While perusing all the fun things in my blog reader last week, I came across this great post on the awesome blog, No Big Dill. How fun! Create an original piece, using inspiration from children's books. I knew right away I wanted to play. The finished item evolved over several days and several revisions.
I rummaged through books and decided on the Pigeon books by Mo Willems. (So did Christie!) My first grader got a kick out of these books, so we picked up The Pigeon Wants a Puppy at his school book fair last year.
I decided to take the pigeon illustration and replicate it as a fun jacket.
I incorporated thrifted and new items into the design. I started with a cotton button down shirt in blue. The blue is a bit darker than the pigeon in the books, however I wanted it to coordinate with a cute polka dot cotton window panel I already had. I used the polka dot as the lining. I gave it a white ruffled collar like Mr. Pigeon has, a black outline and yellow buttons like his beak. I added a white shash belt and embroidered the first line in the book. "Oh, hello."
It's playful, colorful and not something I would have put together otherwise.
This was a great lesson in learning to look at things differently and taking inspiration from the things I live amongst. 
...and my product tester approves!
