Craftiness! Ribbons and Flowers

Hi there!

My previous post about the lovely flowers of Emerson Made, got me scheming. So Friday after work, I headed over to my most favorite sewing store ever! (I must speak in superlative here.)

Nancy's Sewing Basket is tucked into the north end of Queen Anne, and is truly a treasure chest. Not only do they carry a wonderful assortment of unique fabrics, but they also carry luscious wedding dress fabrics, quality millinery supplies, some vintage items, and of course they have the ribbon room!

The ribbon room is the reason I am writing. It is small and literally packed with the most gorgeous ribbon you will ever see. The woman who works there is a connoisseur of all things buttons, ribbons, and silk flowers. If you live in Seattle, you simply must visit! Next time I go, I will take pictures to share, but really you should go there and see for yourself!

Here's what I brought home . . .

And here's what I made . . .

 My version of the Emerson Made Big Poppy made using advice from 100Layer Cake

 

I couldn't help myself, I had to buy some of Nancy's amazing handrolled silk flowers! I had to! I made them into a sash and tied little green french knots along the ribbon to give it a decidedly springy feel. Sigh.

  

 These are some ribbons I actually bought at Ester's on Bainbridge (another wonderful fabric store). The top one is made by Laura Foster Nicholson and the bottom one is Midori.

I did not have time to use the red poppy ribbon yesterday. I received an urgent phone call from my mother-in-law saying I must drop whatever it was I was doing and come to Salvation Army, because everything was 50% off, even their great antique department. I bought a fabulous faux fur jacket, and antique glassware.

Inspiration! Look and Love!

Look and Love! 

These flowers are amazing! With spring less than two months away and daffodils popping up, I (and most other people living with winter weather) am looking for signs of spring! I love this poppy, and I love her outfit! Simple, comfortable, yet impossibly glamorous. Sigh. 

According to 100LayerCake, these flowers can be made in the comfort of your own home! It looks simple enough. I might try my hand this weekend!

These belts remind me of the sweet belts at Anthropologie. What a wonderful addition these would be to a spring time wedding!

Photos borrowed from: http://www.emersonmade.com/

You Wore What?: Skirts on my Mind

 Daily Dress Up:

week of 1/25/10

When I planned my outifts this week, I seem to have been drawn to skirts and sweaters. I will not bore you with all my original and not-so-original ensembles, but I will share two with you.

These two outfits have several similarities. One being the skirt (obviously), but also the ribbon belts and button up blouses. These outfits feel cozy to me, and this being winter, cozy is just about all I want!!

Row 1:

simple, understated, flirty

worn to teach preschool

Skirt: Gap

Blouse: F21

Belt: Ribbon, Made by me

Ballet Flats: Gap

Cardigan (not shown): Vintage Lacoste

Row 2:

bold(er), colorful, warm

worn to teach preschool

Coat: H&M (2004)

Cardigan: Banana Republic

Blouse: F21

Skirt: Talula

Belt: Ribbon, Made by me

Tights: Hue

Boots: Payless

Necklace: Thrifted

Megan Neilsen

Jessica from What I Wore posted a link for Megan Nielsen's first ever line this spring. It's tiny, but sweet. And going fast!!

I really like these pieces below, and the looks Jessica put together for the lookbook are adorable! See for yourself! And you really should see for yourself!

Golden Years

Hi there!

Lately I have been looking at old photographs of my grandma, Mimi, and dreaming of the 1940s. I have been searching Etsy and Red Light for saddle shoes which I will wear with bobby socks, flowy skirts, and smart cardigans. I was so excited to see that UO is featuring this decade as part of their early spring collection! My mother reminded me that spring is only two months away, so I guess it is alright to dream about a spring wardrobe, right? Here are some pictures I am keeping as inspiration. And yes, that is a shot from A League of Their Own in the middle! I couldn't help myself!

1,3 http://glamourdaze.blogspot.com 2,6,8 urbanoutfitters.com 4, www.etsy.com/shop/fantasyworldheroes
5, http://madonna-gallery.com 7, womeninwwii.com 9, Darth+Bengal via Flickr

Chocolate Mousse and Sassy Skirts

Hi there!

