So Much Glitter

In the process of cruising Etsy for some craft ideas, I came across these awesome items from Judy's Mosaic Supplies. I've always wanted to create mosaics, and these shiny (and cheap!) materials are especially tempting.  From left to right: Goldwater Silvercoat Stained Glass Tiles, Silver Metallic Coarse Sand Glitter, and Glass Gems in Electric Black

How can you not love something that shimmers in the light? I have quite an affinity for sparkling items, but rarely take the opportunity to work them into my wardrobe. Glittery clothing and accessories can be borderline over-the-top, but certain pieces in neutral metallic colors can make quite a statement when paired with more modest basics. I'd be proud to rock any of these beauties below..

Clockwise from top left:
Stone color wavy sequin blouse from Topshop  ($90)
Crushed glitter minaudiere by J. Crew  ($49.50)
Marc by Marc Jacobs faux bow glitter ring on Zappos ($54)
Black Silence & Noise sequin tee from Urban Outfitters ($48)
Sequin brooches by jeweler Joanna Campbell featured via Fingers
Black stingray cuff bracelet in luluka's Etsy store ($40)
ABS sequined shift dress at Saks Fifth Avenue ($360)
Sequin scarf in iron from Ann Taylor Loft ($29.50)
Christian Louboutin Fred Flat glitter in anthracite at Barney's ($595)
Glitter shimmer pot in silver by Sephora  ($8)
Silence & Noise sequin skirt from Urban Outfitters ($88)
Marni glitter flower necklace on Brown's
Nude glitter pump by Christian Louboutin at Bergdorf Goodman ($595)

Wise Owls

I absolutely adore this collection of owl figurines featured on abby try again (via here comes the sun).  I'm a sucker for anything with an owl on it.. not sure when or why this obsession came over me, but it's been quite a few years of owl lovin' with no end in sight.

Plenty of designers have shown their admiration for our wise feathered friend in their collections - just check out a few of the pieces below that are all on sale right now!  The gorgeous sweater is actually a DIY project from Needled that I could only ever dream of imitating. Amazing work!

Clockwise from top left:

People's Market owl shift dress on Moonspark (£51.99)

Crafty owl scoop neck from Urban Outfitters ($24)

MARC by Marc Jacobs owl pendant necklace at Neiman Marcus ($98)

Bronze owl belt from Highway Child ($158)

Steampunk owl ring by chinookhugs on Etsy ($21.99)

Brown owl handbag on Patina ($78)

Long brown owl print scarf from Pretty Raccoon on Etsy ($21)

Book club owl print Keds slip-ons ($77)

Samurai owl organic cotton tee by ironspider on Etsy ($23)

Owl crystal-embellished clutch by Judith Leiber on Net-a-porter ($3,800)

Cozy owl mittens by Brooklyn-based design company Butternut

Handmade owl sweater by Needled (pattern here for brave knitters)

DIY: Ruffle Embellished Cardigan

Yesterday we tweeted about a cardigan-centric post from You Are my Fave, which featured this photo of an embellished sweater from J Crew . The ruffled beauty is unfortunately sold out, but that shouldn't stop you from re-creating the style with pieces from your existing wardrobe!

This old tank and cardigan have fallen out of  normal rotation - the tank is a little short, but I love the pattern and couldn't bear to part with it in my most recent purge.  The sweater? Just a big bored with it.  Feeling inspired, I decided to combine the two into something new!

I thought this shirt would make a great ruffle for two reasons: 1. it's a cute, neutral color and pattern and 2. the soft jersey knit material will hang well and can live without a hem. First, I split the shirt down it's side seam. Luckily for me, the lace trim was only on the front, leaving a nice open area on the back for me to trace my first ruffle.

The first strip I cut was for my larger, bottom ruffle. I measured the fabric out to remain 5" wide from start to finish. The second ruffle was cut out of the front of the tank, on the bottom half. This second strip  started out at 3 1/2" and tapered off to 2"at its end (about 18" long). I wanted this strip to have a narrower end so that my top ruffle would have more defined layers. 

Thread a needle through the top hem of your ruffle, folding the fabric back and forth (like a paper fan) as you sew. As you pull the thread, the fabric should gather and start to ruffle. I used a regular thread, but I'm assuming this would work even better with an elastic.

With a steam iron, I carefully pressed my pleats to form sharp creases in the fabric. Easier said than done, but the results came out great! Now, lets fold these bad boys into their final ruffly state...

1. Start with the small tapered ruffle, laid out flat

2. Fold the top half of the ruffle down over the bottom half, with the reverse side of the fabric showing

3. Fold the remaining bit down, print side up, to form a wedge shaped piece for your top ruffle

4. Next, lay the larger 5" ruffle out on a flat surface

5. & 6. Fold ruffle back and forth in a zig-zag to create alternating layers of patterned and reversed fabric

7. This is what my completed bottom ruffle looked like when I was done folding.

8. Once you've laid out both ruffles, pinch the folds and discreetly sew each layer to secure.

9. Here are the finished pieces! I decided not to sew them together, in case I wanted to use the top or bottom ruffle separately on another garment.

