Stitch Fix #3

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My third "fix" arrived from Stitch Fix the other day. They knocked it out of the park this time around. I loved every single piece in the box.  Every piece is fantastic and I can really feel the quality. Thank you, Miranda! (my stylist for this fix.)

In case you missed my previous post containing Fix #2, Stitch Fix is like having a personal stylist at your finger tips. 

To recap, you pay them a $20 styling fee and they send you five glorious items of fashion forward garments specifically picked based on your style profile. The $20 is applied to the purchase of one or all of the items they send. If nothing suits your fancy, simply mail back the clothing in the pre-paid mailer and your only out 20 bucks. (It covers their styling fee and the shipping back and forth) I LOVE this concept and so far, I have yet to lose my styling fee. 

Fist thing I noticed - snazzy new packaging! I'm a design geek and these things impress me. 

Ok, - so here it is (but once again, I would like to note that I am not, nor do I believe I am, a model) Forgive the pale New England complexion and funny faces):

Item #1: 

First out of the box and TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH is Kensie Bay Polka Dot Cropped Skinny Jeans.  I love the subtle polka dots on the denim - they are surprisingly fun. I paired them with my striped 3/4 length tee and a bold orange necklace. I love the way the two patterns contrast each other, but again the subtle polka dots are not at all overwhelming. I want to keep these. I want to live in these. But they are one size too small. I mentally tried to talk myself into thinking they fit, but I have to remind myself of one of my fashion rules: "Just because they zip, doesn't mean they fit". I will request them in my next fix a size larger. These will be mine.

Item #2: 
Natural Life Chaimbers Knit Cowlneck Top. It's blue. It's soft. It's flattering. I think I could happily live in this simple little top. I think it works well with jeans for a casual look, but I am still trying to figure out how to make it business-y. I thought maybe with my white pencil skirt, but I realized I didn't have great shoes to go with it.  I may need to remedy this. What do you think? A keeper?

Item #3: 
Hello, I am in serious love with this Daniel Rainn Bilson Pleated Tab Sleeved Blouse. It's so flowy and feminine. The pleated detailing on the front and the tabbed sleeves are just a combination made in perfection. I love that I can wear it with black leggings or jeans and boots or tuck it into trousers or a pencil skirt and transform it into work wear. This is a keeper.

Item #4: 
I figured while I was wearing this top, I should go for a double whammy Stitch Fix Combo. Here is the Aryn K Flora Chiffon Trim Blazer. I love this blazer. It's a straight cut, slightly short and trimmed with delicate chiffon. I threw it on with the blouse and pencil skirt to make a "suit" and for the most part it worked. I then moved onto a more casual, fun look with jeans. I like it a lot - I just can't figure out if the sleeves are too short or suppose to be that length. Thoughts? Are the sleeves suppose to be that length? Should I keep it?

Item #5: 

Last but not least, is this most awesome Westgate Shirt Dress from Costa Blanca. I like when I can winterize a dress and pairing this one with leggings, boots and a comfy cashmere scarf is a look I can live in. I think the bare legs version needs some work - different shoes for sure. Maybe black heels or flats? Even some colored tights would make it fun. Regardless of the accessories kinks to be worked out, this is a definite keeper!

Fix #3 has been the best by far. They aren't joking when they tell you that the feedback you provide makes for better fixes in the future. That's why it's really important to give good, precise feedback. I'm basically scheduling Fix #4 immediately. I really want to get those Kensi Polka Dot jeans in my size. I had asked about exchanging, but they were either sold out or the jeans were all out. I was planning to keep the whole fix - this is the first time in 15 pieces that something has not fit - and I wanted to use the 25% discount they offer when you buy the whole fix. They generously offered to allow me to use the credit as a one time service and still send the jeans back. I am tempted to do just that. They seriously have the best customer service. I can not say anything bad about them

If you haven't already signed up, you can do so through this link. I do not work for, nor am I paid to post this blog, but if you use that link, I do get a $25 referral credit. Isn't that just nice!

have you seen this pig?

I love this pig. I have been drooling over this quirky little planter for almost 2 years now. I have felt the lack of it's presence like a void. Why haven't I purchased it, you ask? Good question. I'm glad you asked.

Exhibit A

I have tried many, many, many times to keep plants alive. Bean, knowing my propensity for mass plant massacre, decided to get me a cactus for Mother's Day. I killed it. I killed a cactus. See "Exhibit A". (You can't really tell from that photo - but it "deflated" like a soufflé.) A friend of mine, not believing I was as awful as I claimed, once gifted me with the most adorable baby spider plant. It, too, joins it's brethren in eternal slumber. Whenever I have been tempted to purchase a plant, I have had flashes of all the killings I have committed and I place the plant gently back on the shelf in hopes it will find a better home.

