It's a 5 O'Clock World...

As much as I'd love to stay home and sew all day, I get up every weekday and drag myself into a cubicle instead.  A side effect of traveling to wonderful places, I suppose--actually paying for these trips! ;)

I've had this maxi dress for years, and I'm so glad this look is coming back.  So easy for summer--and with a little jacket, totally work-appropriate and infinitely more comfortable than jeans on these sweaty glow-inducing Texas days!

This bag was a vintage find from a shop in Sweden.  I think I'm liking the messenger bag look again...

The necklace is by M Squared Jewelry here in Austin!  There's a long story about this, but I'll save that for another time. 

P.S.  Are any of you on Pinterest?  If not, I highly recommend it!  You can check out my Pinterest Boards here.

Head in the Clouds

Cape-back top, H&M; skinny James Jeans; awesome green Nine West espadrilles

Giant shell necklace, vintage from New Bohemia

I'm not short, but I'm not tall, either.  I've always loved heels not only for their outfit- and posture-improving abilities, but also that little boost of height!  Not to mention that I walk like a duck in flats :P

I heard about the new Nine West platforms through another blog and was compelled to run out and snag a pair.  Super-super high, extremely comfortable (I rode my bike and climbed on rocks in them while in Sweden!!), and a steal at just under $100.  They've quickly become my favorite summer shoe.

Worn with a pretty cape-back top I found at H&M in Gothenburg, and an amazing shell necklace I've had for years :)

Busy Bee

One of my most treasured necklaces--a gift from my boss at a boutique I worked for when I first came to Austin.

Useless belt pocket?  Check.

Random shoes I found while going through my old college boxes.  They're from...Victoria's Secret??

Well, well, another week is close to being over...thank goodness!  I'm almost done giving my Etsy shop a little makeover, but I'm thinking about posting everything I plan to sell HERE first!  That way, you readers will have first dibs :)

I still need to take all the measurements, but here's a teeny-tiny preview:

 

 This gorgeous thing...and more!!  Very very soon :)

Something Old, Something...Older

I went to Feathers last weekend with my ladies, and did some major damage in the name of closet replenishment!  Unfortunately, most of my vintage goodies are unworn as of yet...it's been a pretty uninspiring week.  We've been resetting our showroom at work, so most days I am basically dressed as a day laborer...

from ohs.org

...but still less stylish than these strangely chic laborers, circa 1943.

Well, since today is FRIDAY and we have a snow delay at work, I'm allowing myself to dress up a little.  I'm still wearing a t-shirt and jeans, but I can only handle looking shabby for so many days in a row!

Cape, Feathers Vintage; Scarf, Moxie Vintage; Tee, an Anthro keeper; James Jeans; Jeffrey Campbell boots

After my cape post, I was in major cape-hunting mode for my last two vintage excursions.  This was an AMAZING Feathers find--only $48!  It's like I imagined what my perfect cape would look like, and it magically poofed into existence!  I found another great one at Moxie that I'll share soon too.

These boots are one (two?) of the things I'll never get rid of.  I've actually had these for...6 years?!  I bought them when I worked in the Nordstrom shoe department.  A dangerous place...so many shoe temptations!  I used to wear them cuffed with skirts, and my husband called them my "pirate boots".  After a while I kind of forgot about them, until the over-the knee trend came back a few years ago and I realized I already had the perfect pair!  When it's actually cold here (like today), these get a lot of action :)

Other news re: Closet Detox--I went through and pulled everything I want to get rid of, and moved it to the closet in my sewing room.  If I feel like wearing any of those pieces in the next week or so, I'll keep those and the items that don't return to the closet will be up for grabs!!  Stay tuned :)

And yes...my Philippines post is still coming along, but should be published next week.  Lots of photos, and lots to say.

Pow Bang Flash

Happy New Year!

Blouse, Anthro; Belt, Urban Outfitters; vintage leather skirt courtesy of my aunt in Germany; basic nude heels, Nine West/DSW

Craig & I had a low-key NYE with friends.  As usual, I forgot to take any photos whatsoever.  Maybe that should be one of my resolutions this year :)

Usually, I make way more resolutions than are realistically achievable in one year.  However, I did manage to pull off the important ones, and I'm really proud of that!  In 2010 I managed to--
1. find a better paying job
2. spend less, and put more money in our emergency & travel funds
3. get back into sewing regularly

This year I think I will keep it simple:
1. Finish reading House of Leaves (Craig gave me a first edition for Christmas!)
2. Only buy hardback books from now on, as I mentioned previously
3. Be more social.  This year I have been a workaholic and a hermit, and I need to be better about making time for fun :)

I have other less likely plans (learn kung fu...huh?) but we'll just focus on these for now.  What are your resolutions for this year?

