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As promised, I wore my new wrap dress to the benefit dinner last night in spite of cooler weather. A benefit where, for the record, I ate and drank WAY more than I should have and now am nursing a petulant stomach and a headache. But before the overindulgence, I did have the pleasure of being approached by someone who wanted to know where I got my dress and how she could get one. And then I had the satisfaction of replying with "Actually...I made it myself." 
This brief little repartee immediately brought to mind a fashion challenge posited by Zoe from So Zo for the month of May. I had almost forgotten all about it, but was pleased when my memory was jogged.
The challenge, simply put, is to wear handmade items during the month. Now the diehards are being encouraged to wear handmade Everyday, but Zoe acknowledges that not everyone has such a large stash of crafted creations in their closet. And so she just encourages participants to find a strategy that challenges them and stick to it.
For instance, she suggests maybe committing to wearing handmade accessories every weekend during the month if that habit falls outside of the norm for your day-to-day wear. Or, if appropriate, to amp up the challenge to wearing repurposed clothing during most weekdays if you can manage it.
In other words, the spirit of the challenge is to get us to think differently about the clothes we wear, and hopefully to inspire an appreciation for the handmade.
I haven't figured out exactly how I am going to challenge myself in May, but I'd like to do something. I doubt that I have enough in my closet to fill a whole month without looking like I never do laundry, but I do think that the exercise will encourage me to work on some of those summer projects I've been meaning to start.
And hopefully with a little bit of planning, I will have the opportunity to say "Actually, I made it myself" a few more times next month.
To learn more about Zoe's Me-Made-May challenge, and to [hopefully] join yourself, click here!
To see some of my patterns for repurposing your clothing, click here!
After a brief interlude, I finally hunkered down yesterday and reopened my pattern shop! And kicking off the spring pattern line is this lightweight cotton cardigan, in rose pink of course.(note: if you're asking yourself, "didn't she just make a different rose-colored cardigan last week?"......well, the answer is Yes, I did. Don't judge me for loving the pink, people.)
I developed quite a fondness for cutting my sweaters in half this past winter, and decided that just because I no longer have need for wool doesn't mean I can't keep slicing with my scissors!
Besides, I'm always in need of cardigans. I find them infinitely more practical than long-sleeved tees. How, for instance, am I going to show off my cute tank tops and frilly blouses if they're covered up under a pullover?
Certainly some kind of protection is required, because I do live in Colorado where the spring season means snow in the morning and sun by afternoon. It's hardly the kind of weather I'd feel safe in wearing just a sleeveless top.
Light cotton cardigans are also very practical even during the heat of summer, because the hotter it gets outside, the more unbearably cold it gets inside, thanks to the overzealous use of air conditioning.
I know you know what I'm talking about.
Of course, as with all of my patterns for fashion and home, this one recycles used clothing by upgrading its style and function. Some scissors, a little satin fabric, and my sewing machine and I had a fun new sweater to replace a boring tee.
And in fact, you don't even need a sewing machine for this one! Just an iron and some fabric adhesive (like stitch witchery) would do the trick!
To learn more about my pattern for this SPRING CARDIGAN, click here.
What is your go-to garment for spring weather? Share by posting your comment below!
Hello everyone, and happy Wednesday! Today I want to introduce you to a new friend, Karter, from Lily Leighs handmade jewelry. Lily Leighs is part of my new "Promote Your Business" program (because y'all know how much I LOVE entrepreneurs!), and the jewelry maker would love to share a little bit about herself with you! Read below to learn more--
What are your favorite ways to notice and nurture beauty and inspiration around you?
Having grown up in Colorado, I am amazed by the beauty of the Rockies and gorgeous scenery. But, I am mostly inspired by the beauty in people. I am a people-loving person and find that I am inspired and stirred by people’s lives and the ability of God to work through their struggles and see them through to the other side. 
How do you express your creativity and personality through your daily work?
Jewelry is relatively new to me but I have always been into doing something or another with my hands. I had a card shop on Etsy for a few years and made handmade cards and tags etc… so I have actually spent more time in the scrapbooking/cardmaking end of things. It helps that my mom was doing the same thing so we would spend many a vacation and visit around cardmaking. She has had a successful card shop on Etsy for a few years (Cardmaven.etsy.com) and is sad to see me turn to jewelry! I love making jewelry and would like to eventually have more items in my shop that reflect my faith. I think my shop could eventually be a more accurate expression of what I am truly inspired by. 
What wisdom would you give to other women who are seeking to accomplish their goals and ambitions?
One simple word: PRAY. As a Christian I believe that we are fearfully and wonderfully made with special talents and with a purpose. My goals and ambitions were different prior to becoming a Christian. They changed because God had a different direction for my life. I have two children with special needs. I did not know that one of the ways God would use me would be to encourage other moms through the heartache and disappointment of finding out that your child or children were not going to be what YOU thought but that they were well-thought out by God. I was given this unique challenge because that is what God’s purpose was for me. Each woman and person for that matter was uniquely created for a specific purpose that only they can achieve. I really believe that true contentment and real joy come from walking in our life’s purpose~ it just feels right. 