10. Use a safety pin to secure the bottom ruffle to your cardigan. You can also sew them on, but I wanted the option of removing them before laundering as well as using them as embellishments elsewhere!

DONE! Pin the top ruffle in place and VOILA! A magical creation, all your own.

Only took 2 hours, and it didn't cost $118 from J Crew. Score.

Redddddd This!

Lisbeth Zwerger is my favorite illustrator. She. Is. Amazing. Please buy all her books so she never stops. One of my favorites is her Wizard of Oz. There's a full spread of the characters in a field of red poppies that is so beautiful and whimsical and strange. It makes me want to live in her books.



Clockwise from top left
Dress from Alberta Ferretti's Spring 2010 show
Embroidery from Neville Trickett's Flickr
Red Hunter Wellies from Shelba's Flickr
Old Red Hat letterpress pieces
Hoboken Pie Store
Thank You card from Pop + Shorty
Martha Stewart butterfly straw toppers
Living room from stylist/textile designer Marieke van Proosdij
RedruM photo frames
Ulrika May pillows

Houndstooth and Tweed Prints

My Vintage Vogue is an awesome website with a collection of images that chronicle fashions from the 1920's to 1960's.  I've always loved vintage fashion photography, and this site is a great resource for inspiration! The photo above titled "Race Track Fashions" by Nina Leen is from a 1958 issue of LIFE Magazine.  Check out the My Vintage Vogue blog  for more photos.

I'm totally digging the clothing in this picture. The mixed check, houndstooth and plaid prints are still in style- just check out the modern interpretations of this retro fad below!

Clockwise from top left:

Houndstooth ring from littlebrownbox on Etsy ($7)

Tweed check purse from Topshop ($36)

Alexander McQueen houndstooth check pencil dress on Net-a-porter ($1,845) 

Sequin t-shirt dress by French Connection via Figleaves ($270)

Houndstooth gloves from Michael Kors ($150)

Ashton Michael adjustable bowtie on 80's Purple ($88)

Buffalo check ruffle knit scarf by Arden B. ($19.50)

Moschino houndstooth heels via Shoewawa 

Gumdrop T-strap flats by oh DEER! on Endless ($53.70)

Plaid wool gauze dress from Lark & Wolf by Steven Alan on Urban Outfitters ($78)

Kimchi Blue vintage tweed dress from Urban Outfitters ($68)

Houndstooth ZJN satchel in winter white from Juicy Couture on Urban Minx ($450)

Houndstooth cardigan by Caroline Rose at Neiman Marcus ($395)

Origami Folds

I really loved the composition of this photo by Snorkiesnork on Flickr (via oh joy! ). Not sure what the image is from, but the colorful cranes are adorable and seem especially fitting for an outdoor party. I think it's the bright assortment of clothespins that really seals the deal-- regular wooden clothespins wouldn't make half the statement!

I've always loved origami. Cheap decorations, good for killing time in a meeting, and if you happen to get really good at it, you could always try your hand at recreating some of the gorgeous items below. The paper lamp shade and the earrings are my personal favorites, along with the sadly-still-just-a-concept paper crane tea bags. I'd absolutely love to make a quilt out of squares like the ones from Hanna Nyman and Marie Dreiman! Maybe when I retire..

Clockwise from top left: 

Folded "Propellerheads" paper tesselation from EricGjerde's photostream on Flickr 

DIY paper table lanterns by Design*Sponge (simple tutorial)

Origami print tumblers by soule on Etsy via Apartment Therapy 

Large white pendant shade by Claire Norcross for Habitat (£65.00)

Lucky wheel origami earrings in funnysky's Etsy store ($5, hundreds of other origami items!)

Structured origami skirt in purple from Topshop ($80)

Silver origami windmill necklace from Origami Bijou ($60)

Folded fabric for a Bogesunds Vaveri tradebooth by Hanna Nyman and Marie Dreiman 

Hand-folded origami dish from EndemicWorld ($145)

Paper crane origami teabag design by Natalia Ponomareva via Emily Chang 

Origami table design by Matthias Demacker for van Esch

Decorative Stitchery

I saw these old embroidery patterns recently on FFFFOUND! and really adored the fun colors and shapes. These designs are from a vintage French pattern book by DMC for those who aspire to explore the art of 'la broderie.'

I'm a sucker for pixelated patterns and folkart-inspired designs, especially in the context of textiles. The lovely pieces below (embroidered, cross-stitched and needlepoint-adorned) reminded me of the styles featured on this antique pattern sheet.

