Faux-shopping for Fall

Ez at Creature Comforts recently asked us what our faux-shopping lists look like for fall. Here is my list. First and foremost, Autumn is pretty much non-existent in Florida, where I live. So my first wish is for leaves! I love the colors they make and I miss the Northeastern U.S. for this reason. I'm dreaming of a poncho, like this one by A.P.C, which I can layer with a nice turtleneck, and pair of short, flat booties. I'd love a chunky snood (if it were cold enough down here!). For texture, this ethnic, velvet bag from Monsoon is awesome, and I love these Current/Elliott skinny jeans, which are also corduroys! For the smell of the woods, I have (and want more of) this intoxicating Voluspa candle the scent of Golden Cypress. And finally, Gretchen Jones' terrific leather jewelry. Who doesn't want a part of her stunning new collection?

A P C wool poncho, $340; Pringle of Scotland long sweater, $495; Current/Elliott skinny jeans, $190; Monsoon crossbody handbag, £80; Gretchen Jones leather jewelry, $368; Gretchen Jones leather jewelry, $354; Voluspa Maison Candle Tin, $16; Mix No. 6 Aaron Bootie - Black, $50; Buy John Lewis Women Chunky Cable Knit Snood, £30

Creative Candy: Hringa

My birthday is coming up and I got a wonderful early present from my husband at a shop named Hringa in  Reykjavik.

I found this store while my husband was next door shifting through CD's to feed his music obsession. First of all: I usually don't walk into jewelry stores. I usually don't wear much jewelry, and I don't buy it unless something stands out. I rarely find anything that really suits my aesthetic. I think that was the first thing that shocked me about Hringa: there wasn't anything I didn't like in that store. The designs are quite smart.

Inga, the designer and owner, was there to talk to me about the pieces. It was so nice to speak directly to the artist. I really wish there were more local stores in my area where the owners were also the artists. It makes what you buy so much more special.

My favorites included a set of deer head earrings (complete with microscopic antlers), an owl pendant, and these hoops with tiny people standing in them. They are made with sterling silver and the little people used in architecture models. Little things are just automatically more fun, I think.

I love them!

Iceland!

I'm back from my trip, and it was definitely one of the coolest trips I've ever been on. Iceland is a cultural powerhouse with rich knitting, lava ceramics, fabulous jewelry, eccentric and chic fashion, and innovative music. My husband and I traveled there for the Iceland Airwaves Music Festival, which showcases up-and-coming music from all over Europe and the United States with tons of local Icelandic groups. Over the next few posts, I'll be highlighting all the wonderful things we saw while we were there. But first (while I recuperate) an  inspiration board from Polyvore:

Oh yes, and did I mention we saw Bjork in concert from 10 feet away??

Indie Stylist to the Rescue

Hi friends. I've been a little absent lately on account of preparing for my trip to Iceland. I've been knitting a lovely new scarf, and I've also been trying to figure out what I'm going to pack. We will be going to a bunch of concerts and meeting up with some up and coming musicians, so I thought it might be a good time to improve my wardrobe a bit. But the question was: what on earth should I get for a trendy music festival in Iceland??

I've always been a huge fan of www.modcloth.com, but I never really knew how to translate the over-the-top looks in their look books to a more wearable everyday attire. I felt like this site had the kind of vibe I was looking for, so I tried out a ModStylist.

You can chat live or call them. The service is totally free. I told her I like vintage and menswear details. After several questions and answers back and forth, she sent me a whole list of items that could all be mixed and matched into outfits.  Here are the items I picked and I can't wait till they come in the mail. I know they will fit nicely with a lot of pieces I already have.

Kirigami Top

Stay Cool Pants

The Brightest Crayon Sweater

I Want It Olive Dress

She also took my measurements and body type into account, so the sizing should be just right! Now I just need a good pair of boots and some tights and I'm set!

Rorschach Tote

Now you can buy it! New Rorschach totes made by me here.

Hello Creatives! My idea for these totes was inspired by Project Runway Season 9. I have been watching it religiously since the very first season, and the challenge for episode 7 seriously got me thinking about: Ink Blots! This team challenge involved designing fabric, constructing five looks and creating the video for the backdrop. It was pretty obvious which team won, since the other "team" wasted their time attacking each other with senseless drama early on and then ran to their respective corners to nurse their wounds rather than collaborate. But I digress. The theme of the winning team was "chaos" and they chose ink blots as their inspiration. I was blown away by Viktor's gown:

and this dress by Anya:

images from www.mylifetime.com

It got me thinking about the beauty of making ink blots. You can't predict how they will turn out, and different people see different things. It's a nice conversation starter. I started off with some research. The original 10 ink blots in the Rorschach Test with their interpretations can be found here.

Then I set off to my local craft store for supplies. For this project you will need a blank tote, an iron, textile paint, a paint brush, some paper towels, a glass of water, and a piece of cardboard the size of your tote. You might also want something to cover your work surface, unless you love the idea of splattering paint on your family heirlooms.

Start by ironing the wrinkles out of your tote. Then pour (lightly) the textile paint in random shapes across one  half of the tote. Forgive the blurriness: I was trying to pour and take a picture at the same time!

Fold the blank half of the tote over the painted half. Don't press too hard or for too long because the ink will bleed through the back.

Very carefully, unfold the tote. Immediately insert cardboard into the tote to prevent bleeding through.

Now you can use a paint brush to carefully collect the paint, or use paper towels. It is important that you don't have thick pools of paint, because these will dry very thick and you will see them when the paint dries. Wash your paint brushes in water.

Allow your tote to dry for 24 hours, then make sure you follow the directions on your textile paint to set the paint. This will ensure it stays put if you ever need to wash your tote.

Here are the three organic designs I made. I think they are all so different and fascinating.

Apparently I have a knack for making cute shapes even when I'm not trying to. This creature came about purely by coincidence. Now what does this say about my personality and emotional functioning? Hmm...