Lily Sky Designs

2008-02-29T13:54:00.001-08:00

Here is my Lily doing a little modeling for me and yes she gets paid " with chocolate" it always works. Its not the cheap chocolate either :)

2008-02-29T13:47:00.000-08:00

This is the actually article the egg bib is not mine.............the skulls and tattoos are though.

2008-01-16T11:25:00.000-08:00

Great news...I just did an interview and here is the newpaper article yah........http://www.southtownstar.com/lifestyles/741907,011608at-home-dad.article

Hipster baby movement

Generation X moms put new spin on wear for tots

January 16, 2008

By Howard Ludwig

Let's call it the Hipster Baby Movement. An increasing number of young artists have turned their creative attention toward all things baby. Japanese-inspired baby shoes, burp rags with retro cowboy designs and bibs decorated with hot dogs and bowling pins are just some of their imaginative creations.

Norah Utley, of Berwyn, is the artistic mind behind Sheriff Peanut. She started her company in 2003 and began selling handmade baby gear about a year later. Since then, she has seen a surge of artists making baby clothes and toys.

"You see people making onesies, and they're making money so then others start making onesies," Utley said of the popular infant under garments.

She sells her creations online, at trendy baby stores and hipster craft fairs. These aren't your grandma's craft fairs at center court in the mall. The crowd here is more pierced than pruned. And, you're far more likely to find someone selling a skeleton necklace than a wooden Santa.

Utley attends plenty of these shows and believes Generation X parents are driving the movement. Disenchanted kids who once wore combat boots and inappropriate T-shirts to high school now are having babies and looking to dress them in a way that sets them apart, she said.

Rebecca Kowalkowski, of Chicago's North Side, also sells baby goods to young parents at these funky fairs. She specializes in vintage-style baby clothes and accessories through her company, Lily Sky Designs. The company is named for her daughter.

"With Old Navy and Target, everyone has the same clothes. A lot of moms want some unique clothes, something that someone else doesn't have," Kowalkowski said.

Her handmade bibs cost $9. The designs include a black-and-white bib with human skulls and a bib that looks like the wall of a 1930s tattoo parlor featuring retro mermaids, roses and bannered hearts.

"You just don't want all blue things or pink things. You want to inspire your kids with all different sorts of colors and designs," Kowalkowski said.

She first noticed the baby movement while working as assistant creative director at Vidal Sassoon. The job occasionally took her to London, where she would browse handmade markets for children's clothes in her free time.

"Every time I went, I was able to get a really cool pair of shoes or a really cool shirt," Kowalkowski said.

The overwhelming feedback to her euro baby clothes inspired the creation of Lily Sky 21/2 years ago. Kowalkowski dropped out of the corporate to world to raise her daughter and focus on her own line of baby wear.

Baby stuff is big right now, but Utley has been to too many of these Gen X craft fairs. She smells a fad.

"When I first started doing this, everyone had purses and handbags. Then everyone realized that everyone else was doing that and it all stopped," Utley said.

That's the other thing about my generation; as soon as something gets hot, it's no longer cool.

Howard Ludwig is a former SouthtownStar business writer who traded his reporter's notebook for a diaper bag, becoming a stay-at-home dad. He can be reached at howardaludwig@yahoo.com.

New shoes

2007-11-08T14:24:00.000-08:00

Kimono wrapped shoes, aren't they so adorable!!! I couldn't resist making these from a pattern I bought on etsy.

Big order shipping to Spain.

2007-07-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

Bye, bye "Time for breakfast " dress. This is a big order that I'm sending off to Spain today. That Roaster dress is my husbands favorite and very sad to see it go. I think he was hoping nobody would buy it so Lily could keep it..
His proud of that roaster dress :)

2007-07-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

Check out "What a Mom Wants" blog. As she picks out her favorite bibs from Etsy and I'm one of them! Yeh!!!!!!!!

http://whatamomwants.typepad.com/what_a_mom_wants/attire/index.html

2007-07-18T21:01:00.000-07:00

A Modern twist on the vintage pinafore

Cute reversable Paperdoll pinafore, with black & white gingham on the reverse side.

Vintage yellow buttons and white ric rac to polish it off.

Great to wear as a dress w/ just a diaper or panties. Also with blommers,shorts,skirts,jeans,pants,long sleeve shirts,

Also would be a great smock or apron for crafts,painting and cooking but its too cute!!

custom to order

sizes

12-18m

9-12m

6-9m

3-6m

custom 12-18m pinafore for angboland

2007-06-29T10:54:00.000-07:00

This is custom pinafore that I made for angboland on Etsy and I think that it turned out pretty cute. I love pinafores because they are very versatile. When Lily gets something on it right when we are walking out the door. I can turn it to the other side and we have a new ,clean dress. They are cool and comfy in the summer, even in our 90 degree weather but also great for layering. You can layer with a onesie,shirt,pants,jeans,shorts,skirts,bloomers or with just plain diapers or panties underneath. They wash up great and no need for ironing. I've sold 2 on Etsy so far and have about 5 custom orders from friends so that is a start!

Sears tea towel dress

2007-06-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

I found this great tea towel with Chicago Sears catalog. I was so inspired by all the great tea towel dresses I've seen so I made this for my daughter, not to sell. The back is vintage sheet that I found at my Grandmas and talked her into giving it to me. The buttons, top and trim are vintage too.......................

2007-04-27T11:25:00.000-07:00

Lily Halter - Vintage Butterfly

24m

I made this from a vintage sheet and this is my little Lily 19m

Camo skirt-

I made this from recycled boys camo shorts

2007-04-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

2007-04-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

~My new collection is the Lily Halter top~

2007-04-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

Lily Sky Designs

It's so hard to find baby items that are different and eclectic. I was inspired to stray away from the the traditional baby colors, by adding beautiful rich colors and patterns;using retro,vintage, asian fabrics to help the babies brain development. I brought my love of deep rich colors and textures into my baby's life and she craves it now. I hope your baby will too!

Little Lily