A child’s portrait.
A classic tradition. Each made by hand.
Made by Day silhouette portraits are fabric heirlooms, drawn from a photograph of your child and built up in layers of fabric and hand embroidery. Each one is made to order, made once, and made to last.
Not a print. Not a digital file. A handcrafted object.
The silhouette portrait is one of the oldest forms of portraiture — popular in the 18th and 19th centuries precisely because it captured something essential without requiring an elaborate sitting. A good silhouette is immediately, unmistakably a specific person.
These portraits work the same way. Your child's profile is cut in deep-toned fabric and set on a white oval, framed by a printed floral ground. The result is quiet and graphic at once — the kind of thing that looks at home above a crib, on a gallery wall, or tucked into a shadow box.
Every commission begins with a photograph. You send it; I do the rest.
Three sizes, one heirloom.
Each portrait is cut and stitched by me in Richmond, on your choice of hand-picked designer fabrics. Mounted on archival board and ready to frame. A 50% deposit holds your spot.
Choose your portrait
Choose your print.
Four designer fabrics, each chosen to sit behind your child's profile. Not sure which? I'm happy to help you decide. Have a different fabric in mind? Let's talk.
Willow Branch by Liberty of London
Buckingham Gardens by Liberty of London
Curio Books by Rifle Paper Co.
Palace Crowns by Liberty of London
Also Available: The Shade
The original name for a silhouette, and the simplest way to have one. Your child's profile and a white oval on your choice of print. No embroidery. Mounted and ready to frame.
One drawing makes as many as you need, so extra copies for grandparents are easy.
Cabinet (5×7) $95 · Gallery (8×10) $135 Additional copies from $55/$75
How it works
What makes a good photo?
You don't need a professional photo, just a clear profile. Here's what works best:
A true side profile (not three-quarter), with chin level
A plain background, like a blank wall or a door
Head, neck, and shoulders in the frame
Good light, with no harsh shadows across the face
Hair worn as you'd like it captured — pulled back or loose, both work
Any phone camera is fine; the photo doesn't need to be high resolution
If you're not sure whether your photo will work, send it anyway. I'll tell you honestly.
Come say hello.
See the portraits in person and book a commission at the table. Market bookings get 10% off.
Reserve your spot
I take a small number of commissions each season.
Christmas orders close November 15.
Spots are held by inquiry. There's no payment until we've confirmed your photo and agreed on the details. Then a 50% deposit secures your place.
I spent years as an art historian studying beautifully made objects — how they're constructed, what makes them last, why they matter.
These portraits come from that same place. They're not novelties. They're not fast. They're the kind of thing made once and kept for generations.
If that's what you're looking for, I'd love to make one for you.