What do you feel is your most important character trait and why?
My most important character trait is that I care about people and desire to see them grow and change. Christ is and was a lover of people and he causes us to love others. This is an important trait because life is not about us only but what we have to offer to others. Life is so much richer when we can give of what we have! I have a lot to give because of what has been given to me. 
To you, being a woman means…..?
Being me…accepting and being comfortable with how God has uniquely made me while consistently working towards becoming the wife and mother that I can be through God's strength and guidance. I am a work-in-progress and am maturing as a woman. I used to be such a tomboy growing up and still am in many ways. I have a hard time putting on anything but jeans and boots and wearing my hair other than in a pony tail, but that is o’kay and I am becoming more content with my unique qualities.
Thank you, Karter, for sharing about your business and about what inspires you!
To visit Lily Leighs, click here.
To find out how you can promote your business, click here--
This week I'm posting on some of my favorite things from the past year. And if you've been following my blog for any length of time, you know that one of my favorite things is to (re)decorate my home compulsively.
Now, before you start to judge me for over consuming, let me at least say that almost all of the images you see above and below are from items that have been handmade by myself or my very handy husband. Furthermore, the majority of them come from materials recycled from thrift stores, old clothing, and pieces of nature.
Part of my compulsion for redesign is to match the interior of my home with the changing seasons. For instance, right now I still have pinecones and cable-knit pillows lying around, which isn't very spring-like.
What would be more spring-like would be to swap out those items for some of the ones shown just below--like the lime green pillow covers I made last May to mimic the colors of budding Aspen trees and gray, rainy skies.
Of course, once spring passes I'll probably pull out some of the items you see in the first collage, like my great-grandmother's quilt and my patchwork pillow shams in red, white and blue (I get a little country-cottage in the summer...). And then I'll move onto the theme below. The smoky tones and woodsy textures always remind me of autumn.
And finally, a year from now, I'll once again be pulling out my faux fur throws and sheepskin and cable-knit pillows. You know--the ones I need to start putting away now that the weather is getting warmer.
Some people ask me if I'll ever get to the point when my designing is finished and I'm content with things the way they are.
These people obviously don't know me very well...
Do you do any seasonal redesigning? Share your favorite spring decorating tip below!
I’m afraid to admit that it has been ONE OF THOSE WEEKS. The kind where I succumb to the lure of a general malaise and put off everything I need to do.
And after a particularly unproductive Thursday involving a Hulu binge and some unadvised quantities of guacamole, I found myself lying in my office in the dark wondering where the day had gone, and why it has been so difficult to find the appropriate energy lately.
After some intense soul-searching over a can of root beer, I identified the culprit. No, it was not the grayish weather we had this week, although that certainly didn’t help. Rather, it is my social isolation. You see, I work from home, and as such, I spend a lot of time alone planning and writing and creating, etc. etc. Which means that I don’t always spend much time out and about. 
It’s a trend, I’ve concluded, that I need to remedy. So, to jump start the process, I thought I would search for some inspiration on Etsy this morning. More specifically, I wanted to see what other local sellers in my region were crafting and listing. I reasoned that perhaps I might be able to siphon off some of their energy, and maybe even have a chance to meet some likeminded creative-types who could rub off on me.
And pull me out of my home office.
The truth is that we all need a little outside help to pull us forward from time to time. Because often our dreams and plans get trapped inside our heads or on the pages of our journals or never make it outside of the three people we really share our lives with.This, naturally, leads to loneliness and stagnation.
Fortunately I already feel better. Just looking at these beautiful items, and knowing that their creators live in my town takes away some of that loneliness. And their example of innovative and fresh enterprise refreshes my excitement about resourcefulness and entrepreneurism. They’re putting their skills “out there” just like me. And frankly doing a fine job of it at that!
So, if like me, you're currently struggling with a little malaise yourself, perhaps the prescription is to reach out. Because we can't accomplish our goals and dreams all by ourselves, no matter how disciplined and focused we are. Trust me--Hulu and guacamole are powerful distractions...
Take a minute to visit the shops of these wonderful local sellers to Northern Colorado, or perhaps visit Etsy and search for shops in your region!
And have a great Friday!
