Camera... and other things

So my beloved point and shoot camera that I bought in a rush before my trip to Europe almost 8 years ago... has sadly seen better days. It did me good and got me started in the right direction. I dropped it on a pub crawl last weekend and the buttons popped off. I got my bonus from last year so I decided to spring for something nice. Nothing extravagant. Rebel XT to be exact. I'm pretty excited.

Until then I've been contemplating moving away from black hair... which has been around longer than the camera haha. Here are some color inspiration pictures to get the imagination going.





There will be pictures of said pub crawl to follow.

water and air

I've been feeling lighter these days. Still indoors awaiting the return of summer. This outfit was not inspired by warmth, as everything is light and airy. I felt like I was wearing a jacket and boots leaving work today... all the same I love the stockings.








I may venture out of doors with a certain someone taking pictures soon... tomorrow??

Just keep on using me 'til you use me up

I have worn this jacket pretty much every day that it has been cold for about the last six or seven years.



Needless to say, it is a little worn... Worn out perhaps? I've been avoiding the thought. It feels like the death of a pet to me... really quite a loss, but inevitable. So like anyone I refused to let it happen! Garment Reaper be damned!!!

So Friday I spent tracing each pattern piece in the jacket and drafting pattern pieces from them and Sunday I spent cutting out and sewing a muslin. I'm just so excited about having another perfect jacket I had to share!

And the coolest part is I can make the sleeves longer! The sleeves on few garments ever are long enough for me. I have monkey long arms... Any way, I also thought of making the collar bigger as well. Thoughts?

Every dog has its day

This morning was overcast in a way that some movies are shot with a filter to leave you feeling cold. As I was getting dressed I had this feeling. I tried a new shirt today. I don't know where it came from, as I don't specifically remember buying it. It has floated from closet to craft room and back again for years and I've never worn it. But every dog has its day... As they say.

I really wasn't sure, as new outfits have a certain apprehension built up around them, but as I was searching for something to add warmth I came across a little cape and the magic happened.

It's comfy and can be worn to work.

I love these pants because they are ankle length so they lend a little bit of awkwardness which I like... I thrifted the boots and they are a mess which I also love. In combination with the shirt I feel a bit like a pirate.

I need a camera with a faster shutter speed. Or I just need to hold a pose...

This is one of my favorite places to take pictures. The clouds burned off and the sun came out as I was taking these. I love the way the light is always so beautiful in the morning and it looks as if I live in a museum...

This was my first and still my favorite picture of the day. My dogs are always so curious as to what the heck I'm doing.

Sancho usually waits very patiently at the edge of the room...

Decemberist

December and the holidays got away from me. I am awaiting the return of the summer sun with great anticipation.






I love the uneven frayed hem of this skirt.

Shirt: thrifted
Sweater: miller's outpost
skirt: made by me
belt: made by me
Shoes: paloma by dv

Frumpy Chic

I am all for a less "put together" look, but there are days where I feel down-right Frumpy, with a capital F. The other day I wore slippers and jeans to work, no hair do, no make up. I was so ill, and Mr. R, bless his heart said I looked cute... "Frumpy chic". Which led me down the fashion imagination path. Is there such a thing? Would it indeed include slippers and a hoodie? Probably not... But I found some "frumpy chic" looks I thought I'd share.

Kate Hudson in a very layered hippie look I adore it, would have been better with a looser hair style...

Eva Mendes in a dress that would have looked good if she didn't have such a magnificent chest... great print and great heels, bad neckline? The guys behind her still look pleased :)

This is my favorite! I want this dress and the height to be able to wear it! Some one said that it looked like she had two saddle bags on her hips, I think the drape of this dress is grand!

This is Lily Cole, she was a model for Rimmel for a long time and then she was "Scrumpy" in The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus. She was honestly my first thought when I heard frumpy chic only because I am in love with gypsy hippie fashion and that movie was visually and fashionably amazing and, well... her character's nickname rhymes with frumpy. Any way, I love this dress, loose and flowy and a great print. I would have gone for a different shoe. It really does make all the difference.

This is not the kind of frumpy we were going for. Nicole Kidman in The Hours... stringy hair, flour sack dress, and a cigarette... not chic. (I bet she's even got slippers on)

So what do you think? Can there be a frumpy chic?

Breakfast...

