May 4, 2008
May 2, 2008
Please Note: this is the last post I will be publishing at this address (https://elegantmusings.wordpress.com). Please adjust your feed subscriptions and bookmarks to point to the new blog. Thank you!!
My printer has been humming away lately. I’ve been doing loads of research into various areas of graphic design lately. I’m not one of those people who likes reading long articles on my computer (perhaps it’s because I do spend so much time staring at the screen!). Now I have a stack of papers next to my desk. Scribbled and highlighted. Reminds me of prepping for a research paper!
I also printed off something much less… wordy: the Ruby shorts from Burda Style! Confession time: I hate wearing shorts, but they are a nessecity in the hot and humid Virginia summertime. Last pair of pants I tried creating totally crashed and burned too… So this is Casey Going Out on a Limb! But I bought a red, stripy (yay! I know, I’m obsessed with stripes–and red.) material at JoAnn’s the other day. I think I’ll use a fun vintage print for the facing and turn it to the outside so they’re a little more interesting than the usual shorts-fare. But we’ll see how this goes… Not sure when I think I’m going to have time to sew these; life has just been far too hectic lately! lol.
a cute idea for really saving your pennies!
I love these stylish, diy shelves
the perfect “flea marketing 101” guide!
this space is inspiring me with it’s vintage whimsy!
allison’s photography is breathtaking!
how to clean vintage linens, part 1 and 2
freelance management (specifically for graphic designers, but I think can apply to anyone!)
vintage sewing manuals–galore! [ source ]
amy’s adorably fun take on the traditional clock-face
What are your plans for this weekend? I hope you’re doing something fun, and relaxing! I’ve got a packed weekend… all kinds of fun and games, and little plans here and there for all sorts of excitement!
May 1, 2008
Happy May Day, my dears! Hurrah for May! I love May more than any other springtime month… and it’s not just because my birthday is nestled in. hehe.
The weather and general excitement over the springishness is causing me to contemplate season-appropriate accessories. Rhiannon posted this beautiful photo a month ago. It’s been stuck in my mind ever since! I used to wear flowers in my hair occasionally, but during the wintertime I generally don’t–mostly because I think I’d look rather ridiculous traipsing through snow with a flower stuck in my hair! lol.
The other day I was in Michael’s during a routine “eraser-run” for my always-sketching sister, and spotted their single-stem florals were 50% off. So of course, having spotted some pretty silk flowers a few weeks ago (and not wanting to pay full price), I snatched up a few picks; two “gigantic” and a stem of small, red flowers. I snapped the heads off (eek! lol), was happy to discover that they actually glue together the layers of silk flowers now (so they don’t pop apart like they used to when you pulled the wire stems out), and trimmed down the plastic connectors.
[ its a snap! ]
I glued them all to clip-style barrettes (tip: open the barrettes before you glue the flowers on), and used hot glue to attach the flower heads to the barrettes. I know some people use oversized bobby pins instead of barrettes, but I’ve always had a hard time with those sliding out of my hair over time. For under $5, I have five floral barrettes to embellish my hair-do’s! I am definitely dying to wear the large flowers soon–they’re so dramatic! I think, however, I do need to make some in other than pink or red–I have a tendency to get “stuck” on just those hues when it comes to selecting flowers! hehe!
So, now that I’ve dragged you through the tutorial portion of this post, it’s time to get to what you really want to know: the winner of the giveaway! Using the age-old tradition of putting all the names in a bowl and pulling one out (I’m still so old-fashioned this way!), I found the winner…
Renee!!!
Congrats!!! I think these little drawings are way too much fun; perhaps I’ll have another later this month. So keep your eyes peeled!
Have a lovely Thursday… I shall be back tomorrow with my weekly round up of links and other inspiration; and perhaps some reporting on the craft/creativity front!
April 28, 2008
Honestly, I haven’t been staring at my computer, working on my side redesign exclusively for the past week! lol. Saturday ended up being my self-imposed Computer Break (because I had been fiddling with the site layout too much. I must learn self-control in the area of tweaking little code snippets!). Instead I set to tackle the *dundundun-dun* Mess.
The upside of my compulsive antiquing/thrifting/yard saling/bargain-hunting is that I find some really amazing treasures that have proven to be very useful. It has fostered a greater resolve to not spend so much money, and recycle/reuse. The bad is that it gets to a point where the stuff starts taking over my room (and eventually my little corner half of the basement). Clutter depresses me. It chokes my urge to sew, create, or generally have anything to do with my room besides work on my computer, exercise, and sleep.
I took everything out of my closet, sorted, re-boxed, threw-out and bundled up to give away and sell. I went through all my papers and put aside large stacks of vintage ephemera to package (for the popular Vintage Paper Packets I sold out of last autumn!). Even my bed was pulled out, vacuumed under (the dust bunny population was not happy…). Now I just have to go through my fabric and clothing that is stored in the basement. That scares me! Not because there is so much (though there is…), but I tend towards keeping rather than getting rid of when it comes to old clothing. But what if I need it, you know, later?! is what the excuse is to resist the decluttering.
So, all this to say that in celebration of my newly-organized room and the new site, I’m having a little Springtime Giveaway!!! This little packet consists of a 1930s Vogue Guide to Sewing*, a vintage dishtowel embellished with openwork (teatime picnic, anyone?!), and a cd to while away the springtime hours (in this case, the Emma soundtrack, which I love!). Oh, and there’s a little goody attached to the outside as well…
* I must confess, this is in rather sad condition (it came to me that way), but I couldn’t bear to just toss it. I think it would prove useful for collage–or even tearing out the pages and framing them!
Comment in this post between now and Wednesday evening, and I’ll randomly draw a name on Thursday. Be sure to comment with your email (it won’t be published) so I can contact you if you win!
This week we’re going back into the 19th century with Vintage Monday! I love this illustration from the mid 1850’s; I mean look at the skirt’s flounces!! I sercretly harbor a desire to have a three-flounce skirt, only probably at a more manageable length (I am nicknamed “Casey the Klutz” for a reason…). And look closely: the flounces have stripes. Which is even better, in my opinion!
Thank you all again for your sweet comments about the portfolio site and blog–you all are such dears!
elegant musings 