurate, I picked up the front pieces of my tee's, I still have to cut the rest and get them sewn up! But still very exciting, they will be available really soon.

We are going to have some organic cream and grey marl.
Plus regular cotton in red, blush, blue, lemon, tan and cream. And to mix things up even more there will be mix of tee's printed in either Black, Green or Red.

Stay tuned...

Till then check out my little friend Eli sporting one of the very first tee's.

Blogging guilt mosaic..

Here is a little preview of the creations that we have been turning out recently at free range studios. It is the height of crazy market season here, with the new waterfront markets in full swing and 2 Martinborough fairs just around the corner.

We have lots of new toys in the toy box and an adorable little model called Eli, sporting the brand new free range baby tee's, not to mention lots of new dresses and overalls.

Where have I been...

Market season in Wellington has cranked into full speed in the last month, with back to back weekend fairs. Such fun, but I'm afraid it has been keeping me off line as I've been so busy sewing.

There are new hats, cranes hatching all over the show and the sweetest range of new girls dresses. I'm working on t-shirts with the help of my fabulously talented partner Rich, which I'll be showing off to the world really soon... watch this space.

A Trifle matter

If you haven't heard already there is a great new online source of fabulous goodies for little ones called Trifle Shoppe where Free Range Baby has its own little store. Here you can find a range of products, lots of them made locally in New Zealand and Australia. The site is the brain child of the fabulous Louise who also runs Skout trade fair that brings together designers and photographers across a range of areas.

Fun Browsing and Shopping!

Vintage Spring... by Peta Mazey

a very vintage spring - as photographed by Peta Mazey

Over the weekend the amazingly talented Wellington based photographer Peta Mazey snapped these shots of this little stunner sporting some of the new spring Free Range Baby treads. Thanks Peta!

Etsy front page

Very excited to find that in the early hours this morning, while I was sleeping, I made it to the front page of Etsy. YAY.

Ok, back to craft2.0 prep... don't forget to stop by the new dowse in Lower Hutt if your in the Wellington region this weekend.

Pet Pocket Pinafores galore

Free Range baby has an extensive range of brand new pet pocket pinafores in sizes 3months up to 3years. They are a mixture of fun and playful fabrics in all tones from autumnal beauties to sweet & summery. Here is a preview, these little numbers will be up in the shops over the next few days.

Free Range Baby - The catalogue

See the side banner for a link to our latest catalogue, featuring sweet little Pippi & baby Leo in the best of free range baby wares.

Bubbles for summer

Summer rolls around again really quickly when you are working in both hemispheres at the same time! So while we are busy cutting out lovely vintage woollen coats, we are also putting the finishing touches on the latest and best ever set of super sweet vintage bubble suits.

Pippi, a free range baby

Wrapped up in Free Range Baby winter wears little Pippi and her gang of stuffed friends hit the parks and the beautiful coast line of Wellington yesterday. With 3 cameras on hand and a professional clown in tow we snapped for hours, with some super sweet results.

Thanks so much to Pippi, Justine, Daniel and Rich, you guys are awesome.

1000 pictures to sort and edit, but here is a preview.

Pippi & friends, getting ready for a day out at the park
Pippi wearing autumn daisy pet pocket pinafore and holding a GIANT pukeko softie

A little note on the new arrival

The latest free range baby dress was inspired by the little peach number, modelled by none other than yours truly and created by my mum, circa 1985.

The new arrival

Due to demand, free range baby has just added a brand new style to the range.
The latest edition is a little dress, all puffed and pleated and utterly sweet.

Here is a sneak peak at the very first one

Quilt it!

Warm things up even more with the quilted version of the free range baby winter coat! Super sweet and oh so snugly!

Winter Warmer: the long coat

... and here is the first of the lovely long woollen coats. This little number features the hood (there will be collared versions too). It's fully reversible too!

Our coats will be up for sale on Felt & Etsy from the 1st of May.

Publish Post

Getting Chilly...

Here is the first peek at the free range baby winter coats.
We are making two styles, the long and the short, with either collars or hoods. And as usual we will have oodles and oodles of fabric options to choose from.

These are the shorties... long coats on their way really soon


... These little gems and many more will be finding their way into the online shops over the next week.

Busy Busy...

Down at the free range baby studio we are working on earthy autumnal shades and dreaming up snuggly woolen winter coats. And trying, even as the weather gets chillier, to think about spring springing and summer on its way in the Northern world!

Glorious seasons!

Special tee

A series of genuine handmade tee's, created using remnant & vintage fabrics. All sewn by happy sewers @ Free Range Design studios in Wellington, New Zealand to the highest standards and made to last. They are limited editions so snap them up here while they last!

Sneak Peek

PLEASE CLICK FOR DETAILED IMAGE

Here is a sneak peak into free range baby's fabric stash - the product of endless hours trawling op shops far and wide! There is a fantastic range of drill weight vintage cottons that I can't wait to turn into little wears for the cooler months that are approaching.

Check out more fabrics currently available @ freerangebaby textiles 09

Butterflies and Bows

Free Range Baby sweetens up for the summer months with these little party frocks!