I have denied myself the pleasure of this pig's company as a punishment to my brown thumb and a promise to plants everywhere that I will not slay thee.

But something has changed.

My dear, wonderful husband can not only keep plants alive... they thrive!!! And like the bright sunshine-y yellow of this plaster masterpiece, I see a ray of light that it can rest happily on my side table. This pig will be mine. It is me. It says a happy, slightly weird and completely unique woman with questionable style should own it. That woman is me. The plant that rests in here will be happy.

A few months I ago, I begged my husband to bring home another spider plant. He isn't much of a fan of them, but I felt the need to redeem myself in the eyes of horticulturalists everywhere. Or, more accurately, I felt the need for Eric to redeem me. He surprised me one evening with the fattest, happiest specimen of Chlorophytum comosum - or to you layman folk - a spider plant. (I admit, I googled that. Shocked?) I immediately named him "Peter Parker".

After a rough start, Peter is having babies. I think a pig is a fitting home for one of them a la Simpson Spider Pig. (FYI if you live in a municipal that adds fluoride to your water, it may be browning your plants. You may have to indulge them in fresh spring or distilled water as we Eric has done.)

That pig is mine. He is en route from this wonderful Etsy seller - Fruit Fly Pie. Check them out. They have a great collection of ceramics sure to fun-ify you home!

In case you were curious about other things peek my interest - you can follow my faves on Etsy here or follow me on Pinterest! Shoot me a line and I would love to follow you back!

tweet spot

Did you know I tweet? It is true. From time to time you can experience the spur of the moment brilliance (and madness) of my mind. Plus, who doesn't want to see the moment to moment nuances of all the businesses and friends I stalk...errr... follow.

Follow me here...

print {love}

I am obsessed with printing. It's a consequence of occupation. I'm also obsessed with paper. Really nice, heavy cold press paper is my favorite. Every time I have received a business card or letter on Crane paper, I have gone into fits of delight. It is one of my (smaller) goals to one day have custom letterhead or calling cards letterpress printed to Crane paper. There is an old world artistry that has to be appreciated about letterpress printing.

If my husband is reading this, he may want to jot it down for future reference. This would far exceed any gift of flowers or jewelry and possibly get him out of cleaning the bathroom for an indefinite amount of time. But I digress. 

Back to printing and paper and letterpress... oh yes! I am also obsessed with collecting little pieces of original art. I'm basically a self dubbed "Etsy Power Shopper". Which leads me to this:

Tag Team Tompkins on Etsy

It's enroute from Etsy shop Tag Team Tompkins as I type. I love their bold black and white letterpress prints as well as their lettering and style. You should check them out - they have a fun assortment of prints featuring various quotes, but this particular print really resonated with me. 

"I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my ship." ~ Lousia May Alcott

It's calming, while at the same time strong, saying "Don't be scared to steer your own course". It quietly screams "Be confident". This is something I not only want to remember for myself, but also something I want to instill in my daughters. 

Now I just have to decide where it will live once it arrives. 

Finding my art again

I've been feeling a lot of 'meh' lately. As a certified adult, I have found it harder and harder to find the inspiration and motivation to continue to create art. This is very hard for me, because to create art is akin to breathing. Which would explain the suffocating feeling I get from time to time. Not to mention, the area I live in does not necessarily foster the creative community. It's my own fault. I can't blame the state I live in or anything else. The truth is, I've let life turn on the cruise control and I'm just riding along. I need to wrestle it back. Ninja style - because everything in life is more fun ninja style.

I'm fortunate to have a handful of genuinely creative people in my life. In recent conversations with them, I have learned that they have similar feelings about our community and about their own struggles to keep inspiration alive. While I firmly believe that it one's own individual responsibility to seek out inspiration and motivation, a group or community of like minded artists help "feed the brain" and in turn nurtures creativity.  That's why I am so excited that a small group of us are getting together on a regular basis for informal meet ups. Conversations, sharing of artwork or art we have found that inspire us - in hopes that it leads to more and more inspiration and keeps the momentum going.

I feel for my poor husband. As the years we are together start to add up, I think so do the pieces of the puzzle that is me. He never knows which direction I will be running in. Sometimes it's USSR era gas masks. Sometimes it's repainting furniture or sewing or photography or mixed media... or me inviting a gaggle of artists over on a Saturday night. He goes with it. I'm pretty sure he actually enjoys it.  I'm also sure he's expecting to come home one day to me building a circus tent in our living room with dogs, monkeys and retired astronauts. He probably wouldn't blink at this point. Every time I tell him that I NEED to do this - he's right on board. I love that (among a million other things) about him.