Clockwise from top left:
Anna Sui embroidered pom pom dress at ShopBop ($406)
Vintage flower top by Lucky Brand ($29.50)
Cross stitch barrettes from Free People ($4.95)
Needlepoint buttons by eclecticselections  on Etsy ($6.50 for 6)
Hand-dyed wool zip pouch by cruzdesigns' Etsy store ($28)
Plenty by Tracy Reese embroidered silk blouse at Nordstorm ($305)
PIXELL flats in cognac by Steve Madden ($69.95)
Silver moccasin flats in yellow suede by Blowfish ($28.64)
Luella Ethel embroidered prom skirt at La Garconne ($218.80)
Folk embroidered red mary janes from Agataga's Etsy Store ($16)
Embroidered geometryart necklace from spinthread on Etsy ($35)

Type Your Life

This photo is both hilarious, endearing, and cool from a featured nursery on Apartment Therapy. By the way, what is that bunny doing there?

Big, decorative letters seem to be a growing trend in interior design. You can get these letters everywhere now. The hardest part is really which letters to buy and what to spell. Suggestions anyone? Or should I just create an homage to this blog, M-I-S-M-A-T-C-H-E-R-I-E?


Clockwise from left:
Letter A light from Perch! Design
Personalized G napkins from Envelop
Letter D from Daily Dropcap
F pendant from Ariel Gordon
Initial ring from MAstyle
Typographic fashion E and A from TypeNeue
Letter P from Briar Press
Letter Lights Balls from Perch! Design
Letter B from Daily Dropcap
Laser Cut Scarfs from LittleFactory
Austin Press calling card from Snippet and Ink
NB from Wohnbedarf
Fail Harder Pushpin Board from W+K
Cut paper Q from Grayhood
Hand Lettering from Joel Holland

Catcher of the Dreams

Oh, dreamcatcher. A proud tradition of the Ojibwe (Chippewa) tribe, a symbol of Native American unity in the 60's and 70's, and a kitschy piece of south-western memorabilia today.  I remember having one as a child--it didn't fit with the style of my room, but it served its purpose by regularly ensuring a monster and demon-free slumber.

The image above is from A Print A Day, a neat blog and resource for downloading free graphics--from stationery and gift tags to embroidery templates and photoshop brushes. I love this modern interpretation of a dreamcatcher, with bright colors and an unexpected floral pattern where the web would usually appear.  The style reminded me of bohemian-meets-dance-hall-chic, translated below:

Clockwise from top left:

Beaded feather necklace by Urban Outfitters ($58)

Watercolor feathers V-neck tee from Urban Outfitters ($28)

Minnetonka calf high 3-in-one moccassin boot on Piperlime ($80)
Orange feather chain necklace by Charlotte Russe via Stylecaster

Single-sided pink feathered headband by Laura Kranitz on 80's Purple 

Pheonix striped cuff, part of Alex and Ani's Free Bird collection

Purple feathered headband from Nordstrom ($38)

Feather print gray top from Forever 21 ($19.80)

Beaded feather-trim black top from Forever 21 ($19.80)

Patterson J. Kincaid Greenwich feather tank at Bloomingdales ($88)

Enamel peacock feathered brooch in backintimejewelry's Etsy shop

Salvatore Ferragamo ostrich feather clutch via Polyvore
Chalcedony dreamcatcher necklace from Layla Grace ($37)

Blue and purple angel feather earrings from MountainManCreations on Etsy($10)

Colorblock

Imagine that this is your office. Impossible? Not if you work for DGI-byen, a popular event venue in Copenhagen. Art studio Hvass & Hannibal put together this design for a conference room renovation, building mobile blocks suitable for dividing the large meeting room into smaller spaces when necessary.

Not only does their design allow for a flexible and changing environment, the colors lend themselves well to an exciting urban/modern atmosphere. The juxtaposition of the tall blocks on the gray background are meant to represent the interaction of cityscape and landscape. To read more about this design and see additional photos of the finished room, visit their site.

The colorblock pieces below reminded me of the bright multicolor palette and geometric patterns from Hvass & Hannibal's design.

Clockwise from top left:

Walk-a-ways dress in orange from Anthropologie ($79.95)

Risky business sunglasses from Fred Flare ($11)

Ella Moss colorblock boyfriend tee at Saks ($78)
Two-tone Bettye Muller wedge at Neiman Marcus ($310)

Pink lantern skirt from Topshop ($65)

BCBGMAXAZRIA Full Needle tube skirt at Bloomingdales ($148)

In Love by 2 AM tank from Urban Outfitters ($14.99)

Silence & Noise silk retro top from Urban Outfitters ($48)

HAWKS by Geren Ford colorblock dress from Urban Outfitters ($69.99)

Silence & Noise crossback tunic from Urban Outfitters ($38)

Vision lace-up canvas shoe by Topshop ($50)

Joe's Jeans amber bowler handbag at Endless.com ($200)

BYOC : Build Your Own Clouds

Coolest. Room divider. Ever. 