They feature gathered 'butterfly' sleeve and pleats and bows. Check these dresses and more out @ the free range baby etsy store (or follow the link to one of our online stores)

Beautiful Miller

Last month I got to hang out with an old school friend and her precious little girl Miller... I took these photos of Miller frolicking in her garden with her classic new zealand buzzy bee and her pet rabbit.

Martinborough Madness!

I'm currently sewing flat out for this Saturday, when Free Range Baby and I will be making our first ever appearance at the Martinborough fair!


Come and visit

Bubble Bubble Bubble

Summer has finally arrive! To celebrate the sun shining and long days at the beach free range baby has recently started producing a brand new super vintage summery number ...

the bubble suit

We are making these up in a range of colours for boys and girls, with lots of nautical themed numbers. They are available is sizes 0-3, 3-6 and 6-12months.

Check them out on our online store, pop into Swonderful in Wellington or contact vic@freerangebaby.co.nz for a custom order.

Pocket pet overalls

So, here they are at long last! Photos of some of the latest Free Range Baby classic pet pocket overalls. These little numbers are currently available in a range of funky fun fabrics, including cord, drill, plaid and with lots of vintage novelty cottons.

Check them out in our online store or if you are lucky enough to live near one of the fabulous shops that stock FRB.

Swonderful
Wanda Harland
Nuddy

Everyone loves world sweet world

I just wanted to make a quick shout out to the folks at WorldSweetWorld. If you haven't heard of these guys you are really missing out. They have a fantastic blog and the most beautiful magazine around... that just happens to have a tiny snippet on free range baby this issue, as well as all the other regular inspiring treats. I'm super proud of my fellow Wellingtonians and Sustainably minded crafting kin.

Chase down a copy of World Sweet World issue 3 today, and get the back issues too, promise you wont be disappointed!

Spring time pinafores galore

Free range baby classic pinafores with pocket pets are now available in a new funky fresh spring time collection. Check out the new stock @ Swonderful (now located on Victoria Street in Wellington CBD), Wanda Harland in Petone and online @ Felt & Etsy.

Not to worry boys, matching pet overalls are on their way!

Giraffe obsession

My obsession for giraffes continues. The latest item to feature a gorgeous vintage illustrated giraffe is this lovely pair of green vintage overalls. They now belong to little Eva, but this style of pleated overalls will be a regular feature in the free range baby line from now on.

Spring cranes - newly hatched

two members of the free range crane flock. many many more about to hatch

Latest wears from the free range baby waredrobe

Lined bonnet, vintage inspired suspender style overalls and striped elephant tee... just some of the brand new free range wears that found homes during the Knack market held over the weekend.

Pinafores and Overalls

These pet pinny's and overalls are free range baby classics, great staples in any wee ones wardrobe. They are available in standard or New Zealand themed and both varieties available in a wide variety of fabrics.

Standard pet pinny's and overalls come with free range chicken pet and New Zealand themed outfits feature Kiwi, Tui and Pukeko pets.

Overalls are available in shorts or longs, both feature convenient inside leg snaps.

Available in Sizes
6-12m
1-2years
2-3years

$48-56NZ each.

New kimono inspired spring jackets

These little numbers are a remake on my original free range baby tops.
Featuring vintage cotton outer, applique, contrasting banding and super snuggly cotton lining. Fastens with professional resin snaps.

Each of these are ONE-OF-A-KIND

$30each
size: xs newborn - 5-8lbs

Orange Zebra, and Mustard Bumble Bee

Here are the latest romper and hat sets. These baby basics feature reverse applique detail and animal styled hats.

Cotton/Lycra stretch
Resin snap crotch

Available in sizes
0-3m
3-6m
6-9m

$48NZ each

Welly Craft Markets - coming soon

I'm busy preparing lots of exciting new free range wears for Craft 2.0 , the fantastic indie craft show that takes over the New Dowse in Lower Hutt every once in a while. This is happening again on the 19th of July, so if you are in the Wellington area come check it out.

A little further down the track is my favourite local crafty event, Knack08. Not on the scale of craft2.0, but heaps of fun and you get a peak inside the wonderful community the operates around the Berhampore School. Next Knack 2nd of August @ Berahampore School, 105 Britomart Street (off Adelaide Road).


(update... picture of free range baby stall and me @ craft2.0)

Space Rangers

Spring time coats

Bring on spring time! It's been pretty hard to contemplate warmer weather while in the depth of an especially bitter Welly winter, but I'm starting to mix in some spring weight coats with the quilted variety. Here's hoping we might be able to do away with a few layers some time in the not too distant future.

This is my favourite new coat. All the spring coats are fully reversible, and come in plain, hooded or collared varieties.

Available in sizes 6, 12, 18months

construction of a farm yard coat

I spent the day cutting out a big new batch of coats. This is my favourite. Another Palmy Op. shop treasure is being turned into a quilted coat. I adore this print, orange, brown, animals and retro, what better combination could there be? Perhaps the african themed fabric I have in the same style.

This was my second attempt at quilting fabric, although I have now realised that I need to quilt the fabric after I cut out the pieces and insure that the batting is smaller than the outer fabric. Otherwise I end up with seams so thick that the poor little person inside the coat would be stuck like a statue, unable to move. It's going to be a case lots of unpicking and re quilting, oh well, all will be nutted out come #3!

Gorgeous vintage buttons too!

Watch this space for the finished product