I was reading this post from Jenna of Whimsy & Spice yesterday and I realized I don’t have a style muse. As you know, I’m craving a new look but I’ve no clue what I want that look to be. I just go blank. I’m beginning to feel as though I’m having a bit of self-identity crisis over here. I’m sure in part it’s to do with the fact I turn 33 in a few days and can’t help but feel that I should have all of this figured out by now. I should right? Please say no and make me feel better.
So I need some inspiration. Like now.
Who is your style muse? A fashion designer? A celebrity? A fellow blogger? Give ‘um to me ladies.
Artwork Copyright: Kate Gabrielle of flapperdoodle
February 17, 2011 //
Filed under: Fashion
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Tagged: life, style
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It seems I’m craving a lot of makeovers lately. Not only do I want one for myself but it was time to give my blog one too. I like to do it at least once a year, and while last year it was a little extreme (goodbye old blog), this year it’s was just a matter of aesthetics.
As with most things, it’s a work in progress and there are a few kinks I need to work out. The new design was supposed to part of a more expanded web presence but there’s still a lot of work to be done before it’s complete. However, knowing I had a new design just waiting made me look at my old blog design with a little distaste. So, I’m just launching the blog component for now and will slowly add the additions over time.
I do hope you like it and if you experience any funky stuff, please let me know in the comments. I am aware of most of the kinks but haven’t had a chance to preview this on a PC and on the dreaded Internet Explorer! ;)
To celebrate the new look around here, I’m offering my blog readers a shop discount. If you fancy yourself some modernemotive goods, simply enter “newblog2011” in the coupon code field when you check out on Etsy for 20% off. Offer is valid until Tuesday, February 15th, noon EST.
Happy Friday folks!
Artwork Copyright: Mary Kate McDevitt. The print can be purchased in her Etsy shop.
They chew everything. Thankfully, most of the areas she has put her mark on are minimal, fixable or hidden. Sadly, the remote wasn’t so lucky.
I can’t help but laugh now when we lose another button. It’s a mighty fine day for her when we forget to put it somewhere safe and it’s left for literally 30 seconds. It’s like she has a six sense for when it’s out in the open and she immediately goes in for the kill.
We’ve tried everything for the chewing. Wiping areas with lemon juice, vinegar and apple bitter spray. She doesn’t care. Ooh, lemon juice? Yum. Vinegar. Even better. And apple bitter spray just seems to be the icing on the cake on any piece of wood for her. So much for that idea.
It’s a good job she’s so damn cute!
Stella has many funny quirks. She has a bit of an obsession with beer. If I’m sat having a drink, she’ll casually lick the glass and slowly try to make her way to the top unnoticed. Yah, not gonna happen. If I have a sip, an immediate flurry of licks to my lips is required.
She also begs for food. Good luck trying to eat anything when she’s around. She’ll come out of her hiding spot and bug you like a dog would. Shew her away and she’ll just come back. When I get her a carrot or some lettuce for a treat, I’ve barely left the kitchen and she’ll come running towards me ready for the goods. Girl likes to eat!
She really is a sweetie. Perhaps one that chews but we love her anyway.
So I finally let the 6 huge bags of clothing I had put aside for donation to actually, you know, go to a charity. They have been ready to go since late summer, but I held onto them just in case. It’s quite embarrassing how many of the items donated were never worn but I’m happy some less fortunate ladies out there will get to wear them instead. With so many clothes donated, you could say my current wardrobe is very limited. And if I’m honest, for the most part, very blah! I feel like I’ve been stuck fashion-wise for a long time and I just need a new style.
So, I think once Winter is over, I’m going to donate most of what I have left. Figuring out what direction I’d like to go in fashion-wise is a whole other matter but I do know I need to “fem” it up a bit, do less casual and get my arse out of jeans 24/7. I think I’ll start pulling together outfits (which I’ll share here) to see if one naturally forms. Do you consider yourself to have a style? What would you call it?