Yes folks, believe it or not, this isn't a fancy shmancy art installation at MOMA. If you haven't heard about it already, Clouds by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec allows the average individual to assemble these innovative structures from a set of fabric tiles and rubber bands in their very own homes. Designed for Danish textile company Kvadrat, Clouds come in two different fabric choices and seven different colors. 

Easy to mix and match, create and rearrange, this set is high on my list of must-have-when-I-have-space-for-it items. Can you imagine the looks on your guests' faces when they see this in your living room? Priceless. To learn more about the designers and Clouds, check out Dezeen's feature from earlier this year, or visit Linge Roset, our main resource for purchasing Clouds in the US.  

The geometric patterns in the photo above reminded me of the sharp, structured angles that have been popping up in fashion trends this year.  Reminiscent of Lady Gaga? Sure. Just take a look at the black dress below by Commes des Garçons. You or I might not wear this borderline costume, but that doesn't mean we can't translate the honeycomb pattern and classic blue/brown palette into other feminine, artsy pieces.

Clockwise from top left:
Brown twill/grosgrain dress by Daniele Alessandrini at YOOX ($180)

Blue strapless bow dress AKA New York on ShopBop ($298)

Moon Dress, RM by Roland Mouret on Net-a-porter

Black honeycomb dress with leather by Commes des Garçons on Far Fetch ($683)

Leather metallic piped bag from Topshop ($50)

Jeffrey Campbell class bootie in brown from Urban Outfitters ($158)

Eye shadow in Molten by Ulta ($4)

Breathe Life nail polish by OPI, in support of the Lung Cancer Foundation of America (various retailers)

BDG Skinny Cord Pant in Port at Urban Outfitters ($49)

Silence and Noise lightweight bomber jacket at Urban Outfitters ($39)

"Sweets for the sweet" honeycomb pendant from luckyduct's Etsy Store ($65)

Metallic suede shoulder bag from Topshop ($125)

Pella Moda Youth peep-toe flats in light blue on Zappos ($92)

Dressing Fall

I love the idea of simplifying your wardrobe, especially now when the weather is tricky to dress for. One day it's 80 and sunny and the next it's 60 and hurricane winds are knocking you around the avenue.

The Uniform Project takes the simplification process to the extreme, in a good way. Sheena Matheiken wears one dress for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion and to create awareness for the Akanksha Foundation. It's a fascinating exercise in accessorizing and layering and basically stretching what you have. She's really got a knack for it.

This particular photo reminds me of fall (is it the orange against the green?) in the city. The little "1" in the corner is especially endearing!


TCHO Chocolate bars from The Lovely Package
Bottle lighting from Zero
Hidden Hamlet Plates from Anthropologie
Honey Dipped Booties from Anthropologie
Tin Can Lids from Twig and Thistle
Brooks Brothers Black Fleece Fragrance from "Fashion's Night Out"
Soap packaging from Pan tu nie stal

Whale Flowers

A couple of months ago Design*Sponge had a post about artist Katie Vernon, a fantastic illustrator inspired by creative floral designs. This original piece, aptly titled "Whale Flowers" is just one of several prints on sale in her etsy shop ($25). Human-faced whale aside, the gorgeous color palette and interesting variety of blooms commands your attention. 

Lately, I've been a huge fan of subdued colors and floral patterns, so this really hit the spot.  Although this style may seem more suited for Spring, I'd venture to say that any of the below pieces would fit right in with your fall wardrobe if paired with knit tights, boots, a leather jacket or an oversized scarf. Play up the earth tones, mix and match the muted colors, and don't shy away from bold patterns--let the flower whale guide you.

Pistachio cream lace dress from Ruche ($72.99, awesome online boutique!)

Coral embellished ring by Isharya ($190)

Bronze leaf headband by IceCreamCandy on Etsy ($36, tons of other cool designs)

Chiffon Blooms ribbon necklace from Ruche ($29.99)

Vintage mandarin orange maxi dress from chickdowntown.com ($150)

Ruffled Suede flats in warm maize from J. Crew ($138)

Tissue stone necklace tee from J. Crew ($125)

Prized rose ring from Anthropologie ($178)

Silk blend floral top from Heritage 1981 ($24.90)

Yellow cherries lace bow tie skirt form Ruche ($36.99)

Floral field ruffle top from Forever 21 ($15.80)

Catalina bolero from Anthropologie ($118)

Gold eattoo-etched ID case from Urban Outfitters ($14)

Nail polish in Hushed Blush by Revlon ($4-5 at various stores)

Ombres 5 Lumiéres, "Garden of Eden" palette by Yves Saint Laurent, $56 at Sephora