The weather is officially dreary in Chi-town and the post-holiday slump is coming. The decorations have come down and the new budget is in full-effect, which means one thing: It’s time to re-decorate!
Now, when I use the term I’m not talking about going out, buying lots of new accessories and paint, and cluttering my home with more ‘stuff.’ To me, re-decorate (see the clever use of the hyphen?!) means to take what you already have in your home and re-arrange it for a new look. Continue reading
When shopping this holiday season there’s nothing better than scooping up items that are handmade, vintage or sustainable. Not only does it mean you’re supporting a smaller business, you’re also promoting a greener economy.
With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorites off Etsy. Here’s my own whimsical wishlist:
What’s on your holiday wishlist? Are you dreaming of something vintage or handmade? Share links to your favorites in the comments.
Sir Cycle, definitely my most popular design of the season, is now in stock and ready to ship!
I have several of these super warm and chic men’s hoodies remaining from last weekend’s Renegade Craft Fair. Those of you who are doing your holiday shopping can now skip the wait for a custom order and buy one that has already been created!
Check out my Etsy shop here to scoop one up before they’re gone!
Sometimes all it takes is a special color combo to stir my creativity – and grey and gold is giving me quite the inspiration boost! I love the way the monotony of the first counteracts the cheeriness of yellow hues. Whether in my home or in my designs, this is by far my favorite combo of the season.
You know it’s truly autumn when all your cool weather items are the hit at every event and are being featured on blogs and treasuries. The latest (and I think greatest) of my designs is currently highlighted on the fantastic site “Handmade Men” which sets to bring the handmade lifestyle to online shoppers.
In a feature entitled “Hot Picks! Handmade Hoodies” they included my “Sir Cycle” upcycled cowl hoodie. This is a piece that I handcrafted for a customer’s boyfriend last winter, and it’s since become one of my all-time favorite designs. So I was thrilled that the creation made it into this style savvy site. Be sure to take some time to explore the entire site for more chic and casual handmade creations.
I’m really looking to infuse more prints and patterns into my handmade garments. Not only does it require me to develop this portion of my skills as a designer, it’s also a real challenge as it stretches the aesthetic combinations of my pieces. By adding these re-occurring elements I’m hoping to bring more of a folksy look to my otherwise retro and urban inspired style. The Flirty Flounce is my first in many upcoming ventures to combine a feminine shape, casual cotton and whimsical pattern into one piece.
What I love about this design in particular is the soft peplum flare along the bottom and how it combines with the look of the assymetrical print. The image along the top is hand-stenciled using two different shapes – one which I created myself. I alternated the colors to enhance the ‘textural’ appeal of the garment.
The clothing sample in the photograph above also brings together some of my favorite colors for the upcoming season: teal, silver and grey. Seeing that this piece hits on all my interests and goals for upcoming looks – how could I not have chosen it as the “Item of the Week?”
I have an infatuation with color but am also incredibly indecisive. So when planning out the hues for my new apartment walls I am faced with a dilemma: I have to find something that’s easy on the eyes and on my body for the long haul.
That’s why I love Yolo! Born out of a need for “healthier paint and better color,” the team behind these beautiful shades guarantee zero VOC emissions and palettes to swoon over. Our current apartment dons some impressive hues from the collection. From a pumpkin orange and saturated teal, to a soft grey and delicate blue, the paints dry quickly, are easy to clean and have a nice matte finish.
So when having to choose which brand to go with for the new place, the choice was easy. The hard part though, was finalizing our colors. Even with a list in hand, once we arrived at the Yolo vendor’s store David and I still haggled between each other on final decisions. With lots of hemming and hawing, we finally committed to several shades.
Here is our color palette (see the inspirations and corresponding shades above) for the new digs: Nourish 03, Nourish 02, Dream 04, and Thrive 05.
Shiny Happy*People 