Journeys Through Bookland

For Thanksgiving, my husband and I road-tripped our way to Phoenix to visit my family and stuff our faces.  My family is scattered all over the world, so it was really great to see some of them even if it was just for a few days.  My grandfather made the Thanksgiving dinner, and then we had a 2nd Thanksgiving of sorts on Friday, with a massive Filipino meal at my parents' house.

My grandpa let me take home some of the old books I used to read as a child, and I was so excited to sift through them all and relive those memories.  My grandparents used to live in a large, cozy house on a lake in Minnesota.  Whenever we visited, my brother and I would head for the basement and the "library" of treasured tomes in a tiny room under the stairs.  We would read, read, and read some more, and when we left for home, we were always encouraged to take some books with us.  Over the years I've slowly collected my favorite books...which were once favorites of my ancestors:

The Wizard of Oz books (I would guess that many people aren't aware this was a series!).

My great-grandmother's copies of Anne of Green Gables, & Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (first editions!!).  Also, this is Napoleon, the miniature falcon who has been known to kidnap small children!

The Patty Fairfield series, clearly a favorite of my great-aunt Barbara.

A book inscribed to my great-great-great Aunt Julia.

 When I compare these to my own modern day books, I wonder what of mine will survive 100 years from now.  What books from today will be considered classics?  And so many of my own books are paperback (because, well, they're cheaper), and will most likely crumble away before any great-great-grandchild gets her hands on them.  Which books will go the distance?

I think my project in the upcoming year will be to buy hardcover editions of the books that I really love...

Old Friends & New

This is a relatively new addition to my family of weird jewelry.  Sometimes I space out and stare at it mindlessly when I'm at my desk.  Yesterday I introduced the necklace to some old friends of mine:

Necklace, Anthropologie
Sweater,vintage (label "Katherine H")
Basic tank, Sola
Denim pencil skirt, Level 99/Anthropologie
Heels, H&M



























The cardigan and shoes have been in my closet for years, and they won't be retiring anytime soon. The sweater was a gift from a friend on a chilly day.  I had forgotten a jacket, and I remember putting it on immediately and going "Ahhhh...."!  Despite the open knit sleeves, it's super warm and cozy, and the nude/rust color goes with everything.

The shoes were an accidental discovery at H&M, while in Chicago to visit my brother 5 years ago.  They were on a shelf, all alone and a size too small according to the tag.  I searched high and low for more pairs, thinking that perhaps a customer had picked them up from somewhere else and changed her mind.  None were found.  Oh well, I thought.  Maybe the pair I found wouldn't be noticeably tight--maybe I could get away with it.

Well?  Turns out H&M's size 7 is Lisa's size 8.  The End!

Prized Possession

Like I've said before, I don't buy too often.  My purchases are long-term commitments, not one-night stands!  Even so, there are a few pieces that stand apart from the rest as true fashion soul mates, and I think they deserve a little bit of lovin here.

So this week, let's introduce my one-and-only Marni bag, circa Spring 2004!

Here it is on the runway:

photo from style.com

I bought this lovely thing the summer before my senior year at college.  It was a great summer: I had just started dating my husband (didn't know it yet though!) and I had just started my first non-"work study" job, which meant I actually had a small amount of spending money.

I've always had this huge crush on Marni--the eclectic mix of interesting prints, the always-fabulous shoes, and the whole "gainfully employed bohemian" look ;-)  So one day, while daydreaming my way through netaporter.com, I happened upon this gorgeous bag tucked away on the "Marni - Sale" page. What what what!!

It was just barely, barely out of my college-student price range.  I agonized over it for days, obsessively checking to see if it was still there.  Finally, I was looking at it for maybe the 100th time when my good friend Reese happened to look over my shoulder.

"Ooh, that's a Lisa bag!!"

Sold.  I may have eaten ramen for a couple weeks after, but it was completely worth it.