--steph
Glossary of handmade sellers:
1. rouched bamboo cream longsleeve top by mnemosyne
2. ginseng wristlet by chick bags
3. czech glass fire polished beads blue turquoise faceted donuts by bead soup beads
4. peppermint sugar scrub by all things mint
5. small size--one pendant custom silhouette necklace by lucky me beads
6. chenille and flannel baby blanket in apples and oranges by the red pistachio
I was browsing through Etsy this morning with my hot tea in hand searching for some feminine inspiration to start my day, and I came upon this lovely store based in Warsaw called Couvert. The fashions and accessories from this little shop are a vision of ladyness, and thus I had to share them with you--
I was first struck by the soft and light knits, probably because so many times knits have a reputation for being bulky and unflattering (the reason you don't see celebrities wearing sweater dresses on the red carpet...). The soft draped necklace shown above, and this puffy sleeve wrap, however, both demonstrate that a quality knitted accessory can be very alluring, even when paired with simple tops.
And speaking of alluring, I couldn't resist showing you this powder pink mohair shawl. It is, in my opinion, divine. It reminds me of pink frosting and valentines, and would look smashing with denim, cotton or silk.
I dare say it would turn a few heads, which is naturally one of the perks of being a lady.
I also loved this kimono shrug, mainly because it is unique and unexpected. It is indeed a design that is timeless, and yet different enough that no one else would be wearing it to the office party or at the market on the weekend. And it would definitely take a regular Saturday outfit up a notch with almost no effort whatsoever.
This last point was one of the goals of Couvert's designer, who mentioned in her profile that she wanted her clothing to be both sophisticated and casual. What two things could be better together?
Finally, I adore this fake fur cape. This last garment is indeed a little more luxury than most of us are used to (especially those of us who hail from the perpetually casual Colorado), and therefore might draw more attention than we're comfortable with. But sometimes being a lady means stepping out of your comfort zone.
And what better way, I ask, to step out than to be dressed from head to waist in smoky slate fur? I can hardly think of one...
Hope you have a feminine and fashionable Tuesday!
Glossary of Couvert's styles, from top to bottom:
1. Avant Garde Scarf, modern romantic, in light blue
2. Silver Frost Shrug with Puffed Sleeves
3. Delicate Pastel Powder Pink Mohair Shawl
4. Casual Couture Kimono in Deep Vanilla
5. Avant Garde Cape Coat Fake Fur in Slate
Ladies, as we all know, like nice things. Like cashmere. And silk. And linen. But in these days of acrylic and polyester, nice things are hard to find. Which is why I was so excited when my friend and I trucked south to Boulder, CO to make a visit to Elfriede's fabric store.
It was, to be frank, a religious experience for me. There were aisles upon aisles of soft, lovely fabrics--perfect for skirts and trousers and ruffles blouses.
As you can see, I had my hands full. The dark cocoa is a wool/silk blend that will shortly become my favorite new pair of pants. The pink is wool and nylon, and is destined for pencil-skirt-greatness. And the blue...oh the blue...so silky and soft. It will be a wrap dress with a full, twirly skirt (because all ladies need twirly skirts).
As I oogled the trims (above) and buttons (below), I couldn't help but think about how difficult it is to find quality garments in the stores these days. At least quality at an affordable price. Sure, there are racks of trendy, adorable styles, but so often they are poorly made and crafted from synthetic fibers.
Now don't get me wrong--I love LOVE the person who invented Lycra, but I have to confess that once I started using real wool and silk in my handmade knitting and sewing projects, there was no turning back. Sure, they cost more than acrylics, but the budgeting trick is to make the fashions yourself. 
And finally, I can't finish a post on Elfriede's without introducing you to the lady herself. As you can see, Elfriede is quite stylish and beautiful, wearing an outfit I have no doubt she made. When I first met her, she was drinking coffee from fine china and instructing me to abandon my reserve and just dive into the fabrics (as if I needed the invitation...). On my second visit she blew into the shop wearing a classy black hat, a timeless red cashmere dress, and carried an armful of lilies to brighten the winter day.
She counseled me diligently on my choices, giving me invaluable instructions. And I left with a bag full of lovely yards, and a role model.
You can bet I'll be visiting again soon!
As promised, I wore my new wrap dress to the benefit dinner last night in spite of cooler weather. A benefit where, for the record, I ate and drank WAY more than I should have and now am nursing a petulant stomach and a headache. But before the overindulgence, I did have the pleasure of being approached by someone who wanted to know where I got my dress and how she could get one. And then I had the satisfaction of replying with "Actually...I made it myself." 
This brief little repartee immediately brought to mind a fashion challenge posited by Zoe from So Zo for the month of May. I had almost forgotten all about it, but was pleased when my memory was jogged. 
For instance, she suggests maybe committing to wearing handmade accessories every weekend during the month if that habit falls outside of the norm for your day-to-day wear. Or, if appropriate, to amp up the challenge to wearing repurposed clothing during most weekdays if you can manage it.
In other words, the spirit of the challenge is to get us to think differently about the clothes we wear, and hopefully to inspire an appreciation for the handmade. 
And hopefully with a little bit of planning, I will have the opportunity to say "Actually, I made it myself" a few more times next month.
