Last week, Maria bought a 25 cent dress at a consignment shop. It looks great, she just trimmed the hem a bit.

This morning, she proudly announced that she was wearing her “handkerchief dress,” something she made about two years ago but forgot about until today.

I’ve never seen it before.

It’s a perfect dress to wear in a heatwave. She said one of her blog readers sent her the handkerchiefs as a gift and the idea of making a dress out of them took hold.

The only clothes Maria has from retailers are those that I bought her as gifts. The truth is, she makes so many beautiful clothes herself, I rarely buy retail clothes for her at all.

I love the handkerchief dress, it sort of screams artist and summer.  And Maria’s spirit.