Today is my first time linking up with the weekly Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop. Gussy Sews is hugely inspirational to me — she’s a Michigan girl living in the Twin Cities, who, after teaching herself to sew just three years ago, now runs a very successful handmade business! Each week she chooses a theme for the Inspiration Workshop, and bloggers everywhere participate by sharing their interpretation of that theme. Gussy says,

This week’s prompt is vintage. Do you have a favorite vintage piece of clothing or accessory? How about a favorite vintage shop? Or is there an old car you admire? The possibilities are endless…

Alrighty, then! Let’s get started. No big surprise that I’m interpreting vintage with a baby flair, right?

Reproduction of Vintage 1930s Girl’s White Cotton Dress

I’m especially drawn to the simple designs from the early 1900’s — the ’10s, ’20s, and ’30s. In fact, a very talented friend handmade Aveline a gorgeous little garment fashioned after a 1930’s dress.

Isn’t it lovely? It won’t fit her until she’s a little older, so until then it’s displayed on the wall in her room.

Vintage 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s Baby Dresses and Rompers

I just love old baby clothes. Have you ever browsed the Belle Heir website? It’s so easy to get lost amongst all the pretty vintage baby things. This 1935 number even has the same kind of pintucks as Aveline’s dress!

Here’s a linen romper from 1910 — such delicate embroidery! (That blue section you see around the goose is cross-stitched.)

Don’t you just love the black stitching on this 1930s peach gauze dress?

I like the subtle addition of color with the striped placket on this 1930s linen dress.

Another 1910-era cotton romper.

Vintage 1930s Knitting Patterns

It’s fun to imagine the little people who wore these outfits. The photographs on vintage patterns, like these 1930s Bairns-Wear Knitting Wools pieces from the Vintage Knitting Lady, give a little peek into what the wee girls and boys might have looked like. I gotta admit the recurring appearance of nuns made me giggle.

Now I’m completely and totally inspired to make Aveline a dress like I mentioned in my creative goals for the remainder of 2011. Off to look through my stack of fabric!