Street Style: Genevieve, at Edgefield

On my way to see Bon Iver over the weekend, I happened upon this cutie. Despite her age, Genevieve was well beyond her years in casual styling from her darling pinned ponytail down to her heather grey Keds. Best of all, she had the biggest smile I've ever seen. She brightened my day

Bon Iver at Edgefield

other lives

bon iver

Inspired By: LUCY CHADWICK

I have never been so inspired by a top knot and glasses as I am when browsing photos of Manhattan gallerist Lucy Chadwick. Her latest photo set in the October issue of American Vogue is so inspiring. Vintage charm with a minimalist modern wardrobe... I love her!

These Days...

The rain is back! Portland has been a chilly 60 degrees and rainy the last week. I had to dig to the back of my closet to pull out a warm enough coat and my rain boots, but it's definitely worth it. My favorite rainy days are the ones when Mr. and I sit in a coffee shop for hours upon hours to read and talk. It's the perfect remedy to unwind from a hectic week and enjoy the little things.

DIY Basket Bag

This week I took on the challenge of creating a chic DIY. I've been seeing basket bags around in all the coolest boutiques in Portland, however the price tags keep me from purchasing one of my own. Using this DIY, you can convert practically any straw satchel into a unique, bohemian, chic basket bag of your own.

Things You'll Need:
1 woven/straw/hemp bag. 2 gatherings of embroidery thread. various scraps of leather from an old jacket, belt, or a scrap store. upholstery needle. spray paint. a little imagination.
I began by cutting the handle off my straw satchel and shook all the excess trimmings loose. Then, I cut a long leather strip from my scrap leather collection that would become the new opening band on my bag. It was about 2 feet long by 3 inches wide. Using my upholstery thread and needle, I folded the leather strip over the exposed opening and began to make a simple stitch around the raw leather edges. Each stitch connected the leather to the outside and inside of my bag. Once the leather band was secured around the opening, I tied off the thread and trimmed the excess for a clean finish.
Next, I cut two similar pieces of leather for my strap. Each strap was 2.5 feet in length and 3/4 of an inch in width. I secured each leather strap the the outside of my bag using different wrapping techniques for a bohemian vibe.
Lastly, I laid my bag out atop some butcher paper and marked off a large stripe that I would spray paint with my caramel color. After my template was secured, I sprayed one side and after letting it dry for 15 minutes, I sprayed the other side. Once both sides dried completely, I used a rag to rough up the painted portion of the bag, making it appear comfortably used. The end result turned out better than I'd expected, and I cannot wait to use it!

Try this one out on your own and feel free to ask me any questions along the way by posting a comment below! Happy crafting!

On The Hunt // 5 Fall Finds

With Fall lingering oh-so-closely, I've begun assembling my routine 5 Must Haves of the season shopping list. It's not everyday that I get to go shopping, so I'm searching high and low for just five *PERFECT* pieces. I plan to stock up on a few classic items that are tailored to perfection in neutral colors. On the list for Fall 2011:Simple white t-shirt // Army jacket // Fitted blazer // Raw denim jeans// Ankle boots

Moving Progress...

All moved in! I spent the last week moving from one home to the next, and took a little blogging break. I finally gave the keys to my old house back on Thursday, and am now settling into my new home. Portland has been a raging 90 degrees and above the last few weeks, ( which I realize isn't as bad as most of you have it, but still... ) and I've been DYING. The heat has been slowing me down in the motivation department, but I'm pushing through and attempting to make my space as comfortable as possible.

I've still got lots to do and plenty of craft projects ahead of me, but things are starting to come together. Once I get these walls painted, new curtains up, artwork hung and floor rugs placed, look forward to more photos. But for now, enjoy a look into the early stages.
I've also been burning through new music lately and decided that it's time for a bit of a music throwback. These 3 albums have been enticing my eardrums lately. I'd love your suggestions for new summer/fall music -- what's in your record player / sterio?

Seablanket Featured as N.E.E.T. Magazine Cover Girl!

N.E.E.T. Magazine was kind enough to interview me for the Fall 2011 issue of there publication. The article is called "The Girl With The Tattoo," and features miss Katie of Skunkboy Creatures as well! It was to my great delight that I was also featured on the cover of the magazine. It feels like an amazing accomplishment! I hope you all read up and enjoy!Read the whole article for free, here - http://neetmagazine.com