In anticipation of figuring what direction I’m doing to go in fashion-wise, I also want a new haircut. I’ve worn it mid-length and straight for years and I’m bored. I’m not one of those girls that has the patience to spend much time on her hair – though perhaps I should – so it’s easy to stick with what I know works. But I’ve had enough and need something totally new. Right now, this cut has my attention. My hair on occasion has a natural wave to it and I think on those days, this cut would still work don’t you?
I also plan on enlisting my makeup artist friend to give me some application lessons. Because yah, I’m needing some help there too.
Jesus, tell me I’m not the only 30-something year old that feels as though she needs help in all of the above departments. Are you craving a whole new you too?
Photo Credit: Unknown. If anyone knows the credit for the photo, please let me know so I can add it.
February 7, 2011 //
Filed under: Etcetera
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Tagged: life
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Say hello to the new additions to the family I mentioned last month. Here’s a sneak peak at Arthur the golden retreiver and Stella the dwarf angora rabbit. As I’m having every technological issue under the sun today, it’s just a quick post for now, but I’ll be back with a more official introduction soon.
Happy February everyone.
Striped attire I’m currently wearing…
These boot slippers from Joe Fresh are the best. The fact that they are gray and white just make them even better.
Next up are some fingerless striped mittens I knitted for myself for use around the house. With the bitter cold we are having, having these alpaca yummies wrapped around my hands is much welcome. For those knitters out there, I used the Endpaper Mitts pattern from Eunny Yang.
And, to top it off, these blankets I found via Bre of Scout Catalogue (blog post here) have caught my eye too. Give me a snow fall, a comfy couch, a cuppa tea, a chick flick and one of these to wrap myself in and we’d have a perfect day around here.
The blankets are made by Mex Chic and can be found here.
What are you currently obsessed with? On a stripe kick too?
Photo Credit (blankets): Mex Chic
January 24, 2011 //
Filed under: Etcetera
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Tagged: etsy, love
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I don’t know about you, but winter is kicking my arse right now. I used to love winter, yet the past few years, this particular season has been pushing me into hibernation mode overkill and if I’m honest, is feeding my already slightly depressive state. The only reprieve seems to be on the days when we get pretty snowfalls and this year, they have been rare in Toronto.
Of course, I could make myself get outdoors but seriously, today is -30 with the wind chill and so it ain’t gonna happen. The rest of the week doesn’t look pretty either and as I’m still fighting a cold, indoors is the only place I want to be. So, I am going to look for ways to break myself out of the doldrums within my home and get myself away from the computer. Here’s a few things I hope to accomplish over the coming days:
- Sew pillow covers for the inserts I bought MONTHS ago.
- Bake bread. It’s been too long and I’ve been promising J some for a long time.
- Break out the watercolor paints I bought YEARS ago but haven’t used as they intimidate me. Start small Adele. No one is judging you but yourself.
- Finally call the charity I’m donating a bunch of clothes too. I purged my closets late summer and the bags have been living in my spare, unused bathroom.
- Take more photos of the new furry additions to the family.
- Pick up my knitting again. I still haven’t finished this scarf though I did finish the mittens.
- Clear away/reorganise the clutter in the spare bedroom. I find a good organization session is good for the soul, don’t you?
It’s a small and simple list, but it’s a start.
How about you? Feeling the winter blahs? What do you do to feed your soul at times like this?
Photo Credit: Jeanette Svensson
January 23, 2011 //
Filed under: Etcetera
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Tagged: life, ugh
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I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought about writing a post over here and my mind has promptly gone blank. But, rather than continue in silence, I’m just going to jump back in and say hi.
While it’s a little late to wish you all a wonderful Holiday and Happy New Year, I do hope you all had a wonderful time. Many things changed over here and some of those changes may include the addition of a puppy and a rabbit. More on them later.
And to my new subscribers (ironically I had a big jump while gone), welcome and please do say hello. I don’t bite I swear.