The Mousse:

Inspired by a favorite blogger, Orangette, I made my first batch of mousse! Scary as it seemed, it was easy and tasted delicious! I might even make it again this week. The recipe is here, but I did make some changes. 1) I left out the alcohol and added chocolate extract. 2) I couldn't find (didn't really look that hard) bittersweet chocolate. I substituted semi-sweet chocolate chips. 3) I halved the recipe since there are only two of us in our house. Not that we wouldn't have eaten the whole batch!

                                                                 #1 Chocolately goodness  #2 Heavy on the whip cream  #3 I'm Smiling!

The Skirts:

Over the past few weeks I have been fortunate enough to stumble upon three lovely skirts at astoundingly low prices. Here is my favorite one by Marc by Marc Jacobs. The cut is structured without being to stiff. I love it with this tailored blazer and suede booties, and I am already dreaming of warm weather outfits with this skirt. My other finds include a floral See by Chloe mini and an amazing khaki, high-waisted, ruffled BCBG skirt. I'll be sporting them soon, but in the mean time, check out this lovely Marc Jacobs number!

Blazer: Sashimi, Nordstroms

Skirt: Marc by Marc Jacobs via Buffalo Exchange!

Tights: Cosabella via TJMaxx

Booties: Payless

Headband: J.Crew

You Wore What?

Hi there!


Daily Dress Up: 1/22/2010
Plaid and Print, Animal

We had a cozy dinner with Ben and Mara last night, and after my short, but long week, I decided to forgo heels and skirts for comfort. I really love this plaid, flannel shirt. It's vintage and was thrifted for $3.99. I am also in a bit of love with this coat. It is so soft and warm! How did I brave winter without it?!? All in all, I am not sure this is a cohesive outfit, but I liked it just the same. I would, however, love some feedback! I posted it to my flickr stream, so feel free to comment!

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

PS I made the amazing chocolate mousse from Orangette. More on that later!

Coat: Vintage, thrifted

Shirt: Vintage, thrifted

Jeans: Straight Leg Seven for All Mankind, Nordstroms

Shoes: Chinese Laundry via Ross

Bag: Hobo via TJMaxx

You Wore What?

Hi there!

Daily Dress Up: 1/21/2010

Layers Upon Layers of Comfort

Today all I can think about it coziness! I keep thinking about that "How to" from Lucky on wearing leggings and a puffy vest. If living in the northwest has taught me nothing else, it is that puffy vests might just be the most comfortable (and yes practical) type of outerwear. So underneath my puffy vest I am wearing a turtleneck, a sleeveless cashmere sweater, and a long cardigan. Scrunched, argyle sock and booties made this more edgy than tree-hugger. My hat is from Krochet Kids and was hand crocheted by a refugee woman in Northern Uganda; Pamela is her name. They are an awesome organization doing so much good for people who really need it!

Full Frontal

Making Faces at the Photographer

Hat: Krochet Kids

Turtleneck: ?

Blue Cashmere Sweater: Quicksilver Women

Charcoal Cardigan: Banana Republic

Vest: Nine West

Leggings: Poof via TJMaxx

Socks: Pilfered from Father

Booties: Payless

Bag: Hobo

You Wore What?

Hi there!
The Daily Dress Up 
1/20/10

I am very tired of winter! In fact, I am so tired of winter that I bought a yellow purse on Monday! That will show you, Jack Frost! In truth, I can't complain. It hasn't rained in two days, and I didn't have to wear leg warmers yesterday!

This is a taste of what I wore to work today. I spent about an hour (ridiculous!!) trying to find something to wear. Maybe it is my pasty skin tone, or maybe I just want to wear sweat pants and be under my down comforter. Who knows . . . Or maybe I am pining of this absurdly adorable belt my friend Meghan bought this weekend.

In any case, Happy Wednesday!

Blazer: Shashimi, Nordstroms

Ruffle Blouse: F21

Shorts: Hei Hei, Anthropologie

Tights: Sears?

Boots: Sam Edelman, Nordstroms

Bag: Hobo via TJ Maxx

Earrings: WorldMarket

You Wore What?

Hi there!

Here's a little bit the who, what, wear, from the weekend!