Fortunately for him, I'm currently working on a large piece that was inspired in part by a project I did back in college and not a circus... yet. I'm exploring mediums I have never used and using mediums I am happily familiar with. Canvas. Mod Podge. Acrylic Paint. Charcoal. Soft Pastels. A map. (I am almost as obsessed with maps as I am with masks) Elmer's glue. Books.

When I was choosing a canvas size, I had the large one picked out. But I got scared and I picked up a 9"x12".

Christina was with me.  I asked her, "Do I start small or is this a go-big-or-go-home kinda moment?"

"Sister, go big or go home."

20" x 30" Almost square... but not. Almost standard... but not.

I have no idea how it will turn out - hopefully well enough for me to share, but one thing is for certain. It is going to be fun. And probably messy. So, I suppose that is two things for certain.

Nightstand Makeover

A few weeks ago, my husband (helpfully) mentioned that I should make some time to work on my "to do" list in terms of decorating our home. With work, family and the holiday, most of our nesting had taken a back burner. Too many times I have jumped right into redecorating projects soon after moving and ended up regretting them. I believe, for me, I have to really settle into a space, absorb it and find out how we really use it.

For example, in our last home, we rarely ate in our dining room. These days, we rarely eat anywhere else. Our TV room is not set up for comfortable plopping in front of the tube and vegging out while we mindlessly shovel food into our mouths. I love this.

We also "cut the cord" with the cable company - so except for basic channels - we don't have "cable". This has made a drastic reduction in losing hours flipping for something to watch. I love this, too.

As a result, however, the wall behind out sofa is completely bare. We aren't really in that room all that often. But we have collected vintage maps and atlas pages of all the places we have traveled together. I have been hunting down old frames to give them more character and plan to collage them. But so far, only two have been framed and none have been hung. It's on the list.

Another item on the list was repainting our nightstands. I got a pair of RAST 3 drawer dresser at IKEA a while ago. I basically just slapped white primer on them with the intention of dressing them up. But they remained white for about 5 years. They didn't look bad - they just didn't have any real style. Before Eric and I got married and I was living on my own,  I was going to paint them something sweet and feminine - a buttery yellow with glass knobs.

 Our bedroom is mostly white - a white pintucked comforter, white lightly designed curtains, white walls - and pale, birch dressers. Because of my afore mentioned experiences with diving right in decorating, and because and I have grown and changed in my style, I've developed a taste for clean, crisp white or neutrals and adding bold color through fabrics and accent pieces.

I opted for a bright lime green color. I mean BRIGHT. I was nervous - it's bolder than any color I've ever painted. I also wanted to change the knobs. I am not a fan of painted wooden knobs. They look to "country" for me. Bright lime green is anything but country so I felt they would look out of place. I poked around the hardware store and found some really simple brushed stainless pulls for $2.99 each that I felt would work.

After lightly sanding and washing them down with mild soap and water, I started painting. Since the dressers were already "primed", I opted to not get the primer/paint in one. Big mistake. I found this color to act a lot like red in terms it was a thin color that needed many coats. I think I did 4 or five coats to get a really good finish. I also got a semi-gloss finish - which I am most pleased about. If it wasn't for the noticeable wood grain, they would almost look like metal.

To help hide the brush strokes, I also used Flood Floetrol as an additive to the paint. You can find it near the paint sprayers in Home Depot and runs about $6.99 for a small bottle. I only used a little bit for my quart of paint, so I have plenty left over for future projects. (Instructions are on the bottle depending on how much paint you have.) It was the first time I used it and overall I am happy with the results. Again, the wood grain makes it a tad more difficult to tell, but I don't see a brush stroke at all. (The real test will be when I paint my desk which has no visible grain what-so-ever)

So TAAA DAAAA... the result! I like it! It's amazing what a little color can do to change up a room. I apologize about the messy bed. I hate when the sheet sneaks out the bottom of the comforter. I will have to take a better after photo - maybe a couple of the whole room. What you can't see is all the crap I have collected in those drawers over the last few years. I believe when we moved them, the drawers stayed in, so I didn't even go through them while packing or unpacking.

Where in the world?

I've been MIA for a bit... but with the holiday rush, followed by a series of colds and ear infections running through our home, I haven't had time to blog. I have a pile up of photos that I planned on blogging with, but that all went out the door... along with piles of wrapping paper and Kleenex.

Stay tuned for blog updates on home projects coming to completion, new adventures, photo projects...until then I will just leave you with this photo of some yummy homemade (with love) chicken noodle soup I made the husband when he was down and out.