For the longest time I would sit in front of the computer in an envious daze looking at all the wonderful blogs I read and think of the life I dreamt of, the place these blogs took me. Now that I have achieved a little more of that dream life, I would like to introduce you to some of the blogs that inspire me continually.

This is one that has forever caught my eyes, just because of beauty captured in such a mundane topic. I think the name says it all: Simply Breakfast. It is just pictures and captions of what the blogger had for breakfast. It is gorgeous in its simplicity.

All images courtesy of Simply Breakfast

It really made me think when I looked at this blog for the first time... "Who spends that much time and thought on breakfast?" It was certainly not me when I first started following it. I was lucky if I got out the door with a cup of coffee and my face on straight. It made me think of a life where I would have time for breakfast. An alternate reality where I sit down at a table and possibly have a breakfast that requires a fork. I imagine all the possibilities of a world with breakfast time. I think to myself, "If I had time for breakfast, what else would I have time to do?" Sew more? Write more? Snuggle more? Laugh more?

I love blogs that take me somewhere, show me something new and make me want to do more, even if it is as simple as the act of breakfast. What are some of the blogs that transport you?

Looking forward to spring already?

I am hoping the weather in New Mexico holds out like it has been so I can don these looks now instead of waiting until April...

I love these brown pants...

Flowey dress and big chunky sweaters are my fall uniform.

Socks and peep toes. I'm still not sure how to wear this. This is some inspiration.

Add some tights and a sweater and its winter wear!

...See!

This is my personal favorite.

I love the mix of floral print and different size stripes.

All photos: Club Monaco Cali-Spring lookbook via refinery29

It's a sew along!

I've been participating in a holiday sew along with the girls at the designers lounge that has been mucho fun. We all start with the same pattern. New Look 6723; a very basic party dress. We then all make our own alterations or chose a view, post our progress to the blog each week and then have a fancy dress party afterwards! Yay!

I'm pretty much a week behind in posting this but here you go!








This week's assignment is make alterations and cut out your fabric. Better get to work! Pictures are due tonight at midnight!

wear to start?

Hello all,


I've been away from the blog for so long that it has given me time to think about what it is about other blogs that I love so much and what I wanted mine to be like. I had a hard time deciding where to start. But the blogs I love the most are mostly outfit posts... So we start with the most recent picture I have of me and an outfit post! Enjoy.






Outfit details:
scarf: gift, Steve Madden
sweater: thrifted, old navy
shirt: had so long I can't remember
leggings: Target
shoes: thrifted, Dollhouse

These times are a changin'

Life is good. better than ever. I find more beauty every day and I've been bitten with the urge to share again. Sorry for my absence. Its taken a year to heal enough to open up again.

Hey there!

I've been gone for quite some time and its because I was getting ready (i.e. going insane) for my craft punk Fashion show... And I literally woke up to sew until I fell asleep again. SOOOO.... for those of you that have missed me, I'm very sorry. I still love you all dearly and I promise to give you lots of goodies for the eyes once I get pictures back from ...eerrrmm... who ever was taking pictures that night... ahem...
I only sold two pieces that night so if you see anything you like when I post pics, I'll be setting up paypal and since you are reading my ramblings I'll give you free shipping! Yay!

In other news! Our little family has grown by one and I now have not one, but two furry companions! Meet Fenriz! We found him at the Animal Humane and Just couldn't leave him there. So don't worry you single ladies, there is such a thing as love at first sight!

Here's wishing you a happy Sunday full of pj's and fuzzy snuggles from one you love!

Craft Punk Fashion Show: previous volumes

I was asked to be involved in the third installment of a local fashion show by a friend of my husband’s. I know that I’m in no way really able to consider myself punk, but crafty I am, so I agreed to be involved. I had my reservations about it all, but decided in the end to send in my required submissions: sketches and photos of finished pieces. This was on the 12th of June and the fashion show is scheduled in August… So I’ve been told. I have heard nothing after the initial call for designers and a preliminary email….
I have since halted on all “designing” since I don’t want to be making things specifically for a show that I have no idea whether or not I’m going to be in…
In order to satiate my need for a blogging subject and also to mull this whole fashion show dilemma over I decided to show you wonderful readers Craft Punk Volumes One and Two. Please enjoy…








































Note: I did not take any of these pictures. I do know who did. I don't know who the models or the designers are. These were the pictures available via facebook. I claim no credit for any of this.