Friday: To See Avatar

My favorite movie theater in Seattle, the Cinerama, is playing Avatar, and I finally succumbed to my husband's pleas to see it with him. Conclusion: It was really good! It was just to pretty! Might be worth seeing, ladies!

Since we were seeing an action movie, I wanted to feel edgy. Here is a photo of what came together. It's hard to tell from the picture, but the red lipstick I was wearing really make the outfit for me!

Jacket: Limited, thrifted

Pants: Nordstroms

Layering Tanks: Banana Republic

Scarf: Gift

Shoes: Paolo

Bag: Balenciaga

Saturday: 

To Spend time with Meghan, eating, and shopping in Portland

Since it's a three day weekend, I thought I'd hop down to visit a best friend in Portland. This picture is rather ridiculous and was taken for my Flickr 365 Day Project. It does paint the picture of a "rainy day in the PNW" outfit. Lots of layers, coat, (boots you cannot see), and warm scarf.

.

Sweater: Banana Republic

Layering Tops: Express, and boutique in Soho

Pants: JBrand

Scarf: Gap

Bag and Coat: Vintage

Saturday Night: 
Dinner with Meghan @ Navarre & Out in Northeast Portland
(see pictures below)
We love to get fancified and treat ourselves to yummy food and lots of wine! 
Navarre was delicious, and cozy. It's bustling but relaxed staff are fun and definitely added to the homey atmosphere. 


I really loved this outfit!  It felt comfy and sexy at the same time. Is that possible? The skirt I've had for year, but the rest of the pieces are relatively new. I wish you could see the fluffy ruffles and gold threading on the blouse. Once again, the red lipstick really made the outfit for me!

Sweater: Etagere, Nordstroms

Blouse: Anna Sui for Target, thrifted

Skirt: Maddy M, Nordstroms

Tights: Target

Shoes: Paolo

Earrings; F21

Pictures of Navaree

Pretty Things to Love

Hi there!

Look what I found, heard about, and loved this week on the internet!

I think a bookshelf filled with these gorgeous books would be divine!

Covers designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith and published by Penguin.

I want this pink petticoat so much my heart hurts! Where could I wear it?

This wonderful blogger inspires me to be pretty and feminine. Her photographs are just lovely, and her
taste is flawless!

Orangette was one of the first blogs I started reading. I still drool over most everything she makes. Seriously. This week I will make her mousse!

And last, but not least, a snapshot of the past. This is my fashionista self at age 3. I am loving the belted mini-dress, with colorful bracelets. Sigh. Smile.

Good Food From a Tiny Kitchen

If you have read the Sunday installment of "Pretty Things to Love," You may have noticed I was going to make soup this week. Well life got in the way of my plans, so tonight we made BibimBap instead. What is Bibimbap you might ask. Well from what I can gather it is Korean for leftovers.

According to what I have read, you take some meat (preferably beef) from a previous meal, cook up some of whatever veggies are hanging out in the fridge, boil some rice, add many flavorful sauces and spices, top with an egg, and voila...Bibimbap!

I used this website to get ideas for sauces, but I really have to tell you the truth. This recipe was inspired by a book I read to my preschoolers. Its illustrations had my mouth watering by the end. However, I closed the book, ate my lean cuisine, and promptly forgot all about the mouth-watering bibimbap. At least until I read HomeRunBallerina's blog this week!

The flavors of ginger, sesame, and soy mix perfectly with the rice vinegar to great a rue that is good enough to drink from the bowl (I did this).  I was light on the spice when I cooked the veggies, the orange blob  on the egg is wonderfully hot chili paste. Also, we did use pork instead of the beef, but it was wonderful! Try it! You'll like it!

You Wore What?

Hello Friends!

Daily Dress up: 1/11/10

Cold but dry days up here in rainy Seattle, mean you have to get outside while you can! Nate and I hopped on a ferry (one of my favorite activities) and headed to Bainbridge Island. The super cute town of Winslow is wonderful to wander around. I found an amazing fabric store that sells a wide array of vintage and new ribbon. Look for new belts in coming days! We also learned that Eagle Harbor Books is hosting Greg Mrtenson of Three Cups of Tea sometime in spring!