January 20, 2011 //
Filed under: Etcetera
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Tagged: life
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I love the days when it’s so overcast out I can turn on the fairy lights around my windows and feel the spirit of the Holidays.
I love the days when the ideas/thoughts that stumped me 24 hours prior suddenly become completely clear and I know exactly what to do.
I love the days when I find my groove and do a days worth of work before noon so can call it a day if I so choose without feeling guilty.
I love the days when the only clothing that seems fitting is my PJs and I don’t feel like a total bum because of it.
I love the days when I know I should probably do more cleaning around my home but the neat freak in me says fuck it.
I love the days when I feel so utterly and completely content.
Today is that day.
November 25, 2010 //
Filed under: Etcetera
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Tagged: life
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As I mentioned last month, I recently accepted my first wholesale order and I’m so happy to finally share the details with you.
The store is called Twelve Chairs and is located in Fort Point, Boston. Founded by Roisin and Miggy, who met in university while majoring in Interior Design, the store opened its doors in September 2010. I am truly honored to be stocked in their beautifully curated store. The list of vendors include Rifle Paper Goods, Hammocks & High Tea, Suzy Jack, Pigeon Toe just to name a few and I’m beyond thrilled to be alongside such amazing artists. Pinch me please!
Aside from the above, I’m also thrilled the core philosophy behind Twelve Chairs is a commitment to the environment. Offering eco-friendly products has always been at the heart of modernemotive, so this partnership couldn’t get any better for me.
“Twelve Chairs goes beyond offering beautiful products that are socially and environmentally responsible by integrating sustainability and stewardship into our day-to-day practices.”
I could go on and on about how much I love this store. The esthetic is stunning and I wish I was close by so I could visit in person. So for now, I’ll have to make do by browsing the photos of their location.
Beautiful isn’t it? If you a Boston local, be sure it pay them a visit.
P.S. Accepting this wholesale account was certainly the push I needed to finally get my wholesale availability up and running. I’ve been very fortunate to get a fair bit of interest in my work without actually approaching any stores myself. There’s lot of reasons I stalled on this, which I will eventually write about, but my 1st to-do in 2011 is fulfilling existing interest from retailers and approaching some myself. Stay tuned.
Photo Credits: Twelve Chairs
Did you know I was a knitter? Knitting has been an on/off hobby of mine for years now. Trust me, my yarn stash proves it as it’s out of control. I typically fire up the needles in the Fall/Winter when the warmth of wool or other yummy blends (alpaca is a personal favorite) are most appreciated. Gone as the days were I knit sweaters. I’d knit them, wear them once and then they’d get lost in the back of my closet to never surface again. So, these days all I knit are small items such as scarves, hats, and socks.
I can now finally add mittens to that list. I’ve been saying I will knit myself some for years and now I can finally strike it off as done. Well, almost. I just need to knit up the thumbs.
The pattern is Lychee Mittens from Kate Gagnon Osborn (Ravellers, the pattern is here). Super easy and fast if you’re looking for a quick knitting fix. I knit them up in Jaeger Luxury Tweed which is a Merino/Alpaca blend. The colorway is Pebble. They are so, so toasty and I am sure my hands will appreciate them when the cold sets in.
Rather than wrap up the thumbs, I cast on a favorite lacework scarf pattern – Knotted Openwork Scarf (Ravelry link) to see me through the 2 hours of TV I had planned. I used the same yarn as the mittens so I can wear them together. I’ve used this pattern twice before but both those scarves have seen better days so it was time for a new one. It’s a little hard to see the pattern in the shots below but once it is blocked, it’ll open up the lacework and be less condensed. Just wait and see.
Yah for knitting season!
What about you? Have any hobbies separate from your regular old day to day?
P.S. If you’re a Raveller too, you can add me here.
I’ve been wanting to do some one color work for a while now and I thought my 2011 Desktop Calendar lent itself perfectly to this project. Black and white seemed like the only option. Perfect for minimalist interiors.
I plan on using this version around my own home.
What do you think?
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