This outfit came together in a rush . . . therefore it is not as cohesive as I'd like. The Jacket is BB Dakota, but I thrifted it for $14.99! I wasn't going to buy a coat since I'd bought two the weekend before, but how could I pass up that deal?! The rest of the pieces came together in a "I feel like ruffles. I feel like wool. These socks are cozy." sort of way. It was warm, and it was comfortable. I felt happy!

Skirt: Banana Republic

Sweater: Gap

Ruffled Shell: F21

Socks: Gold Toe

Boots: Sam Edelman

Hair Pin: Anthropologie, gift

Jacket: BB Dakota, thrifted

Glasses: Kate Spade

Pretty Things to Love

Hi there!

 Here are some pretty things hiding on the internet!

This dress makes me want to wear pearls and spin twirls around a kitchen!

I want to make these garlands for Nate's "pig roast/barn dance" graduation party!

This little fabric store in Bainbridge Island made my weekend!

These photographs by Alicia Bock make me happy it is January!

This week we will be eating this soup!

Don't you just want to eat up this little face!

This is my fancy mommy in 1957!

How can you not love this little dress!

You Wore What?

Hi there!

1/9/09

I've been inspired by a favorite fashionista, Second Skin! I love how many of her posts show you different ways to wear the same outfit! See what I came up with below...

This outfit was perfect for running errands on a cold (but dry!) Saturday! I love flannel and I have been wearing a lot of knee sock-boots combinations lately. The amazing, comfy, gray sweater is what I would have worn, had I been hanging out at home. It is from Quiksilver Women. Check them out they go way beyond board shorts and flip flops! The skirt, also from Quiksilver Women, made the outfit a little more flirty than the jeans I had on at first... When I left the house I wore my favorite vintage trench, a recent Etsy purchase. I think I might re-wear this cozy outfit later this week!

Flannel: vintage, thrifted

Skirt: Quiksilver Women

Belt: thrifted

Socks: Target

Boots: Sam Edelman, Nordstroms

Gray Sweater: Quiksilver Women

Grandfather Sweater: Gap

Trench: Vintage Etienne Aigner, Etsy

You Wore What?

Hi there!

1/8/10

Winter Sunshine

My school had our holiday party last night, and I had every intention of going. (hence the outfit posts), but I fell asleep and never really woke up again! Lame!

I am trying to be better about color in winter, so I threw on this zipper-front, yellow skirt and deep purple booties. I wanted to be dressed up but not too fancy, since the party is at my boss' home. The jewelry is my favorite part of this out fit. The clip-on earrings and necklace (pendant can also be worn as a brooch) were handed down from my grandma, Mimi. They belonged to my great-great aunt Louise. I love them, but don't wear them often. You can see in the pictures that there are a few stones missing, but I don't mind.

Next week I am aiming to bring a piece color into my outfit everyday!

T-shrit: Gap

Skirt: Sears (clearance rack for $4.99)

Tights: Target?

Booties: Payless

Jewelry: Vintage

You Wore What?

1/6/09

Daily Dress Up: Here Me Roar!

Hello friend!

Some of my favorite bloggers, fashion and otherwise, post pictures of themselves in their various outfits. I love this! I am inspired to dig deep into my closet and actually wear the clothes I own! Novel, I know. So this is my first dabble in the fashion blog world. Here goes!

Worn to: work, my preschool girls think this coat is "fancy pants"

Jeans: Seven for all Man Kind

Coat: Vintage, Thrifted (I'm obsessed!)*

Hat: Found on the side of the road in Ballard

Shoes: Paolo from Nordstroms

Lipstick: YSL #18, gift from my Mother in Law

*I love, love, love this coat! I wish I could sleep in it; it is that cozy! I know leopard is not everyone's favorite, but there is some thing insta-fun about this piece. I scavenged it under wanting eyes this past weekend. If I am not wearing it, my puppy is trying to sleep on it!

New Year!

With a festive and friend-filled ending of 2009, we started a new year!

My lazy holiday was spent making resolve to get off the couch tomorrow and write some resolutions! They will include:

~making time to be outside everyday

~keeping a gratitude journal

~reading the books that are stacked on my nightstand

~making sure the people i love know how much i love them

~making more time for myself

I hope that everyone has recovered from their festive nights and is enjoying the gift that is this new year! Here's to a happy, healthy, and peaceful 2010!

Below are some scenes from last night!